Oh yay. Today we are visiting the Linden apartment of Karen Venter.
With loads of interesting shops & eateries – including GONK, Tonic gin bar & The Linden Co-Op, Brian Lara, as well as the very first The Whippet coffee shop – the old suburb of Linden in Joburg has become a really trendy area over the last few years. Karen gave this light-filled 1970’s first-floor apartment some serious TLC when she bought it nearly four years ago. She fell in love with the parquet flooring, the natural light that flows through the space & the wall mounted flowerpots outside the front door. “They were so inviting!”
Today, it reflects her unique, eclectic style with bright accents & loads of gorgeous artefacts. Karen calls her approach to decor “a good mix between farmhouse style & transitional”.
ON PERSONALISING HER HOME
The mosaic splashback behind the stove was made by Karen herself – a special focal point that she is very proud of. The entire kitchen was made by & installed by her dad, Nick.
ON RENOVATING
“To have the opportunity to renovate is super exciting, but big renovations like kitchens & bathrooms require planning.”
“It is important to optimize the space that you have (especially if it’s a small space like mine). I used basic colours for wall tiles, as you can always change colours with paint. For the bathroom I’ve chosen a patterned floor tile. I just love the detail.”
ON USING COLOUR
Karen does not shy away from adding colour to her home. Her tips for & adding bold paint colour paints are to decide on a base colour & then match a bold colour to add-in. “I’ve used the navy to paint my bookshelves & side cupboard & match the limestone yellow for the accent wall.” She recommends having certain items to match the accent wall – like a chair, vase or runner.
ON CREATING A FUNCTIONAL & SERENE BEDROOM
She loves her large bedroom. The space was maximized by adding more built-in cupboards.
The monochrome lockers create a trendy feature & double up as extra storage. When Karen got them from friends, they were rusted & not in great shape. After some sandblasting & powder coating, she added some black vinyl crosses on the doors.
ON CURATING & STYLING ORNAMENTS & ARTIFACTS
She has the perfect touch for styling rooms & shelf without making it looked cluttered. “I buy my ornaments & décor pieces from all over. When I see something beautiful, I create a space for it. I love to move things around & I always try & keep the balance between the pieces.”
“I’m very sentimental. I collect small things from everywhere. I’m a shopper, so I love to walk around beautiful little shops & finding treasures.” Her collection include finds from Mr Price Home, H&M Home, @Home, GONK & small shops in Parys (Free State) & Clarens.
ON USING PLANTS (& KEEPING THEM ALIVE!)
“I just love the way greenery adds to complete a look of a room. It brings a kind of freshness to it & adds volume! [But] contrary to popular belief I don’t really have green fingers. I struggle to keep some plants alive! But I’ve realized that succulents love me & I love them,” she chuckles. “They are easy to keep alive… I’ve also started using artificial plants.” It might not be for everyone, but she focusses on getting high-quality artificial plants that look almost exactly like the real deal.
The apartment is an ever-evolving canvas with new projects being started on a very regular basis. Says Karen: “Right after this photoshoot I painted the bedside tables, feature wall & mirror in the spare bedroom & changed the bedlamps!” The kitchen floor is next in line for a facelift. “It is currently a plain cement floor. My plan is to stencil in white & just put a clear sealant over to protect the paint.” We can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Thank you for inviting us into your delightful space Karen. 😊 You can visit Karen’s previous apartment over here.
Yolandi ♥
Images: Andrea Fedder for aZestyLife