Peace & quiet...
Home South Africa|May/June 2023
A cinematographer and a set designer found the perfect bolt-hole in the Eastern Cape Karoo where they can truly relax and unwind.
Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel
Peace & quiet...

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.

Denne historien er fra May/June 2023-utgaven av Home South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra May/June 2023-utgaven av Home South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA HOME SOUTH AFRICASe alt
Pestilence Domestica
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Quick as a flash!
Home South Africa

Quick as a flash!

These 15 dinners can be whipped up in a jiffy - before the power goes out!

time-read
10+ mins  |
May/June 2023
The gift that keeps on giving
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
6 mins  |
May/June 2023
Upcycle it!
Home South Africa

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!

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Little house in the forest
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
4 mins  |
May/June 2023
Living large, inside and out
Home South Africa

Living large, inside and out

South Africans love a space where indoors and outdoors come together.

time-read
8 mins  |
May/June 2023
Modern CLASSIC
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Peace & quiet...
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
ART AND SOUL
Home South Africa

ART AND SOUL

Five years ago, the Krugers transformed a tired city bungalow into a unique and modern family home.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Group therapy
Home South Africa

Group therapy

Add impact and create rhythm using repetition and collections, as these Home readers have done.

time-read
1 min  |
May/June 2023