Build your own business
Just look at the beautiful spa created by our sister magazine, Leef; it was once an old family home in Johannesburg.
Reason for renovation
When the creative team at Lééf decided they wanted to open a spa in an area that could also work as an office for editorial, a shortage of plans was not the problem. The challenge lay in finding the perfect space: a house in the right location and with “good bones”; one that could best be renovated with minimal cost.
When they discovered this one in Linden, they knew it was just right, says editor Christine Ferreira. “The house, dating from the seventies, was already half-renovated. It was perfectly laid out for a spa with large open rooms, a big living room with a fireplace, a second living room with a double-volume ceiling and a skylight.”
There was also plenty of parking space after the previous owners had removed the old tennis court and replaced it with gravel.
And so a five-month project (builders’ holidays included!) began in earnest...
An old outbuilding and bathroom were converted into an office for the editor and five editorial staff, while a spa consultant and building contractor were called in to set the other renovations in motion.
“The changes were simple and logical,” says Christine. “We wanted to create a farmhouse atmosphere in the city.” Thanks to a tranquil garden and water features, visitors can immediately relax and unwind. >>