The R10 million renovation will include a new restaurant space for Makaron, the classically French-inspired restaurant situated on site, a new lounge and bar area (to be known as M) and a revamp of the indoor pool area and spa, including two new treatment rooms. Additional conference facilities will be added and two new, individually decorated, Mountain View suites.
The hotel has appointed Etienne Hanekom, art director of VISI magazine and interior design consultant, to create dramatic, yet inviting interiors for the restaurant as well as the bar/lounge area, reception and the two new mountain-facing suites, in his biggest project to date.
The colours he is using are inspired by an industrial palette; hues of grey with hints of colour accents, using steel, copper, glass, wood and stone. While the colours and certain materials may reflect an industrial starkness, he has chosen to feature elements of iconic design and lush fabrics to create sophisticated interiors.
While all these changes take place, Anri Diener, executive chef of Makaron, will be going to France for two months where she will study at two very different three-star Michelin restaurants. In Paris she will be working and studying under Alain Passard at his restaurant L'Arpege, where vegetables are transformed into creative dishes. She will then go on to Burgundy, where she will study and work under Aurelien Gransagne in his restaurant L'Esperance as she has done previously.
While she will learn and take in as much as she can under these two culinary masters, she will not be changing her signature style but enhancing it by learning new techniques, working with and tasting some of the finest food in the world.
For more details, go to www.majekahouse.co.za.
