In Living Colour

An Interior Designer Has Combined Her Love Of Classicism And Vivid Hues To Create A Home That Embodies Relaxed Sophistication.

- Robyn Alexander

Exploring Kim and Graham’s gloriously colourful home in South Africa’s Cape Town is a little bit like wandering through a series of Pinterest boards with names like ‘Perfect Pink’, ‘Tangerine Dream’ and ‘Yellow Love’. From the bright orange front door to the moody green kitchen, colour is everywhere, creating an interior that’s whimsical and light-hearted, but rooted in serious style.

The couple and their son, Jamie, now 11, lived in the rustic A-frame home for seven years before undertaking a major renovation, which included the addition of a large indoor-outdoor room that takes full advantage of the South African climate. Four-year-old Anna was born after the renovation was complete.

Today, the home reflects interior designer Kim’s classic-yet-contemporary leanings, with elegant architectural lines – “Georgian with modern edges,” as she describes it – swags of beautiful fabrics, textured wallpapers, terrazzo flooring and customised pieces.

The ground floor is given over to family living, with an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area at its heart. A children’s playroom adjoins the kitchen – “While I’m making a meal, it’s easy to supervise homework or just keep an eye on what the children are up to,” says Kim – and a generous guest area has its own ensuite and courtyard.