WORDS Lindi Brownell Meiring IMAGES Mat van Niekerk (after); Hanno de Swardt (before)
Having moved into their Rondebosch home six years ago, a young couple knew they had a lot of work to do.
The space was homely, but in dire need of a revamp, from the dated facebrick facade to the impractical interiors. With a clear idea of what they wanted, the couple turned to architect and interior designer Hanno de Swardt of Onnah Design and contractor and project manager Mick Murphy of Murphy Projects.
“From day one, when introduced to the client, I sensed a lovely calmness,” says Hanno. “This was the main source of inspiration for me – to create a happy home for a lovely couple and their two labradors. A home that was calm and collected, both physically and visually, a living environment that was laid-back yet stylish, practical, yet a feast for the eyes, tone on tone colouring with a subtle play on textures.”
The main brief? To design a large, bright area, centred on an open-plan kitchen and living space that seamlessly flowed from indoors to outside. With one of the owners being a keen baker, it was integral that the kitchen be transformed from uninspired to a functional space that would meet all of her needs. The renovation also called for the addition of a TV room and an en-suite bathroom. The home’s original dark interiors were replaced with light-filled areas throughout, from the main bedroom to the spacious, open living area.
“Part of the brief was to add a pool in the backyard and to demolish the out building in the corner, but I managed to convince them to keep it and convert it into a pool pavilion,” says Hanno. The result is an entertainer’s dream, a space complete with a dining and kitchen area that seamlessly flows outdoors to the swimming pool and courtyard.
“It is so rewarding to know my clients are now loving their (almost) new house,” says Hanno, “and that good design can actually enhance lifestyles.”
“Our home is everything we envisioned,” says the couple, “a design that fits the way we live our lives and complements our style.”
Missed our previous post on Hanno’s revamp of a cottage in Milnerton? View it here.