Ample space for family and friends at the southern tip of Africa
Strepies van Wyk’s grandchildren play in the same tidal pool she swam in with her own kids many years ago – but today she calls the spot right in front of it home.
Every day when Strepies van Wyk travels to work and back, she marvels
at the natural beauty along the strip of coast that she and her husband Piet call home.
Years ago, when her children were young, she would swim with them in Soldiers’ Pool – a gorgeous tidal pool at the southern tip of the continent. “My husband Piet farmed in the area,” Strepies explains. “And every time we came here for a dip, I would admire the houses right next to the ocean.” In 1992, the Van Wyks became involved in the local real estate industry and later moved to Struisbaai.
“In 2006, I held a show house for the then owners of our property and I immediately felt so at home here – even though there wasn’t much of a kitchen or an en-suite bathroom,” says Strepies. Ultimately, Piet and Strepies bought the home.
The previous owners used the house mostly as a holiday home, so it wasn’t really equipped to serve as a permanent residence. “Instead of a kitchen, there was a bar with 14 stools,” recalls Strepies.
As a real estate consultant, she understands all too well that it’s not just about beautifying a property; you must also add value. She wanted her home to have a seamless flow from the interior to the outdoors, a fantastic advantage when family come to visit, while Piet wanted an indoor braai, which they built next to the bar before they moved in.
A year later, they began to upgrade the kitchen and a few years after that they turned their attention to the bathrooms. Four years ago, the couple added a new main bedroom and last year the kitchen was given its finishing touches. A laundry was also built on and the outdoor guest rooms were enlarged and updated.
Strepies was fortunate in that she could call on her daughter Carol, a Cape Town interior designer, for help with the layout and planning of each project, while architect Hendré Pitout saw that the house retained its simple style on the exterior.
“The house suits our needs perfectly. We love it when our family gathers here. Two of our kids live in Struisbaai and often join us for a meal on Sundays; and when Carol comes to visit, the others come over for a braai. In summer, our grandkids have lots of fun at the tidal pool right in front of the house – they just have to run across the road to grab snacks!” >>
They say that the further south you go in a country, the more laid-back the people are. – Strepies
From temporary to permanent residence
Many holidaymakers will agree: it’s pretty easy to make do with uncomfortable spaces in a holiday home when you know it’s only for a week or two. But if you and your family plan to use the house year round, it can present problems. “Piet loves cooking and we enjoy entertaining our family and friends,” says Strepies. “The original kitchen was narrow and the scullery was located in a tiny passage, which really didn’t work for us.”
Carol explains how she approached the layout: “We had to create more space to make it easier to move around and for storage.” With a large undercover stoep, it made sense to enclose a section as extra living space.
“The appliances and built-in cupboards in the kitchen were mostly in good condition, so we kept them. For a fresh look, we used white Cape ash timber for floating shelves and a few solid cabinets. We also had shutters made from the same timber to close off the scullery area when necessary and we incorporated ergonomic interior shelves to make maximum use of the cupboard space.” >>
PRACTICAL DÉCOR FOR A SEASIDE COTTAGE]
Strepies loves a neutral palette, hence the mostly white and off-white surfaces. This allows her to vary the accent colours from time to time. “At the moment, the accents are mostly chartreuse and rust, with hints of dark blue here and there,” says Carol, who helped choose the palette.
Carol also incorporated different textures to add character to her mother’s home. “Natural materials are timeless; they make you feel good when you’re surrounded by them.” Linen, hemp and cotton, cane and sisal create a layered effect throughout the house – from throws on wicker chairs to baskets and loose rugs. They complement the other earthy textures of old and new wood, brick and leather. For contrast, reflective surfaces such as glass and ceramics were added.
Apart from in the main bedroom and the bathrooms, all the floors are covered in laminated wood. “It’s durable enough for sandy feet and very easy to keep clean,” says Carol. She doesn’t believe in packing away your favourite things when families with young children come to visit. “Choose fabrics that you can toss in the washing machine and surfaces that won’t scratch easily. Buy crockery that everyone can use, without having to worry about it getting broken,” she says.