A relaxing space
Tenants remained in the flat for two more years, after which Roxy and Nick decided to return to Cape Town and start renovations. “We had all these ideas based on photos we had taken of the space,” says Roxy. But to avoid unnecessary mistakes, they lived in the apartment with nothing but an inflatable mattress for two days so they could really get a feel for their new home and what would work best.
The original kitchen felt dark and outdated. Nick and Roxy transformed the space by installing a 3mm epoxy screed floor and adding striking geometric tiles, modern oak-veneer cabinets and open oak shelving. They also painted the walls a dark grey.
The most impactful change involved removing an exterior kitchen wall to incorporate an unused adjacent alley as part of the space. A glass roof over this area was the final touch in what is now a light and spacious kitchen (see previous page). These days, the previously unused alley serves as a peaceful and light-filled conservatory with a striking accent wall and plenty of greenery.
The previous owner had ‘opened up’ the lounge by removing the walls between it and the kitchen. Besides replacing the floor in the lounge with Swedish Pine floorboards, Nick and Roxy tidied up the wiring and chased plug points into the wall.
Nick also came up with a plan to turn a ‘dead space’ into a reading nook by adding a custom-made seat to the bay window.
All in all, the living area is a relaxing space that features a combination of light wood and light shades of grey interspersed with vibrant greenery. Keepsakes collected on their travels far and wide are lovingly displayed on the shelves. >>