A designer’s touch

Fun and flair are the perfect combination in this young family’s home.

- Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

Jenine Bruce of Lacuna always impresses us with her fabulous interior design skills.

This time, she modestly opened her own home’s doors to us – and we love what she’s done! Her look is unique. Fun, yet elegant. Striking, but still timeless.

“We moved into the 10-year-old house towards the end of 2020 and the size is just perfect for us right now,” says Jenine, who welcomed baby Teya in June. “We are amongst young families and close to a dog park. The house has good bones and beautiful wooden sash windows and doors.”

While the home lacked character inside, Jenine didn’t see this as a negative. “I felt it was a blank slate waiting for some love and personality,” she says. “Although everything was beige, we soon got rid of this shade. Adding our own touch has been such fun!”

The only major overhaul was in the kitchen. The couple opened up the space completely; they added skylights to allow for more natural light, installed new cupboards and floors, and fitted a 6m I-beam to support the floor above. The rest of the home got a fresh coat of paint on the walls, skirtings, ceilings and doors.

“It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do to make a space feel more contemporary,” says Jenine. For the rest, she simply added her magic touch with custom wallpaper, her favourite paint colours, and quirky finishes.

Cosy living