Gold Coast

Old-world glamour meets modern city comfort in this renovated Cape Town apartment.

- Piet Smedy

Contrary to the wisdom of the Jedi masters, crossing over to the dark side isn’t necessarily always a bad move. In the case of designers Bruce Fyfe and Kelsey Boyce of East Coast-based design firm Fyfe Boyce, it was exactly what was needed when they tackled the renovation and decoration of this Cape Town apartment. ‘It may sound ominous, but working with darkness has worked for us every time,’ says Kelsey. What he’s saying here is that instead of struggling to bring light into a dark space, rather embrace it with moody fabrics, wall finishings, and furniture. ‘Instead of a gloomy attempt at brightness, this approach creates a sexy, cocooning space that makes a statement and works with function.’