French Toast

THIS Parisinspired ATHOLL HOME IS A stylish showcase OF CONTEMPORARY ART and cutting edge DESIGN

- Layla Leiman

My dream was always to live in Paris in an 18th-century apartment with modern furniture,’ says the owner of this double-storey house, located in a small complex tucked away in Atholl, Johannesburg. While the style of the complex is Joburg Tuscan, the home is a carefully considered space where classic Euro chic meets today’s progressive South African design.

When the owners put in an offer for the house a few years ago, the only thing that appealed to them about their investment was its prime location. They had previously rented fully furnished apartments, so when they took ownership, they moved in without a single item of furniture – not even a bed. But the owner is an advertising art director, so attention to detail and design is part of her DNA, and she immediately set about reimagining the interiors and remodelling them into her ideal Paris-inspired retreat.

From the outset, the owners opted to focus on effect by getting the basics right – such as installing wood-look herringbone tiled floors and quality fittings throughout. Then they introduced the details. Cosmetic structural changes saw pillars removed to create space, the kitchen reconfigured and larger windows added to let in more light. The real transformation, however, was in the decor.