Cool, Calm & Colourful

Brilliant colour meets clever design in a Ballito duplex thanks to the interior designer owner.

- Candice Botha

Making the most of the available space was interior designer Amy Mitchell’s primary focus when she and her husband Greg moved into this duplex in Ballito, north of Durban. “It had a practical layout and we loved the garden and the views, but I felt that we could do a lot more with it,” she explains.

“Duplexes are finished with standard products chosen by the developers. So find out if you can choose these beforehand. A very simple way to make a small space appear larger is to use one type of flooring throughout, creating a seamless flow,” she says. Another is to look at unused corners to add extra storage space. Amy took advantage of the awkward area under the stairs and used it to build in cupboards. Painted the same colour as the walls, they’re hardly noticeable. “Having a place to put clutter really helps to establish a light, airy atmosphere,” she says.