By Jo Borrill, Project Consultant Catherine de Vincenzo, Property Coordinator Judy Fogarty, Photographer Chris Baker
With a love for white, the home owner had a clear idea of how she wanted to style this newly built, contemporary home. “Our previous home had dark wooden floors and furniture, which I could not wait to change,” she says.
Situated in the Upper Highway region of KwaZulu-Natal, this home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a guest bathroom, a children’s upstairs TV area, dining room, lounge, kitchen, entertainment area, pool, four garages, a scullery and a storeroom. Neutral hues of whites and blues are evident as you enter the home, while the decorator has brought in subtle colour throughout.
The decor the owners have chosen is contemporary, incorporating a traditional style. “I have married traditional and modern furniture finishes and fabrics to create something that is simple, comfortable and classic, elegant and of the highest quality, to stand up to the rigours of family life,” the owner says.
The fabrics work well to create a serene and welcoming space. Most of the furniture and pieces in the home have been sprayed white, without having lost their old charm; one or two pieces have been kept in their natural restored finish, with oak and ash selected for the pieces that have been especially manufactured. The undercover entertainment patio has stack-back folding glass doors, which create an openness and feeling of space, and lead out to the square rim flow pool. “It’s a great place to entertain,” says the home owner. An outside rain shower provides a welcome, practical addition to this area.
A large beaded chandelier hangs tastefully above the living area, in contrast with the three ball-shaped light fittings suspended above the dining area, adding depth. Exposed trusses and bulkheads throughout this space add homely charm. Paired armchairs are a prominent feature, with family pictures displayed in an antique cabinet reminding one that this is, fundamentally, a family home.
“I absolutely love the kitchen,” the home owner says. “We socialise around the massive island. The kids do their homework there and we have our meals there most nights too. Not to mention the fabric on my kitchen blinds, which is possibly the best fabric I have ever seen. The sunset from the kitchen window is beautiful!” A contemporary cantilevered staircase with timber treads leads you upstairs, where the bedrooms follow the same calming theme of muted hues.
The family plans to be here for many years to come. “I love my home and would not change a thing,” the home owner declares.
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