‘We Did It Ourway!'

Two inspired young professionals have turned an old mining house into an eclectic space that reflects their creative spirit and flair for design.

- Amanda van Wyngaardt

WHO LIVES HERE? Rick and Jessica Roché with their cats Pikkewyn and Liefste

WHERE Johannesburg

SIZE house 343m², erf 729m²

Rick and Jessica Roché have been living at the foot of theMelville koppies and within walking distance of thebohemian street café culture of their suburb for the past two years. From the exterior, their two-bedroom semi-detached house is typical of the old mining houses in the area – all similar in design. Which is precisely what the couple did not want.

But once inside their home, the interior is a reflection of two colourful personalities: Rick is a software engineer better known in his twenties as Rick Disco the DJ; Jessica is a filmmaker and art director. Both are ambitious, creative, sociable and a tad eccentric.

“Our style is eclectic,” says Jessica. “As a stylist, I love every new décor fad but you can’t change everything every year. We favour a dark palette with a lot of contemporary art and artefacts from our travels.