Name: K & R's
Location: Kalk Bay, Cape Town
Type: Apartment
Size: 900 sq.ft.
Years lived in: 7 months, renting.
>> See K & R's Gallery!
R & K have created a peaceful retreat in the beautiful town of Kalk Bay. It feels like a weekend getaway, yet they live here full time. They enthusiastically speak of the inspiration they find around them every day — from the stunning location, the beautiful mountain and sea views, the indigenous succulents, the Main Road shops filled with clutter, the colorful boats in the harbor and their beloved beach holidays in Mozambique.
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It comes at no surprise then that they don't own a television, with such visual stimulation around, who needs a TV! Not only does this nest inspire the creative duo, but it also provides a wonderful setting for R's art and foodie K's recipe trials. This is a soulful and functional home, where the owners work and play in the surroundings they adore. They love rummaging through the second hands shops down the road and majority of items they own, have been around the block a few times. The pair are not constricted by the intended functions of an item either, they recently created a wall lamp from a toilet towel dispenser! Creativity runs in K's family and his parents craftsmanship is visible throughout the apartment. They dream of being on holiday permanently and to travel without end, but with a little retreat like this every day feels like a holiday!
AT Survey:
My/Our Style: a mix of old and new, vintage and modern, hand-me-downs. We’re probably modernists at heart, but a love for bargain finds, funny toys and bright clutter always seems to take over.
Favorite Element: the balcony (and the view), the wooden floors, high ceilings and open plan living space. And the record player.
Biggest Challenge: the tiny kitchen and minimal cupboard space.
What Friends Say: A friendly, homey weekend retreat.
Biggest Embarrassment: A strip of paisley-patterned tiles in the kitchen
Proudest DIY: Painting most of the walls white. When we first moved in the walls were painted yellow, green and peach respectively
Biggest Indulgence: Stacks of 80’s LP’s
Best advice:When “collecting” things for your home, let it be an organic process.
Dream Source:Original pieces from the International Style and modernist movements by designers such as Alvar Aalto, Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Arne Jacobsen and auctions.
>> See K & R's Gallery!
Resources:
Kitchen Hardware: Banks (industrial catering supply shop in Cape Town), some IKEA items from trips abroad, a modernist Arzberg set from a friend who emigrated, crockery from Vietnam, cheap
Kitchen furniture: Gas stove is from local furniture store, and the white cubic kitchen shelving units were made by K's dad
Other furniture: Dining Room: The table is a family heirloom and the old SAP (South African Police service) pigeonhole shelving unit was bought on auction.
Desk: Trestle and laminate table top from the local hardware store
Bedrooms: two 1950’s arm chairs on loan from a friend who’s a serious retro furniture collector, a small linen cupboard built by K's dad.
Other: 1950’s sleeper couch “on loan” from the same collector friend, a bookshelf from my grandmother, naval flags from a local antiques dealer
Accessories: Thrift shops, R5 stores in Woodstock, antique stores, markets in Mozambique,
Lighting: Original art deco fittings were in the house when we moved in. A collection of all-white wall and ceiling lamp fittings of different shapes and sizes are used upside-down as lamps throughout the house. An art-deco desk lamp from Kalk Bay Trading post. Turned a red towel dispenser into a wall lamp
Paint: Standard white paint from the local hardware store
Rugs and Carpets: A grass mat from a local market in Inhambane, Mozambique
Window Treatments: Made by K's mother
Beds: Hand-me-down
Art:Mostly by R, but some other pieces bought directly from Cape Town-based artists such as Frank van Reenen; wooden carvings from Mozambique
>> See K & R's Gallery!
Thanks, K & R!
love the art
view sunan's profile
Nice house with good bones and a great scenery. But I don't think they have done that much with the inside of it. It's just very average looking, not particularly special or note worthy. The flags on the wall kind of say "college dorm room" to me.
view klem's profile
I think those flags look wonderful. They don't say college dorm to me, because they are so great graphically.
view Lesley's profile
klem,
You missed it. Quiet good taste. Everything in it's place in relation to everything else. Nice choices throughout, personal and excellent sense and style. They have done plenty with the inside of it. Put things together excellently without over doing it. There's love in the place. Every where there is a strong yet quiet statement. I want to move to Cape Town to live under that blue sky and see those palms. Reminds me of the Caribbean, sky, light and sea.
Thanks for the tour.
view click212's profile
I agree with klem. Has a first-apartment-after-college feel. Not a bad thing just no design to feel inspired by, which is why I come to Apartment Therapy. There are some great pieces and the warm, sunniness of the space is very welcoming. The yellow cupboard is wonderful. Thanks for the tour!
view morina's profile
I agree where is the kegger? If they were framed maybe it would work, well not in this room. It's unfortunate because they do have some nice items, but this place just isn't for me. Too young, and messy looking. I feel like saying, "someone better clean there room!"
view ATCAL's profile
WOW. 'Kobus van der Merwe' ... most South African name EVER ! :)
Also, great apartment - I love all the art!
view kungfookimmie's profile
I have to say... huge fan of the nautical flags, even if one of them isn't really accurate. I like the empty "air" of the space, it's refreshingly simple.
view cptnruthless's profile
It is a bit collegiate, but nice to see an African apartment. I love Cape Town; South Africa is one of my favorite places to vacation. Gorgeous!
view Sydney's profile
I thought the most interesting thing was the toilet with the tank all the way up in the air. It's funny how there are different systems around the world.
Nice mix of modern and old!
view auburny's profile
nice to see another cape town house tour (i lived there my whole life until last year). auburny - those old toilet tanks are still in quite a few old buildings there, you flush by pulling a chain. sometimes it takes several attempts and can be very annoying.
view Bozotown's profile
you can find those old toilets in america, in old bars and restaurants. just keep those squat toilets away.
view Lady J's profile
Love it.
view petro's profile
Lovely and laid back. Feels like a perpetual holiday. Love it!
view Cili's profile
Nice - very holiday cottage feel. I'd probably have the couch and chair recovered, but I covet those floors.
view catspajamas's profile
I love it! We used to have a toilet like that :-)
view mjr's profile
Even though its breezy and seemingly casual and inexpensively done I think it's still very elegant because its a very measured and considered space. I don't find that collegiate at all, rather sophisticated to the point of utter simplicity.
view mskk's profile
I want to go to there...
view Monica's profile
Lovely house tour. Like the artwork and the arrangement of furniture to showcase your beautiful floors. Nice mix of modern and vintage furniture. Thanks for sharing.
view suzy8track's profile
I don't think it's collegiate. It's what seaside cottages used to look like until everyone got the idea that they had to make a design statement at the beach.
It's a lovely casual aesthetic -- nothing so precious you have to worry about theft when you're away. No fancy flooring or furniture that you can't sit down on in a wet bathing suit.
view Lisa (Montreal)'s profile
Very cute, good bones, great light, casual, welcoming and nice place to hang out.
view LoriSF's profile
It feels very beachy and casual.
Not a big fan of the flags though. It reminds me of being at the dorm.
view nikkibee's profile
Great place...
I'm always drawn to white/light walls (much to some "decorators" horror)...it makes me feel relaxed and it's nice to see.
I love that you are rummagers, you have live plants, and that every item is placed strategically as if each item were a precious piece of art...it shows a lot of pride.
I also love the first photo, greeting us at the door :-).
view Mudhouse's profile
I think this home is wonderful..it is a home and I can't believe people still don't know the golden rule..I would love to send photos of my home in, but would be heart broken if people said mean things about it ,i don't think this was meant as a place to get critique ,but as a nice place to share ideas..
view tortoro's profile