Located in Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate, this beautifully designed apartment offers a seamless fusion of functionality and style. We chatted to the homeowners, Louise and Craig Vogt, about how they created a calm space where every corner serves a purpose.
How would you describe the overall aesthetic of your home?
The overall design and aesthetic of our home prioritise comfort and liveability, creating a harmonious balance between spacious living areas and cosy, intimate bedrooms. Clean, uncluttered lines define the aesthetic, complemented by a neutral colour palette featuring soft whites, ivories, and warm beige tones.
We embraced a colour drenching technique throughout the apartment, applying the same hue across walls, doors, architraves and skirtings.
This approach creates a seamless, monochromatic look, saturating the space in one colour and establishing a neutral canvas that allows for flexibility in decor. Having downscaled from a large house near the beach, where endless rooms often remained closed off during the week, we wanted our new home to be efficient and purposeful.
Each area is designed with a specific function in mind, and every piece of furniture is thoughtfully selected for its utility.
Did the coastal environment influence your choice of materials and colours?
Absolutely! The apartment is perched high on a hill and surrounded by the beauty of the forest, sea, and sky. The interior palette was designed to accentuate and frame those stunning views while drawing inspiration from them.
We incorporated earthy neutral tones throughout the apartment, reflecting the natural landscape, along with soft greens that echo the forest around us. This approach creates a harmonious connection between the indoors and outdoors.
Can you share any unique design features or custom pieces you used to elevate the overall look?
One of the standout features of our apartment is the flooring. We opted for oak-effect vinyl laid in a herringbone pattern, which not only enhances the feeling of space and movement but also adds a touch of elegance to the overall design.
In the kitchen, we made a significant transformation by replacing all the white cabinetry with stunning oak, bringing warmth and richness to the open-plan layout. To ensure a cohesive look, we integrated the fridge and freezer, allowing them to blend seamlessly with the living room instead of appearing overly functional.
For a touch of contrast, we introduced a modern black dining room bar, which adds a contemporary flair. This bar serves multiple purposes, providing a stylish space for storing and pouring drinks, as well as a dedicated coffee and tea station, enhancing both functionality and style in our living area.
Less clutter allows visitors and friends to easily embrace the ambiance.
We also introduced a three-metre-long dining table, which we acquired second-hand from a wine farm in the Cape. This impressive piece not only serves as a beautiful focal point in our dining area but also enhances the multifunctionality of the space.
The generous length of the table allows for various activities to take place simultaneously, reinforcing the sense of openness we aimed for throughout the apartment. It’s the perfect spot for kids to tackle their homework while we work on our laptops, all while still having room to serve dinner on the opposite end. This versatility embodies our design philosophy of creating spaces that are both functional and inviting, making the table a central hub for family gatherings and daily life.
Louise and Craig’s top tips:
- Colour drenching is the first tip we would suggest to anyone looking to transform their home. It makes such a dramatic and instant difference to the look and feel of a room.
- High ceilings paired with tall doorways contribute to a feeling of luxury. If you have a view, frame it!
- Don’t overdesign a home. Keep the layout functional to minimise dead space and maximise the use of all areas.
- Keep finishes minimalistic. Less clutter allows visitors and friends to easily embrace the ambiance.
- A significant part of the overall look and feel is lighting. The trick to enhancing the architecture or finishes within a home is to do it subtly with anti-glare lighting. The source of light should not be seen; rather, let the effect the illumination has on the object be the feature, without drawing attention to the light fitting itself.
Text: Jennifer Campbell Photographs: Chris Allan Photo
