ASK THE INTERIOR DESIGNER:
Josh Reitano of The Salted Chair
Josh, how was working on your own home
different to working on a client’s? Working on your own home is much more challenging. Suddenly, it became hard to make changes to a house full of so many memories. Designing a dream home for a client feels like second nature to us – you have a strong vision of the bigger picture and know what changes need to be made. We had to learn to let go of the history and embrace the future.
How did you honour the cottage’s heritage?
Older homes have a lot of historical charm and our intention was to hold on to that as much as possible. We decided to keep details such as the panelled walls, and ditch the dated features like the vinyl flooring. But first, we did our research; it’s important to have an understanding of the original features and architectural style of your home so you can make the right details shine. Our knowledge of 1950s design helped us pick the right furniture, light fixtures and materials. It was a balance of including mid-century style with restraint and adding our own spin.
How does the interior design reflect you and Adriana personally?
As interior designers, Adriana and I strongly believe that the best way to make a space your own is to inject your personality through pieces you’re drawn to. We’re both keen travellers and like to include finds from our trips. These include the Notre Dame artwork in our studio, which we purchased from a Paris flea market, and our ‘scarified’ ceramic urn we bought from an artist in Cape Town. Good communication and an empathetic approach to design will always achieve the best result, so find a designer who asks a lot of questions. They need to understand you and the way you use your spaces.