Expertly Tailored

This renovated family home in Jo’burg is the perfect blend of relaxed living and functional style

- Jo Trappitt

When they returned to South Africa after spending eight years in London, Bronwen and Michael Barnes decided they wanted their children to grow up enjoying an outdoor lifestyle just as they had. They looked for a home in a beautiful, yet secure environment. “Dainfern proved ideal as it’s out of the bustle of the city and I feel safe when Mike’s away on business” says Bronwen.

The single-storey house they found had great potential. Its open-plan kitchen and living area, well-proportioned bedrooms and spacious garden meant renovating would be fairly straightforward. Once they had a plan in mind, they divided the renovations into three manageable phases.

In the first phase, they built the swimming pool and extended the patio with paving. The awkward space behind the pool was turned into another living area by building seating around the boundary wall. “We can accommodate a large number of people here and I love the view of the house from there,” says Bronwen. “And the heat-resistant screed we laid helps to protect the floor underneath the brazier we light on cool evenings.”