Fresh ideas with screens

Photographs Francois Oberholster and Elza Cooper l Styling Marian van Wyk and Suretha Jansen van Rensburg

An open-plan solution

While Dalene and Marius Meyer loved their new open-plan kitchen and living area in their Midstream Estate home in Centurion, they realised that they needed more flexibility in separating the spaces.

“We decided to have a steelframe sliding door installed.  This way, we can control the noise levels between the different areas. We can also make the most of an open space in summer and then separate the two rooms to create a cosy atmosphere in winter,” says Dalene. “We opted for a sliding door as it seems to disappear completely when opened.” 

We love this!

The raw wood table is mobile; it can easily be disconnected from the island and moved to where extra seating is needed. 

Steel and glass installed by JM Steel Construction  An 

Through the looking glass

When writer Biddi Rorke moved into her Fish Hoek home in 2017, the study just to the left of the front door was separated from the entrance by solid walls. Not only did this make the space feel stifled and isolated, but it also made the dining room and adjacent kitchen quite dark.

Keen to create an airier atmosphere but still maintain some privacy in the study, Biddi knocked out the top half of the dividing walls and closed the gap with striking steel-framed windows. “I love that I can now see the ocean from all areas of my living space,” says Biddi. “And there’s so much more natural light in the dining room, too.”

We love this!

A wooden sideboard found in a junk shop was transformed into an entrance hall focal piece with painted stripes by Paintiques.

Window made and installed by Jambmax   

Contemporary chic

Before Christine and Edwin Capendale renovated their home, the old wooden stacking doors separating the upstairs living areas from the bedrooms and study were in a shoddy condition – the wood was worn and the doors wouldn’t open or close without putting up a fight! But Christine wasn’t ready to add them to the rubble pile, so she replaced the hinges, locks and levers with shiny new brass ones and applied a lick of charcoal paint to contrast with the hardwood floors.

She loves the result. The updated stacking doors help  with noise control between the living areas and bedrooms, and add to the tranquil and contemporary look of the Capendales’ home.

Edwin works from home and he decided to use a room off the passage, accessed through a lovely archway, as a home office. When the couple moved in, this space didn’t have a door so they bought custom-made American Shutters to fit the space.

“We wanted something that would ensure security and provide Edwin with privacy. The installation is beautiful – the shutters were the perfect solution,” Christine says. 

It's in the detail

The shutters follow the curve of the arch.