The Property Magazine - Johannesburg September 2012

Property

Est. 2004, Issue 279

JOHANNESBURG

SEPTEMBER 2012

Winner of 10 publishing awards

decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate

WIN A SHAMWARI

PROFILING

JOHN RABIE

TRIP WORTH R27 000

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS INSPIRATION

CONOR MCCREEDY’S

COBRA THROUGHOUT

DISCERNING HOMEOWNER GOES WITH STYLISH COBRA SANWARE AND TAPS

RSA R34.95 (incl. VAT) Other countries R21.90 (excl. Tax) Designer bathroom with COBRA throughout. 0861 21 21 21, cobra.co.za

SOHO APARTMENT

34

45 22

Contents

22 70

DECOR

LUXURY

16

10

HOT DECOR & DESIGN

13

Shamwari Game Reserve

Lindie Ferreira opens her

you should be exploring

14

HOT PLATE

20

WHAT’S ON

New and old dining spots

be wearing and indulgences

49

must-haves

70

GROWING UP QUICKLY

58

House 3 at Nettleton Ridge estate, Clifton, Cape Town

MEMORABLE & MOTIVATIONAL

SOCIETY

59

EYES WIDE OPEN Rabie’s Colin Anderson on the state of the market

60

JOHANNESBURG RESIDENTIAL

Out and about in

The Houghton and

Johannesburg

Summit on Mount thrill

DESIGN 22

REAL ESTATE

resort special

Dinner at HQ Sandton

bathroom and kitchen

John Rabie’s new vision

Exclusive Azura at Quilálea

doing this month

67

Signatura, property mogul

READER OFFER

A sophisticated Property

TAPPING INTO TALENT

A NEW LEASE

CAPE TOWN’S PREMIER ADDRESS

What you should be

The experts talk

ON THE COVER TheON Kitchen THE & Tasting COVER Room

Wines you should be sampling, clothes you should

48

45

HOT INDULGENCE

FRANKLY GORGEOUS

in Parktown North

55

bathrooms and kitchens

move to Joburg

decor boutique, Franklin,

52

South Africa’s top

Win a three-night stay for two at the five-star

18

SPACES THAT SPEAK VOLUMES

LUXURY WIN

Big designers make the

TRENDS

34

61

JOHANNESBURG COMMERCIAL

AN ARTIST’S SANCTUARY

Hobart Grove takes a

Why you should be living

Revealing SA-born

refurbishes Adcock

in Bryanston

artist Conor Mccreedy’s

Ingram’s premises and

SoHo apartment

Stor-Age paints the Joburg

TREND WATCH Get the look! Inspirational

@ Maison.

Turn to page Cobra throughout.

See11

ideas for bathrooms

for page the full 30story. for details.

and kitchens

30

different tack, Growthpoint

CBD red

SLICK IN THE CITY An unconventional home in Glenkay by AMA Architects

thepropertymag.co.za | 1

ED’S LETTER THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE ONLINE VISIT thepropertymag.co.za for the latest features.

Photograph Grant Difford

FOLLOW US on Facebook

If you can’t stand the heat …

and Twitter: facebook.com/thepropertymagazine twitter.com/thepropertymag DOWNLOAD our National edition for iPad and Galaxy tablets from Zinio: zinio.com SUBSCRIBE Call 0860 100 209 (local) or +27 (0)21 530 3112 (foreign) to learn more about our special

… renovate your kitchen. Or your bathroom

Two of the busiest rooms in our houses are undoubtedly the bathroom and the kitchen. Both get the most foot traffic, so it makes sense that these rooms should get the most thought and devotion when it comes to layout and features, design and decor, and appliances and accessories.

Kitchens are no longer a place to merely cook and eat.

They are now functional spaces where family and friends can congregate and engage, catch up, play, do homework, read the paper …

Today’s kitchen has evolved and therefore its design has too. Kitchens are now masterpieces of architecture and design, pieces of art if you will, that we showcase proudly.

High-gloss cupboards hide unsightly appliances, leaving gleaming surfaces uncluttered and allowed to shine in all their glory. Technology allows for us to call on espressos, ice, cold water – the list goes on – from a hidden machine at the simple touch of a button. Art and light installations merge until they are indistinguishable. Kitchens now boast TVs, wine coolers, bars, sofas … All within reach, meaning you may never need to leave the room.

The same can be said of the bathroom. Once merely a room to in which to cleanse ourselves, the bathroom now takes centre stage in the home. Bathtubs have grown, shower

subscription offer.

walls have disappeared and wet rooms have emerged. Views have become important and technology and green devices rule (you can save a Third World country’s water supply with the one-touch flush). Mouldy bathmats have been replaced by sexy concrete floors or natural wooden planks, sauna and steam functions are now par for the course, and you can have warming towel racks, warming loo seats and even underfloor heating installed. And yet, despite all these advances, the bathroom remains our sanctuary, a serene and calming space in which to wash away the day’s problems and renew our vigour.

So important are these rooms to us and to our readers that we have devoted 10 pages to SA’s top bathrooms and kitchens.We hope you are left awestruck, inspired and a tad envious. We were.

Nicky Manson, Editor

This month I covet …

The Benjamin Mirror by Egg Designs. Simply

A bathroom by Lavo Bathroom Concepts. When did

The Beluga Light by Fabbian, available from Pure

gorgeous. +27 (0)11 262 5940, eggdesigns.co.za

sanware get so sexy? +27 (0)21 461 0180, lavo.co.za

Light SA. +27 (0)82 576 2048, purelightsaonline.com

4 | September 2012

Wealth & Investment

RICHARD CARDO (CFA) Investec Wealth & Investment Portfolio Manager - Sandton

Property outlook Can the listed property sector’s past stellar performance be repeated?

Long bond yields will be a major determinant of performance in the future,

Wealth & 1nvestment

however we are unlikely to see a material kicker from further declining yields. SA interest rates are at a historically low level and the forward rate market is pricing in a 40% chance of another 50bp rate cut this year.

Ranked #1 by PricewaterhouseCoopers in Wealth Management

Although we don’t foresee further rate cuts unless the global economic

Ranked #1 in the Business Day Investors Monthly Stockbroker Awards for Sophisticated Investors

outlook deteriorates significantly further, the current level of rates is likely to remain on hold for longer. Listed property prices are currently at all time highs – as are forward income yields – which should limit any increase in capital values (at least to the same extent as previously). The sector is currently trading at an 18% premium to NAV.

Our #1 rankings are testament to our select investment services for discerning clients. Backed by our seamless global investment offering, we cater for your individual investment objectives.

To find out more contact our Sandton branch on 011 286 4500 www.investec.co.za/wi

Listed property is also facing a rising operating cost environment.

Administered prices (electricity, rates, etc) in particular are rising above rental growth. But this should be mitigated by subdued supply along with continued growth in the economy, which should see rentals escalate over the next two years.

A number of other factors should provide an underpin to the market going forward, namely: the finalisation of REIT legislation; ongoing sector consolidation; an increase in gearing levels (currently very modest); a steady decline in vacancies (although this should take longer in office); continued refurbishments; expansion into the rest of Africa; an emphasis on sustainable and green technology; and the ongoing search by investors for attractive, predictable and growing income yields in a subdued growth and low interest rate world.

Looking specifically at the sectors, the larger and dominant regional retail centers should benefit from the relatively robust consumer environment, while high vacancy, non-premium segments within the office space are probably best avoided. Similarly one should steer clear of certain pockets in heavy industry and manufacturing which are showing some signs of distress. Logistics, distribution and warehousing on the other hand, are

Ranked #1

expected to fare better.

By Business Day/Investors Monthly Stockbroker Awards for Sophisticated Investors.

Contact Investec Wealth & Investment for more details.

Sandton 011 286 4500

Portfolio Management

Stockbroking

Ranked #1 In the 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers Banking Survey in Wealth Management.

Wealth Management

Investec Securities Limited Reg. No 1972/008905/06. A member of the Investec Group. A member of the JSE Limited South Africa.

An authorised financial service provider. A registered credit provider Reg. No. NCRCP262.

IRELAND/DAVENPORT 68766

See BeautY in a neW LiGht.

Like the dramatic effect of a solar eclipse, one glimpse of the new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé will create an everlasting impression. It is a vision of BMW at its purest, elegantly showing beauty and power as one. This captivating BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé is the first four-door Coupé in BMW’s history, illustrating the breathtaking combination of sports car meeting luxury sedan. For more information visit www.bmw.co.za/6gc

the neW BMW 6 SerieS Gran CouPÉ.

BeautY. SeLDoM Seen.

The new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé is available in 640i, 650i and 640d.

BMW 6 Series Gran CoupĂŠ

www.bmw.co.za/6gc

Sheer Driving Pleasure

Property DISTRIBUTION REGIONAL CIRCULATION ABC Audited National Circulation (Apr.–Jun. 2012) The Property Magazine – Johannesburg 18 633 The Property Magazine – Western Cape 23 001 The Property Magazine – KwaZulu-Natal 13 735 The Property Magazine – Combined 55 369 THE PROPERTY MAGAZINE JOHANNESBURG DISTRIBUTION 15 230 copies free-to-home (including residential estates): Atholl & Atholl Ext. 12 Brackenhurst Bryanston & Exts.

Dunkeld Dunkeld West Houghton Estate Hyde Park Illovo & Exts.

Inanda & Exts.

Lucas Rand Melrose Northcliff Parkmore Parkhurst Parktown North River Club Sandhurst Sandown & Exts.

Saxonwold Westcliff Morningside

7 490 copies to luxury outlets (including Nambia): Atholl Place Castello Di Monte Clico Guest House Fairlawns Forum Homini Hotel Le Châtelat Radisson Blu Sun Square Montecasino Teremok Riverside Tintswalo at Waterfall Ten Bompas Hotel Ten 2nd Avenue Houghton Estate The Falstaff The Grace in Rosebank The Peech Hotel The Saxon The Quatermain The Westcliff Villa Sterne

FREE VIP DISTRIBUTION – NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL Airlines and Luxury Railways (Rovos Rail) HRG Rennies Travel Premier Club Lounges Air Namibia – Domestic & International flights South African Airways – Domestic & International Lounges Cape Aviation Business Centre BIDAir Premier Lounges Plus free distribution to VIPs in these sectors: Property Media Advertising Marketing National and local government-related industries

EDITORIAL Editor Nicky Manson nickym@medianova.co.za KwaZulu-Natal Bureau Chief Anne Schauffer anne@medianova.co.za Chief Subeditor Yaron Blecher Features Writers Genevieve Fisher (Western Cape) André Fiore (KwaZulu-Natal) Gisela Nel (Pretoria) ART Senior Designer Keverne Morland Junior Designer Chané Joemat Senior Retoucher Tim Lake CONTRIBUTORS Deborah Curtis-Setchell, Candace King, Tammy Sutherns PHOTOGRAPHERS Val Adamson, Nic Baleta, Fiona Barclay-Smith, Sally Chance, Deborah Curtis-Setchell, Michael Glenister, Tim Lake, Candace Marshall-Smith, Gisela Nel

ADVERTISING Gauteng & KwaZulu-Natal Regional Sales & Marketing Manager Jenni McCallum Gauteng & KwaZulu-Natal Sales Assistant Liezel Barnard Johannesburg Sales Milos Kovacevic, Tracey-Lee Schuster

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Select services Showrooms Industry-related businesses and events Namibia-specific distributions

ADDITIONAL FREE DISTRIBUTION – NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL Decor houses Banks Top industry-related businesses Golf clubs Restaurants Coffee shops PRETORIA DISTRIBUTION 10 000 copies, including 6 500 Free-To-Home, 500 copies to luxury outlets and embassies and 3 000 copies to select retailers

Property Winner of 10 publishing awards

SAPOA Property Journalism Awards 2011: Winner – Best Property Publication Nedbank Property Association Awards 2010: Winner – Mover & Shaker Award (Tony Vaughan) PICA Awards 2009: Winner – Special Award, Overall Publishing Excellence PICA Awards 2008: Winner – Consumer Magazines, Largely Free Distribution, and Highly Commended: Editorial Excellence, Public Interest Writer of the Year (Ed Suter) 20th SAB Environmentalist of the Year & Environmental Journalists of the Year Awards 2008: Winner – Merit Award, Print & Internet SAPOA Property Journalism Awards 2008: Winner – Best Property Publication, and Special Mention – Property Feature Journalist (Ed Suter) PICA Awards 2007: B2B – Publishing Excellence, Leisure Mondi Magazine Awards 2005: Winner – Foresight SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: Winner – Philip Tyler Trophy for Innovation in Magazine Publishing Brandhouse Media Owners Challenge Awards 2005:Winner – Innovation in Publishing SAPPI PICA Awards 2005: B2B – Highly Commended Mondi Magazine Awards 2004: Industry – Finalist Launch Edition: April 2004 WESTERN CAPE 3rd Floor, 33 Bree Street, Cape Town, 8001.

PO Box 50601, The Waterfront, Cape Town 8002.

Phone +27 (0)87 230 0101 Fax +27 (0)21 421 7891 GAUTENG 49 6th Street, Parkhurst, Johannesburg, 2193.

Phone +27 (0)87 230 0101 NAMIBIA Phone +264 (0)61 248 161 Fax +264 (0)61 245 942 SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Email subs@ramsaymedia.co.za Online magsathome.co.za Local Phone 0860 100 209 Fax 0866 704 101 International Phone +27 (0)21 530 3112 Fax +27 (0)21 530 3143 SMS 41871 with reference ‘Property Magazine’ (R2/SMS) for subscription enquiries EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES General editorial@medianova.co.za Society readers@medianova.co.za.

Hot Property editorial@medianova.co.za

Est. 2004, Issue 279

Property

JOHANNESBURG

WIN

WIN

A SHAMWARI TRIP WORTH R27 000

JOHN RABIE

JOHN RABIE

KWAZULU-NATAL

Property

PRETORIA

Property

WESTERN CAPE

WIN

WIN

WIN

A SHAMWARI VISIT WORTH R27 000

CONOR MCCREEDY’S

Property

SOUTH AFRICA

THE CONOR MCCREEDY’S SOHO APARTMENT

SOHO APARTMENT

ZINIO EDITION!

PROFILING

JOHN RABIE

PROFILING JOHN RABIE

CONOR MCCREEDY’S SOHO APARTMENT

CONOR MCCREEDY’S

SOHO APARTMENT

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS SA’S HOT SPACES PLUS: IDEAS AND PRODUCTS TO INSPIRE YOU

CONOR MCCREEDY’S

SOHO APARTMENT

MODERN RETRO

INSIDE A TRENDY PECANWOOD HOME

COBRA THROUGHOUT

DISCERNING HOMEOWNER GOES WITH STYLISH COBRA SANWARE AND TAPS

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS

SA’S HOT SPACES PLUS: INSPIRATIONAL PRODUCTS & IDEAS

INTRODUCING MEERENDAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS

SA’S HOT SPACES PLUS: INSPIRATIONAL PRODUCTS & IDEAS

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS

SA’S HOT SPACES PLUS: INSPIRATIONAL PRODUCTS & IDEAS

ON THIS MONTH’S COVERS Western Cape: Meerendal Boutique Hotel.

Johannesburg: Designer bathroom with Cobra throughout – 0861 21 21 21, cobra.co.za.

KwaZulu-Natal: Beach house, Brittania Bay. Pretoria: Pod Boutique Hotel, Camps Bay. South Africa (National Digital Edition): Bathroom, The Glass House, Gauteng.

CONOR MCCREEDY’S

SOHO APARTMENT

RSA R34.95 (incl. VAT) Other countries R21.90 (excl. Tax) Designer bathroom with COBRA throughout 0861 21 21 21, cobra.co.za

287 815

DISCERNING HOMEOWNER GOES WITH STYLISH COBRA SANWARE AND TAPS

PROFILING

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS INSPIRATION

PROFILING

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS INSPIRATION

COBRA THROUGHOUT

Property

decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate A SHAMWARI TRIP WORTH R27 000

AMPS (2011A)

PUBLISHED BY MEDIA NOVA (PTY) LTD Managing Director Tony Vaughan tony@medianova.co.za General Manager Mark Pettipher markp@medianova.co.za Project Manager Taryn Townsend Associate Publisher Pretoria Obed Sealetsa Associate Publisher Namibia Mynard Slabbert Financial Manager Leanne Cox leanne@medianova.co.za Finance Assistant Eleanor Scipio Credit Controller Anthea Odendaal Collections Clerk Casmia Gysman IT Coordinator Adrian Petro Drivers Themba Gumede, Joseph Khoza, Willem September

Print edition published monthly in four regional issues: Western Cape, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and Pretoria Current ABC Audited Circulation (Q2 2012, April–June): Western Cape – 23 001, Johannesburg – 18 633, KwaZulu-Natal – 13 735. Total Nationally – 55 369 Pretoria print run – 10 000 Web Stats: Property Club Members – 24 884 AMPS National Readership (2011A): 287 815

JOHANNESBURG

SEPTEMBER 2012

National Readership

Western Cape Regional Sales & Marketing Manager Michèle Jones Western Cape Sales Chantal Barton, Susan Erwee Pretoria Sales Lorna MacPhail KwaZulu-Natal Sales Claire Veitch Directory Sales Lufuno Mudau Event Coordinator Bianca van Deventer Media Coordinator Tamlyn Pasqualie Traffic Assistant Portia Mbele

DISTRIBUTION Ezweni Magazine Distribution

The Property Magazine Pretoria! Now available free to select households, retailers and luxury outlets NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Retail: CNA Exclusive Books (select stores) Spar Clicks Airport-based retailers

thepropertymag.co.za

Disclaimer The publisher and editor of this magazine give no warranties, guarantees or assurances and make no representations regarding any goods or services advertised within this edition. Copyright Media Nova (Pty) Limited. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Media Nova (Pty) Limited.

The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material.

medianova.co.za

with your morning coffee,a hand written welcome note and steaming cup of hot chocolate on arrival.

What more could a weary traveller ask for?

Situated in Durban's leafy Morningside suburb, the Live Saint James is a Luxuriously place where “oldeatworlthe d charm St James on Venice Boutique Hotel and service meets modern conveniences, comfort At the luxurious Saint James on Venice Boutique Hotel, the highlight of your stay will be a and sophistication.” complimentary car wash, freshly baked biscuits with your morning coffee,a hand written welcome note and steaming cup of hot chocolate on arrival.

What more could a weary traveller ask for?

Situated in Durban's leafy Morningside suburb, the Saint James is a place where “olde world charm and service meets modern conveniences, comfort and sophistication.”

For more information or to book, contact us on Tel: +27 31 312 9488 For more information or to book, contact us on Tel: +27 a31 312 9488 ce.co.za www.stj mesonveni www.stjamesonvenice.co.za

aha african hotels hotels & & adventures adventures african

www.ahagroup.co.za

www.ahagroup.co.za

Property Mag finalad.pdf 1 4/25/2012 3:14:10 PM

Discerning Craftmanship

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

Design Boulevard, William Nicol Road. Bryanston.

Tel +27 11 463 5005 www.hartmannandkeppler.co.za follow us on facebook

LUXURY WIN

Simply stunning,

simply Shamwari Stand a chance to win a three-night stay for two at Shamwari Game Reserve

PRIZE T VALUED A

R27 000!

S

hamwari Game Reserve, one of the largest malaria-free

Rescue Centre, Shamwari offers a Kids on Safari programme, bush walks

Big 5 private game reserves in the Eastern Cape, is situated

and relaxation retreats.

along the Bushman’s River between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, forming a natural extension to the world-famous

Garden Route.

Shamwari ensures that there is something for everyone to learn and experience at this exceptional conservation project.

Shamwari also offers a unique bush-walking experience called the

Shamwari, which means ‘friend’ in the local Shona language, is the

Explorer Camp. This is a two-day safari on foot within Big 5 territory, where

flagship of the Shamwari Group and boasts five eco-systems which

guests truly get back to basics and learn more about their natural heritage

support many forms of plant, bird and animal life. Shamwari offers five

at grassroots level. They are accompanied by a qualified specialist game

luxury lodges, a villa and an Explorer Camp. Some lodges are built into

ranger and camp in mobile tents in the bush.

their natural surroundings; others are memorials to Settler history.

Home to one of South Africa’s most experienced wildlife teams, a wildlife rehabilitation centre that guests can visit and the Born Free

Shamwari is all about ‘conserving a vanishing way of life’. +27 (0)41 509 3000, reservations@shamwarigroup.com

WIN!

A three-night stay for two at Shamwari Game Reserve, valued at R27 000. Prize includes accommodation, all meals, all game drives, and a back, neck and shoulder massage for each guest. To enter, simply send your contact details to readers@medianova.co.za and put ‘Shamwari’ in the subject box. Ts & Cs apply*.

Winter special: 50%-Off Five-Star Safari Special Book and pay within seven days and get 50% off. Travel must take place before 30 September 2012. Rates include all game drives, meals, and selected beverages and accommodation. Phone and quote code ‘50/50’. Please note: Offer cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. Full payment required on confirmation of booking. All payments non-refundable. Offer based on availability at the time of booking.

*Terms and conditions: Flights and transport to and from the reserve are not included. Extras, such as additional spa treatments, alcoholic beverages and gifts from the curios store, are for the winner’s expense. The prize cannot be used on long weekends or public holidays. Accommodation depends on availability. Prize not transferable and not exchangeable for cash.

Competition closes on 30 September 2012.

10 | September 2012

FIX YOUR FUTURE ELECTRICITY COSTS NOW

PAY AS LITTLE AS 65C/KWH FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS*

Every year millions of South Africans are increasingly affected by electricity price hikes. Solar power from SolarWorld is the alternative. Selfproduced solar power from your own roof is already cheaper than the electricity you buy from your power utility. Solar power solutions from SolarWorld are optimized to achieve maximum efficiency through the highest quality, made in Germany.

Fix your future electricity costs now by visiting us at WWW.SOLARWORLD.CO.ZA *Price has been calculated based on the following assumptions: 1. Offer consists of 1440Wp of SolarWorld modules with a 25 year linear performance guarantee, one SMA inverter (5 year guarantee) and installation accessories. 2. System price excl. ďŹ nance cost, is valid for a standard roof installation within a 50km radius of the certiďŹ ed SolarWorld distributor. 3. Electricity generated by this system must be utilized as it is produced. 4. Generation price example is based on a system price of R36 000 incl VAT, installed at a 30 degree pitch, north-facing in the Gauteng region. 5. Please consult your municipality or power utility to ensure that you comply with legal requirements. 6. This offer is valid until the end of November 2012.

HOT PROPERTY

F

ashion designer Lindie Ferreira, famous for the

HOT SPACE

Marion and Lindie brand, has been out of the fashion world for three years. In that time her creativity has evolved, leading to the realisation of an entirely

different dream – a little bit of everything, artistically thrown together in a brand-new decor store, Franklin.

The homely shop opened in Parktown North at the end of May and stocks antique mirrors, beautiful lamps, gorgeous cabinets and wooden washing bins, among other quirky collections. It’s fashionably presented, with every last detail placed just so, according to Lindie’s critical eye. Lindie, who is embracing the passion that comes from decor, says, ‘If something is nice, I think someone will appreciate it. I just want to make beautiful things and make people happy.’

And happiness is sure to come from Franklin, which manages to effortlessly put forward the old, the new, the stylish and the vintage, all in one spot. The displays include a

1

little bit of everything from Lindie’s home and from friends’ homes, antique stores and auctions.

‘I love old things,’ says Lindie. ‘I love the care, the attention to detail and the craftsmanship. I also love that they don’t age, which is so different to my experience in fashion, where you would have 160 new styles per season and then you would just throw them away and start from scratch. Now if there is a beautiful piece of furniture, it can age and someone can get joy from it.’

Lindie, who was in the fashion industry for 26 years, says the past few years have been an experimental time for her creatively and an eye-opening challenge. ‘It was really good, because I had to do all these other creative things besides designing, so I uncovered all these other things that I could do.

2

And, you know, I just want to do beautiful things, and I love old things and antiques. Some people don’t – my mother hates them – so I thought I could create a nice fusion of old and new, nice things.’

Her love for beautiful clothing may also work its way into the store. She says, ‘I’ll do clothing, but only what I want to do and when I want to do it.’ Designing jewellery collections is another one of Lindie’s favourite hobbies, and she says she might incorporate her jewellery pieces into the Franklin offering soon.

Lindie describes herself as ‘quite a frank person’, and this inspired the name of the shop. She doesn’t mind who it attracts. She says, ‘I don’t want to think about that.

Hopefully, if I do something well or with love and care, people

3

will get enjoyment and pleasure from it the way I do.’

+27 (0)82 332 3069

Words Tammy Sutherns

FRANKLY gorgeous When a fashion designer moves into the furniture business, the result is a quirky array of decor gems

4

Lindie Ferreira’s new venture, Franklin, at Parktown Quarter shopping centre. 2The store

1

Visit thepropertymag.co.za for more

specialises in quirky yet tasteful collectibles.3Jewellery, succulents … You can find just about

decor ideas and inspiration.

anything at Franklin. 4Lindie has turned from fashion designer to antique and decor queen.

thepropertymag.co.za | 13

HOT PROPERTY

HOT PLATE

From lovely new dining spots to great old winter spots

LINDY PRETORIUS is the Westcliff’s renowned pastry chef. She reveals her passion and her secrets.

Where will we find you these days? I am the executive sous chef (I’m developing in this field) as well as the executive pastry chef. But my forte and ultimate love is – and will remain – pastry.

I developed my passion many years ago while watching my mother and grandmother bake. I took it from there, read on the subject, and continued via trial and error. If you had to choose between sweet and savoury, which would you pick? I would say sweet items, but even sweet pastries need to incorporate different flavours, such as tartness, bitterness and saltiness, so that they’re not only sweet. What is the key to making the best pastries? Passion.

14 | September 2012

CULINARY COMFORT It’s not every day that you walk into a restaurant and feel instantly at home. Nestled in Bryanston’s Hobart Grove Shopping Centre, Junipa’s All Day Café and Bistro offers freshly roasted coffee, freshly baked artisanal bread and a host of delectable dishes from a menu that’s vast yet uncomplicated. In addition to the warm service and friendly staff, Junipa’s decor and ambience is relaxed and homely and is heightened by the soothing sounds of jazz, which is performed live on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Junipa’s offers breakfast and lunch all week long and is running a sublime winter menu. We love chef Jean-Pierre Smith’s oxtail dish (which will rival your mom’s cooking) and the delicious kingklip. The homemade Glühwein is worth indulging in, too. +27 (0)11 706 2387, junipas.co.za

Words Candace King and Nicky Manson

Do you bake at home? For me, baking is not a job; it’s a lifestyle, a way to express all my emotions. I bake when I’m happy and when I’m sad. I bake to make my family happy. I bake to remember and I bake to forget. I bake to find myself and to lose myself. I bake. Where do you see yourself going in the next five years? Training and developing in my surroundings, researching the traditional, and keeping abreast of developments. +27 (0)11 481 6000, westcliff.co.za

HOT PROPERTY

HOT PLATE

HEARTENING FLAVOURS The Maboneng Precinct has been very busy lately, what with the recent opening of two eateries. The first is Eat Your Heart Out, on Fox Street, a cute place brought to you by its owner, Stacey Kirshenbaum. Having relocated from a stand at Market on Main, Eat Your Heart Out now has a permanent home, and with just 10 seats in the house, it has become a popular spot for coffee and light meals. Although it’s small, the space is airy, and the shelves are laden with delights, such as home-made Greek yogurt poppyseed cake with chocolate ganache, and Starving Artist Very Crunchy Peanut and Macadamia Butter. We tried the Israeli breakfast, a simple yet delicious feast of omelette gently spiced with za’tar (mixed Arabic herbs) and served with toasted pita, diced salad, pickled cabbage, olives, chilli, organic humus and chunky cottage cheese. Just around the corner, on Kruger Road, you will find Blackenese. It offers fresh sushi at reasonable prices, and wine. What’s not too like? mabonengprecinct.com

SOUP AT SKOOBS Before the weather turns warmer, you must visit Skoobs Theatre of Books at Montecasino and indulge in the steaming soup specials.

Created by MasterchefSA judge, Benny Masekwameng, the soups are a wonderfully comforting accompaniment to paging through your fave mag or discovering the latest best-seller. Try the creamy potato and leek soup with blue cheese, the lamb shin and lentil, or the minestrone. +27 (0)11 510 7000, montecasino.co.za

GOODNESS ON THE GO New from Gaea’s range of traditional products is this delicious snack pack of sun-ripened, hand-picked olives. There’s no liquid – just open and eat! And thanks to the re-sealable packaging, these olives are a healthy on-the-go snack. Available from Wellness Warehouse and selected health food retailers nationwide. gaea.gr

GET YOUR FIX Douwe Egberts presents its new ground-coffee range, comprising six gourmet blends of different strengths, to suit all occasions and tastes. Try House Blend, Time Together, Café Milano, Flavourful Decaff or Fired Up. To kick-start your day, try Morning Americano. douweegberts.com

thepropertymag.co.za | 15

HOT PROPERTY

HOT DECOR & DESIGN

We chat to GARY

There has been a lot of movement in Joburg recently, with fabulous brands making our city their home

SEARLE,

managing director of St Leger & Viney.

What are the fabric and wallpaper trends for 2012? A noteworthy element in

16 | September 2012

NEXT GENERATION Designer furniture brand Generation is reinventing itself after 20 years in the business and, to celebrate the occasion, founder and owner Julia Day has opened a concept store at Hyde Park Corner. A grand addition to her range is Italy’s De Padova brand, available in SA exclusively through Generation. Other hot brands in store include Seletti, Serax and Lampe Gras, and a fun new range of kid’s furniture, fabrics and wallpaper from Napp Decor. +27 (0)11 325 6302, generationdesign.co.za

TAKE IT SLOW We love the new Slow chair and ottoman from Cape Town-based Créma Design.

Created by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for the Swiss furniture company, Vitra, the set features a translucent knit sling cover that is stretched over a metal frame (much like a fitted stocking), replacing conventional padding.

Online shopping and nationwide shipping available. +27 (0)21 434 0661 cremadesign.co.za

EXPANDING THE EMPIRE Lula Fabrics has opened in the design district of Kramerville. The long-awaited showroom comes five years after the opening of the Cape Town store. Along with its extensive fabric range, Lula has also introduced a range of cushions, chairs, ottomans, pumps, aprons, cosmetic bags and handbags in some of its most popular designs. +27 (0)11 262 4122, lulafabrics.co.za

Words Nicky Manson Profile photograph Michael Glenister

fabric design is a new priority for pattern.

Leading the way are floral designs.

Traditional florals evoke a sense of history and security. New florals pile on colour.

Watercolour effects with an uneven visual texture suggesting a carefully wielded artist’s brush are directional. These are not shy florals; scale is increasing. With regards to wallpaper, it’s now spreading from a feature wall to all four walls of a room because of its remarkable quality of being able to pull the elements of a decorative scheme together. Scale is becoming smaller. Pinstripes and textured papers are ever popular. For the glamour market, crystal-embellished wallpapers add sparkle and luxury to interiors. What are the more popular fabrics? Wool is becoming a significant fibre in home furnishing. It is sustainable, ecologically sound, a natural fire retardant, and carries dye beautifully. Tweed, flannel and melton weave are all luxurious crossovers from menswear ranges, such as Ralph Lauren. Popular designs are paisleys, windowpane chequers, and pinstripes.

Houndstooth is also sought after. Men are becoming increasingly involved in interior choices and they relate easily to this fibre.

What inspired your Road to Oxiana range? It was inspired by Robert Byron’s travelogue, written in the 1930s. He followed in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, and the book has wonderfully evocative passages describing the souks, mosques and palaces of the old Silk Route. The fabric designs were developed and printed in our design studio in England and the range epitomises the style and craftsmanship for which St Leger & Viney is well known. +27 (0)11 444 6722, stleger.co.za

HOT PROPERTY

HOT DECOR & DESIGN

BALI ARRIVAL Warisan (from the Indonesian word for ‘heritage) is an international wood furniture brand that has extended its reach from Bali to the shores of New York and has now landed on our beaches. A supplier of designer furniture to top international hotels, Warisan has opened a studio in Green Point, Cape Town, but the good news for us in Joburg is that it delivers nationwide. Warisan’s range also includes residential furniture, accessories and lighting. Think gorgeous products made from wood from sustainable plantations. +27 (0)21 421 1122, warisan.com

BLUE-RIBBON RIBBONS If you have not yet discovered the world of Ebony and Ivory Ribbons, then you are in for a treat. They stock a large range of everything beautiful – crafts, haberdashery, old trading items, ribbons, cards, gift tags, cute buttons and more. Their vintage-inspired store is in Cape Town but their website is a portal to a treasure chest of petersham and cotton ribbons and simply divine paper products. You can buy online too. On our must-have list is their Voyage Paper Bag, with its delightful illustrations, and the This Side Up cotton ribbon.

You must also take a peek inside their Trading Truck – it’s a trove of fabulous limited-edition collectibles. +27 (0)21 713 2964, ebonyandivoryribbons.co.za

BUCK UP Buckyballs desktop toys are now available in SA, but may cause problems in the workplace, due to their addictiveness. Each box includes 216 super-powerful rare-earth magnetic balls which can be squeezed and moulded into almost any shape imaginable. They will keep any user occupied (we had to guard ours once our colleagues discovered

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

them). Available from Look & Listen and Spilhaus stores,

Vendange has arrived at the Design Quarter in Fourways. Inside

and online at Takealot.com.

the store you will find an exclusive melange of Trudeau cheese

getbuckyballs.com

and baguette boards as well as a lovely variety of glassware, ceramics, champagne buckets, wooden wine crates, kitchen tables and much more. The mezzanine level adds some interest – it’s dedicated entirely to basketry. +27 (0)76 189 8321, vendange.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za

|

17

HOT PROPERTY

HOT INDULGENCE

Wines, destinations, fashion and toys to brighten up your winter days

A HITCH IN TIME Cape Town-based business Cowgirl Blues specialises in designer-crafted knitwear made from quality wool and mohair from the Karoo as well as from other natural fibres. Its range includes clothing, accessories and decor items. All the manufacturing is done by hand. Taking the personal touch a step further, Cowgirl Blues gives its products familiar names, such as Erika (loop-knit mohair/ wool chair seat cover), Eva (mohair/ wool blend shoulder bag), Chloe (kid mohair/silk shawl), Victoria (pure- wool snood) and Harry (woolen neckwarmer). +27 (0)83 445 1150, cowgirlblues.co.za

THE DARKER SIDE Kirsten Goss’ new Tough Luxe

LET IT OUT

collection screams ‘provocative’.

Pandora has a new jewel in its treasure

Think spikes, bullets and studs.

chest – an elegant, hand-finished Murano

Industrial designs have been

glass charm with pink ribbons. Pandora

wrought in rich 18 ct gold vermeil

donates 15% of the proceeds from the sale

and cool sterling silver. It’s edgy

of these charms to breast cancer awareness

yet sophisticated. Available from

organisations worldwide. The charm is

her Durban and Joburg stores

available from Pandora concept stores and

and online. +27 (0)31 312 7573,

from selected Edgars stores and jewellers

+27 (0)11 447 2234,

nationwide. +27 (0)11 706 2377,

kirstengoss.com

pandora.net

INGENIOUS WINEMAKING Nederburg’s new vintages of Ingenuity are now available, and they do not disappoint. We tried the Ingenuity White 2010, a combination of Sauvignon Blanc (39%), Chardonnay, Semillon, Viognier, Rhine Riesling and Gewürztraminer, and found it simply delightful from start to finish. It’s full of flavour, with a smooth finish. Paired with pork chops, it’s a treat.

The Ingenuity Red 2008 is presented in an interestingly shaped bottle, and the Barbera, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese blend is as intriguing, particularly the Sangiovese aspect, which contributes hints of cherry and plum. Try it with savoury dishes. The new Ingenuity range is available from liquor outlets nationwide. +27 (0)21 862 3104, nederburg.co.za

18 | September 2012

HOT PROPERTY

THE SKINNY ON FRANSCHHOEK Delicious Hotel is the no-frills younger sister of the boutique Le Quartier Français hotel. There are three room styles – Itsy Bitsy, Teeny Weeny and Bigger than a Bikini – and less fussing makes for a cheaper stay. But, guests may choose some little luxuries from the ‘Supe-Up My Stay’ menu. Side orders include breakfast at Le Quartier Français, World-Famous Sticky Buns, Devilish Daiquiris, gym access (to work it all off) and daily room cleaning (as opposed

DEFROST YOURSELF

to every three days). Delicious is listed among Elle UK’s Five Best

A visit to Life Day Spa Rosebank is ideal for dispelling

New Hotels 2012. +27 (0)21 876 4232, delicioushotels.com

the winter blues. Try the signature Sulis Relax Ritual, the perfect remedy for winter-dry skin. It begins with a full- body Neroli sugar scrub, followed by an hour-long oil massage that leaves your skin silky smooth and your muscles warm and relaxed. The deliciousness is enhanced with a warming eye pad and gloves and a blissful scalp massage. Other facilities include a steam room, heated pool, Rasul chamber and flotation chamber, where a halfhour treatment is the same as four hours’ sleep. Find your nearest Life Day Spa in Rosebank, Fourways or Cape Town. +27 (0)11 447 2255, lifedaysparosebank.co.za

STARS ABOVE This inflatable solar system set has us over the moon. The educational toy is available from The Toy Cupboard, Craighall, and is fun for children and adults.

Sarah Heurlin, the store’s owner, is passionate about games and toys that help children to acquire new skills. Available online; nationwide delivery. +27 (0)11 886 0715, thetoycupboard.co.za

SIZEABLE SIPPING

GET STROPPY

Holden Manz Big G 2009

The Revolution Barber is now open at Revolution

does not disappoint.

House in Maboneng Precinct and is said to give

Named after the

the closest shave in town. Late opening hours

Franschhoek wine estate’s

and a space pared down to the minimum (arcade

co-owner, Gerard Holden,

machines and couches – who needs more?) hammer

the wine is a blend of

home that macho feeling. +27 (0)84 280 3688

Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon and is bold and full of flavour,

HIGH FIVE

with a lingering finish. We paired it with braaied lamb

New to the Constantia Glen family is the 2008

chops and found them a

vintage of Constantia Glen Five. This gold-winning

perfect combination. The

blend (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,

winner of a Decanter wine

Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot) is elegant and

magazine gold medal, the

refined and ages well. We savoured ours with

Big G 2009 is available

beef, but winemaker Justin van Wyk says oven-

from boutique wine shops

roasted quail is the way to go. Available from

nationwide or at the cellar

boutique wine shops and restaurants nationwide.

door. +27 (0)21 876 2729,

+27 (0)21 795 6100, constantiaglen.com

holdenmanz.com

thepropertymag.co.za | 19

HOT PROPERTY

JOHANNESBURG DIARY

Pick n Pay Taste of Joburg, 27-30 September Everyone’s fave food show is back at the Montecasino Outdoor Event Area, in association with Orbit Sugar-Free Chewing Gum. The chefs from 14 of Joburg’s top restaurants, including Marthinus Ferreira from DW Eleven-13 and Andrew Atkinson from Piccolo Mondo at The Michelangelo, will be serving their signature dishes. A new addition is the Taste of Joburg Pop- Up Restaurant, where guest chefs will be popping in to cook their favourite dishes. Tickets: from R80, including tasting glass. itickets.co.za; +27 (0)11 463 0355, tasteofjoburg.com

WIN Five double VIP tickets to The Taste Clubhouse Experience, presented

by DSTV, are up for grabs. The prize includes entry to the festival, a tasting glass, R180 worth of festival crowns, complimentary bar service (malt, wine and soft drinks) as well as a private clubhouse to use as your base at the show. To stand a chance of winning, email your details to editorial@medianova.co.za and put ‘Taste’ in the subject box.

Ts & Cs apply.

Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase, 30 August Experience exceptional wines when members of the guild present the wines that are going under the hammer at this year’s Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction. Only wines crafted exclusively for the guild by these winemakers are sold at the annual auction, which is open to the public, wine collectors and the liquor and restaurant trade. The auction showcase is on at The Atrium, Nedbank Sandton. Tickets: R170, including a tasting glass. +27 (0)21 852 0408, capewinemakersguild.com

Black Like Us, until 1 September Presented by the Watercolour Society Africa at Manor Gallery at the Norscot Centre in Fourways, this exhibition showcases the works of emerging artists, including Sam Maduna, Abe Mathabe, Edward Selematsela, Patrick Rapai and Makiwa Mutomba. +27 (0)11 465 7934, wsa.org.za

Bakos Bros. Spring Sale, until 1 September Held annually at the Bakos Brothers Clearance Warehouse & Factory Showroom in Wynberg, this is one of the most anticipated sales of the year for all decor hoarders. You will find a variety of luxury furniture and decor

Bakos Bros. Spring Sale

20 | September 2012

items for every room in the home. 0861 122 567, bakosbrothers.com

HOT PROPERTY

Nando’s Soweto Comedy Festival

Nando’s Soweto Comedy Festival, 30 August – 1 September On at Walter Sisulu Square, the show is being hosted by David Kau and stars Orlando Jones, Lil Rel, Loni Love, Brian Haner and Michael Winslow.

Catch the greatest stand-up comics from around the world right here in SA. Tickets: R150–R220. 0861 915 8000, computicket.com

Telkom Business/Michael Fridjhon Wine Experience 2012, 1–2 September On at the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, this year’s experience is themed ‘The Glory of Old Wines’ and the benchmark tasting includes Krug 1995, Château Mouton Rothschild 1975, Château Cheval Blanc 1970, Bonnes Mares 1990 and Niersteiner Fritzenholler Beerenauslese 1945. Sunday’s renowned champagne brunch will include prestige and standard cuvées from Billecart-Salmon and Pommery. Guests at the gala dinner will be

Nedbank CWG Auction Showcase

treated to the 1997 Bollinger Grande Année, poured from the jeroboam.

Weekend package: R7 250/person, including double accommodation at the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg on Saturday night. Champagne Brunch: R2 150/person. +27 (0)11 280 1234, johannesburg.regency.hyatt.com

Cellar Rats Spring Wine Festival 2012, 2 September The annual fundraising event for Woodland School is being held at the Old Mill in the Magaliesberg and promises to be a fun family day out.

You’ll get to taste some of SA’s best wines in one of South Africa’s grandest locations, plus there’ll be live music as well as lots of fun for the kids. Tickets: adults from R99, including tasting glass, kids from R10. +27 (0)14 577 1301, winefestival.co.za; 0861 915 8000, computicket.com

Cellar Rats Spring Wine Festival

Johannesburg Garden Club Annual Plant Sale, 15 September SA’s hottest horticultural ticket is on at 9 Bryanston Drive and boasts a tea garden, lunch garden and smoked salmon and champagne bar, so you can rest your weary feet after hours of perusing the amazing plants on offer. New to the event is the Portobello Road Antiques Market. johannesburggardenclub.co.za

The High St. Auction Co. Multi-Property Auction, 20 September The next esteemed multi-property auction by The High St. Auction Co. is taking place on Thursday, 20 September, 12 p.m., at Summer Place, 69 Melville Road, Hyde Park. For more information, visit highstreetauctions.com

Johannesburg Garden Club Annual Plant Sale

Send your 2012 event information to readers@medianova.co.za. thepropertymag.co.za | 21

prime property

‘The knowledge ThaT I had roamed

free wITh lIonS Should have Served aS a red flag To any new york real eSTaTe broker

’

22 | September 2012

prime property

An Artist’s

sanctuary Conor Mccreedy magic has transformed a Lower Manhattan factory shell into an upmarket Chelsea home Words and photographs Deborah Curtis-setchell

thepropertymag.co.za | 23

prime property

A

cclaimed South African artist Conor Mccreedy has been equally obsessed with Picasso and the idea of New York for as long as his mom, Carole, can remember.

For Conor, the youngest artist in history to have a solo exhibition at the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, a fixture in the New York art world, setting up home in the Big Apple was a natural choice: when you have slept at home on a South African farm for over a decade, with images of the iconic Chrysler and Empire State buildings swinging strategically above your headboard, complementing a naive display of your own school art, it is only a matter of time before your creativity and boyhood dreams manifest in bricks, mortar and the keys to a 3 000sq. ft (2 800m2) Chelsea penthouse and art studio above the meatpacking district in Lower Manhattan, with the real Empire State Building in triumphant view.

‘The knowledge that as a child I had roamed free with lions on several hundred acres of Tuli savannah on a Botswana game reserve should have served as a red flag to any New York real estate

24 | September 2012

broker saddled with a shoestring budget and the task of finding me living quarters spacious enough to accommodate my grand aspirations coupled with an entire collection of 9ft × 5ft paintings on the most densely populated island on the planet,’ says Conor.

‘But 50 “rejected’”apartment blocks later, Ron Malin was still standing and pointing Mom and me in the direction of an old glue gun and drill factory in the densest industrial suburb of Manhattan, bordering the High Line.’

The High Line was built in the 1930s as an elevated bridge above the cheek-by-jowl, smokebelching factories between 9th and 30th streets on the West Side and was used for railing milk, other dairy products and meat to the retail outlets, without congesting the residential streets or endangering the communities below. A group of landscape architects recently restored the High Line as a public park and walkway. It stands more than 9m above the still-seething streets, bridging the gap between old and new. Like the town planners, Conor saw the potential in rising above the stark streets and rough neighbourhood as

well as the charm in living in a factory warehouse, with its raw brick walls, ceilings littered with strips of aluminium drill hook rails, wooden pigeonholes, clusters of suspended industrial lighting and a red steel door with an illuminated exit sign above it.

‘What immediately sold me on this pad was one glimpse of that historic facade of the Empire State Building majestically framed by the floor-toceiling sash windows, and two skylights flooding the screed floors with this amazing light, the sort of surreal light that exhorted Monet and Manet to pick up their paintbrushes and embark on their respective masterpieces. Also, the sight of private helicopters landing across the gleaming Hudson River on the West Side Highway directly opposite could have been the opening scene of a Spielberg blockbuster and helped clinch the deal,’ says Conor. He had to do some serious blockbusting himself to break through the solid concrete dividing wall/cupboard, in order to create a brighter bedroom alcove, hitherto only separated from the open-plan living area by fringed red velvet theatre curtains.

prime property He also came up with a typically imaginative plan to convert a huge oak-framed gate into a giant screen for viewing his own digital blockbusters. He removed all the wiring, antique nuts, bolts and wooden frames and stretched canvas over the exposed framework and attached it to the living room wall. He then suspended a camera from one of the drill hooks to project onto this makeshift cinema screen.

The original glue gun factory shell was not without its hidden gems, including a vast marble countertop in the kitchen area, wall brackets for tool storage that could serve as bookshelves, a magnificent Victorian ball-and-claw bath and washstand, and the ‘Trump’ card, a wooden deck with 360° city views stretching as far as the New York Sound.

Conor embarked on a restoration job to rival the High Line in its ingenuity and creativity, transforming discarded items and garbage from the streets below into bespoke collectible accessories. There is a benefit to having your design-astute mother alongside you.

Carole – an accomplished architectural designer and a Pratt graduate in her own right – was unfazed by

being assigned the task of assembling two chandeliers from scratch.

Conor had talked a local antiques dealer into selling him the glass parts at a reduced price rather than the end product. Carole says it was one of the worst mistakes she’s ever made: ‘Three days and multiple wounds later, we hung the darn things up on the gun glue hook railings. But, I must admit, the blood, sweat and tears were worth it when I saw how spectacularly “Swarovski” they looked!’

There are other perks to residing downtown, if you can dispel any notions of elitism, and in spite of his private-school background, Conor has found every advantage in embracing his working-class neighbours, who have proven perhaps infinitely more loyal than the Park Avenue equivalent.

‘The first guy I befriended was the night watchman from the Gotham Wholesale Seafood Factory next door. Despite the lingering fishy smell on the threshold, Ellison, or ‘Elle’ as I called him, used to invite me into the factory fridges on nights when I was expecting mates around for dinner, to help myself

Al PAcino ‘ APProved of the scent of mAssed white orchids nestling in bots, flickering Jo mAlone cAndles And uncorked bordeAux sAint-Émilion

’

Opening page The Blue Lady hangs in the living room, which is filled with a mix of old and new finds. This spread, left Antique meets modern. Fresh lilies complete the effect. Above The view that clinched the sale. Below The marble for the kitchen counter was found on site.

thepropertymag.co.za | 25

prime property

‘LouiSe waS bLown away by my

“crazy JameS bond anticS”, and with a few SipS of champagne and the Sight of my paintbruSheS StaShed in a SiLver champagne bucket – it waS a 007 home run

’

26 | September 2012

prime property

to fresh crayfish and prawns straight out of the export crates. We ate like kings! I repaid him with a couple of my paintings, probably some of the most inspired Atlantic Waves I ever produced on a seafood diet. I knew my apartment was safe as houses, with Elle and his fish knives on the doorstep. In fact, I have him to thank in my quest to seduce my first girlfriend in New York, Scottish actress, Louise Lytton.

‘I arrived home on our first date, having forgotten my keys at a SoHo restaurant, and old Elle, armed with his forklift, came to my rescue, right on cue, and hoisted me 10 floors up the side of the building, through one of the sash windows. ‘Louise was blown away by my “crazy James Bond antics”, and with a few sips of champagne and the sight of my paintbrushes stashed in a silver champagne bucket, it was a 007 home run. She proceeded to bring Al Pacino around for crayfish a few weeks later.When I told him that in Scent Of A Woman he reminded me of my wild Irish grandfather, Francis William, he promptly adopted a heavy Irish accent for the rest of the evening and threw in the regular ‘hoo-hah!’ as he approved of the scent of massed white orchids nestling in pots, flickering Jo Malone candles and uncorked

This is my ‘ sancTuary from The ouTside world, and ThaT is one Tough ouTside world

’

Bordeaux Saint-Émilion. The outside smell of fresh fish didn’t seem to phase him at all.’

Streetwise Conor has a nose for a bargain as well as an eye for detail. He salvaged a solid partners’ desk – the ripped leather added character – off the street, a leather Ralph Lauren ottoman and chair from a second-hand store, and a Persian carpet and solid metal aviator chest from the famous Garage antique market between 25th and 27th. His only extravagances are brand-new navy Ralph Lauren silk cushions and leather trays and a mountain of African-themed coffee table books, his ‘most precious possessions’.

And who needs wall accessories when your uptown friends bring 20 bottles of Veuve Cliquot to a party, and you immediately recycle the bottles as a Damien Hirst-type wall display?

Right out of Boardwalk Empire comes another of Conor’s downtown mates, ‘Baby’ Sal, son to one of New York’s construction mogul’s, ‘Big Salvatore’

thepropertymag.co.za | 27

prime property

Previous spread A theatre curtain separates living room from the bedroom, which features the reconstructed chandeliers. This page, clockwise from top The living room doubles as Conor’s studio, where the famous silver champagne bucket holds his paintbrushes; sunlight streams through the skylight and washes over Conor’s quirky apartment; Conor’s beloved collection of coffee table books about Picasso, other artists and designers, and South Africa.

Termini. ‘Baby’ Sal helped Conor with all his domestic and exhibition installations and it was he who introduced Conor to the benefits of taking a short drive up the Connecticut coast to scour Montauk Beach in a rainstorm. They returned to 29 West Street with enough driftwood to make a fence for the penthouse deck, and enough starfish to hang decoratively alongside the potpourri of pots and

28 | September 2012

pans in the kitchen. ‘I love the sea and anything that reminds me of it,’ says Conor.

No Conor sanctuary would be complete without his trademark blue canvasses extending beyond the separate studio into the adjacent living area. His favourite, the Picasso-inspired portrait, The Blue Lady, hangs against the raw brick backdrop and is even more compelling than the Empire State Building’s

silhouette against the skyline. ‘This is my sanctuary from the outside world, and that is one tough outside world,’ says Conor contentedly, gesturing towards it.

‘At the end of the day, you have to be able to enter through that red door, feel surrounded by harmony and light and want to reach out immediately for your blue paint. Oh … And a few king prawns on ice!’ conormccreedy.com

Featuring the Traliccio [trah-li-cho] Collection

Follow us on

facebook.com/MobelliOutdoor

CALL 0861

MOBELLI 66 23 55

Paarden Eiland | Sea Point | Strand | Illovo | Fourways | Durban | www.mobelli.co.za

ON SHOW

Slick in the city Grand in its size, modern in its architecture and comfortable in its decor, this is the home that most families dream of Words Tammy Sutherns Photographs Nic Baleta

A

masterpiece of contemporary architecture, this house sits like a peacock among the pigeons in the quiet area of Glenkay, Johannesburg. Every aspect of the design – from the landscaping to the interiors – has been thought out and moulded to meet the needs and wants of the family that resides there.

Oddly, it is the garden that you notice first when entering the house. Seen from all the downstairs rooms, it’s magnified by enormous interior glass panels and positioned right in the centre of the grounds. A sleek and modern swimming pool takes centre stage, framed by lush green grass and dainty flowers.

Adrian Maserow of AMA Architects describes the garden as ‘a contemporary expression of the idea of a courtyard from which all its energy extends.’

‘The internal view is a beautiful contemplative garden that inspires expansive views through its landscape. The space/nature relationship is clearly defined by turning the house “inside-out”, as much of what would have been the home in a typical suburban pavilion design is in fact its garden,’ says Adrian, adding that the building materials, a combination of

30 | September 2012

glass, concrete, polished stone, timber and aluminium, have a simplicity to them that enhances the home’s fine resolution.

Inside, the grandeur continues. The lounges, dining rooms, kitchen and entertainment areas, all sidle off from the sunny courtyard, providing spacious, comfortable, modern-day living. Wood and glass complement each other throughout the home, creating well-lit spaces and a natural, earthy feel.

Lauren Beckwith from LB Interiors has mirrored this natural theme in the decor. ‘I met with the family and understood their needs. They are homely people, so I needed to create something beautiful but liveable.’

She adds, ‘I like every part of it, especially how all the rooms flow into one another.’

The home has a classic yet contemporary feel, but retains cosy elements: the children’s bedrooms, while stylish and sleek, feature some of their favourite colours, and the lounge and family room are as comfortable as they are beautiful.

Neutrals, warm browns, whites and beiges are brightened up with injections of colour from hanging artworks. Quirky lights and features, such as the

brimming bookcase in the study, add character and life, transforming the house into a home.The structure, layout and features of the home, including a gym, sauna, 18-seat dining room table, entertainment rooms and study, are equally impressive, as is the spacious openplan kitchen. With its white countertops and silver finishes, the kitchen radiates sophistication.

A staircase encased in glass leads upstairs to the bedrooms. The master bedroom is simple and elegant and features a large bathroom and walk-in cupboard.

A person could spend hours tucked away in this cosy room without venturing out into the rest of the house.The same can be said of the bedroom’s balcony, where extraordinary views exhort one to linger. Each en-suite bathroom has large glass showers, bowl-like bathtubs and walnut cupboards and is as inviting as the rest of the home.

Adrian says, ‘The design of this home is unusual in this conservative suburb, where boundaries have been questioned by placing it within the ordinarily suburban box-house architectural patterns.’

The result is an original home that proves that a family can have it all.

ON SHOW

AC Screens & Shutters, 086 111 3535

New Way Power, 0860 66 66 55

LB Design, +27 (0)83 454 8439

thepropertymag.co.za | 31

ON SHOW

Delawood Designs, +27 (0)82 603 0520

Previous page, top AC Screens & Shutters manufacture and fit motorised aluminium security roller shutters to the interior of residential homes.

Their unique extrusions allow for ultra-quiet operation and their customised installations are neat and unobtrusive. The security shutter blocks off the upstairs sleeping areas entirely from the downstairs living areas, providing the family with optimum security and peace of mind. Previous page, bottom left New Way Power, manufacturers and distributors of superior power-generating systems, supplied the reliable residential 60kVA automatic silent generator set which operates quietly, surpassing industry standards and going almost unnoticed.

New Way Power’s turnkey solutions include on-site assessment, design, quality manufacturing, on-site commissioning with contract service and maintenance. Previous page, bottom right Lauren Beckwith, owner of LB Designs, has created a space that is classic yet contemporary and liveable. Lauren has been an interior designer for 20 years and specialises in the interior design of hotels, casinos and homes. Her design portfolio includes the home of Absa CEO Maria Ramos. This page, left Cobra’s taps, mixers and sanitaryware have been utilised throughout the home.

The main bathroom features side-by-side Duras countertop basins, which are perfectly complemented by Cobra’s Designer range single-lever Callisto basin mixers, while the free-standing Cobra bath with surround rail makes a luxurious statement. The environmentally friendly Damara range features robust functionality and state-of-the-art technology, comparable to the best in the world. Damara’s taps and sink mixers allow users to regulate the amount of hot water dispensed, while its singlerange mixer comes complete with a built-in water- and energy-saving ceramic disc cartridge. By including single-lever mixers and quarterturn handle taps and mixers, the Damara range cleverly combines both traditional and modern design. This page, above right Delawood were responsible for all the woodwork and joinery in the home, including the custom-designed walnut cupboards, doors and frames that lend warmth to the kitchen’s ambience. Established in 1997, Delawood custom craft Cobra Watertech, 0861 21 21 21

superior-quality cabinetry around the needs of their clients. Their portfolio includes projects in South Africa, the UK and the Middle East and Africa.

32 | September 2012

ON SHOW

Adrian Maserow Profile: AMA Architects AMA Architects have vast experience in the design of many building types, and this background gives the group a holistic view of architectural design.

AMA Architects have designed notable residential, commercial, retail and industrial projects, as well as specialist projects, such as the clubhouse at Blair Atholl. They are also well respected for their refurbishment work. Based in Sandton, AMA Architects have continued to grow their design influence nationally since their establishment in 1993, through their practise of visionary and creative architecture. These dynamic works have been realised through the talent, insight, dedication and energy of the team led by the visionary directors Adrian Maserow, Gerald Pereira and Marco Fanucchi.

Each team member is dedicated to the profession’s highest goals and, through an intense and collaborative design approach, AMA Architects have distinguished themselves as a leading, contemporary, design-orientated firm. The realisation of worthy design goes hand in hand with a service that is delivered with enthusiasm, integrity and confidentiality. AMA Architects employ the latest technologies to ensure that their clients receive efficient and professional documentation.

AMA Architects have chosen the path of courage over convention, as evidenced in the design of this discerning Glenkay home. The courtyard concept is ancient but used infrequently these days, but it has allowed this home to have maximum spatial flexibility in an openplan environment, to meet both living and entertainment requirements. The

Professionals list

sculpture of the home is the space itself,

Ac screens & shutters – security shutters

which has a presence and connectedness

0861 113 535, acscreens.co.za

to one’s higher appreciation of the art of

AMA Architects – Architecture

life. The large sliding glass doors allow the

+27 (0)11 807 7505, reception@amagroup.co.za, amagroup.co.za

interiors to relate to the sheltered court,

cobra Watertech – sanitaryware

and the usual limits between interior space

0861 21 21 21, marketing@cobrawatertech.co.za, cobra.co.za

and nature are dissolved. The multiplicity

Delawood Designs – Woodwork & Joinery

of spaces is joined within the courtyard

+27 (0)82 603 0520, info@delawood.co.za, delawood.co.za

concept. This family home quietly dares

lB Design – interior Design

to embrace the wonder of life through

+27 (0)83 454 8439, lauren@lbdesign.co.za

the uniquely poetic energy of the

New Way Power – Generators

contemporary courtyard.

0860 66 66 55, jfreed@newway.co.za, newway.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 33

Centrepieces

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

SPACES THAT SPEAK

VOLUMES We bring you inspiring bathrooms and kitchens that excite the senses Words Genevieve Fisher and Nicky Manson

I

f done right, bathrooms and kitchens are guaranteed deal clinchers when it comes to the sale of a home – just ask any estate agent. Of all the rooms in a home, bathrooms and kitchens work the hardest, so functionality is key, but equally important are aesthetics that excite the senses. Here are a few remarkable bathrooms and kitchens that do just that.

QUANTUM OF SILENCE This spectacular en-suite bathroom belongs to the ‘James Bond House’ in Pezula Estate in Knysna. The remarkable setting is very much a defining feature of the home. The house was designed by Greg Truen Perfect Hideaways

of Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects (SAOTA), and no expense was spared in its design or

34 34||September September2012 2012

technologies. The bathroom is set off from the bedroom by a curtain instead of a door, creating a more intimate effect and keeping the suite open and airy. The free-standing oval bath is set against a glass wall, creating the effect of being suspended above both the Indian Ocean and the waves crashing against the dramatic cliffs below. What better way to enjoy a spectacle of nature than from a warm bath?

Head Interiors

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

RESTFUL RED The refurbishment of this bathroom was part of a broader renovation done to a home in Sandton, Gauteng. Sharon Fihrer of Head Interiors oversaw the design of this quiet, beautiful bathroom, where the client can indulge in their favourite pastime of reading in the bath, which naturally also forms the focal point of the room. The bathtub is located in the centre of view from the entrance of the room, underneath the skylight and close to a large window. The white of the bathtub is enhanced by the deep rust red of the walls. These colours combine to create a soothing, almost ethereal space.

thepropertymag.co.za | 35

Natural

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

MINIMALIST MAGIC Ever since she and her husband, Philip, decided to renovate, designer Regina Rüther has been collecting references and creating a mood board for her dream bathroom. The couple enlisted Lello Design, a young design lab in Cape Town, and briefed them to transform the pokey master bathroom into a minimalist space that wasn’t just functional, but also well Give It Bag

integrated with the new master bedroom. To achieve this, the designers at Lello Design have used Italian tiles of various shapes and sizes and brought them to life by flooding the bathroom with light. Wooden fittings have been used to add some warmth to the space and bring in a natural element.

ROCKING IT This Great Karoo guest lodge in the hills of the Sneeuberg Nature Reserve belongs to Charlotte Daneel of La Grange Interiors in Franschhoek.

With her expert eye for design, she oversaw the construction of the lodge in a reclamation project that saw as much of the original stonework as possible being retained and a lot of the construction materials being sourced from the immediate surrounds.

The lodge’s main-en-suite bathroom was one of the nodes to be rebuilt from scratch, and Charlotte wanted to give it a natural, earthy feel with a modern twist. All the stonework in this bathroom was made by local stonemasons. A standout feature is the recess above the basin, which has been hewn out of the dolostone from the original dwelling. Most of the first Perfect Hideaways

homes in the area were built from

36 36 || September September 2012 2012

stone, which is why the shelving in this bathroom has been crafted out of stone instead of wood. Concrete has been used along the walls and bath, to add a contemporary touch.

BATHROOMSAND ANDKITCHENS KITCHENS BATHROOMS

THE MARBLE EFFECT This bathroom forms part of a newly built home in Senderwood, Gauteng, undertaken by Nico van der Meulen Architects. It is called the Glass House, Nico van der Meulen Architects

and by looking at the main-en-suite bathroom, you can see why. On one side the bathroom is lined with floor-toceiling glass sliding doors that open up completely and overlook the garden, so that, in Nico’s words, the client can bathe al fresco. The sense of space is enhanced by the orientation of the room, which admits a lot of sunlight, as well as by the mirrors, which have gaps in them too, to let in even more natural light. A modern aesthetic has been achieved through the

MONOCHROMATIC MAGIC

laying of a light, bright marble floor and

Designed by MLB Architects and featuring interiors by Les Harbottle

the fitting of a clean-lined square bath.

Design, this bathroom belongs to the penthouse suite of Pepper Club

M Square Lifestyle Designs have added

Hotel. The double-storey suite has a modern, sophisticated look inspired

their touch, using interior accessories,

by the glam apartments of New York’s high society. Parquet flooring,

such as light-coloured vases that pick up

voluminous spaces and opulent chandeliers characterise the suite, and

on the shades in the marble and overhead

this aesthetic carries through to the main-en-suite bathroom, which

strips of sandblasted oak (the strips also

follows a monochromatic scheme and features classic consoles, oversized

accommodate the air-conditioning ducts).

oval mirrors, crystal light fittings, marble flooring and an oval jet-bath. The

Modern

Seeff

bathroom’s grandest feature, however, is its view of Table Mountain.

thepropertymag.co.za | 37

Pod Boutique Hotel

Chic

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

ALL INCLUSIVE Pod Boutique Hotel in Camps Bay is the accommodation of choice of visiting design aficionados.

Not only is it in a prime location – a few metres up from the Camps Bay strip – but it is also an example of exceptional contemporary design. Pod was designed by Greg Wright Architects (GWA), who were briefed to create a contemporary, elegant hotel brand. The minimalist design language of this penthouse’s bathroom has been softened by the use of natural materials, resulting in a large, airy space that’s characterised by the extensive use of natural stone, designer sanitaryware and an open shower.

38 | September 2012

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

A SERENE SPACE This master bathroom in a private home in Plett exudes sophistication and elegance while evoking feelings of calm and quiet. The objective of Head Interiors’ Shereen Firher was to create a serene, tranquil space where the views of the sea and the Head Interiors

mountains provide the drama. The all-white colour scheme and simple but luxurious interior reinforce this goal: nothing competes with the stunning vista.

BAREFOOT CHIC This uber-luxurious main-ensuite bathroom forms part of a five-star villa, 26 Sunset Avenue, Llandudno, which overlooks the beach and lies adjacent to Sandy Bay. The house itself was designed by well-known architect, Johan Slee, who drew inspiration from both the area’s light and its natural surrounds.

This bathroom is essentially a wet room, which is an indication of the overall philosophy that this property was built on: barefoot luxury. You don’t have to worry about walking around wet, as the water drains away through the rest of the home, this room has been designed to maximise on the 180° vistas of the Atlantic Ocean, as the glass and mirrors present you with a view from anywhere in

Living on Location

wooden floorboards. As with the

the room.

thepropertymag.co.za | 39

Modern

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

SEX APPEAL Designed by Fabrizio Cavazzuti from Chic Products, this kitchen in a Johannesburg home is the epitome of sophistication and chic design. The brief

Chic Products

called for a contemporary tailor-made boutique space that combined design

40 | September 2012

and functionality. And the result is awless. The Porto Cervo range that has been used for the cabinetry incorporates a dark wenge oak with transparent doors, creating a sleek and uncluttered space.

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

EFFICIENT BY DESIGN This contemporary kitchen forms part of a newly built home in Bryanston, Johannesburg, and was designed by Blu-Line, who specialise in luxury kitchens. The client wanted a modern, clean-lined, uncluttered kitchen – a space that would fit the overall design of the home. The house itself was designed by Nico van der Meulen Architects, and the interiors were done

by M Square Lifestyle Design. Makassar ebony timber, black glass, wall cladding, high-gloss lacquer, light quartz stone and an attractive island counter have been employed in the kitchen, to complement the luxurious, modern aesthetic evident in the rest of the home. The kitchen also features many functionalities not visible to the naked eye, such as non-slip rubber matting, stainless steel cutlery and utensil inserts, and knife blocks and steel spice Blu-Line

wracks and drip trays within the drawers. We love kitchens that not only have a bit of gloss and sparkle, but also work efficiently.

GRAND OPENING The owners of this new home on Linksfield Ridge, Johannesburg, worked with Aurelio Cimato of Cimato & Moroldo Architects Inc. on the design of the property. They wanted the kitchen to be the hub of the home, and so they decided on an open-plan, contemporary design that was light, clutter-free and allowed for easy access to all appliances.

There is a multifunctional central island where friends and family can socialise over drinks or informal meals. The scullery, work area, cold the kitchen. The entire space opens up directly onto a covered patio with braai area, pool and views of the Johannesburg skyline. High-tech designer Smeg appliances have been installed, as have natural stone floors, white Technistone countertops and timber, creating a space that epitomises luxurious modern living.

Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty

room and pantry are separate from

thepropertymag.co.za | 41

Natural

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

WARMING WOOD Silverbay Villa on the West Coast is the holiday home of SAOTA’s Greg Truen. Its thatched roof allows it to blend in with the slopes leading down to the secluded Stompneusbaai. The villa’s spacious open-plan living/kitchen/dining area and the pool courtyard, separated by floor-toceiling glass sliding doors, are all on the top floor. The kitchen node is designed

Perfect Hideaways

for entertaining – the fridges, freezers and wash-up areas are concealed, leaving only the gas hob, microwave and faucet visible. The most striking feature of this kitchen is the use of timber and the overall natural aesthetic and colour palette, enhanced by the thatched roof, and light fittings that resemble birds’ nests. The long oak table (designed

by James Mudge) and wooden stools contribute to the warm look.

GETTING IT RIGHT WITH WHITE The kitchen of this modern home in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, is a great example of how you can soften a stark, clinical look by using natural finishings – in this case, wood.

White marble tiles for the floors and clean Jawitz Properties

white countertops have been contrasted with timber cabinets and a timber panel in the overhead bulkhead. The kitchen has been fitted with high-end appliances, including a Miele coffee machine and a free-standing, six burner gas hob and oven by Smeg.

With thanks to …

Blu-Line, 0860 548 464, blu-line.co.za Chic Products, +27 (0)11 325 2342, chicproducts.co.za Head Interiors, +27 (0)11 325 2700, headinteriors.co.za Give It Bag, +27(0)21 424 59 46, give-it-bag.com Perfect Hideaways, +27 (0)21 790 0972, perfecthideaways.co.za Pod, +27 (0)21 438 8550, pod.co.za Jawitz Properties, +27 (0)11 656 0888, jawitz.co.za Living on Location, +27 (0)21 439 0770, livingonlocation.co.za Nico van der Meulen Architects, +27 (0)11 789 5242, nicovdmeulen.com Seeff, +27 (0)21 481 1044, seeff.com Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, +27 (0)11 886 8070, sothebysrealty.co.za

42 | September 2012

CONOR MCCREEDY’S

SOHO APARTMENT

MODERN RETRO

EDY’S CONOR MCCRE

ENT SOHO APARTM

A SHAMWARI VISIT WORTH R27 000

Total solution, interactive digital advertising opportunities

SA’S HOT SPA TIONAL PRODUCTS & IDEAS PLUS: INSPIRA

Property

12009

9 771810 469028

SA’S HOT SPACES PLUS: INSPIRATIONAL PRODUCTS & IDEAS

>

INSIDE A TRENDY PECANWOOD HOME

Property BATHROOMS & S KITCHENCE S

PRETORIA

WIN

A SHAMWARI VISIT WORTH R27 000

Over 10,000,000 free magazines delivered free to home Why pay for an iPad magazine?

We bring you free to iPad (android shortly) - 1st in SA! Free app, and free magazines every month And now 10,000,000 free magazine downloads?

Mags completely re-designed and interactive on iPad

WIN

Est. 2004, Issue 282

decor, trends, luxury, design & real estate

Winner of 10 publishing awards

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS

SA’S FIRST FREE TO TABLET CONSUMER MAGS ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

SEPTEMBER 2012

RSA R34.95 (incl. VAT) Other countries R21.90 (excl. Tax) Pod Boutique Hotel, Camps Bay. pod.co.za

Y L E T E L COMP N O E E R F iPAD

Property

27855 Newsprint 150x215_Horizontal ol.indd 1

2012/07/05 6:27 PM

‘SA Décor & Design – The Buyers’ Guide is the most comprehensive sourcebook of style makers and service suppliers for the décor world.

It’s the Yellow Pages of the interior industry, but better.’

Win PRIZES

WORTH R80 000

& REVIVE YOUR HOME ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN PRIZES INCLUDING:

Liz Morris, Editor – Condé Nast House & Garden 16th Edition • Hardcover or Softcover A4 format • 624 pages

www.sadecor.co.za For more stylish tips see Marcia’s blog, www.sadecor.co.za/wordpress

Artwork from Glen Josselsohn Mattress & base set from Sealy Posturepedic Sanitaryware from Hansgrohe Furniture from Classic Revivals Purchase a copy of the 2013 edition of SA Décor & Design The Buyers’ Guide to stand a chance to revive your home.

Get a copy at your local bookstore or order directly from SA Décor & DeSign.

t: (021) 465 5720 e: info@sadecor.co.za

www.sadecor.co.za property mag half page a/work.indd 1

2012/07/31 10:03 AM

DESIGN profIlE

A new lease Words Genevieve Fisher

John Rabie’s new urban renewal concept, Signatura, has not only given him renewed vigour, but also revived Cape Town’s property market and some of its prized neighbourhoods

I

t’s hard to believe that property development mogul John Rabie, non-executive chairman of Rabie Properties, came close to retiring some months ago. At 57, this stalwart of SA’s property industry has passion and energy, which comes as quite a surprise, considering the state of the property market. ‘I started Rabie Properties 35 years ago and have been through two recessions, a change of political dispensation and a global financial meltdown.

I’ve always been an inspired and energetic person and am even more so now,’ says John. He’d have to be to survive all of that and snub his nose at retirement, an option that John admits ‘just didn’t work for him’.

Rabie Properties has been at the helm of some of Cape Town’s most sought-after mixed- use

developments for 20-odd years, including the multimillion-rand Marconi Beam development, which saw shack dwellers being rehoused and unlocked a new commercial, industrial and residential node; the transformation of Westlake Estate from derelict stateowned land into an award-winning mixed-use area where, for example, the top private school Reddam coexists alongside a commercial office park; the redevelopment of the Milnerton Race Course as the 1 800-unit residential development, Royal Ascot; and the Atlantic Beach development on the West Coast.

The jewel of Rabie Properties’ portfolio is the multibillion-rand development, Century City, which it owns, and which encompasses various residential, commercial, leisure, hotel and retail ventures. ‘I’m so

thepropertymag.co.za | 45

DESIGN ProfIlE

‘John enviSionS Signatura aS “a conceptdriven private-label property brand”’

proud of what we’ve done at Century City. We’ve literally created a city within a city,’ says John.

‘I’ve been in business for 35 years and didn’t want to retire so I thought about how I could reinvent myself. With all the knowledge of the property industry and its cycles I accrued over the years, Rabie Properties being an expression of that, my “baby”, I knew I had to do something in the field of property development,’ he says. Welcome, Signatura.

‘Because we are, and have been, in a recession, the solution, I believe, is urban renewal, and so I decided this was the way to go,’ says John. He is quick to point out that his new self-funded venture is not of the ‘typical inner-city renewal kind’ – a big trend globally, – but one that is more innovative and which

46 | September 2012

responds to the demands of a new market of ‘fussy’ buyers who want to be a stone’s throw from the city yet still within suburbia.

John has identified Vredehoek, Tamboerskloof, Sea Point and Green Point as points of development.

‘I call these “areas of tension”, because they are where the commercial meets the residential, creating an interesting energy of sorts,’ he says. He gives the example of Brooklyn, New York, a suburb outside Manhattan. It’s easily accessible, historical, and has a vibrant mix of commercial and residential entities. ‘If you look at Vredehoek, it has all the potential to be like that – a bohemian feel, with all the restaurants and cafés intermingled with apartment blocks and houses, many of which have historical relevance,’ he says.

John envisions Signatura as ‘a concept-driven private-label property brand’. The idea is to pick out unique urban sites in these neighbourhoods for ‘master-crafted urban renewal’. He says, ‘We have already earmarked a number of existing opportunities and, in keeping with the City of Cape Town’s spatial development framework, will be transforming them to create “new-style”, upmarket accommodation and potential commercial spaces that are relatively affordable. We work with what’s already on these sites, whether it’s an existing home or apartment block, we convert them, and build on and upgrade them to create something new. All of this is done as joint ventures with the land or property owners as well as within the guidelines of the municipality.’

DESIGN PROFILE Opening page, top Horizons in Vredehoek is the first Signatura project to be developed. Bottom left Property mogul John Rabie. This spread, from far left A home in Westlake in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs; Horizons, interior view; Mercedes-Benz Century City; Royal Ascot, Milnerton; Dune Ridge Estate in Big Bay on the West Coast.

John amicably disagrees with my observation that it sounds a little like a mid-life crisis. He prefers ‘mid-life love project’. John is hands-on, and he makes all the executive decisions with regard to Signatura.

These include all the design features, from choice of architects to paint colours for the walls to the look and feel of the interiors and the landscaping – what John calls the ‘triangle of excellence’.

He explains, ‘People looking to buy property in these areas are fussy and will only part with their money if something is completely to their liking. The pre-sale concept has been dominating the market for a long time now, but the kind of consumers that we’re targeting not only want to see completed projects, but excellence too. All aspects of design, from

architecture to interiors and landscaping, have to be expertly thought out and top-notch.’ Over the years, John has developed an expert’s eye for this ‘triangle of excellence’ and calls many of the professionals who can deliver it his friends.

The properties in his Signatura portfolio will all be completed before being put on the market, enabling property owners to see and experience this excellence, as opposed to being shown marketing material of what a project should look like.

Coinciding with the launch of Signatura last month was its first project, Horizons, in Vredehoek.

There used to be a double-storey house dating back to the 1940s on the Horizons site. What stands there today are four two-bedroom apartments and a three-

bedroom penthouse, all with terraces, landscaped indigenous gardens and secure off-street parking.

Priced from R1,65 million to R3,95 million, each apartment has panoramic views of the City Bowl and Table Mountain and has been put together by a team of well-known local professionals, including Juan Bernicchi Architects (architectural design), Anthony Wain of Planning Partners (landscaping) and Francois du Plessis (interiors).

Forthcoming Signatura projects include two more developments in Vredehoek as well as developments in the City Bowl and on the Atlantic Seaboard. If John’s track record is anything to go by, it looks like Cape Town’ property market just got a new lease of life. +27 (0)83 270 2434, signature.biz

thepropertymag.co.za | 47

TRAVEL

ReadeR OffeR

A

zura at Quilálea is a hidden gem, a private island paradise surrounded by the pristine waters of a marine sanctuary.

The island has stunning flora and fauna, including age-old statuesque baobab groves, and turtles that nest on the beaches every year.

Azura at Quilálea is an eco boutique retreat consisting of only nine seafront villas, accommodating 18 guests. The villas are built from natural coral stone with natural finishings and makuti thatch and have been revamped to increase guests’

comfort. Features include indoor/outdoor showers, private decks stretching down to the beach, daybeds and sun loungers.

This marine lover’s paradise offers snorkelling and scuba diving straight off the beach in front of your villa. Kayaking, deep-sea fishing, African spa experiences, exclusive picnics and beach dinners can be organised, and all guests are treated to Azura’s trademark Mozambican Butler/Host service.

Now you can enjoy the wonders of Azura at Quilálea for half the normal rate. This offer

is valid until 18 December 2012 and includes accommodation, all food and beverages (including main beach dinners, local beers and spirits, a selection of house wines, soft drinks, tea and coffee, water and a sunset cocktail of the day) the Mozambican Butler/ Host service, the use of snorkelling and kayaking equipment, a laundry service, and Evac Medical Insurance from Pemba.

To take advantage of this special offer, contact Andrew Shapland and quote ‘The Property Magazine’. Terms and conditions apply.

Azura at Quilálea is a private client of The Roving Ambassador. The Roving Ambassador has 48 properties on three different continents around the world! For further information, contact Tamsyn Nixon at Tamsyn@therovingambassador.com.

48 | September 2012

Photographs Candace Marshall-Smith

Stay at Mozambique’s beautiful Azura at Quilálea resort for seven nights for only R3 000 per person sharing per night

PROPERTY DINNER

Memorable and motivational Words Nicky Manson Photographs Michael Glenister

It was an evening of inspirational people and projects at HQ in Sandton

S

ophisticated, sleek and trendy, HQ in Sandton was the perfect headquarters for our Johannesburg Property Dinner, where we hosted a band of equally sophisticated guests. HQ is renowned for its menu, which is as simple as it is delicious.The restaurant only serves steak and chips, and so it ensures that it’s the best steak and chips in town.

Realtors, property gurus, architects and decor experts – our friends, old and new – joined us for dinner, and conversation flowed along with great wines and moved from debates on the current state of the property market to discussions on the virtues of boarding schools and why the Michaelhouse/Hilton annual rugby game is good for business.

The different pace of business in Cape Town versus Johannesburg also made for interesting table talk. Adrienne Hersch, Debbie Justus and Rose Kin agreed that everything moves faster in Joburg, and the property market is no exception. Capetonians, they said, tend to take their time when house hunting, whereas in Joburg, the property market is much more cut and dried.

Our guests were full of news about inspiring projects too. Amjar Lux Dursan and Shannon Botes from Italtile proudly announced that their company is growing quickly and will soon be opening a number of new showrooms, in the footsteps of the successful Bryanston showroom. Richard Nuss told us all about the trendy colours in Nouwens Carpets’ new Madison Square and Kirman ranges, as inspired by Dave Nemeth’s trend report, while Munroe Swirsky of Rhoms Timberworld also had a number of new ranges to report on.

Vered’s Stephen Brick took a positive approach, saying he was focusing on building his brand and getting ahead. He believes there is a lot of business out there, depending on where you look. And Engel & Völkers’ Craig Hutchison told us he’d opened five shops in three months.

And when it comes to inspiring architecture, there was plenty to talk about: Gauteng’s Monaghan Farm, for example, a green estate that combines sophisticated family living in beautiful surrounds. The architects have carefully planned the homes according to stringent architectural guidelines, to deliver

gorgeous buildings that are well integrated with the natural habitat. Johan Lategan, who is involved in the marketing of the development, said the estate would have only 300 properties upon completion, each on a plot of a minimum 1 000m2. He emphasised that no double-storey buildings are allowed and that homes may not exceed 25% of the plot size.

Architect Nico van der Meulen is certainly your man when it comes to spectacular homes. He described a Moscow home he’d recently designed: it sits on 4 000m2 in the middle of a forest and cost around $15 million to $20 million (about R127 million to R170 million).

La Balise Marina is another exciting offshore development. Ryan Proksch is involved in sales, and he knows the area well. He said that business is booming and that as a result there is a big expat community in Mauritius, so it’s a great place for South Africans to live and work. Homes at La Balise Marina start at around R6 million, putting the dream of owning a luxury contemporary home with views of the Indian Ocean not entirely out of reach.

Inspired yet? We are.

Guest list Shannon Botes Italtile, Stephen Brick Vered, Dirk Henzen Studio 3 Architects, Helen Henzen Studio 3 Architects, Adrienne Hersch Adrienne Hersch Properties, Craig Hutchison Engel & Völkers, Debbie Justus Adrienne Hersch Properties, Rose Kin Rhoms Timberworld, Milos Kovacevic The Property Magazine, Johan Lategan Monaghan Farm, Amjar Lux Dursan Italtile, Nicky Manson (Editor) The Property Magazine, Jenni McCallum The Property Magazine, Richard Nuss Nouwens Carpets, Gideon Pelser Monaghan Farm, Mark Pettipher Media Nova, Ryan Proksch La Balise Marina, Tracey-Lee Schuster The Property Magazine, Munroe Swirsky Rhoms Timberworld, Nico van der Meulen Nico van der Meulen Architects, Tony Vaughan Media Nova.

thepropertymag.co.za | 49

property dinner

1

5

6

Winter Gourmet Menu Starter Iceberg and cos lettuce with Grana Padano cheese, toasted pine nuts and mustard vinaigrette.

Main Namibian sirloin beef served with pommes frites and HQ signature CafĂŠ de Paris butter sauce.

Stuffed organic portobello mushrooms.

9

DeSSert Chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream.

HQ reStaurant 24 Central Corner Fredman Drive and Gwen Lane, Sandton. +27 (0)11 783 0924, hqrestaurant.co.za

Tony Vaughan 2Helen Henzen 3Richard Nuss 4Craig

1

Hutchison 5Milos Kovacevic 6Tracey-Lee Schuster 7Adrienne Hersch 8Stephen Brick 9Johan Lategan 10Debbie Justus Ryan Proksch 12Shannon Botes 13Nico van der Meulen 14Dirk

11

Henzen 15Munroe Swirsky 16Rose Kin 17Amraj Lux Dursan.

50 | September 2012

10 11

property dinner

2

3

7

8

4

15 12

13

15

14

16

17 thepropertymag.co.za | 51

ASK THE EXPERTS

TAPPING INTO

TALENT

Updating your bathroom or kitchen?

Let the experts guide on the look and feel, from taps to tiling and from counters to appliances Photographs Michael Glenister Location Le Ch창telat Boutique Guest House, Sandton

52 | September 2012

ASK ASK THE THE EXPERTS

CLASSIC TRADING Arief Moosa Director What look is hot in bathrooms right now? The current trends for bathrooms are open spaces, walk-in showers, freestanding showers and baths, and a clinical or marbled look. What’s the quickest way of making over a bathroom? The introduction of 4 mm Italian wall tiles gives any homeowner the perfect no-mess tiling revamp because it lets you tile on tile. Furthermore, the introduction of the Geberit Monolith cistern allows you to swap your existing toilets for the latest look.

These are standard stock items at Classic Trading. What are considered luxury purchases for bathrooms? The Hansgrohe Axor Starck Shower Heaven and the Fantini Acquapura free-standing shower column.

Bathroom accessories with Swarovski elements also add a nice touch of bling to luxury bathrooms. These items are in stock at Classic Trading. If someone could add just one of your products to his or her bathroom, what would you recommend?

An eco-friendly shower head that is refreshing and invigorating.

FRANKE KITCHEN SYSTEMS

MIELE

Clinton Soutter National Sales Manager

Brennan Menday Deputy Managing Director

What look is hot in kitchens right now?

A minimalistic kitchen with stainless steel finishes and hidden appliances with natural stone elements is the trend, as are under-mount sinks. What’s the quickest way of making over a kitchen?

The quickest way to renovate your kitchen would be to replace the external cupboard doors and handles and to replace the countertops with either a granite or synthetic top accompanied by one of the latest Franke sinks and sink mixers, giving your kitchen a fresh new look and feel. Stainless steel does not date and, most importantly, it is very hygienic. What’s considered a luxury purchase for a kitchen? The ZIP HydroTap is the ultimate in convenience, offering the homeowner instant chilled, filtered water and instant boiling water on tap. The ZIP HydroTap, with its fivemicron filter system, removes impurities but leaves essential fluoride, giving you healthy boiling or chilled filtered water instantly. Impurities such as dirt, rust, chlorine and microorganisms are not good for your health. They also affect the taste of what you eat and drink. If someone could add just one of your products to his or her kitchen, what would you recommend? I would definitely recommend two items: the Franke Waste Disposer, as it offers a hygienic and effective disposal of waste within the home, in turn minimising waste and odours; and the Kubus Filterflow water purification sink mixer, as our water source is under scrutiny and therefore water filtration systems are becoming increasingly essential to ensuring the health of your family.

What look is hot in kitchens right now?

Of course, from my point of view, Miele appliances, with their timeless design and absolute luxury, enhance the appearance of any kitchen. On the cabinetry side, however, white or gloss white remains a key colour influence in modern openplan kitchens. And having an island in this open-plan environment, with a counter-type eating area included, is all about modern in-kitchen entertaining.

What’s the quickest way of making over a kitchen? Change the panelling of the cupboard doors and replace cupboards with soft closing drawers instead of shelves for better use of space.

Add good lighting. What’s considered a luxury purchase for kitchens? The finishing touches, such as your choice of tops, hinging and runners, which provide soft closing and no rattling for both cupboards and drawers. Miele as a luxury purchase? No. Miele cooking appliances are a necessity, as their performance is outstanding. If someone could add just one of your appliances to his or her kitchen, what would you recommend? One of our ovens – for perfect cooking results every time. We call it ‘performance meets function’. As one of our customers said, ‘My Miele oven has turned me into a superb chef.

Before I had it, I couldn’t cook.’ That’s the Miele difference!

+27 (0)31 579 1900

0861 372 653

+27 (0)11 875 9000

classictrading.net

franke.co.za

miele.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 53

LIVING

GROW I N G UP Q

UICKL Y

In terms of house prices, Bryanston is the middle-of-the-range neighbourhood if you’re looking for an affordable, upmarket home close to Sandton

Words Candace King

EAT, PRAY, LIVE Bryanston is the only Johannesburg suburb to offer four government primary schools, two government high schools and five private schools.

The area also has several guest houses, churches (New Life Church, Saint Michael’s Anglican Church, Bryanston Bible Church and New Covenant Church), large shopping centres and convenience stores, corner bistros, fine-dining restaurants and entertainment spots. In short, everything a growing family could possibly need.

thepropertymag.co.za | 55

Living

B

ryanston was either named after a civil parish village in north Dorset in England or after Bryanston Square in Marylebone, London. The link between the two British locales lies with 6th Baronet Sir William Portman who purchased Dorset Village and named Bryanston Square after it.

Situated on the sites of the former farms Driefontein and Rietfontein, South Africa’s Bryanston was proclaimed a township by SA Townships under the chairmanship of Sir Abe Bailey.

Sir Bailey was a property and township developer, politician, financier, sportsman and philanthropist who owned several farms in Johannesburg, including Bryanston, Hyde Park and Monaghan Farm. He also owned Bryanston Square in London, and this is most likely the source of the suburb’s name.

According to Jonathan Broekman of boutique realty agency Homes of Distinction, Bryanston

56 | September 2012

originally consisted of 200 plots of just over 1 ha each. It was crisscrossed by dirt roads, the nearest tar road ending where Sandton Mediclinic sits today.

Vegetables and other produce were traded between the farms, and trading stores could be found in the area where the Big Ben and Cramerview centres are situated today.

St Peter’s Boys’ School opened in 1950, St Stithians in 1953 and Bryanston Primary in 1954, the latter with only four classrooms and an administration block. In the ’60s, more schools opened, and property subdivisions began as more people moved to the area.

Sandton later became a separate municipality from Johannesburg, and Bryanston became Sandton’s largest suburb.

Bryanston was one of the first areas in the country to be laid out and serviced in accordance with modern town planning principles. Many of the street names, including Mount, Portman, Bruton,

Arlington and Grosvenor, are reminders of the suburb’s London connection.

In the 1990s, clusters became popular and the original plots were further subdivided. At the same time the Bryanston Country Club (built in 1948) began selling off some of its land, which led to the establishment of more estates and office parks.

‘In fact, Bryanston grew so quickly that in 2007 the electrical substation near Bryanston Shopping Centre could no longer supply enough electricity to all the new dwellings,’ says Jonathan.

Major water, sewerage and electrical upgrades are ongoing, to accommodate the densification of the area. Upmarket complexes, clusters and large luxury homes remain popular in Bryanston. However, Lightstone’s statistics indicate that the different property ownership options are fairly evenly represented in the suburb: 38% of all Bryanston properties are freehold, 28% are estates and 33% are sectional title.

Living

WhaT The agenTs say We talk to Dominic Courtney and Blyth Marrier of Pam Golding Properties about life in Bryanston.

What makes Bryanston so appealing?

Bryanston is not only conveniently situated close to the Sandton CBD, but also has every amenity residents could wish for close at hand. Although many people view Bryanston as a pricey area, there are freehold, sectional title and cluster homes available in the mid-range to high-end markets, and they represent good value for money in an area that has long proved to hold its value, even during times of economic hardship. how do property prices in Bryanston compare with prices in other suburbs?

Bryanston is more expensive than some surrounding suburbs, such as Fourways and Lonehill, but is closer to the Sandton CBD and therefore commands a higher price. However, it is more affordable than suburbs such as Hyde Park, Morningside, Hurlingham and Sandhurst.

Is property here gaining in value?

According to Lightstone, house prices in Bryanston are showing a slow but steady appreciation. While the average price of a freehold house was R3,36 million in 2010, now it is R3,83 million. The average sectional title home cost R1,034 million in 2010 and costs R1,11 million in 2012. has the rise in commercial and retail development boosted homebuyers’ interest? Bryanston is situated between Fourways and Sandton and is an easy commute for many executives working in the surrounding areas. Some residents work at the many nearby office parks and businesses being developed along William Nicol Drive and Main Road. One example is The Campus, in Main Road, which is home to leading companies, such as Shell and Dimension Data. Tiger Brands, Microsoft South Africa and Ogilvy South Africa can also be found in Bryanston’s substantial commercial hub.

FIve ThIngs TO DO In BRyansTOn anD suRROunDs 1.

Work on your swing or play a bit of tennis or squash at Bryanston Country Club, Johannesburg’s second-largest golf and country club.

2. Visit the R500-million nicolway Bryanston shopping centre. It is 23 000m in size and 2

has about 90 retail stores.

3. Meander through the outdoor Bryanston Organic and natural Market. In addition to farm-fresh produce, you’ll find organic preserves and other organic foods and deli products, organic clothing, jewellery, photographs and other artworks, live entertainment, and art and craft activities for kiddies.

4. Visit La Campagnola in Hobart Grove Centre for a romantic Italian meal, or spice things up at ghazal north Indian Restaurant at Coachmans Crossing.

Why would you encourage people to invest in Bryanston? The ongoing building activity is a sure sign that people have great confidence in the area. Bryanston is often seen as a barometer of the Johannesburg residential property market. If that is true, then the market appears to be on a slow but steady path to recovery.

5. Try out your cycling prowess at the Toyota MTn Cycle Park on Main Road.

With thanks to … homes of Distinction, +27 (0)11 706 8238, homesofdistinction.co.za Opening page and this spread, top left A Bryanston mansion on sale through Pam Golding Properties. This page, top to bottom A home in Re/Max Masters’ portfolio; the new Nicolway Bryanston shopping mall holds the biggest Woolworths Food store in the country; a home in Pam Golding Properties’ portfolio.

Pam golding Properties, Bryanston Clusters, +27 (0)11 380 0000, pamgolding.co.za Re/Max Masters, +27 (0)11 463 3199, remax-masters.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 57

Exclusivity has a new name

premier address

Cape Town’s

Words Nicky Manson

PREVIEW

T

he newest development by Land Equity Group is the exclusive

Nettleton Ridge estate in Clifton, Cape Town. Designed

by Peerutin Architects, Nettleton Ridge comprises four homes with some of the best views in Cape Town: all four Clifton beaches, Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles. Each house has its own private-use driveway within the gated estate, which has 24-hour security that’s controlled from a central guardhouse situated at the estate’s entrance. House 3 is the only unsold home to date.

Livia Coetzer, the project coordinator at Land Equity Group, explains that the other three houses were sold off plan and were custom designed for their owners. On completion, House 3 will have four levels, including 1 500 m2 of underroof living space and garaging for six cars. It is currently on the market for R110 million. The entire project is scheduled for completion between the end of 2012 and mid 2013, says

+27 (0)87 354 5050, nettletonridge.co.za

Livia.

Top The living area in House 3, Nettleton Ridge. With its views of the Atlantic Seaboard and a wind shadow protecting it from the elements, Nettleton Road, Clifton, is arguably the best location in Cape Town. Centre House 3 has indoor and outdoor entertainment areas, including the swimming pool and deck. Bottom Clean, modern lines define the architectural style of the home.

58 | September 2012

R O IT son ED er T nd ES A U lin G Co

Real estate

residential & commercial

EyEs widE opEn

Rabie Property Group Director Colin Anderson explains why the group has renewed its development activity and why it’s focusing on sustainable building

T

he commercial property market is cyclical and is influenced by three main factors, namely the investment market, the occupier market and the development industry. The investment market is generally outside the industry’s direct control, as it is influenced by the risk and returns of all asset classes and the global financial markets. The occupier market is driven by supply and demand and overall economic growth.The development industry is the third and most influential market, as it controls the production of new space.

The property market experiences peaks and troughs, and these are directly related to the supply and demand for new space. This cycle is further influenced by the fairly long lead-time necessary for bringing new stock to the market (18 to 24 months, assuming the land is appropriately zoned). As vacancies start to drop, increasing rents start to support new developments. Therefore, if one waits too long to begin a new development, it is possible that the project could be delivered as demand starts to slow down and development reaches its maximum.

So the million-dollar question is, where are we now in this cycle? The answer depends on the vacancy

figure in the specific node in which the development is to be situated. One also needs to consider the quality and size of the available premises that make up the total vacant space.

Using Century City as a case study, we find that the vacancy figure has come down from a high of 13% in 2008 to the current figure of below 6%. It is generally believed that when the vacancy level moves below 6% it is an indication that the market is moving out of a slump towards a period of higher demand, if not a boom.

I am also often asked whether or not all new developments should be Green-Star rated. I think we are still a while away from that situation, because there will always be occupiers who are extremely cost sensitive. Having said that, I do not believe that green buildings are that much more expensive – certainly not when compared with a corporate office building.

Because property is a cash-flow business, anything that improves that cash flow should make commercial sense. Internationally, green buildings are achieving higher rentals than lower-rated buildings because there is strong demand for them. More tenants are starting to understand the principle of ‘total cost

of occupation’ and are therefore not using the rateper-square-metre as the sole yardstick for choosing new premises. Rental is only on one of a tenant’s overheads (the single largest contributor to overheads is probably salaries).

Not only does the Green Star rating process strive to make buildings far more efficient, but it also encourages architects and other professionals to design buildings which are more desirable and productive spaces to work in.

A Green-Star-rated building is more likely to be a ‘future proof ’ building, namely a building that will deliver improved rental growth and higher capital values, as compared with unrated buildings, which may experience longer vacancy periods and could become obsolete.

Colin Anderson, Director, Rabie Property Group

thepropertymag.co.za | 59

johannesburg Residential

Your Move Sandy Geffen, Executive Director of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, says inspirational master bedrooms make for peaceful sleep, romance and a healthy disposition.

High-end Houghton Pam Golding Properties (PGP) introduces The Houghton, an exclusive, contemporary development featuring luxury apartments and penthouses. The Houghton is set against 68ha of private parkland and overlooks a Jack Nicklaus signature golf course. Phase 1 has sold out and only 30% of the units in Phase 2 are still for sale, including two- to fivebedroom apartments priced from R3,7 million to R36 million. The R420-million Phase 3 will be launched soon. In addition to residential units, this phase will have a luxury amenities complex, including a health spa, 50-seat cinema, hair salon and two restaurants. Chief Executive Andrew Golding says, ‘This is one of the first residential developments of its kind in South Africa and indications are that it could well become a trendsetter in terms of the lifestyle choice and amenities it affords residents.’ +27 (0)11 380 0000, pamgolding.co.za

Bryanston refinement Developed by Lynn Estates and designed by Ntsika Architects, Summit On Mount, Bryanston, comprises 11 bespoke three- to four-bedroom open-plan clusters that perfectly blend contemporary comfort and energetic elegance in a seamless indoor/outdoor floor plan. Priced from R3,595 million, each home has a designer kitchen and en-suite bathrooms, a double garage, staff accommodation and an infinity pool. The development is close to retail

Till next month, sleep well.

and entertainment nodes, such as Nicolway Bryanston shopping centre and Montecasino,

Sandy

and is also near business areas and schools. +27 (0)83 655 5539, lynnestates.co.za

60 | July/August 2012

Words Candace King

Your bed is, of course, the largest and by far the most important item in this most personal of rooms, and you should treat it like a blank canvas ready to be styled exactly as you wish. But first, every couple should thoroughly investigate mattress design, size, balance, comfort and support, so that they can find their own perfection and look forward to proper rest and full-body bliss. Emission-free mattresses made from natural materials are best, and I think cotton is king.

Next – the headboard, perhaps a bespoke item in graphite grey or faux leather, and then the night frill, which can be made from the same material as the headboard or from a washable material, the former being the more modern concept. Then come decorative designer cushions, if you like, and fabulous cotton or silky bed linens, sheets, pillowslips and luxurious duvet covers.

Ventilation around and under the bed is necessary for inhalation and circulation and to avoid any build-up of dust. Whether you install a ceiling fan or air-conditioning or just leave windows open will depend on personal preference, but the room should be uncluttered. There is a Zen-like appeal to using minimalistic furniture and choosing the best direction to face while you sleep.

But you don’t want it to be a cold room, and you should ensure that it is properly insulated. The charm and warmth of a fireplace will also set a romantic mood for those chilly nights. Other items in the room might include a daybed in an alcove, provided there is space, or a linen kist at the base of the bed, not only for storage, but also for seating or as a place to put your elegant throws and excess designer pillows at night.

When it comes to flooring, your choice of tiles, carpeting or wood will probably be influenced by climate, area and allergy concerns. Similarly, when it comes to windows, curtaining versus blinds and shutters are a consideration. There is nothing more pleasant for the early risers than waking to the view of a beautiful garden and a bubbling fountain. For those who like to sleep in, heavy curtaining to block out the sun and the heat is a blessing.

Pretty lampshades or spotlights over a small desk or coffee table may help the bedroom designer create a study effect. Dimmer switches are essential for quickly going from bright reading light to a dreamy atmosphere.

Finally, you will need to decide if you would like a TV in the room, and if you don’t want it on the wall, find an unobtrusive stand or cabinet for it, keeping in mind your style and the search for peaceful karma.

And so, to sleep – the most beautiful experience in life and the best form of meditation.

JOHANNESBURG Commercial

Grove in the groove With Johannesburg fast becoming saturated with franchise-driven shopping malls, shoppers are turning to friendlier neighbourhood shopping centres and organic food markets in their search for quality over quantity. Sable Holdings owns one such centre, Hobart Grove, in Bryanston.

MD Gavin Bowes says, ‘We have worked hard to maintain a mix of owner-managed tenants in Hobart Grove. Personalised, high-quality service is something all our tenants strive for, because of their vested interest in the success of their store.’ Costs play a role in shoppers’ choice of retail centre too. ‘There aren’t many places in Joburg where you can park safely for free these days,’ says Gavin. ‘For us, it was essential to find a unique mix of tenants that complements the lifestyles of the individuals and families who live and work in the area, whilst creating a bright and open centre where you can drive in and out, walk around in the sunshine instead of in an air-conditioned bubble, and attend to all your shopping, entertainment and health needs.’ +27 (0)11 267 5700, hobartgrovecentre.co.za

Painting the town red Stor-Age has opened a new store in the heart of the Joburg CBD, turning a dilapidated manufacturing plant on Rosettenville Road into a modern building. At 11 000m2, it is one of the largest stores in the group’s stable, with six floors and over 600 self-storage units ranging from 3m2 to 30m2. ‘Stor-Age is pleased to have a foothold in Gauteng and particularly in the city centre,’ says CEO Gavin Lucas. According to market researcher Urban Studies, there are about 200 000 permanent residents in the Joburg CBD, and about 500 000 to 600 000 people visit the area each day. ‘Stor- Age Joburg City has seen a significant influx of customers not only

A gram of prevention

from surrounding residential areas, such as Parktown, Westcliff,

Growthpoint Properties has expanded and upgraded Adcock Ingram’s

firms in the CBD itself,’ says Gavin. 0861 181 818, stor-age.co.za

Houghton and Soweto, but also from residents and commercial

head office and warehouse in Midrand. The R45-million project saw an additional 2 500m2 of office space being added to the 19 000m2 building as well as the introduction of a new truck access road, more warehouse loading bays, a large generator and a specialised refuse area. ‘When integrating growth, expansion is more attractive than relocating to larger premises. It’s less costly, and refurbishment can be tailored to tenants’ needs,’ says Growthpoint Industrial Sector Divisional Director, Engelbert Binedell. During construction, measures were taken to protect the site's environment, including the safe transfer of koi and the replanting of trees. ‘The development helped one of SA’s largest health care companies to expand its head office into a more operationally efficient and energy- efficient building.’ says Engelbert. +27 (0)11 944 6128, growthpoint.co.za

Developers and landlords must continually reassess market demands and needs, as can be seen by Sable Holdings’ Hobart Grove and Stor-Age Joburg City

– Colin Anderson, Director, Rabie Property Group

thepropertymag.co.za | 61

Property Mag AUGUST2.ai

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

1

2012/08/02

6:49 AM

H A M I LT O N ’ S P R O P E R T Y

P O R T F O L I O

SANDHURST

R45 m HOUSE. A truly impressive and remarkable home which would make a statement anywhere in the world!!…But available off our prestigious Coronation Road! The genius of Louis Louw has created soaring spaces, a layout and flow to enhance a most elegant lifestyle, and inspiring vistas! Extensive accommodation with 5 reception rooms including a library and 5 superb bedroom suites with separate guest suite, games room with bar, theatre room, gym with steam room, wine cellar. Chefʼs kitchen, 2 separate covered terraces, garaging for 7. 4 Staff rooms. A designer garden with cycads and palms – over 4800m². Generator. UFH. Tightest security.

So very much to enjoy! Indeed a unique acquisition!

For an appointment to view contact Meg Dyker: 082 568 0863.

Web ref: 694638

BRYANSTON

from R9.99m (ex VAT) NEW RELEASE - As featured on Top Billing: Prestigious address showcasing contemporary finishes par excellence, this exquisite home caters for those with an eye for the finest detail. Meticulously designed by architect Gary Louw and expertly finished by master builders, PPM Developments. The volumed entrance leads to 4 generous receptions spilling to the entertainer's covered patio and feature pool.

Gourmet dine-in kitchen with walk-in cold room.

4/5 Double bedroom suites with interleading pyjama lounge. Fully contained offices/additional guest wing and study. Garaging for 3 and lux staff suites.

Features incl: Ducted evaporative air cooling system, home automation and other features too numerous to mention. A home of incomparable standards!

To view call Regan: 082 320 6464.

Web ref: 694627

BRYANSTON

Web ref: 707385

R6.2 m MORNINGSIDE

CLUSTER. Set within a secure and guarded Estate in Bryanston East, this magnificent home offers complete privacy within a tranquil environment. From the impressive d/v entrance, 3 oversized receptions spill to the entertainerʼs covered patio, with cocktail bar, overlooking manicured gardens and feature pool.

Gourmet open plan kitchen with integrated appliances.

5 Double bedrooms, with stunning bathrooms (2 en-suite) and study. Wine cellar. Lux staff suite and 3 garages. Ample secure guest parking.

To view call Sole Agents Regan: 082 320 6464 or Christie: 082 676 4699.

Web ref: 235294

in the R5 mʼs PARKTOWN NORTH

HOUSE. A contemporary, cutting edge home, centrally located and within an exclusive gated off enclosure. From the volumed entrance, spacious open plan receptions of overly generous proportions spill to the entertainerʼs covered patio overlooking indigenous gardens and feature lap pool. Gourmet o/p kitchen with walk-in cold-room, stunning library lounge and additional integrated home cinema. 3 lux bedrooms (4th option) all en-suite and study. Additional lux staff/guest suite and garaging for 2. Features include smart-home technology, piped sound and exotic natural materials throughout. Security at its best!

To view call Sole agent Erica: 082 871 7669.

asking R3.6 m

Web ref: 711924

HOUSE. Stylish, split-level home features easy flowing reception rooms with fireplaces, opening to spacious north-facing covered terrace, charming garden and solar-heated pool.

2 Bedrooms en-suite, spacious guest cottage. Triple garage plus secure guest parking. Excellent security. Slight smaller to Parktown North stand in prime position.

To view call Dee Scholtz: 083 458 3660.

W W W . H A M I L T O N S . C O . Z A

Beyond your expectations.

SANDHURST A mansion situated in the heart of Sandhurst with magnificent views of the Magaliesburg and superb imported Italian tiles throughout. The extensive baronial size reception rooms are ideal for entertaining on a grand scale.

Marvellous accommodation with a luxurious beautifully fitted master suite. This home is very unique and only one of a kind.

For exclusive viewing please call Stephen Brick 082 5517971 or Nina Obel 082 552 7325.

SANDHURST A marvelous family home impeccably maintained and beautifully situated in a very secluded position in Sandhurst.

This prestigious home has superb accommodation and features gracious and elegant reception rooms and wonderful bedroom accommodation with magnificent garden vistas. Floodlit tennis court and huge sparkling pool set in a delightful garden, completes this picture.

For exclusive viewing please call Stephen Brick 082 5517971 or Nina Obel 082 552 7325.

VERED estates

011 341 1300

|

info@vered.co.za

|

www.vered.co.za

J U S T W H AT YO U WA N T

HOEDSPRUIT - LIMPOPO - SOUTH AFRICA

You’ve dreamt of it, now own it!

True African bush living at the only bush and aero estate in the world Life at Zandspruit is one of peace and tranquility - a home cocooned in wild life and bush which offers a tranquil getaway from a demanding world.

The exceptional weather all year around gives you ample opportunity to explore your environment with wildlife walks, horse rides or game drives.

View this tranquil setting from the comfort of your living room or pool deck.

Sunset views are magnificent treats!

This is an investment sure to keep your health and living experience a notch above any other.

KEY FEATURES

 Estate size: 1000 ha  Stand size from 4000 m², full title  House designs are in 3 different styles being  Farmhouse  Pavilion  Thatch  650 ha of untouched wildlife reserved exclusively for owners game viewing pleasure  Breathtaking sunsets and mountain views with ample free roaming plains game  Safe environment and close to retailers, doctors and recreational facilities  1 km hard surfaced runway

Contact: +27 15 793 1192 Email: info@zandspruit.co.za Web: www.zandspruit.co.za

 Park and hanger your plane next to your bush home

M O V E

Sales Agents needed

T O A B E T T E R P L A C E www.zandspruit.co.za Due to demand and interest levels we have need to expand our sales team.

Do you have a proven track record? Are you able to deal with high profile clientele?

Join this dynamic team in selling Zandspruit’s peace and tranquil lifestyle at the only bush and aero estate in the world.

Contact Vicky Nish on +27 15 7931192 or email info@zandspruit.co.za

Society

society

Living the high life in Johannesburg and surrounds

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Celebs at the Veuve Clicquot marquee at the Inanda Africa Cup 2012 polo tournament: 1Basetsana Kumalo, Zama Kodwa, Johanna Mukoki 2Bridget and Thabiso Khati 3Chris Coutroulis, Vanessa Carreira 4David Tlale, Hugo van der Merwe 5Faye Peters, Keenan Arrison 6Johanna Mukoki 7Pearl Thusi Sonia Sedibe.

8

thepropertymag.co.za | 67

society

9

12

15

10

11

13

14

16

17

Launch of Wrangler at Turbine Hall’s The Basement, Newtown: 9CharnÊ Slee 10Clair-Louise Mortimer, Barry Tuck, Hayley Venter 11Nicole da Silva, Benedikt Sebastian, Pixie Bennett 12Nolly Meje 13Pearl Modiadie, Lee-Roy Wright 14Reeva Steenkamp, Mika Stefano 15Selae Thobakgale, Thulane Hadebe, Roxy Burger 16Stevel Marc, Reeva Steenkamp 17Thulane Hadebe, Catherine Grenfell.

68 | September 2012

society

19

18

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Super 8 boxing tournament at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park: 18Carol Tshabalala, Francois Botha, Gerry Elsdon 19Danny K, Siya 20Derek Watts, Michelle and Billy Gundelfinger. The new look of Walnut Grove restaurant, Sandton City: 21Chris and Tabitha Forest 22Jacqui Thompson, Leanne Manas

Mika Stefano, Phayo Seyama 24Petra Laranjo, Bailey Schneider. A luncheon in honour of cosmetologist Jamuna Pai and Tarina Patel at

23

The Michelangelo’s L’Incontro Ballroom, Sandton: 25 Tarina Patel, Jamuna Pai, Ashok Sewnarain 26Zanele Nkosi, Dereshnie Reddy.

Email social photographs and invitations to readers@medianova.co.za.

thepropertymag.co.za | 69

TREND WATCH

GET THE LOOK

Recreate the fabulous kitchens and bathrooms you’ve seen in our mag with these inspiring ideas and products

responsible for this steam room’s luminescent walls,

2

which have been created out

Today’s modern kitchen is all about sleek and beautiful surfaces and kitchen counters.

of mother-of-pearl mosaic

Made from 93% quartz, Samsung Radianz surfaces are strong as well as good-looking.

tiles. +27 (0)21 790 0726,

+27 (0)11 472 8899, samsungradianz.co.za

shellshockdesigns.com

3

4

Sometimes a loud pop of colour can quite simply make

Make a bold statement in any bathroom with Italcotto’s Gemstone Blue

a room. The use of brightly painted turquoise antique

range of floor tiles. Available on order nationwide. +27 (0)21 425 4192,

dressers in La Residence Villa’s makes for splendid

italcotto.co.za

bathrooms. +27 (0)15 793 3977, laresidencevillas.co.za

70 | September 2012

Words Nicky Manson

Shellshock Designs is

1

TREND WATCH

5

6

We love these Tabouret Haut bar stools, created by

Wooden panelling is

Jean Prouvé for

ideal for creating a

Swiss company, Vitra.

seamless designer look.

Available from Créma

This bathroom was

Design. Order online.

designed by Nico van der

Nationwide delivery.

Meulen Architects.

+27 (0)21 434 0661,

+27 (0)82 410 4911,

cremadesign.co.za

nicovdmeulen.com

8 7

For small bathrooms or guest loos, add

oomph with a feature wall by using wallpaper.

Wallpaper from CP Decor. 0861 000 273,

Walk on the dark side by choosing black as the theme for your bathroom. This sexy, super-sophisticated bathroom was designed

by Laurie Owen Interiors. +27 (0)11 463 6942, laurieoweninteriors.co.za

cpdecor.co.za

9

Add glam with metallic tiles. To get this look, visit Pudlo Mosaics. +27 (0)21 448 0607, pudlomosaics.co.za

Well-placed windows let in streams of light and great views and eliminate the need for ugly frosted glass.

Designed by CA Interiors. +27 (0)21 790 3370,

11

cainteriors.co.za

Nothing makes a better

10

centrepiece than this Victoria & Albert Cheshire bath – perfect for a royal dip. Get it from On Tap. +27 (0)21 556 7911, ontap.co.za

thepropertymag.co.za | 71

Directory

There’s nothing like Frette www.wmi.co.za marketing@wmi.co.za Tel +27 447 7453/7540

The Wish Collection Shop L24 Lower Level Entrance 5 Sandton City Shop 1 Lower Level, Square Centre, Sandton Tel: Illovo 011 784 0408Shopping / Cell: 082 850 5439 Tel: 011 www.thewishcollection.co.za 447 4495 Fax: 011 447 4844/ www.frette.com Cell: 082 850 5439

LUXURY & WARMTH

YOUR HOME WOULD CHOOSE

LOOKING TO RENT? 100% BEE Women entrepreneurial spirit

specializing in the upmarket rental sector.

Dynamic Boutique Agency.

Contact number is 0843742274

Cape Town’s holiday villa specialists since 2001 Over 200 luxury Atlantic Seaboard properties Contact us now to add your property to our portfolio

Email contact is yvonne@1strate.co.za

rentals I management I tourism I sales 021 438 3416 info@capeportfolios.com www.capeportfolios.com

Space Planning Turnkey Office Fit-Outs Drywalling

011 462 7897 | 021 703 5880 info@powerplastics.co.za www.powerplastics.co.za

Ceilings Design

AUTOMATICS THERMAL BUBBLE SOLID SAFETY LEAF COVERS

We’ve got you covered!

Shaun McCallum | Tel: 031 301 0958 | Cell: 083 296 0247

Harley-Davidson, Lausanne Switzerland

Grand Hyatt, Beijing China

Making beauty last all over the world An extraordinary environment needs an extraordinary floor.

That’s why you’ll find Pergo laminate floors in some of the world’s most demanding places.

Like the Luxor Museum with its never-ending stream of tourists. Or the Harley-Davidson showroom in Switzerland.

It doesn’t matter whether your project is a hotel, trendy restaurant, airport, high street boutique or a private home.

With a combination of stunning design and unrivalled wear resistance, Pergo helps to deliver on your promises.

SEAT, worldwide

0800444000 www.pergo.com

Original Laminate

Harley-Davidson, Lausanne Switzerland