Whole-Home Interior Decorating
This project was particularly close to my heart as it was one of my first after returning to Cape Town during the pandemic. The house, situated in leafy Higgovale, belonged to a close friend and her family. Originally her husband’s family home, it had recently undergone a series of structural renovations – the kitchen had been redone, cupboards replaced, lighting updated, and the garden and pool fully reimagined. My task was to take this beautifully refreshed but still bare house and transform it into a warm, welcoming family home.
With a generous budget and a love for bespoke design, we set out to create interiors that were as practical as they were luxurious. Around 80–90% of the furniture was custom-made, allowing us to work with beautiful fabrics, unique textures, and tailored finishes. The result was a true reflection of the family – playful, sophisticated, and perfectly suited to life with two young children and their much-loved dog.
The children’s rooms were designed with both function and joy in mind. The nursery was a modern, monochrome space that felt calming for both mother and baby. The older child’s bedroom played with primary colours – blue, red and yellow – grounded with crisp white walls and black accents for a contemporary look. These rooms flowed into a large playroom that we kept open, practical and versatile, complete with a blackboard wall for creative play. This space was intended not only for children’s activities but also as a casual family movie zone, separate from the main living areas.
The main bedroom was layered with soft grey tones and rich textures to create a restful retreat. Large mirrors above the pedestals added a sense of height and light. Mirrors were used throughout the house to enhance space and reflection, most notably in the dining area, where an antique mirrored wall opened up the room beautifully.
The shared living areas were kept simple and elegant, with a palette of black, white, and grey that flowed from the kitchen to the dining room, lounge, and out onto the patio and pool deck. Flooring was refreshed, and new carpets were installed to complete the sense of refinement.
This project was an exercise in balance – combining her love of opulence with his more pared-back, contemporary sensibilities. The result was a house that feels modern yet welcoming, bold yet elegant, with striking moments of personality, such as the dramatic entrance wall with its statement red chair and vibrant artwork. The home was later featured in Finders Homes, a testament to its striking, European-inspired contemporary design.
Project Summary
Brief: Transform a recently renovated Higgovale property into a cohesive, stylish family home that balances luxury with practicality.
Challenges: The couple had contrasting tastes – one preferred a more opulent style while the other leaned toward minimalism – requiring a careful balance in furnishings and finishes. The house needed to accommodate two children and a dog while remaining elegant and uncluttered.
Solution: Designed and sourced mostly bespoke furniture, layered rich textures and mirrors to enhance light and scale, created bold moments like the black feature wall and red statement chair, and designed a dedicated children’s wing with colourful, playful spaces. The result was a sophisticated home with a European contemporary feel that reflected the personalities of everyone in the family.
