Renovated Franschhoek Home

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Henrique Wilding

This renovated Franschhoek home inspired by its historic location pays homage to both past and present.

“The house had really good bones to start,” says project manager and creative force Andrew Milne who, together with his wife Liz were the lead designers on the renovation project. “The clients wanted to replace everything as the original house had a very “lived in” feel, but we could see it had the potential to be transformed into something special,” he adds.

The duo had to come up with a renovation plan that used the existing structure while sticking to the constraints of the housing estate’s strict guidelines and satisfying the clients’ brief. “We gutted the house, which was quite an invasive procedure that dished up some nasty surprises – like having to replace the twisted wooden beams in the kitchen ceiling. These were things we had to troubleshoot on-site,” says Andrew.

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Andrew and Liz saw there was potential to break into the attic to create a large loft space, which could serve as a master suite. This would give the house an extra volume without actually having to go up another level. “The crux of the project was how to gain access to the loft. We ultimately decided not to hide some spindly staircase out of sight and opted to create something special instead. We wanted something that would really “wow” anyone seeing it for the first time,” he explains. The result is a handcrafted spiral staircase disappearing into a void which looks and feels like an art installation. “It totally owns and makes the space”.

The house is nestled amongst the vineyards and olive trees in a secluded valley estate with sweeping mountain views. To make the most of the spectacular setting the team removed all the stacking doors on the Western terrace. “This change helped bring the outside ‘in’ so to speak. The flow between the swimming pool, vineyards and terrace is now seamless,” says Andrew.

The interior had to reflect a sense of time and place. Andrew and Liz included a selection of Cape Antiques interspersed with some fun mid-century pieces. The light fixtures are modern and illuminate the curated mid-century South African Abstract Art collection, which dots the walls throughout the home.

The clients didn’t want to install fitted carpets so natural flooring – from Corcoleum in the service kitchen to Oak in the bedroom wing and loft – run throughout. “The cabinetry is bespoke and made from solid hardwoods, and we imported all the sanitary ware from Europe”, adds Andrew. 

“We became extremely passionate about delivering a “Swiss standard” in South Africa and we were very “hands-on” for every step of the project,” he says. “This project had it all and we loved every moment of it.”

For more info, contact Andrew via [email protected] or 082 876 8878, or visit Southern Sky Life on Instagram.

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