Country Cool

Trading bright city lights for a more rural setting perfect for raising kids, this young couple transformed a dated Winelands home into a stylish contemporary dwelling.

- Biddi Rorke

City living has its perks, but it isn’t for everyone.

Young parents Roché and Barend Potgieter were living in a vibrant city pad when the opportunity to buy a simple three-bedroom home next to Roché’s father’s olive farm in Simondium presented itself.

They jumped at it. “We wanted our daughter Núa Nova to have grass to play on and open spaces to enjoy,” Roché says of their decision to move from Cape Town’s congested CBD. “And I needed views!”

A swift, three-month renovation saw their new double-story home transformed from a predictable Paarl townhouse into a sleek country villa. Clever additions included a laundry/utility room and a second lounge, complete with built-in braai. “Our intention was to create a calm, free-flowing space with ample room for child-friendly entertaining,” Roché explains. “For security and convenience, we wanted to be able to access the house directly from the garage, so we tweaked the entrance area too.”

Creativity and color

Barend works in digital marketing and Roché is the driving force behind Photoblox, a printer or (printing and design) studio that specializes in custom-made home décor. And her creative talents are evident in the way she approached her home makeover too. A key aspect of the renovation is the bold color scheme.

“Our city apartment was very bright and busy and I wanted to keep things simple and uncluttered in our new home,” Roché says. Strong, clean geometric lines and confident use of charcoal paint dominate the easy-living interior without making it feel sterile or overly styled, and artworks and ornaments on display are kept to a minimum in line with the Potgieters’ unpretentious, pared-down aesthetic.