In high

By Karien Slabbert, Project Consultant Monique Rankine, Photography Bronwyn Greeff

Well-orchestrated design is about more than creating the ideal architectural blueprint; it’s about choosing a design language that articulates how you would like to live. This is a concept the owners understood while planning their home.

Ascribing to a certain technological austerity, the home is characterised by pared-down design and pragmatism. The subdued, earthy palette allows the seamless design to dominate.

The exterior features a comfortable mix of organic stone and decking, creating a visual and tactile harmony with the natural surrounds. The dynamic interface of the design is thanks to large windows that soak in nature’s ever-changing vistas. Indoors, the light-streaked triple-volume windows are an architectural counterpoint to the interior’s horizontal and vertical planes.

Although the downstairs living areas each have a defined role, they flow seamlessly from one zone to the next. The interiors throughout are cosy and deliberately subdued. A contemporary contrast of light and dark defines the space, with mid-century furniture complementing the clean lines of the architecture, while sculptural lighting adds a touch of opulence.

The functional sensibility of the home is reflected in the indoor swimming pool, which forms the epicentre of the open-plan design. Skylights were installed to flood the space with light.

Although the kitchen is filled with a fine selection of high-tech appliances, it still has a welcoming feel, the result of a palette of soft grey tones and mushroom hues. Timber veneer wall cladding, accented with smoked mirror inlays, was brought in to tie the spaces together, and also to bring warmth to the area.

As the owners are wine-lovers, a modern wine cellar with glass doors was installed to house their ever-growing collection of good vintages.

A floating staircase that links the first and second floors is a cascading design that is a true representation of the modern blueprint of the property, where scale and proportion resonate throughout. Upstairs, the pyjama lounge, bedrooms and bathrooms have a comfy, lived-in feel. The bedrooms make use of subtler hues and layers of inviting, tactile finishes. In the main bedroom, a dirty-pink velvet ottoman, floral scatters and painterly wallpaper add pops of understated colour and texture to the soothing grey, an aesthetic that is carried through to the other bedrooms, while the nature-inspired bathrooms all have subdued, organic finishes.

The owners wanted a “smart” home, where a hub of integrated technology ensures ultimate convenience. The home automation system encompasses lighting, audio-visual technology and security, all at the touch of a button.

The home cinema, with a comfortable, laid-back feel, is the perfect spot for a night in, while outdoors, the deck and firepit are geared for entertaining. It’s not often that one finds a home that has it all: stylish architectural design, perfectly curated interiors and an aesthetic sensibility that transcends the boundaries of form and function. This modern home ticks all of the boxes.