Working between Africa and Europe, Katy Mills and Julian Robinet were in search of a spot where they could take it easy during their downtime. "We're both freelancers and we wanted a space where we can relax and clear our minds when we're not working," says Julian.
In 2020, Katy spent a few of the winter months in Graaff-Reinet and this Great Karoo town proved to be the ideal escape from Cape Town, where the couple usually hole up. The clear skies of the Karoo were a big drawcard in comparison to the wet, rainy winters of the Mother City.
"So, instead of taking a holiday overseas, we've been escaping to the Karoo since 2021," says Julian with a smile. At first, the couple stayed with friends, but when the opportunity presented itself, they decided to buy a place of their own.
The house, believed to be built sometime between 1880 and 1890, is on one of the original streets in Graaff-Reinet, just two blocks up from the iconic Dutch Reformed Church. It is built in the Cape Dutch Karoo style with thick walls, a front veranda and a white-painted facade.
The previous owner renovated the house in 2017 with the intention to retire here, but her plans changed and Julian and Katy took over. "But it was almost a little too modern and so the alterations we made afterwards were specifically done with the intention to blend the new with the old."
Making changes
The very first change the couple made was to replace all the contemporary white aluminium window frames and sliding doors with traditional black steel school frames, which is more in line with the style of the building. "The new window frames were manufactured in Cape Town and transported all the way to the Karoo - it was a bit of a nightmare and definitely the most stressful part of the renovation as they ended up bending a bit and they were also bigger than anticipated!" explains Julian.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Pestilence Domestica
We usually call them dirty, dangerous and utterly gross. But what if we looked at domestic pests through a different lens, asks Karin Brynard.
Quick as a flash!
These 15 dinners can be whipped up in a jiffy - before the power goes out!
The gift that keeps on giving
By taking cuttings and dividing existing plants and those from friends, Anne Turner and her son David have created a stunning garden that takes on a whole new personality as the seasons change.
Upcycle it!
Tuis Home food editor Johané Neilson and her husband Allister revamped a second-hand melamine wall unit to create a bespoke wall-to-wall display cabinet, for less than R3 500!
Little house in the forest
Thanks to her capable father, Neilke Pretorius and her partner enjoy an idyllic lifestyle in a custom-made home hidden in the trees.
Living large, inside and out
South Africans love a space where indoors and outdoors come together.
Modern CLASSIC
With authenticity as a guiding design principle, a young family has created their happy space in a 105-year-old house in the heart of vibrant Sea Point.
Peace & quiet...
A cinematographer and a set designer found the perfect bolt-hole in the Eastern Cape Karoo where they can truly relax and unwind.
ART AND SOUL
Five years ago, the Krugers transformed a tired city bungalow into a unique and modern family home.
Group therapy
Add impact and create rhythm using repetition and collections, as these Home readers have done.
