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Mornay de Villiers was a mere 26 when he bought an old house in the Strand’s Da Gama Road – but he was nevertheless up to the challenge of transforming the place.

Internal walls were demolished, the entrance was moved from the side street to the front of the corner property to achieve a better flow and, for the first time in his life, Mornay started gardening. Fortunately, his is a close-knit family, and his parents and two sisters helped where they could. Mornay and his dad Alwyn own a scrap metal company in the Strand while his mother Sandra and sisters Natasha and Melissa run Pajamas & Jam – a popular antiques store and coffee shop on the same property. This was the source of most of the interesting finds that now add impact to his home: a ceiling-mounted industrial hook supports a hanging chair; an old bright red Coke fridge perks up the kitchen, and truck doors bearing the image of a box of Lion matches lead into the bathroom. ‘At first I thought the things in the shop were ugly,’ Mornay admits, ‘But now I’ve seen the light!’

White, whiter…

Mornay’s home wasn’t always white; it’s been systematically changed over the past two to three years. ‘The floors were that typically yellowish Oregon pine, the mirrors had gilt frames and the curtains were blood-red velvet – all very dramatic!’ explains Mornay. But the look simply didn’t work for him as he likes to keep things light and enjoys both indoor and outdoor living. So the curtains on the huge windows were replaced by simple muslin drops made by his mother. They pool on the floor and are never drawn.

‘Many people ask me why I built such high walls around my property; it’s because I never have to close my curtains – I want to be able to look at my garden day and night. Everything’s open here. When you walk in through the front door, my bedroom door is open and you can see right through. That’s why everything has to be beautiful, in a consistent style.’

Soon after the new curtains were hung, the furniture was painted white. Most of Mornay’s ball-and-claw pieces were spray-painted with Duco for a satin- smooth finish, resulting in a crisp, contemporary look. For contrast, some pieces were hand-painted. The walls were coated with Cretestone and left unsealed for a natural look. The floors were the final project. ‘I dilly-dallied about painting them because people think you’re crazy if you paint wooden floors. But, once I saw that white finish, I was actually sorry I hadn’t done them ages ago!’ laughs Mornay.

Holiday haven

Most of the doors open on pivot hinges – even the enormous old sliding doors he bought and installed on pivots at his front door – for a mere R2 000. They swing open completely, leading straight into the open plan kitchen and living area, where old couches boast oversized slipcovers that add to an informal, shabby chic look that’s perfectly in keeping with Mornay’s philosophy that everything should be laidback. The hessian cushions are from Pajamas & Jam, while the threadbare rugs are from a secondhand store. ‘Many of my friends say they feel like they’re on holiday when they visit because everything’s so light and airy. And that’s exactly the feel I wanted,’ says Mornay.

Eating and entertaining

‘A pantry has always sounded like a great idea to me – so I got myself one! My girlfriends love it because when we’re entertaining, they can simply walk in and see where everything is,’ explains Mornay. The satin-smooth, white ball-and-claw kitchen table is on castors for easy manoeuvrability when the party starts jumping. But the natural wood chairs surrounding it offer a soothing contrast, while one of several crystal chandeliers found in the house adds a touch of glamour. But it’s not a done deal.  The kitchen’s already been transformed twice and Mornay is planning more changes to further improve the flow. ‘Luckily, I have an excellent contact in Jaco of Workbench Products, who installed my kitchen cupboards and also custom-made all the doors and windows for me!’

Suite dreams

Both bedrooms have white French doors and ornate scroll burglar bars. Here, too, the furniture is primarily ball-and-claw pieces painted white. Even a formerly green architect’s plan chest has been given a new lease on life with a lick of white paint.

In Mornay’s dressing room, two white ball-and-claw wardrobes face – and reflect – each other; he replaced the door panels with mirrors. ‘It doesn’t matter whether I buy something old or new – I always try to add my personal stamp. I seldom bring anything into the house as is.’ Sister Natasha is campaigning to keep the imbuia cupboard in his en-suite bathroom in its natural state, but Mornay’s having none of it: ‘It’s getting its white coat pretty soon!’

Mornay’s renovation tips

• Start and finish one room at a time, or you’ll never get anywhere.

• Maintain a single style throughout; keep the look uniform.

• White paint always works for me. If you’re not sure where a piece should be, paint it white and take another look.

• Appreciate your garden from inside as well; don’t draw your curtains unnecessarily.

• Get to know how your home and property works; I know exactly how my pool pump and irrigation system work, for example.