#3 Contemporary farm style

I love the quality of light and the smell of thatch. – Melanie Rhodes

White-washed stone, exposed gum poles and thatch combined with modern finishes such as steel and cement creates the ultimate neutral palette in Jonty and Melanie Rhodes’ renovated cottage in Chelsea Village, Cape Town. “Traditionally, thatch homes can be dark and heavy,” explains Melanie, an architect and designer. “We tried to break that mould while keeping the integrity of the original structure intact. The screeded floors create a lighter, cleaner look, and the walls were treated with Cemcrete to bring in warmth and enhance a lighter feel.”

With four young children in the home, the couple wanted the house to appeal to them too – hence the bright green window frames in the roof. “Bright colours always seem to do the trick,” says Melanie with a smile. “The kids helped choose the colour and it’s repeated throughout the house.”

It works because…

MOODY BLUES Finishing touches in aqua, green and blue add vibrancy to this neutral space, while woven textures and greenery create a layered effect.

KEEP IT TIDY A subtle grey panel was painted on the bottom half of a wall (see pic, top right); it’s fully washable and easy to repaint – a bonus when you have four kids and a dog likely to put their grubby paws on a surface at this height.

STEEL FRAMES The en-suite bathroom is partitioned off with steel frames for a contemporary look, while also allowing natural light into both the bedroom and bathroom. For a quirky touch, the bath on the open mezzanine level can be reached by ladder. >>

The thatch was replaced and the exposed gum poles were sanded down to create a lighter feel. Cushions, throws and basket from Block & Chisel; round rug from Mr Price Home

A ‘floating’ bed adds a contemporary touch; the warm wood contrasts beautifully with the cement floor. Bed custom made by Marc Pincente

The bathroom was enlarged, fitted with new sanitary ware and retiled; all the lighting was redone too. Towels from Arabesque (left) and Mungo Design