When a South African with French heritage and her husband, a doctor and health and wellness expert of Chinese descent, decided to renovate, it’s no surprise that the result would be unusual. Anina Malherbe-Lan and Michael Lan had been searching for a space in the city – one that had two separate entrances, with enough space to combine their home and Michael’s wellness centre and tai chi studio into one property. A traditional Victorian house that had fallen on hard times and was being used as a neglected guesthouse proved to be the surprising solution for their blended home.
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In order to ensure that everything matched, homeowner Anina had much of her furniture and fixtures painted black, while gold accents symbolise "metal" in feng shui.
Designer furniture, such as the Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck, combines with the original features of the heritage property to stunning effect.
The couple has created a nature-filled refuge within the city by opening the indoor living areas onto the conservatory and gardens, and by bringing greenery into their home.
The contemporary kitchen contrasts with the period features of the Victorian house, striking a compositional balance between old and new.
The master bedroom is a vision of muted tones and geometrical symmetry, from the furniture to the bedlinen.
The effortless elegance of this home extends to the bathroom, which is clean, simple and stylish in a crisp monochromatic palette.
The couple in front of their gorgeous home.
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