Greener Pastures for Oak Avenue
Meet the Team
Bone Studio – Hayley Turner & Nicola Orpen
Built in 1944 and initially named ‘The Sheiling’, this Tudor-styled house originally formed part of Wytham Estate in Kenilworth, Cape Town. It was established through the 1937 subdivision of the property Highwick, which in turn had been subdivided from the historic Steenberg Farm all the way back in 1886. The house, with its rigid layout and mustard kitchen, had grown dated and dull by the time Bone Design was presented with the task of placing it on greener pastures once more.
The renovation’s design objective was to create an oasis of calm, with a touch of understated historical glamour. The process began with removing the unstylish 1970s finishes such as the carpets, stippled plaster, layers of varnish, and Linoleum to reveal the original classic Tudor features. These included solid timber beams and floors which were celebrated by simply sanding and applying a non-yellowing monocoat seal, which aided in creating a warm monochromatic base palette of neutral tones with dark stained timber windows, characteristic of the light and dark design aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts movement.
To excel at the endeavour, Bone Design layered textures, materials, and bespoke joinery elements to further enhance the elegant new style of the space. Each area was transformed from washed out to bright and airy, lifting the mood and introducing sophistication. The team not only imparted their taste and expertise on the interiors but also on the façade, making the space feel entirely reimagined while cherishing the history and essence of the home. By embracing the budding possibilities of this tudoresque dwelling, the power of renovation took this home on Oak Avenue from tired to timeless.
By opening up the wall between the living room, dining room, and kitchen, we created line of site from all angles of the house.
We broke down the walls between the old domestic room and kitchen, stripped the ceiling boards to expose high pitch rafters, and installed large folding/stacking doors to the garden via a new covered patio to create open flow between inside and out.
The old study was stripped and incorporated into the previously very small en-suite, transforming it into a luxurious bathroom which celebrates the light through the traditional bay window.
