Ballito Umhl - NOV 2020

Modern, masculine makeover
The transition of this one-bedroom Sheffield Beach bachelor flat from dated, dingy and
cramped to modern, masculine and functional is quite remarkable. We spoke to the
designer responsible for this incredible apartment makeover.
Text: Leah Shone
When designer Margaret Berichon
was first shown this old, Sheffield
Beach apartment, it was in desperate
need of an overhaul. Owner Iain
Cochrane had bought the flat from an
elderly gentleman who had owned it
for many years. He wanted to update
and modernize it, while still preserving
the basic structure.
Margaret, the owner of Margaret
Berichon Design, has a special interest
in residential renovations and loves
challenges like this one, which allow
her to look back afterwards and see
the remarkable transition a space has
undergone.
“I just love how this apartment turned
out. It was really old an drab and
in need of a new look and I think
we managed to achieve it without
doing anything too drastic. This flat
has looked the same, I think, with the
same built-in-cupboards and floors,
for more than 30 years.”
Although Iain had a clear idea in mind
of what he wanted, Margaret says he
was happy to hand over the reins and
allow her and her team the freedom
to create and design the new look.
The first step was to remove the wall
that separated the kitchen from the
entrance area, opening up the entire
kitchen, dining and living area. They
also bricked up and removed one
other wall, leading from the lounge
into the bedroom. The builders
chosen for the project were MCC
Construction.
Iain wanted to preserve the high
ceiling and beautiful exposed beams,
says Margaret, which now (especially
with the beams painted black) is an
eye-catching feature of the home.
The kitchen, done by Blue Olive
Design, is inviting and modern with
wonderful unique features that are
well-suited to the home’s owner. “Iain
is a tall man and he lives alone, which
means we were able to use the high
The solid oak bathroom cabinets were
custom made and parts of the original brick
wall retained to add texture to the room
52 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga November 2020