Cool & the Gang

A luxe yet lived-in home on the Atlantic Seaboard combines curated flair with family living

- Deborah Rudman

When South African fashion designer Craig Port renovated a traditional Bakoven ranch-style house in 2006, he gave architect Don Albert a clear brief: to transform the property into a glamorous bachelor pad designed for a resolutely hedonistic lifestyle. ‘The likelihood of sharing the space and becoming a family man seemed very remote,’ says Craig. ‘This house is proof that anything is possible.’

In the intervening years, the stylish house has metamorphosed into an authentic home for Craig, his partner Bryan D Hellmann, their six-year-old twins Khloe and Luke, and the family dog Rocco.

The birth of their twins inevitably brought positive fundamental changes to the couple’s lifestyle. For Craig, the effect has been profound, both professionally and personally. It reignited a sense of limitless, exciting possibility that someone feels when pioneering a new life. ‘I was inspired all over again,’ he says, ‘and while this may not be the largest house I’ve lived in, it’s certainly the happiest.’