Artful Luxury Defines JRD Studio’s Neoclassical House St Germain
The home’s material and colour palettes invoke a palpable softness with moments of polish and contrast to elevate the feel. Layered textures were deliberately chosen to create a sense of tactile richness, warmth and understated luxury: brushed champagne gold for the metal finishes, natural wood grains in walnut, maple and koto veneers with silver leaf accents, and Verdi Guatemala natural stone and travertine. These materials are complemented and contrasted by opulent yet soft velvets, linens and bouclé fabrics.
Steeped in the symmetrical structure of French Neoclassicism, this Johannesburg home is framed by gardens that echo its architectural form. The home honours the integrity of its origin while embracing a fresh design language abundant in contrast and tactility.
After close consultation with the new owners, interior designer and founder of JRD Studio Joao Ribeiro drew inspiration from the home’s French Neoclassical style to guide its design direction — blending contemporary luxe with Modernist and Art Deco influences. ‘The home’s architecture and interiors are highly symmetrical and proportioned,’ says Ribeiro. ‘From the floor plans to the façades and furniture arrangements, we continuously aimed for a harmonious balance, creating a holistic look both externally and internally.’
‘Hues were chosen to create serenity while allowing textures, materials and accents in the form of art and sculpture to take centre stage,’ says Ribeiro. ‘We veered towards muted neutrals like stone, sand, ivory, and soft greys paired with calming tones such as sage green.’
Neutral tones contrast with bolder elements to introduce sensory, cinematic and playful transitions between spaces — an impressive exercise in restraint and indulgence. In the passage, the tropical wallpaper by Sasi Wallpaper encapsulates this sensation, creating the feeling of being enveloped by nature in a jungle cocoon and departing from the pared-back elegance in the rest of the home. The powder room wallpaper by Ardmore continues the immersive botanical narrative, bringing a sense of the fantastical with an intricate, layered, over-the-top jungle tapestry in an unapologetic, maximalist way.
The design evolved with the owners, resulting in a space that doesn’t just pass the eye test, but also feels inhabited, storied and deeply personal. ‘As I was looking through the owner's collection of archived artworks, I came upon an undulating, slightly damaged canvas with a captivating image,’ says Ribeiro. ‘I immediately recognised this as a portrait of the owner and set about finding out how this beautiful artwork was discarded. I made the decision there and then to place the self-portrait above the fireplace. Once discarded, now revered, this self-portrait has found its way home, not just onto a wall, but into the soul of the room. It stands as both an artwork and as an act of restoration.’
Art is everywhere, not only displayed but embodied in the space. Handpainted ceramic works by Ruan Hoffman offer a personal confrontation — bold, erratic, vulnerable — yet clinically contained in clear acrylic boxes, a powerful push-pull between raw human emotion and sterile presentation. In the soaring double volume entrance hall, a 4.4 metre droplet chandelier by Willowlamp is a shimmering spectacle suspended in midair. Meanwhile in the TV room, two of Salvador Dalí’s signed etchings and lithographs bring a surreal and metaphysical undercurrent to the room.
One of Ribeiro’s favourite areas of the home is the undercover patio with an oversized, curved modular outdoor sofa from the Gatsby Collection by Vondom, imported by Core Furniture Concepts. The patio’s palette remains strategically mineral with chalky whites, limestone, pale beach-sand and deep leafy greens that bring a sun-kissed quality to the space. ‘The owners wanted a multifunctional space for them to entertain effectively whilst also providing an informal, sumptuous vantage point overlooking the garden,’ adds Ribeiro.
Lastly, the bedroom — a space that feels both grounded and celestial. A palette of cool creams, warm taupes and sun-bleached woods, epitomises layered restraint, tonal refinement and quiet emotional weight. ‘Vaulted and veiled in light, this space is a veritable retreat that draws you into its stillness,’ concludes Ribeiro. ‘Every object was curated to calm and every surface was softened to receive. Architecture becomes comfort and comfort becomes art.’