THE FABRIC OF LIFE

An eclectic mix of Art And Antiques epitomises the spirit of provenance in this gathered Johannesburg home

An eclectic mix of art, antiques and vibrant prints epitomises the spirit of this home

We live in a throwaway culture, where new is often number one and designer is desirable. Yet despite all that, when you enter a home with a sense of history it leaves an impression long after you have stepped out the front door. This abode in Inanda, Johannesburg, is just that. Imbued with all the warmth and personality of its owner, it’s a space that reveals stories and memories through its collected contents.

‘From the moment I walked in it satisfied me architecturally,’ the homeowner, who was downscaling from a much larger family home, recalls of her first impression. on her checklist for the ideal house were features like spacious rooms, goodquality light and volume. ‘In fact there was nothing to do to this home, other than make provision for my collection of 6 000 books,’ she continues.

architect Minky Lidchi was a natural fit for the project, since she had become acutely aware of what the homeowner needed, spending time house-hunting with her and becoming a good friend during the

process. although none structural, Minky made some vital improvements.

By painting the entire space white, including all of the existing dark timber cabinetry, she has allowed the homeowner’s prized belongings to breathe, flooding yet more natural light into the space, which came with high ceilings and banks of clerestory windows. now, an open-hearth fireplace with elegant lines stands in place of the old Morso oven; its design was a copy of the one she had in her previous home.

Minky designed two enormous floor-toceiling wall units to house the homeowner’s anthology of books. ‘I think books, like friends, reveal who you are, so I wasn’t going to get rid of them,’ says the homeowner, whose library includes poetry, novels, politics and history books. artworks by greats alexis Preller, Max ernst and even Picasso line her walls and also appear informally stacked on her floors, speaking to her interior aesthetic.

of her many antiques, the avid collector says ‘my husband and I gathered them over the years, going to auctions and acquiring pieces slowly,’ citing one very important sale, that of emigrating friends, where they bought much of their furniture. and then there are pieces,

such as her French mirror and old Cape armoire, that the couple spotted in unlikely places and asked their owners if they’d consider selling them. at least one wonderful antique, she believes, is the fabric of a great room.

There’s a feeling of being cosseted in this home, a feeling that makes you want to linger. sitting down on one of the plump sofas, for example, you sink for an eternity, thanks to generous down filling, cotton quilting and rare sprung frames. Colour and pattern in the form of textiles older than 20 years anchor the interior, playing out their vibrant repertoire against a crisp white stage. Brimming with prints in an array of pinks and faded reds, paisley keeps company with a profusion of florals and ethnic-inspired motifs by the likes of Pierre Frey and etro, lending the space they occupy a hearty richness.

In the same vein, the homeowner reinstated the gingham taffeta curtains from her previous home, adding on generous tucks with the help of interior decorator Julia Twigg. admitting to a love of the fullest, most billowy curtains, she details how she sewed into the lining an entire evening dress, as well as a stiff net petticoat to exaggerate their shape. ‘I love

The banks of high windows are one of the standout architectural features of the house. The verandah does double duty as a sunroom thanks to the glass stacking doors which enclose it

clockwise, from above The open-plan kitchen remained untouched barring a colour change – most of the cupboards were a dark timber which were painted white; a nineteenthcentury old cape yellowwood table sits on the verandah; in a bold move, the front...

clockwise, from le f t Julia twigg had two of the armchairs in the main bedroom recovered in blue-and-white tablecloths. the desk was a wedding gift from a friend; the homeowner made the decision not to cover the overhead windows in the bedroom,...