MODERN HISTORY

CONTEMPORARY LIVING MEETS TRADITIONAL STYLE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL HILLCREST HOME

story candice botha pictures lar photography

The classic-meets-contemporary feel of this Hillcrest house is a signature of interior designer Taryn Flanagan of Taryn Flanagan Interiors and exactly what the owners were looking for when they brought her in to refresh their home. “I love working with existing pieces that have a sense of history and reflect the personality of the people who live in a house,” says Taryn. “Often all that’s needed is a lick of paint, new upholstery or a bit of sanding to give items that may have been looking a bit dated a new lease on life.”

In this case, the great bones of the home and the special items it was filled with gave her a good

foundation to work from. Armoires have been painted in a rich teal and deep charcoal transforming them into focal points, and new handles gave a chest of drawers a fresh appeal. Colourful stained-glass windows inspired pops of colour throughout the home, and Taryn made clever substitutions like replacing a single dated coffee table with a grouping of side tables adding unexpected,

The garden is very green and manicured with an abundance of iceberg roses so linking the interior spaces with the outdoors was essential”

modern details to the heritage setting.

“The family is still building up their collection of art, so wallpaper is a great way to bring life to your walls without spending a fortune,” she notes of the way she’s added grass cloth and patterned papers. “It’s a simple, effective way to create character and can be easily changed.”

The owners have two children – aged 10 and six – »

so making sure the space is as practical as it is pretty was an important element of the brief. To get this balance right, Taryn chose durable fabrics, rugs that are easy to maintain and added plenty of storage to disguise clutter quickly and effectively. Texture abounds with hides layered over jute rugs, cushions with patterns placed against chunky throws and plenty of wicker, leather and raw timber throughout the house.

“The garden is very green and manicured with an abundance of iceberg roses, so linking the interior spaces with the outdoors was essential,” Taryn notes. “We’ve brought the outdoors in with plenty of indoor plants and botanical motifs, as well as the stacking doors which allow the house to open up completely.” On the veranda, the pale palette is a nod to the roses. To keep it from feeling bland, though, she’s added a statement pendant light and patterned scatters.

Each child’s bedroom had to reflect their personality too, and Taryn has made them both bright, fun and versatile enough to grow with them. In the little girl’s room, an overblown

Framed monchrome prints and vibrant fabrics and wallpapers ensure the house is ideally suited to the young family that calls it home

rose wallpaper and pink velvet headboard will look just as good when she’s a teenager, and in the younger son’s room, a geometric wallpaper is offset by a set of stuffed animal heads which can easily be updated for a more sophisticated look later on.

In the main bedroom, a simple ottoman was transformed with a set of leather straps that are a nod to the horse motifs that run throughout the house. Layers of textured linen, a deep buttoned headboard and a subtly patterned rug add interest to the tranquil, neutral colour scheme ensuring this room is a retreat. In the guest room a traditional leather headboard and freestanding wardrobe are offset by a bold floral armchair.

Although there are several heirloom pieces in the house, and the architecture is classic, it’s the combination with modern elements like painted brickwork, black interior doors, framed monchrome prints and vibrant fabrics and wallpapers that ensure the house is ideally suited to the young family that calls it home. * FOR MORE INFO tarynflanaganinteriors.co.za