Happiness is…

By Jess Binns, Project Consultant Avril Elias, Property Coordinator Catherine de Vincenzo, Photography Chris Allan

Located inland from the Durban shoreline, this home radiates positive energy. Nine years in the making have given the owners time to hone in on their specific needs as a family.

“This is the first house we have ever built – we went into the whole process completely clueless! Thankfully, our architect, builder and the entire team were so patient, and held our hands from start to finish.”

Adhering to the architectural style of the residential estate, the home features several roof gables, each punctuated with windows to capture the exquisite views. A mix of render, painted face brick, timber and stone cladding break up the exterior walls, softening the hard edges and creating visual interest.

The architect was given one simple brief, as the owner explains: “One of us looks at life through a square and the other a circle… good luck!” However, this apprehension never came to fruition; both parties were thrilled with the outcome.

Life prior to this house was a lovely little townhouse with an equally tiny garden. As the kids grew, so did the need for space. This is the main reason behind the open-plan nature of the ground floor. “As a family, we spend most of our time together in the open-plan kitchen/family room.”

The kitchen, finished in a sea blue, sits happily against the rawness of white painted brick. Comfy sofas are not too far away, ensuring conversation flows, wherever you are seated. Enormous bi-folding doors immediately double the floor space when pushed back, leading into the sun room, which, in turn, opens out to the swimming pool area beyond.

The joy this home exudes and brings to this family is plain to see. “It is so essential that we all have a haven that we can retreat to – a place where our minds can rest long enough to contemplate life beyond the rush-hour of day-to-day living.”