renovation

WWhen, more than a decade ago, Inez de Vries heard that her sister’s house in Kuils River was on the market, she knew that a little TLC would add a lot of value to this ugly duckling home. So she rose to the challenge and bought the house in 2008, full of ideas about how she could make the most of the space.

But it’s been a slow process. “Each year, depending on my budget, I try to make some changes. I get so much joy out of creating my perfect home – and I browse through old issues of Home for hours,” she says.

So far, she’s added a patio and braai room, converted the garage into a guest bedroom en suite, renovated the main bedroom and installed new floors. Using natural products such as concrete and wood, Inez has created a timeless feel throughout the house.

Her latest transformation, which was completed this year, shows her true mettle. At only 6m², Inez described the bathroom as “always too cramped.” It had a bath but that turned out to be a waste of space: “I probably used the tub twice a year,” she says with a laugh.

The enclosed shower also irked her, so she had it removed along with the bath and rearranged the position of the toilet, basin and shower to maximise the space. Thanks to the new layout, Inez was able to realise her dream: an open-plan shower with a luxurious rain shower head.

A learning curve

The project took four weeks to complete, but it wasn’t without its problems. Although Inez values word of mouth when appointing contractors, it turned out that even then you can still run into trouble. Two inexperienced plumbers and a wood supplier who didn’t do the correct measurements set her back. However, Inez remained undeterred.

Previous renovations had taught her to question everything; when builders couldn’t answer questions to her satisfaction, she moved on to more reliable contractors who were able to provide her with the finishes and services she wanted. “Decorating and optimising my home is a never-ending project. It’s an ongoing process,” she says. The bathroom was done and dusted on 14 February – “a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift to myself!”