By Anna-Marie Smith, Project Consultant Tharien Thompson, Photography Fiona Barclay-Smith
The owner says they built this house in Paarl for several reasons including their relocation from upcountry, and to create a show house for exhibiting the services of Synergy Turnkey Projects.
Synergy, which offers an all-encompassing service including complete building solutions, also has a studio on the premises. Both the house and studio are open to the general public, and the owner says to actually see and feel products such as the beautiful oak flooring finished in a unique grey tone, makes all the difference.
The family’s passion for creating gourmet meals without feeling left out or stressed by an untidy kitchen brought about the creation of two kitchens. The one is set further back from the open-plan living area where the preparation of meals is done, and where noisy electrical appliances are out of sight. The other kitchen was designed to feature a beautiful gas stove and practical working space within close proximity to the lounge, dining room and verandah.
Another design element highlighted is the pleasure this family derives from only having shutters as window coverings throughout. Being fully adjustable they make for convenient flow of light, and are exceptionally easy to clean.
The gas fireplace in the lounge provides an instant solution to produce heat when needed, be it briefly, whereas the indoor fireplace can be used to heat up the room or to cook on. The owner says the fabulous gas fireplace in the main bedroom is an unbeatable feature that is simply turned on and off by remote control.
While this lovely home has become a perfect space for its new owners who took the plunge of relocating to the Cape, it also provides a wealth of tangible knowledge for newcomers to the experience of building a home.
