Calm neutrals and traditionally styled pieces convey the sense of classic
country living opposite page Designer Yvonne O’Brien has created
a layered effect despite working with only a few tones by incorporating
texture and pattern into the scheme
86
house
garden november 2011
P h oto g r a p h s t h i s s p r e a d : k a r l r o g e r s
estate
of bliss
Classic country style is geared for
a modern family living outside
Johannesburg writes Kate Haggie
uch is the demand in frenetic
urban centres for a sense of
escape, that estate living has
become the modern answer
to a laid-back lifestyle. It
allowed the owners of this
home to achieve the closest thing to
country living without sacrificing the
conveniences of Johannesburg life.
This is where designer Yvonne O’Brien
was tasked with the dual challenge of
combining elements of chic Provençal
style and the look and feel of a classic
polo estate, while catering for an on-themove family with children ranging from
toddlers to teenagers. The owners love to
entertain and their open-house approach
meant an inviting and easily workable yet
modern interior was therefore essential.
O’Brien worked closely with the clients
to ensure that no detail whatsoever
was overlooked, and there existed a
synergy between O’Brien and the clients
which successfully resulted in an easy
combination of the designer’s signature
understated elegance and classic good
taste, pulled together with a few
statement patterns and designs.
O’Brien describes her style as classic
contemporary. ‘I don’t like over-the-top
embellishment, but rather subtle settings
that are luxurious by virtue of their
downplayed sophistication and elegance.’
The expansive property has a cottage
with four spacious bedrooms, all ensuite, as well as the four-bedroomed main
house, which boasts features perfectly
suited to such a social household,
such as a cinema room, wine cellar
and a suitably entitled ‘pyjama lounge’
with antique leather chairs and sofas.
Interconnecting verandahs look out
onto a pool, indigenous gardens and
a lake in the distance, and the view is
strikingly framed by stone pillars and
elliptical arches. The neutral palette
and natural materials are accented with
shots of bright pink, purple and red by
way of statement fabrics, which liven a
base of classic ticking stripes and modern
graphic print. But throughout the
interior a muted base of cream and ivory
keeps things light and airy.
The use of stone, wood and metal in the
flooring, walling and furnishings works
together to create a stylistic harmony
house
garden november 2011
87
that reverberates throughout, but each
space had its own vision, realised through
a thorough conceptualisation of what
would be fitting. ‘The rooms had specific
profiles, which inspired the creativity’.
High ceilings are highlighted with
detailed cornicing and O’Brien further
capitalised on this architectural feature
by extending curtain and blind headers
all the way to the ceiling. Rafters in the
bedrooms add to the general sense of
generosity of space. Painted wooden
tongue-and-groove panels are a nod to
the setting, but at all times the quaintness
of the country aspect is offset by a more
glossy and dressed-up face of Frenchinspired style – crystal chandeliers,
polished surfaces and deep buttoning.
Throughout, however, objects, such as
delft jars, wicker baskets, and hurricane
lanterns continually enforce the
combined aesthetic of country charm.
The bulk of the furniture was custommade for the clients. Overall, the design
of the house is cohesive and tailored with
a playful edge. O’Brien puts the success of
the project down to the creative blending
of genres and themes, which was made
possible by an understanding between her
and the owners. ‘The clients had put a lot
of thought into what they wanted. It’s a
pleasure to work on a clear brief because
you know from the start what it is you’re
aiming towards,’ says O’Brien Yvonne
O’Brien Interiors/The Private House
Company 8 www.privatehouseco.co.za
n
throughout
the interior
a muted
base of
cream and
ivory keeps
things light
and airy
P h o t o g r a p h s t h i s s p r e a d : e l s a yo u n g
clockwise from top The master
bedroom is a glam French take on
country courtesy of feminine furniture
and floral wallpaper; tailored and laidback live happily together in a guest
room, the black accents a perfect foil
for reed stools; tones of black, grey and
white offer a classic counterpoint to the
textures used outdoors; the bathroom
echoes elements of French style found
throughout; a sideboard holds a mix of
objets opposite page clockwise
from top In a bedroom, a modern
console strikes a balance between rustic
and chic; blonde wood furniture keeps
the scheme light while colour accents
add a playful edge; the patio is dressed in
the same layered way as the indoor areas