Treasure Trove

The Killarney apartment of interior designer Michele Throssell reflects her love of heritage and the glamour of Johannesburg, but adds a little Durban flavour for good measure.

- Zodwa Kumalo-valentine

Michele Throssell of the eponymous interior design company and her husband, Bruce, fell in love with, bought and renovated a three-bedroom flat in Killarney, one of Johannesburg’s original apartment suburbs.

Located in the highly sought-after Rapallo building, the apartment is an ode to art, retro design and vintage and romantic sensibilities. It almost feels like an extension of the Rapallo itself, which was built in the 1950s by Italian prisoners of war and features an original Art Deco water installation and Picasso-inspired oil painting by Armando Baldinelli in the entrance hall. It’s not surprising that the building immediately attracted Michele, and they secured a corner apartment with gorgeous views overlooking Johannesburg.

While Michele is mostly based in Durban, Bruce, who is in financial services, and their son James, who works as a lawyer, both live in Johannesburg. They acquired the inner-city apartment so they could have a permanent Johannesburg family home base – Michele visits once a month for a night or two or the odd weekend. Her other children, Joseph and Rebecca, both work in interior design and live in Cape Town.