Beige Beauty: Four Seasons Westcliff reinvents itself - ditching its colonial past

Cape Town has the Pink Lady - the grand, colonial Mount Nelson Hotel.

Johannesburg used to have its own blushing grand dame, until the Westcliff was bought by the Four Seasons hotel group and became a more subtle shade of beige.

Spilling down a hillside with views of the leafy city to the Magaliesberg, the Westcliff is the haunt of Hollywood stars and chart-topping pop stars. This year the hotel has undergone a facelift, undertaken by Ockert Snyman and his team from Jacket Interiors to update the safari-chic style. It reopened this week.

How did you secure the new Westcliff as a client?

One of the new owners of the hotel is an existing client. We were asked to make a design concept presentation to the other partner, who liked our ideas.

What was the redesign brief?

We were asked to give the hotel more of a sense of place, to give guests an authentic feel of Johannesburg style and culture, and a more contemporary edge.

Define your interior design style?

Classic yet contemporary, mixing old and new, juxtaposing clean lines with characterful touches, like beautiful contemporary art-work and subtle African texture.

The hotel is a Johannesburg institution. Was this intimidating?

Yes, especially as there are those who would like the hotel to preserve its colonial style. We've retained the grace and sense of occasion of the hotel, bringing it up to date with uniquely South African contemporary touches.

What are the changes?

The new reception area has been completely opened up and given a sense of arrival. Guest bedrooms have been given a complete facelift, with new carpeting, furniture and fabrics. Wonderful contemporary local art has been used throughout . A stunning new royal suite has been added in addition to the existing presidential suite. The Jacaranda room, used for functions, has been overhauled, inspired by the jacarandas for which Westcliff is famous. A new spa facility has been added, including a lap pool and garden terrace. There is also a new deli that will be open to the public. The restaurant complex has been completely overhauled by the design firm Black Sheep from the UK. An expanded dining terrace can now be accessed from a panoramic exterior lift.

Local materials or international design brands?

We used a mix of international design brands, but features are predominantly local. Much of the existing furniture was reworked by local suppliers.

The hotel had a colonial style. How have you reinterpreted it?

We've replaced it with a more contemporary style that retains the sense of history and place.

Is each room different?

Most are. There were three main colour themes - light blue, dark blue and green. The royal and presidential suites were inspired by Johannesburg's mining town history and the old Randlord mansions, featuring colours and objects made of precious metals and gold.