WALKING THE LINE

THIS REINVIGORATED BEAUTY COMBINES A MODERN AESTHETIC WITH THE BEST OF MID-CENTURY DESIGN FOR AN ART-LOVING COUPLE AND THEIR YOUNG FAMILY

- GRAHAM WOOD

LIVING IN THE LIGHT A breathtaking vista cascades into this soaring home that is as much a gallery for art aficionados Candace and William, as a functional family home for the couple and their three young children, Max, 12, Tessa, nine, and Stella, four. “We have a lot of glazing and no eaves,” says Candace, who was determined to retain the original 1970s window, with its grid of timber frames – a standout feature of the Cape Town abode (above). Furnishings combine mid-century gems with reupholstered pieces from the family’s original collection, such as the shapely green velvet armchairs (try Gumtree or Ebay). Natural textures, including the stone-coloured sofa (try the ‘Hadley’ sofa in Crescent Natural from Coco Republic), handwoven grass rug (get the look with the Natural Gazil Magic Rug from Temple & Webster) and timber panelling, create a muted, neutral palette that celebrates the surrounding landscape and mirrors the artwork by Rosie Mudge (opposite).

Candace and William’s first impression of their future home was somewhat underwhelming. “It looked like a school building,” says Candace, with a laugh, of the two-storey, 1970s house located in Cape Town, South Africa. Nevertheless, “it had a wonderful sense of space”, she recalls. “And it’s right at the foot of Table Mountain.”