Anthea & Stuart’s Calm Oasis In Cape Town

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published Jan 25, 2016

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About this tour

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Home Type

Apartment

Location

Cape Town, South Africa

Style

Modern

Bedrooms

Square feet

2600

Sq ft

2600

Name: Anthea and Stuart, their daughters, Kate-Ruby and Rachel, and their dogs, Cameo and Pippa
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Size: 2,600 square feet
Years lived in: 4 years; Owned

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This lovely family home is tucked away in a quiet, secluded corner of the Cape Town City Bowl and is home to Anthea and Stuart, their two young daughters, and their adorable Italian Greyhounds. Anthea is a talented lifestyle photographer, and her keen eye for detail and styling can be seen throughout the home that she lovingly put together.

(Image credit: Lana Kenney)

The apartment has a fresh, contemporary feel with an understated sense of luxury. Clean-cut lines and fresh whites contrast perfectly with quirky vignettes and pops of color. Anthea is a huge fan of locally made goods, and these whimsical finds add character and charm to the home. Her clever use of patterned fabrics and striking wallpapers also adds a unique touch.

The heart of the apartment is the stylish open plan kitchen which connects the dining and living areas and creates a spacious entertaining area. Large floor-to-ceiling windows create a wonderful open feeling and allow plenty of natural light to stream into the home.

This open plan living space leads out onto a patio with a cozy lounge area and small splash pool. Graced with breathtaking views of Table Mountain, this family home is an absolute dream.

(Image credit: Lana Kenney)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Cape Town Inspired

Inspiration: The colors of the city and mountains surrounding us are a huge inspiration. I love the bright, open feel of the city and harbor during the day and the yellow lights at night.

The creativity of our local crafters and designers is another big source of inspiration. Items from local markets and shops, such as my cute wooden rabbit or tiny ceramic deer, give me great pleasure. I love quirky, locally made and sold products. I get my bunches of flowers from the locals who sell them at the side of the road. The human element is very important to me.

Favorite Element: The wallpaper by Cole & Son in the TV area is probably my favorite décor item. I also love how the locally made wire antelope heads look against it.

Biggest Challenge: My biggest challenge is keeping the space neat! As our apartment is totally open plan, this is sometimes hard to achieve. Roller blades, games, books, clothes, and kids’ stuff are always around. As I love clean, open spaces, I often find myself putting things away. This year, I would like to let go of my need for neatness though and embrace the life our girls bring into our home with their things!

What Friends Say: The view is always the first thing people who visit notice. They usually say “Wow!” It really is an amazing view with the whole city, harbor, and mountain surrounding us.

Biggest Embarrassment: Oh gosh! I think I may feel a teeny bit embarrassed that Stuart, the only male in the house, really doesn’t get much of a say about what the decor looks like.

Proudest DIY: I treasure the homemade ceramics that the girls make and bring home, these little treasures make our house feel like a home.

Biggest Indulgence: Espresso Design made up our beautiful, modern kitchen. When we moved into the apartment, the kitchen was dark and only had open shelving which always looked messy. I prefer things stored away.

The garden was a huge splash out for me. I found a tiny picture of a garden one day in a magazine and stored it away. When we bought this place, I tried to copy it, but finally called in Carrie Latimer, landscaper extraordinaire, to help me achieve my dream garden.

Best Advice: Just do what you love in your space and it’ll make you happy. Trying to copy anyone’s style never seemed to work for me 🙂