Q&A with Wilna

Any cost-cutting tips? Roof paint is a good option for concrete floors – it’s durable, comes in a variety of attractive colours and looks good. Where did you get your ideas? One of my good friends, Derick van Zijl, is an architect and he gave me great tips on how best to utilise the space. My brother-in-law, JB, also helped – and, of course, Pinterest! What would you do differently next time? I bought second-hand tongue-and-groove floorboards to save money, but some of the tongues and grooves were damaged which means the boards don’t fit together so well. What do you enjoy most about your new home? My view of the mountains and the fact that it looks exactly as I planned. What’s next? A ‘donkey’ (water-heater) in the corner of the living room where I can make a fire. Every home needs warmth and with a donkey instead of a regular fireplace, I can heat up water at the same time. I also want to install cupboards in the bedroom.

The small bathroom (left) below the mezzanine has a shower in the bath and a toilet behind a low wall. The bathroom door (above) is an old door reclaimed from the original barn.