Shape-shifter

Elly Grossman of Cannon Rocks writes What a delight to find Craig Olckers included, for the third time, in your May/June 2022 issue. I loved his style in the Observatory property (March 2018), his temporary home in May 2018, and now his current pad in Wynberg.

Of huge interest is how he has restyled and repurposed existing furniture and objets to fit and enhance the changing architecture and lifestyle in each house. For instance, the period drinks trolley, resplendent in the hall (March 2018), now serves as a bedside table. The stunning dragonfly stool has gone full circle from bathroom (March 2018) to lounge (May 2018) and back to the bathroom in 2022. I spy the white ceramic bunny that has hopped from the passage (May 2018) to the current main bedroom, and the stagey beaded chandelier that has enjoyed several settings over the three features.

Absent is the sumptuous gold Moroccan pouffe so prominent in 2018, and where are Zoe-Lee and Zac (March 2018)? I can see their photographs against the forest wallpaper at the staircase (2022) but I’m almost too afraid to enquire about their wellbeing.

What a stunning example of how to shape-shift existing possessions within an ever-changing theme of décor, design and drama. I look forward, in future issues, to the next palette this peripatetic stylist comes up with.