After many years of renting a bedroom in this very house, Ivonne luckily had the opportunity to purchase the property when her friend relocated to Namibia and needed to sell. With no furniture of her own to begin with, Ivonne slept in the living room on just a mattress for the first few months. She had a simple trestle table and four wine crates that were truly multi-purpose; they could be chairs or side tables and even act as a ladder when stacked on top of each other! Nowadays, though, they’re used as bedside tables in Ivonne’s bedroom, and there are other pieces that have joined in. By living in the house first, Ivonne was able to make clever decisions when it came to both renovating and furnishing choices.

With the help of an architect, Ivonne reconfigured and maximized the semi-detached cottage. They removed the third bedroom to create the lovely living area and fitted large sliding doors. which open up onto the courtyard. The result is a spacious, open-plan area that is the heart of the home and great for entertaining.

Hailing from Namibia, it’s no surprise that Ivonne loves sunshine. She opted to add an additional window above the sliding doors to allow in even more light, and the yellow courtyard reflects a warm glow into the kitchen and living room. Along with yellow accents dotted throughout, Ivonne’s home has a happy and appealing ambiance.

My Style: Scandi with a South African twist

Inspiration: I like clean lines and minimalism. I started off in an empty neutral shell and slept on a mattress in the living room for months. I used a trestle table and four wine crates as chairs in the dining area. Slowly but surely I added furniture I liked and built myself a bed. The personal items and decor are all collected over time and remind me of special occasions, holidays or fun times with friends.

Favorite Element: My yellow courtyard and the way it lights up the interior.

Biggest Challenge: Staying within my budget and limiting scope creep.

What Friends Say: Friends often comment about the nice light and calm feel of the space. I get a lot of compliments about the flow of the house and the finishes I used as well as the clever utilization of space.

Proudest DIY: My bed — it’s the only DIY I did in the house 😉

Biggest Indulgence: An extra set of windows above the sliding doors to let in more light. I could not afford double glazing at the time of renovation and that is now my only regret.

Best Advice: Don’t rush a renovation. Live in the house first and get a good feel for it before you renovate. Keep the basics neutral and add a bit of fun with elements/decor that can be replaced easily. I spent a lot of time planning details: where the shower should go and what side the door should open towards, for example.

Dream Sources: Everywhere from Woodstock to Weylandts. I took my time to source the interior.

KITCHEN
Table — custom made
Chairs — Chair Crazy
Ceramic bunny — Sootcookie
Wooden carvings — bought on holiday trips to Namibia
Cabinets — custom made by Kitchenshow

LIVING AREA
Bosca wood burner — Builders Warehouse
Monkey & Zebra — African Soxy Animal
Sofa — Wunders
Flowerfield cushions — Skinny laMinx
Duck egg armchair — Second hand store near Salt River Circle
Grey armchairs — LIM
Tables — NAP
Baskets — Weylandts
Architectural drawings — Mark Hilltout
Yellow Tolix style chairs — Chair Crazy
Mixed media artwork — Lisette Forsyth

MAIN BEDROOM
Yellow cushions — Mr Price Home
Bed base — made by Yvonne and a friend
Bedside lamps — Weylandts
Artwork — Arnelle Woker
Chair — bought from a second hand store and reupholstered
Wooden unit — Weylandts

Share Your Style: ⇒ House Tour & House Call Submission Form See More: ⇒ Recent House Tours
⇒ House Tours on Pinterest