Renovation A quaint home is restored to its former glory
With plenty of patience and perseverance, the Van Zyls have restored their quaint home to its former glory.
YYou need to have plenty of resolve when you buy an old house that’s been stripped of its character. Cape interior designer Lynette van Zyl of Ressource Décor quickly realised this fact when she and her husband Colin bought their home in Observatory in July last year.
The renovation of their ugly duckling began in September 2016 and despite many challenges was completed within a month, when they were able to move in. “Colin works in the insurance industry but he studied architecture and is an enthusiastic DIYer,” says Lynette. “His spatial expertise and woodworking skills helped immensely. It was also a huge bonus that the wooden floors were still in excellent condition.
“During the renovation, Colin camped out in the house, while I lived with my parents. My poor husband got a chest infection from all the dust. He also had to use the restroom at the fast food restaurant around the corner for two days while both bathrooms were being gutted as there was no water supply or toilet!”
The kitchen
SIZE 10.5m2 Display cabinets for beautiful crockery, clever utilisation of space and a gas stove are nonnegotiable for Lynette when she renovates a kitchen.
The kitchen in her new home was “very boring and ordinary,” she says. “I wanted to create a French country style but there were several challenges.” The biggest problem was the back door in the middle of a wall, which hampered a modern, functional layout. In addition, the melamine cupboards had suffered extensive water damage.
After many hours spent searching Pinterest for gorgeous small spaces, and a holiday in Paris, Lynette refined the vision she had to include a dark blue, grey, black and white palette that would create the illusion of space. “We also enclosed the back door so we could better utilise the room. This gave us more space for cupboards and countertops and allowed us to include design details such as the oak cupboard so the room doesn’t look like a galley kitchen.”
Lynette is thrilled with the result. “It’s lovely to work here. I’m particularly fond of my gas stove and the display cupboard allows me to keep all my crockery close at hand. The natural light is excellent but at night the room also looks beautiful. We have good task lighting as well as soft ambient lighting that emphasises the design detail.
“Now that we have more worktops, I have more space to display collectibles that remind us of our holidays in France and Italy.”
The bathroom
SIZE 5m2 Lynette also wanted to give the awkward bathroom with its old finishes a touch of French flair. It’s right next to the kitchen, as is often the case in old houses. “There wasn’t even a vanity,” she explains. And the shower was sunken – so levelling the floor was a must.
Lynette broke down the wall that made the shower feel so cramped, raised the shower floor and then installed frameless glass.
Instead of wall tiles, wooden panels that complement the Victorian architecture were installed against the wall as was a large vanity that now forms a stunning focal point. Dark walls create a cosy, relaxed atmosphere – precisely what Lynette believes a bathroom should offer. >>
The courtyard
SIZE 17.6m2 When Lynette and Colin bought the house, the courtyard was much less sociable and stylish than it is now; the area was far too small for freestanding furniture and it lacked character.
However, it still had a few things in its favour, such as the pine deck. It also gets glorious morning sun because it’s on the east-facing side of the house, and it’s sheltered from the Cape’s notorious South-Easter. In the evening, it’s a cool tranquil spot where the couple can unwind.
Lynette had a plan to make it feel more spacious. “I designed built-in benches with storage space; combined with two wicker chairs, there’s ample seating and the cushions are covered in durable outdoor fabric so they can stay outside overnight.”
In order to jazz up the rather boring walls, Lynette introduced plenty of greenery in pots. “It adds life to the space and creates the feel of a garden. You also save a lot of water with potted plants.”