Avid collectors

“I take after my grandmother, Sadie Moorrees,” says Carla. “She had a beautiful home with incredibly large pieces of furniture and interesting vases. I learned a lot from her. Braam and I are also avid collectors. We never come back from an auction or market empty-handed, no matter whether it’s a vintage market in Paris or Milnerton’s flea market.”

Each room has loads of character, thanks to those market buys and found objects that tell the story of the family’s journey from Canada back to South Africa as well as holidays spent in Greece and Paris – two of their favourite destinations. “I think our house has a collector’s vibe but Jana sometimes says she feels like she lives in a museum,” says Carla with a smile.

The black-and-white palette is a new development and it creates a striking contrast to the splashes of silver, copper and gold in the house. “I started with a white palette and I’ve added touches of black over the past two years for dramatic effect,” she explains.

“I just can’t stay away from the spray paint! My dream now is to paint the entire exterior black. Or maybe black and white. I’m still debating that idea. Watch this space!”

Braam just shakes his head. “If you sit still for long enough, she’ll paint you too!” >>

A vintage black lace tablecloth that was once white hangs in front of the guest bathroom window (left). “If something doesn’t work, I’ll make it work by dyeing it or painting it,” says Carla. The side table was Braam’s Standard 6 woodworking project.

A desk from Jana’s school days sits in the hallway and the print of Captain Thomas Lee painted by Marcus Gheeraerts II was bought online. “Braam and I can get very creative after a few glasses of wine,” chuckles Carla.

Carla spray-painted the mirror just outside the guest bathroom (also below left) gold; it creates a striking contrast against the black wall. Wall painted in Plascon Dark Onyx