Natural Rhythm

Bold, Modern Design Sits Comfortably Alongside Tactile Texture and Personal Touches in This Kzn Residence

- Pamela Whitby

This KwaZulu-Natal house is all about contrast. The first thing that strikes you is the juxtaposition of graphic lines and organic curves, followed by thoroughly contemporary monochromatic motifs that mingle with textured, natural elements and the surrounding vegetation. The overall effect has a simultaneously modern and inviting feel.

Architect Kevin Lloyd and interior designer Clinton Savage designed the home in collaboration with its owners some years ago, and the result is a house rich in architectural detail that features unexpected materials such as copper and concrete on the walls, and eye-catching timber details both indoors and out. Light and space were priorities, and high ceilings and expansive doors, which tuck away completely, create an airy atmosphere.

‘Recently, we decided that some elements needed an update and we called on Ruth Duke of Ruth Duke Interior Design to work her magic,’ say the homeowners. ‘Colour and lighting were crucial to the brief, and we wanted to add detail and evolve the existing base.’

Duke began by assessing the way in which the family’s needs have changed since they originally designed their abode.

‘The three children have grown up, so we could change the functionality of spaces as well as add some texture and depth to give it a reboot,’ she says. ‘The homeowners both have a highly attuned sense of design and style, and they travel extensively. They know exactly what they want, so it was a great collaboration.’