Today, we welcome Janet Kluever to the blog for a tour of her home in the leafy suburb of Forest Town in Johannesburg.
Enjoy!
This home is a sanctuary for all who enter. On a quiet, pre-Corona, weekday morning, it is hard to believe that this is the bustling household of two parents with busy careers, two kids, four dogs & an au pair (who lives in during the week).
KITCHEN & LIVING AREA:
On open plan living: “The open plan kitchen-living-dining area has really made such a difference to our lives.”
“As someone who works full time, I want to spend as much time as possible with my family when I am at home. Whether I am cooking or working or lounging – it has created a sense of togetherness for the entire family. Even if everyone is busy doing their own thing, we are still together.”
On renovating: “We renovated about two years ago – opening up the old living, dining & kitchen areas into one large living area. We also added folding doors that open onto the porch… at the time I pretty much redecorated the entire house.” Janet was fortunate to have the help of her sister during this project.
Coffee table & corner leather couch: Weylandts. Chest in corner: auction.
“She [has a] wonderful sense of style & is gifted with a most natural eye to make spaces work. During the renovation project, she was the mastermind working with an equally gifted builder, transforming ideas into reality. Lines & lighting, I learnt, are some of the first things to consider when designing spaces. She is my ‘yes’ & ‘no’ or ‘what do you think about this’ person. When decorating I find it is so useful to have someone you can check in with, share ideas & just bounce things off.”
Table, round mirror: Weylandts. Chairs: SHF & La Grange. Wall Unit: Block & Chisel.
On their unique & beautiful art: “Our art collection is a combination of gifts – from others & from ourselves. Every piece has a story, but the pieces that have the most meaning are those we received from loved ones.”
When sitting on the porch, you get the feeling that you might just be somewhere in the bush or in Knysna. “I love to sit [here], especially if sharing it with my favourite people. As a family we can sit here drinking tea & coffee all day long.”
Leather couch: Topolansky. Rug: Rebtex. Concrete (coffee) table & side tables: Weylandts.
Some of the items in the Kluever home have special & sentimental stories.
The most remarkable of all is the riempies bench in the hallway that was used as a bed by Janet’s father in law’s great-great-grandmother (Luciana Elwina Müssmann) in a concentration camp (Mafeking) where she died in 1901 during the Anglo Boer War.
“The piano comes from my mother in law. Her grandmother (Cornelia Maria Beyers) acquired it in 1905 & she had a specialist redo the black lacquer & restored it beautifully before sending it to us.”
The palm-sizes Madiba head was made by Janet’s father-in-law from soft clay. “Somehow it survived about 20 house moves so far,” she chuckles.
MAIN BEDROOM & EN SUITE BATHROOM:
Bed: Tempur. Malawi chair & artwork above bed: Amatuli. Scatter Cushions: Wizards Vintage, Amatuli, Weylandts.
Wooden bench & plant holder: Amatuli. Rug: Hertex.
The most recent renovation project was the TV room at the far end of the house. Janet decided that, once the children were a bit older, the ‘play’ room filled with toys, needed a facelift. “It marked the end of one phase & the beginning of another for our family… celebrated with a mass exodus of toys & a new couch along with a few other furniture pieces.”
Animal hide rug: Fourways street vendors. Lampshade, large rug, blue rug & couch: Weylandts.
On not sticking to one distinct decor style. “I like all things beautiful & try to make it fit whether it (theoretically) does or not.” Before the renovation, she tried to match the decor to the style of the house, but ended up with many items that she didn’t love. Now she only buys items that truly gives her joy!
On living in Johannesburg: “We love Jozi, its beautiful people, the trees & the amazing weather. I dream of a Jozi where we can safely walk around in the inner city with its beautiful buildings & parks.”
BATHROOM:
Plant holder & mini wooden side table / stool: Amatuli. Ladder: SANTOS in Parkhurst. Bathroom Mat: Hertex.
Thank you for letting us visit your wonderful serene home, Janet.
Yolandi ♥
Images: Andrea Caldwell for aZestyLife.
Beautiful!
Thanx Leanne. It is really an amazing home. x