Into The Woods

It took the trained eye of one of South Africa’s most respected interior designers to turn this simple, rustic barn in Hout Bay into a relaxed, multifunctional home for five.

- Kerryn Fischer/Frank

As a partner and designer at Cécile & Boyd – the design studio that single-handedly revolutionized the look of safari lodges 25 years ago with their designs for the Singita Group – Geordi de Sousa Costa is well-versed in all things aesthetic. In fact, just last year, her design and refurb of Singita’s Sweni Lodge (with direction by her brother, Boyd Ferguson) saw Cécile & Boyd celebrated internationally for its achievement in creating such an original new look. The low-slung, sleek, marvel of a lodge is defined by color, geometric pattern and mid-century modern furniture.

And yet Geordi’s home, set high up on the slopes of Orange Kloof in Hout Bay, is refreshingly devoid of design stereotypes. It’s best described as a calm and ultra-grounded family retreat, and one gets the feeling that the time spent here is necessary for the work that Geordi does. ‘I love the peace and tranquillity our home allows us. My day-to-day work is contextual and exacting, so my home is a happy, comfortable release for me, thanks to an unconscious collection of things that I have been attracted to over the years.’