#3 Charm and comfort
In August 2021, Nicky and Darryl Betz said goodbye to their home in Johannesburg, which we featured in Home Renovations in 2012, and headed for the Mother City. They found the perfect home in the leafy suburb of Bergvliet, located close to good boys’ schools for their son Cole.
The family bathroom was the first space to be renovated and this was done before they relocated from Gauteng. “The idea was to create a spa-like haven, not unlike the look we had in our Jo’burg home,” says Nicky. She co-ordinated everything from their previous home and the couple signed off on the finishing touches in December 2021.
The outdated bathroom was gutted, and provision was made for a shower. “With Bergvliet being an older suburb, I wanted to reintroduce some of the vintage charm typical of homes in the area,” explains Nicky. “I love metro tiles and these served as a starting point; they’re timeless and work very well to brighten up a space and make it more modern. We decided to lay them vertically, which is reminiscent of mid-century modern bathrooms.”
Since the space is just 7m², it was quite a challenge to fit both a tub and a walk-in shower. “We managed to find a small soaking tub, which fitted perfectly in the space, and installed a walk-in shower next to it,” explains Nicky.
“I love our bathroom with its Victorian-meets-African flair. It’s a beautiful little escape from daily life; there’s nothing better than relaxing in the tub or standing under the big rain shower.”
Nicky’s favourite elements? The round mirror above the vanity, the landscape painting on the wall and her much-loved Staghorn fern pot plants in the tiled recesses! >>