Inspiring before and after: natural instinct

AvatarCaxton magazines staff
Makeovers0 Comments 0

We wanted our living area to feel more relaxing and comfortable, and to better reflect our personalities and lifestyle,” recall Donovan and Chanel of their house in Hillcrest, KZN

Living room
Before
A young couple who love to entertain, wanted a natural colour scheme with African and Eastern influences. They approached interior designer Wendy-Lee Douglas of Sketch Bok/dbn to help them achieve their vision.

How the room was made over:

  • The first step was to replace one of the couches with two elegant Vogel Magnet occasional chairs. “The chairs give the space a much more casual, deconstructed look – a refreshing change from the formality of two upholstered sofas,” says Wendy-Lee.
  • The remaining sofa was upholstered in deep blue-grey. With custom-made scatters in a fabric from Hertex Fabrics, gives the room a more earthy, relaxed feel.
  • They kept the striking raw wood coffee table as it fitted in perfectly with the new look. It now displays a collection of books and accessories. “The rawness of the timber and the complementary colours give the space a cosy, layered feel,” says Wendy-Lee.
  • The couple love travelling and the outdoors. Wendy-Lee constructed a shelf below the TV to house some of their mementos. She added a collection of picture frames to the side table to display photographs of their adventures. This created layers of detail which make the space more interesting and personal.
  • A Love Me Love Me Not side table, also by Vogel, was chosen to add a talking point to the room.

YOU’LL ALSO LOVE: A deck makeover with a Moroccan feel

wooden table

  • Addition of iKhaya’s pendant lights above the bar and a pair of oversized lights to add interest to the dining room. “The new lights create pools of atmosphere for the different areas and divide what is a large area into more intimate spaces in the evening,” explains Wendy-Lee.
Table decor