Some of the Melkbos bushes around this West Coast estate are five hundred years old. Respecting that natural heritage while reimagining seaside living is what this home is all about. Hendre Bloem is the interior designer and this commission reflects his artistic side as well as his long time interest in architecture and civil engineering.
Starting with this giant, three and a half metre painting, these artworks are full of aerial views of small characters. There is a vertical emphasis to the whole house.
The colour of couches reflects the surrounding coastal dunes and the scatters in whale grey and charcoal are a less obvious choice and suggest the sea in winter.
While modern by design, the counter and kitchen fittings are simple, understated and add to the sense of wide open space you get from the West Coast.
The relaxed family lounge introduces colour and angular, geometric design in the long, crane-like lamp and coffee table.
Having grown up far from the ocean, in a small town in North West Province, Hendre has ensured that he made the most of this heady, sea-side atmosphere. While the house sits up in the dunes, sound travels and the crash of the Atlantic echoes all around these wide open interiors.
