From Morocco With Love

A passion for the vibrant tones and textures of this North African country has inspired the alluring look and feel of what once was a run-down Victorian cottage.

- Kim Arende

A long-standing love affair with the markets and alleyways of mystical Morocco, and its expression in her popular Cape Town store Moroccan Warehouse, have made Kundra Bowley the go-to girl for exotic décor lovingly sourced from Marrakesh.

It’s little wonder her home, a century-old cottage in Tamboerskloof on the slopes of Lion’s Head, is also an enchanting reflection of this creative relationship.

The moment you arrive at Kundra’s house, these days an AirBnb rental, you feel utterly transported – from the studded front door framed with engraved white plaster of Paris strips to the beautiful back courtyard, an oasis of vibrant blue tiles; a gorgeous, flowing fountain; bountiful bougainvillea and an olive tree.

“Nothing in my house is perfect,” Kundra says. “And nothing is expensive. I love that kind of beauty.”

The inside of the house was once dark and poky but Kundra opened up the small space with glass doors that lead from the bedrooms and living area to the two outside areas: there’s a backyard with a view of Table Mountain and a front courtyard with a splash pool overlooking the CBD – all perfectly complementing the Moroccan vibe she has created inside.

Bringing work home The furniture and finishes in her home all seem to be thrown together effortlessly. “My décor style is humble; I simply fill the spaces with the items I love,” Kundra explains.