Taking It Easy

The combination of a beautiful setting and great design resulted in a light and airy family home geared for entertaining

- Candice Botha

Having fallen in love with the relaxed lifestyle on this stretch of the KZN North Coast, the owners looked for a suitable property on which to build. Set high on a hill with beautiful views of coastal bush, this sloping site fitted the bill and they asked architect Mark Leslie-Smith to design them a laid-back family home. “In our brief we requested a good indoor-outdoor flow with an extensive entertaining area as when we’re here, we want to socialise,” say the owners.

To fulfil these requests, Mark included a large open-plan living area and kitchen on the ground floor. “The kitchen’s central location allows us to be part of the action even when cooking,” say the owners. Large sliding doors that disappear completely into pockets connect the living areas to the deck, which features a rim-flow pool and firepit. There’s also a bar, which can be hidden by a roll-down door, a built-in braai and a pizza oven. “It’s like another living area,” say the owners. The wine cellar they requested was accommodated next to the garages and fitted with unusual timber shelving and brick flooring in a herringbone pattern.