IN PICTURES: Local ad man literally lives at his office (& it's super stylish!)

For ad man Jason Ray, who commutes to Joburg weekly from Cape Town, life and work have always been somewhat intertwined.

"I have never polarised work from leisure," he says, which is why, when it came to creating a home away from home in Joburg, Ray had rather a unique brief in mind.

"I was looking for a play space that could work as a home and an office, but could also be enjoyed by some of our clients. When I'm in Joburg I am completely in work mode, but I also wanted a place I could relax in and from which I could do the occasional entertaining."

After finding the perfect breezy, industrial apartment in Maboneng, Ray consulted interior decorator Jean-Pierre de la Chaumette to help him rework and decorate the space.

A few structural changes and an aesthetic overhaul transformed the apartment into the ultimate cross between an office and a home.

The open-plan kitchen, dining and living areas were then arranged in room sets, with each area appointed a specific role - working, dining, sitting, meeting and so on.

"By giving each area a role, we've divided a very large space into more relatable and useable bite sizes," says De la Chaumette.

When it came to decorating, his job was facilitated by the fact that Ray had already accumulated many pieces. "It was a matter of curating what was already there and filling in the blanks."

The rugs, from Gonsenhauers Fine Rugs, were important in providing a focal point and anchor for the large screed floors, as well as for creating warmth. "Jason's collection of art does a similar job to the expansive white walls," says De la Chaumette.