This project was a truly special one, marking my third collaboration with a long-standing client. Their brief was ambitious: transform two consolidated properties in Southdowns Estate, near Pretoria, into a single, expansive family home that was as warm and inviting as it was luxurious and sophisticated. The house needed to be a place of everyday comfort for a young family, but also a space for entertaining at scale — from intimate dinners to grand parties and sporting get-togethers.
I was personally invited back from the UK to take on this project, and it became a three-year journey that began just before the pandemic and concluded with a full handover in May 2023. Working alongside an exceptional team of architects, a quantity surveyor, lighting specialists and an interior architect, I served as the lead creative, responsible for every interior finish, material and furnishing selection from floor to ceiling.
The design approach was centred on balance: masculine and feminine energy, dark and light palettes, intimate and expansive spaces. We wanted a home that flowed seamlessly from indoors to outdoors, with large-format tiles in the main living areas that continue onto the patio, and oak-veneer planks in the private bedroom wing. The entertainment wing featured a striking concrete floor finish for a more industrial, robust feel — perfect for social gatherings.
Because the clients are passionate entertainers, the house was designed with multiple dedicated entertainment zones: a large upstairs space for watching rugby with friends, a private golf-simulator lounge that can convert into a party room, and a children’s play-and-sleepover area complete with custom cabinetry that reveals fold-down beds for sleepovers.
The wine room was one of the most spectacular spaces — a double-volume glass showcase with bespoke joinery that displays the client’s extensive wine collection, paying homage to their ownership of a wine farm.
Every detail was considered bespoke: custom-designed lighting, wallpaper, and furniture were made specifically for the house. Materials were selected for their richness and tactility, from white Calacatta stone and honed black granite to rust-toned accents and layered metallic finishes. The palette was inspired by the Highveld landscape, using warm neutrals, charcoal, teal and earthy tones, carried through to the patio and garden for continuity.
The main suite was kept soft and neutral, with gold accents and rich textures creating a serene retreat. Guest suites were designed with contrasting energies: one light and airy with creams and mushroom tones, the other moodier and more masculine with deeper colours and darker finishes. Throughout the house, a curated collection of investment artworks provided a gallery-like quality, tying the interiors together and adding cultural depth.
The result is a home that is modern, luxurious and deeply personal. It is as suited to quiet evenings with family as it is to hosting a house full of guests, embodying comfort, elegance and the joy of entertaining.
Project Summary
Brief: Consolidate two properties into one luxurious estate home with a focus on family life, entertaining, and bespoke design detailing.
Challenges: Coordinating a large, multi-disciplinary team, consolidating two separate buildings into a single cohesive layout, working through pandemic-related delays, and balancing masculine and feminine design energies.
Solution: Created a seamless flow between wings of the home, selected every interior finish from flooring to lighting, designed multiple entertainment areas, a bespoke wine room, and contrasting guest suites, and layered the entire house with custom furniture, textures and artworks for a refined, cohesive result.
