SOUTH AFRICAN - SPLENDOR

Inspired by Kommetjie's rugged coastal landscape, a pair of South African designers use color and texture to create a year-round family retreat

- ELIZABETH HUTCHISON HICKLIN

Situated on a picturesque rocky inlet just 40 minutes from Cape Town, with sweeping stretches of white sand beaches and surfable waves set against the dramatic backdrop of Slangkop Mountain, the natural appeal of the small fishing village of Kommetjie is undeniable. As were the weathered good looks of a handsome beachfront home already set in this cinematic location. But the home's formal interiors-at odds with both the rugged setting and the exterior's classic beach-cottage lines-were a problem for a pair of brothers who purchased the property five years ago from a European automotive executive.

"The original interiors were a mix of heavy colors, high-gloss cherry wood paneling, and elaborate frescoes that felt a little misplaced for this spectacular location," says designer Bruce Fyfe, who, with business partner Kelsey Boyce, was tasked with overhauling the interiors to create a more family-friendly retreat.

The brothers also asked Fyfe and Boyce to pare back much of the smart-home technology that had been installed by the previous owners-shutters, blinds, lights, and even cabinets that were all remote controlled. Having partnered with the brothers on their individual family homes, the designers were given carte blanche on the beach house redesign. "Their one directive was to lighten it up significantly and make it feel beachy and welcoming," Boyce says.