An Earthy, Modern Victorian Cape Town Home
An Earthy, Modern Victorian Cape Town Home
Name: Ute and Steven Faure and their two daughters
Location: Schotsche Kloof, Cape Town
Size: 150 square meters (not including the central courtyard)
Years lived in: 3 years, rented
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At the foot of Signal Hill you’ll find Schotsche Kloof, a vibrant neighborhood that Ute, Steven and their two young daughters call home. Their Victorian-era home was given an update by the well-known and award-winning Chilean architect, Antonio Zaninovic, who is based in Cape Town. The result is a stylish and modern home that still retains its heritage.
The open-plan living area overlooks a central courtyard, which is what sold Steven on the house. With its industrial windows, plenty of light floods in and creates an illusion that the house is actually much larger than it is. As Ute says, it’s ideal for a young family: “The central courtyard makes it easy for me to see the girls almost anywhere in the house, from any other room.”
The living area features an eye-catching fireplace that hangs from the ceiling and a wraparound concrete bench, which is adorned with colorful cushions from Ute’s online shop, Design Store. Owning a shop that stocks fabulous locally-made furniture and homewares is certainly a plus and has made decorating their home a breeze.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Ute: At home, I naturally gravitate towards a minimal and uncluttered yet earthy design aesthetic, with the color combos of grey, white, shades of blue and green, and some mustards or soft pinks, completing the picture. I must admit – I’m currently going through a pink and orange decor craze. Our home has real wooden floors throughout and concrete terrazzo floors in the bathrooms, which I absolutely love and would definitely recreate in any future homes we have.
Inspiration: Ute: With social media such as Instagram and Pinterest, it’s easy to see what’s out there, both locally and abroad. Cape Town and the surrounds are full of amazing restaurants – there’s nowhere better to get some decor and design trends from than visiting the prettily-styled eateries around town or the winelands. I’ve also been an avid follower of South African magazines VISI and House and Leisure, and online I follow Design Milk, Apartment Therapy and The Socialite Family.
Favorite Element: Ute: I’m a sucker for natural light; so the higher the ceiling, the bigger the window, the better. Our home is also super central to everywhere we love to go. My office is also only one block away.
Steven: The high ceilings throughout are such a perk.
Biggest Challenge: Ute: Mixing what we like in a home with the reality of two little girls running around and constantly unpacking things, or jumping on furniture! In order to keep things fresh, I have to also remind Steven how important the changing of scatter cushions is every few months!
What Friends Say: Ute: Our friends absolutely love where we stay, as we’re all young still and enjoy living in town. Some of our family do question our choice of neighbourhood, but we love it.
Proudest DIY: Ute: Keeping our family of indoor plants alive. I don’t naturally have green fingers.
Biggest Indulgence: Steven: Since acquiring our first “grown-up” piece of art two years ago while on holiday in Prince Albert – a limited edition etched and drypoint print by Themba Khumalo – we’ve slowly started acquiring more art works by South African artists. Our home has a few by Mariette Kotze, who specializes in ink-washing techniques to create dreamy limited edition pieces. Ute introduced me to Frans Smit and his work, as she’s been following him for some time on Instagram. Ute has a few prints by artists whose work she stocks on her store — Lauren Fowler, Renee Rossouw and also Adri Le Roux. We’re also very fond of our three-seater leather couch, which we acquired from Klooftique.
Ute: I love our monochromatic Nguni cowhide rug. Plus my army of scatter cushions all over the living spaces.
Dream Sources: Ute: Since I’m fortunate enough to have access to plenty of local designers and their varied and beautiful products, I do tend to treat myself and our home often with products that Design Store stocks. Apart from a handful of trusty student furniture, bedding, our appliances and a white @home server which we received as a wedding gift – everything in our home is pretty much made in Cape Town.
Resources:
KITCHEN
Table and benches: Made locally by Zimbabwean guys in Woodstock
Turquoise and white dining chairs: Birba available from Design Store
Orange bullet planter: Birba available from Design Store
Black standing lamp & table lamp: The Artisan available from Design Store
White sideboard: wedding gift from @home
Art above sideboard: Frans Smit
Kiddie’s furniture: Dovetail available from Design Store
LIVING AREA
Leather sofa — Klooftique
Cushions — Skinny laMinx, Room 13, Handmade by me, and a pair made by Ute
Ottoman — belonged to Ute when she was a student
Coffee table — Birba available from Design Store
Tray — Handmade by me
Cow hide — available from Design Store
Brassware — found in Woodstock and some are from XX’s family, who had a big farm in the Somerset West area
Art — combination from Mariette Kotze, illustrations from Lauren Fowler and Themba Khumalo
Floating shelf — Stokperd
Belly baskets — available from Design Store
Courtyard furniture — sourced from husband’s farm he grew up on, had them fixed up and powder coated
MAIN BEDROOM
Cushions — Room 13, Skinny laMinx
Bedside lamps — The Artisan available from Design Store
Round Liquorice Pacboy rug — by Renee Rossouw available from Design Store
AMELIA’S BEDROOM
Smiley Stove — BooToo available from Design Store
Liquorice Pacboy Rug — by Renee Rossouw available from Design Store
Wooden milking stool — bought at a second hand store in Woodstock
Basket with pom poms — available from Design Store
Artwork above bed — made by one of Amelia’s aunts when she was born
Steel bed — designed and manufactured by Design Store.
Compactum — Kids Living
Prints above compactum — Paola Zakimi
Bunny lamp — Kids Living
ISABELLE’S BEDROOOM
Bed — Biggie Best
Wooden milking stool — bought at a second hand store in Woodstock
Couch — bought from Boardmans many years ago as a wedding gift for themselves
Bird cushions — Handmade by me
Heart cushions — Mr P Home
Prints — Paola Zakimi
Bunny basket — Design Store
Thanks, Ute and Steven!
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