No boring beige, thanks!

Dark walls, pops of bright colour and tropical elements create a rich bohemian look in this young couple’s apartment in the shadow of Table Mountain.

IIf a woman tells you “my favourite colour is leopard print”, you should know that the future will not hold safe shades of cream or boring décor. Milan Struwig remembers all too well how surprised he was by this statement from Marina shortly after they fell in love as Stellenbosch drama students.

Today, Marina is a playwright and lecturer and Milan is a digital marketing manager. The pair, now 27 and 28, were married in 2017. They bought their apartment in the Cape Town City Bowl in May last year, and with the creative use of paint and bright accent colours have dramatically changed its atmosphere.

The Mother City, however, tends to be somewhat of a challenge for new buyers, and Milan and Marina were sometimes quite discouraged – until family friend and real estate agent Phyllis du Plessis started making calls on their behalf. To their surprise, she found the perfect home in the apartment block where they were renting.

“We specifically wanted to live here as the windows on both sides offer a gorgeous view. From the kitchen we can see Table Mountain, which takes the grind out of washing dishes, and the living area looks out over Signal Hill and Lion’s Head,” says Milan. “Without Phyllis’s help, we would never have known that the flat below us was for sale. Young couples should definitely consider using an estate agent to phone around on their behalf. After all, buyers don’t pay commission.”

The couple had no budget for large-scale renovations. “We changed nothing of the layout,” explains Marina. “All we did was build cabinets, shelves and a daybed with storage to make life easier in this small space.”

The skirtings and cornices were replaced, old carpets lifted and the original parquet flooring sanded and sealed. Once the textured walls had been plastered smooth, the painters could get going on the dramatic dark palette the Struwigs wanted.

Marina smiles when asked about DIY projects. “We know our limits. Our new marriage needs to be protected! I did paint the kitchen walls and when the new kitchen cabinets were built last year, Milan sealed the marble splashback.”

‘Maximalism with a little kitsch’

Although an area of 64m2 isn’t exactly ideal for a selfconfessed maximalist with a penchant for a little kitsch, as Marina describes her style, the Struwigs are happy in their colourful home. “We’d rather live in a small place and see each other for two more hours a day than face rush-hour traffic between the city and a more spacious suburban home.”

The décor is a fine balance between their personalities – which differ significantly in some areas but complement each other in others. Marina loves earthy textures and she has a weakness for rugs. “I’ve demarcated the different sections of the open-plan living area with rugs so that there’s a clear distinction between the lounge and dining area. One can never have enough rugs...” she insists.

Milan quickly responds: “No, we’re not getting another rug! At first, I was surprised by Marina’s ‘more is more’ attitude, but she has found a way to combine many stylish components harmoniously.”

“My grandmother was a collector,” says Marina. “I’ll always have a soft spot for antiques. If other people walk into a place and say it’s ‘a bit much’, I know I’ll love it. I deliberately kept our furniture to a minimum so there’s a good flow between the different spaces in the living area.

“I’m ruthless when I decide to throw things out and I have to be smitten with something before I buy it. I wait quite a while until I get what I want. My mantra comes from the British designer William Morris: ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful’.”

We’re very happy with our decisions. We’ve made our home our own. – Milan

Rich, deep and dramatic

Although the changes were largely cosmetic, the difference is dramatic thanks to the creative use of paint. Smart colour choices, such as the dark green and blue walls, not only contribute to the illusion of space, but along with the splashes of bright colour create the bohemian ambience Marina loves so much.

“We adore rich, deep and dramatic colours that create a striking backdrop and complement individual furniture pieces,” says Milan, who thoroughly researched the psychology behind colour before they called in the painters.

“The dark green in the living area creates stability and promotes creativity,” he explains. “The dark blue in our bedroom on the other hand, ensures that the ochre-yellow of our bed comes into its own together with the warm wooden floors.”

Marina concurs: “It works like a charm. It’s blissful. White is not the only way to evoke calm. Neutral colours bore me. If I buy something with bright colours and motifs, I never regret it, but if I follow the safe route, I always want to kick myself afterwards. It makes me feel like a coward!”

Saying no to beige was a matter of principle. – Marina

The parquet flooring in the bedroom and living area was a huge drawcard. The chest of drawers is a Gumtree find that Marina coated with chalk paint and the chair’s upholstery was bought at a Hertex sale.

Marina creates eye-catching groupings throughout her home and updates them regularly. The artworks resting on the table, which Milan purchased back in his student days, help to make the living room feel more spacious. The green walls complement the tropical décor elements such as bird motifs and plants.

Milan’s mom gave him the striped rug when he was a student. The leather sofa also dates from those days, and the throw with the flower motif was Marina’s favourite duvet cover long ago. “My mom stitched the duvet cover to a blanket. It’s a brilliant idea for a lovely piece of fabric,” says Marina.

The bed was custom made and spray-painted; it was the first piece of furniture that Marina and Milan bought together. Bed made by Alcatraz Driveway Gates & Fencing; throw from Harridans; linen duvet cover from H&M Home; Scarlet Ibis print from Bay Décor

The couple both love art and took it as a school subject. “Our budget doesn’t allow us to buy everything we’d like to but we’re trying to buy each other art for birthdays and special occasions. And then we make do with spaghetti and tomatoes for the rest of the month,” says Marina.