Easy Does It

In KZN’s Simbithi Eco Estate, interior designer Yvonne O’Brien creates an unexpectedly colourful and serene holiday home

With ocean views and lush surroundings, the Simbithi Eco Estate was the natural choice for a Johannesburg family to find an escape from city living. Interior designer Yvonne O’Brien brought new life into the four-bedroom house to reflect the peaceful living afforded by the picture-perfect East Coast setting.

What was the intention of the space, and the atmosphere that you wanted to create?

The homeowners are a wonderful, warm and laid-back family from Johannesburg who were wanting to create the perfect holiday house, with the added possibility of it becoming their retirement home one day. The intention was to create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere that was not too typically ‘sea-sidey’, but held the nostalgia of old family pieces and the nonchalance of a holiday space.