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A Pair of serial Renovators in Johannesburg have brought a mid - century GEM back to life with a sense of subtely

- Graham wood

IT TAKES A GOOD EYE TO SPOT POTENTIAL IN A FIXER-UPPER, particularly in a city like Johannesburg. There are some real gems almost always undervalued - but their qualities are often lost beneath the add-ons that barnacle their way onto houses over time. Christo Vermeulen and Nico Venter are serial renovators. Inevitably, after a few years of living in a house, they find their eyes wandering.

They most certainly do have a knack for recognising the signs that something special might be lurking beneath the surface a nondescript exterior.

Christo is a former textile designer turned builder/renovator - with a sideline in manufacturing bespoke features, especially metalwork and ironmongery - and Nico is an urban designer with an interest in the city's architectural history. Together, they make a formidable team: insightful and capable, with the perfect combination of vision and respect for the innate qualities of a good find.