Living large in a double-volume space in Hout Bay
Rich texture and splashes of bold colour work together beautifully in this eclectic home.
Whether old or new, vintage or modern, Tracy Maltman loves colour and design.
“I get bored quite easily and I’m always ready for a new project,” she says with a smile. Not only is Tracy a keen decorator, but she’s also happy to get stuck into renovating and building. To date, she has personally built three houses and renovated five homes!
The Maltmans – Tracy is originally from Zimbabwe and she met Peter in South Africa – completed three renovations before relocating to Stellenbosch 12 years ago where they did two more makeovers and built three new homes from the ground up.
Their latest project is this beautiful Hout Bay home where they’ve been living since October 2015. “We loved Stellenbosch but needed to be closer to the city for business,” says Tracy.
A friend invited the couple to lunch in a Hout Bay estate. “We loved the setting surrounded by mountains and forest – it was exactly what we wanted to come home to every day. It’s food for the soul!” says Tracy.
The last available plot had been sold the week before but as luck would have it, the deal fell through and the couple were able to purchase what was to become their next dream project.
Big open spaces
Tracy designed the house and created a barn-style living space. Large exposed steel I-beams make a bold statement; they were selected not only for their cosmetic appeal but also to support the roof, which is 8m in height!
High ceilings and big open spaces were a must for the Maltmans. “The living area is definitely my favourite room in the house,” says Tracy. “The sheer volume of it still takes my breath away.”
When it comes to building materials, Peter and Tracy like to mix things up; they’ve used a combination of steel windows, wooden sash windows, aluminium sliding doors and raw untreated bedroom doors. Despite the different styles, it all works together perfectly.
“All the doorways are way above normal height. In keeping with the barn-style design, I also decided to use sliding barnstyle doors; paint techniques were used to make them look older,” says Tracy.
“All the taps in the house were sourced from old building sites. Nothing matches! My basins are a combination of stone and stainless steel. We simply love mixing and matching.”
The interior walls consist of cement and exposed brick. “In the main living area, I wanted a raw concrete look. The MagiCrete we used to achieve this comes in many different colours. Inside, we trowelled it on ourselves; outside, we applied it with large garden brooms!” >>
Go grey
“When I’d finished the design of the house, I knew that charcoal-grey was the only colour to use,” says Tracy. “We lived in an all-white rental house while we built and I hated it – it was just too stark with no warmth. Grey is very calming; it’s cool in summer and cocoons you in winter. At the same time, I’d also been collecting pieces at auctions that were all about colour; grey was the perfect background for them.” Even the ceilings were painted the same charcoal-grey to match the walls. Such high ceilings, however, come with a few challenges. The massive volume of the living room and its large walls had Tracy worried for some time. “We installed a large TV but it still seemed lost and we also had to contend with massive doors that sit in cavity walls overlooking the forest to create flow between the indoors and outdoors. And although I love wallpaper, this is not that type of house – it would be way too contrived!
“After some serious thought, I decided on a mural and set about finding someone who could interpret my vision. Artist Oda Tungodden, a Norwegian student currently residing in South Africa, was the perfect choice. The stunning organic design complements the inside-outside look perfectly. In the early morning, we throw open the doors in the living room and the interior remains cool but cosy. As the sun moves across, it streams into the house and all the colours come alive!”
The Maltmans believe that location and position are everything. “We waited so long to find the right space for the design of this house,” says Tracy. “I’ve already designed my next house in my head, but I’m still waiting for just the right location and setting!” >>