Black On White

Once the painting bug had bitten, there was no stopping Carla van der Merwe – the result is an eclectic monochrome home with pops of gold and oodles of vintage charm.

- Marian Van Wyk

And so it was hardly surprising that she and her husband Braam looked at more than 100 homes on their return to South Africa from Canada in 2011. Braam, a doctor who has been shuttling between Canada and Cape Town since they bought their home in Oranjezicht, and Carla, a former fitness instructor who runs an informal vintage clothing store, Hoity Toity, from home, immediately knew the white house with its imposing front stoep was the one for them. Their daughter Jana is a first-year student at Stellenbosch University.

“For Braam, the stoep and the fireplace sealed the deal, while I just loved the easy flow between the compact living rooms,” recalls Carla.

But the biggest drawcard was that no major refurbishment was necessary. After breaking through a wall between the TV room and the kitchen, and replacing the gas fireplace with a wood fireplace that’s open on two sides, the house was perfectly suited to their needs.

Entertaining, cooking and travel are high on their priority list, says Carla. “We’re such passionate entertainers that some of our friends refer to us as ‘the Italians’, but the creative energy of Africa is in our genes and our family always comes first.”

Warmth and cosiness are equally important to Carla and Braam. “Every now and then, Braam will try something modern, but that’s just not who I am. And believe me, I’ve tried everything – from minimalism to a log cabin in Canada! Fortunately, Braam and I always agree on our décor.”