More Space, More Light

A dark kitchen and living area have been transformed into a contemporary open-plan space.

- Kim Arendse

Architects and first-time property buyers Leon Bekker and Sarah Kuiper bought their spacious Parkview apartment in August 2017. “We wanted an apartment rather than a house as we like the practicality, low maintenance and sense of community that comes with living in a complex,” Leon says.

They fell in love with the old apartment’s spacious rooms and timber elements, such as the door frames and parquet floors. “You don’t see much of this in new developments and we love the warmth of these wooden touches,” Leon says.

But the kitchen, which the front door opens up into, had dated fittings and insufficient counter space, and it was separated from the adjacent living room by a veneered timber panel structure. “It just wasn’t conducive to modern living,” Leon says. “Having people over always resulted in us all huddling together in the kitchen. We wanted to open up the kitchen to become part of the living space.”