Nicola Gross built her dream home around
casual elegance and good family cheer...
As the owner of ACL Cosmetics. Reve Salon
and Café Verdi in Chelsea Village. as well as director for Moor Skincare,
Nicola Gross is one busy mother of three: two sons, Alexandre, 9, and
Christian, 7, and a daughter Lucia, 5. So, when searching for a space that
could offer her some respite from the urban frenzy, her focus was the old
estate agent’s mantra, ‘location, location, location’.
She found her space in Bishops court, on
the slopes of Table Mountain. ‘I love the area as it’s close to my children’s
schools and my businesses. And the house is in a quiet street.’ Once she had the
title deed, however, Nicola flattened the building and built her dream home
from scratch. The process took 10 months, and in September last year, the
family finally moved in.
Nicola
Gross built her dream home around casual elegance and good family cheer...
‘I wanted a contemporary yet classic home,’
says Nicola, ‘somewhere that had lots of open spaces that flow into one another
but still feels cozy.’
And that it does. Given its size and
newness, the house could so easily have turned out cold and echoey, yet it has
a rambling, lived-in feel that makes you feel right at home. Children’s books
and other toys lie scattered, the family dog Judo and cats Coco, Rico and
Tequila bound through the hallways, and a sunny window scat next to a loaded
bookshelf provides a quiet comer.
‘I
wanted a contemporary yet classic home,’ says Nicola
One of the key reasons for the relaxed air
of the home is the colour palette, says Nicola. ‘There’s a misconception that
blue and grey are cold colours, but I find them warm, tranquil and elegant,
especially when they’re combined with hints of green.’ And of course, they’re
hues that seamlessly flow into each other, which is great for when she’s
entertaining large numbers of people and can open the sliding doors that separate
the main living areas. Which is not to say tha tyou won’t find the odd splash
of full colour. The library feature wall sports a red and gold Regency- style
wall cover offset by a grand white fireplace and picked tip again in a deep red
sofa.
‘One
of the key reasons for the relaxed air of the home is the colour palette,’ says
Nicola.
Nicola lived in France for five years, and
it shows. Every room seems an eclectic balance of French Provençal and English
country manor in colours, textures and furnishings, with plenty of quirky
personal effects thrown into shake the kaleidoscope, like theenormous silver
cutlery artwork kon the wall or the square weave storage box in the
conservatory, and the ornate retro chandeliers throughout.
On hot summer nights the glass doors of the
conservatory fold back so the party can spill out onto the lawns and pool area.
Here again, though, the emphasis is casual elegance — and fun: sun loungers and
the kids’ other sporting kit lie around. ‘I love that there’s a lot of space for
the kids to run around in.’ says Nicola.
But Nicola’s favourite space is the
kitchen, which, with it’s charcoal cabinets and hob recess is pure Provence. ‘I
love my kitchen, as I enjoy cooking. It’s a great space where friends and
family can sit and chat while I prepare food.
The family’s individual bedrooms reflect
each occupant’s personal style and interests and provide a welcome break from
the bustle of a busy household. For instance, Alexandre loves soccer and
Christian is passionate about motorcycles, so their feature walls and light
fittings arc along those themes.
It’s
a great space where friends and family can sit and chat while I prepare food.
For Lucia’s room Nicola chose pretty — from
the pink heart motif wallpaper to the mini Louis XV armchair
.Finally, for her own private retreat
Nicola opted for a sophisticated Provençal theme, to create a quietly dramatic
haven in black and neutral tones, and a bathroom awash in natural light.
