{"id":27239,"date":"2023-06-29T15:27:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T13:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/?p=27239"},"modified":"2023-06-29T15:27:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T13:27:33","slug":"creative-contemporary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2023\/06\/29\/creative-contemporary\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative & contemporary"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is nothing boring or typical about the magnificent Millican family farmhouse. Landscape architect and owner Bruce talks us through the incredible redesign of this fourth-generation home. <\/strong><\/h4>\n
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The swimming pool was extended, elevated and painted black to match the house. It has a gorgeous, oversized \u2018martini step\u2019 … perfect for lounging in with a cocktail in hand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A wire sculpture of a swimmer perched on a diving board, ready to plunge into the koi pond beneath it greets you at the impressive entrance of Bruce and his wife Vicki’s Doringkop home. From the moment you arrive, you know this is not a ‘typical’ farmhouse.
\nAn unconventional creative and self-proclaimed ‘non-conformist’, Bruce has created a breathtaking, unique home that not only suits the needs of his family, but has allowed him to showcase his vast landscape, design and project execution skills.<\/p>\n

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Bruce and Vicki Millican . The beautiful farmhouse has been in the Millican family for four generations. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The house, which is called ‘Fallow Fields’, is situated on a working sugar cane, macadamia nut and tea tree farm, and boasts an exquisite 180-degree ocean view. The farm belonged to Bruce’s great grandparents, then his grandfather, his father and now him.
\n\u201cMy parents moved to Ballito about 20 years ago, and we had tenants living in the farmhouse. My wife and I (and our now teenage triplets) were living nearby, but when I turned 50 a few years ago, I decided it was time to come back to the farm,\u201d says Bruce.<\/p>\n

The house was extremely rundown though and needed a makeover. Some of the rooms – like the kitchen and bathrooms – had to be completely gutted. \u201cWe wanted to give it a fresh new look, and our goal was to create an easy-living, open-plan home that would allow us to be flexible and use the different spaces, while still being together as a family.\u201d
\n\u201cMy wife wanted it to have a ‘sub-tropical’ vibe and I did my best to achieve that – especially in the garden, which has elements of a jungle feel to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The inviting courtyard area features fabulous purple vanda orchids framed by striking black cages .<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Flooded with ideas, Bruce’s creative juices started flowing and, a year-and-a-half (and a great deal of time spent shopping on Facebook marketplace) later, the result is a gloriously modern, three-bedroom family home set in exquisite, lush surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love design and I love a challenge,\u201d says Bruce, who has spent much of his life working in landscaping, and was also the chairman of St. Lukes Home of Healing for more than 25 years. He also has ‘green fingers’ and Bruce’s passion for growing and collecting beautiful plants and flowers is evident both inside and outside the home.<\/p>\n

\"\"There are countless unique elements and points of interest and everything \u2013 from the wide staircase leading you into the home, \u201cbecause you want your guests to enter side-by-side and not lined up like ants\u201d, to the one-of-a-kind, specially-made double stable front doors \u2013 was carefully thought out and executed by Bruce himself.<\/p>\n

The fact that the exterior is painted entirely black adds to the dramatic appeal, as does the incredible facade (made from concrete blocks from the old tennis court), which features its very own porthole.<\/p>\n