A top spot to socialise

The Newberys created a modern open-plan kitchen and living area as well as a deck where they can hang out with friends and family.

WHO LIVES HERE? Sean and Emma-Louise Newbery WHERE Muizenberg, Cape Town SIZE Kitchen and living area 48m²; deck 25m²

FFor this fun-loving couple who enjoy trail-running and cycling together, living near the ocean and mountains was of utmost importance. They’d been renting a house in Hout Bay but in February 2017 when they decided it was time to buy, they couldn’t afford the property prices in the area. Their search for a home they could call their own took them to the coastal suburb of Muizenberg where they found a 100-year-old cottage in bad shape. But the price suited their pocket and left them with a bit of extra money for a renovation.

Hard at work

Determined to make the most of their limited budget, Sean and Emma-Louise decided to do as much of the work themselves. As they love entertaining, the kitchen, living areas and deck were their first priorities.

“The house had an old-fashioned layout with the lounge completely separate from the kitchen,” explains Sean. “And there wasn’t really an outdoor area in which to relax.”

In addition, the living spaces were pretty dingy due to small windows and dark paint on the walls. The floors were also in bad condition, the ceilings were too low and the kitchen had fake wooden and marble finishes.

After a year of working tirelessly, as well as being under-quoted by contractors

(which meant doing even more of the work themselves), the Newberys are finally happy with their fresh, modern space.

The couple contrasted light wood with darker accents in their décor such as the kitchen’s blue focal wall, the sofa and rug in the lounge, and all the new black aluminium window and door frames. Sean made the two side tables from discarded tree stumps. Couch from Decofurn Furniture Factory Shop; rug and scatters from superbalist.com; dining table and benches from Timber Furniture & Rustic Frames; ottomans from Baraka Gifts and Decor

The low ceilings were raised and replaced with IsoBoard. The wall between the old bathroom and kitchen was knocked down to extend the space. A low wall between the kitchen and living area was also removed. Sean and Emma-Louise kept the bottom chipboard cupboard carcasses and refurbished the fake wood-finish doors by gluing on frames and painting them white. The countertops and floating shelves were made from reclaimed Oregon pine. Pendants from Eagle Lighting; stools from Coricraft; island made by Timber Furniture & Rustic Frames

Water tank from RainQueen Tanks; mirror from MRP Home; scatters from superbalist.com; hammock bought at a market in South America

Large, dark grey tiles were replaced with Dekster cement screed in the colour Blast Furnace, installed by Global Floors.

A latte fence was added to the boundary wall (above). “We’re growing a climber over it so that one day we can enjoy a lush green wall,” Sean says. Old wooden window frames were replaced with lowmaintenance aluminium (far left). The windows and doors all boast energy-efficient low-emissivity (low-e) glass which keeps the home cooler in summer and warmer in winter.