The Best Of Bali

The design of this Kommetjie home, and its décor, was inspired by the owners’ love of laid-back island style.

- Candice Botha

WHO LIVES HERE? Jodi and Allan Lawrence with their kids Luke (19), Meg-Rose (17), Benjamin (13) and Levi (10) and dogs Jackson Brown and Enyo

WHERE Kommetjie, Western Cape

SIZE 410m²

For Jodi Lawrence, co-owner of homeware business 8 Degrees South, and her husband Allan, a datedhouse on a double stand in Kommetjie just outside Cape Town proved irresistible. The couple were able to see past the yellow facebrick exterior, old timber windows and doors weathered by sea air, and the old-fashioned kitchen and bathrooms – and fell in love with the home’s potential. “The fact that it’s a short walk from the beach was also a drawcard,” Jodi notes.

She and her business partner Lola Casey set about transforming the house, guided by the natural laid-back style they favour at 8 Degrees South and décor items handmade in Bali, Lombok, Malawi and Cape Town.

“The inspiration for 8 Degrees South and this home is a traditional Balinese style with lots of handcrafted items, natural textures and neutral colours,” explains Lola. “The aim was to create a house that centres around the swimming pool and enhances the easy indoor-outdoor flow that is so integral to Balinese villa design.” Although they didn’t need to change the footprint of the home, raising the pool to the same level as the house was necessary to achieve this flow.