LIME LIGHT
When this modern cottage dominated by glass and zesty green accents isn’t playing home to discerning global travellers, it serves as a location for the unique foodie get-togethers conceptualised by one of Cape Town’s most exciting creative talents
STYLIST and design consultant Doreen de Waal – along with her husband, Meyer – has lived in and lovingly restored her historic villa in the heart of Cape Town’s City Bowl for several decades. Previously a contributor to interior magazines such as Elle Decoration, Doreen’s professional focus has morphed to a portfolio of Cape Town cottages and loft apartments that she has designed and decorated.
Available for short or extended holiday and work trips, three of these – including this space, the most recent to be completed – are set on the grounds of the family residence. Although each of the compact cottages has its own distinctive design signature, they are connected by the hallmarks of Doreen’s personal aesthetic identity: minimal clutter, pops of bright colour, an abundance of natural light, a focus on functionality and, always, a sense of playfulness and personality.
The birth of this cottage was prompted by, of all things, a leaking roof. As Doreen explains it: “Our en suite bathroom ceiling had some water damage. When we climbed up to inspect the problem, we realised there was the potential to build a structure here that could harness the views of Table Mountain, which are incredible.”
Calling in the assistance of architect Mike Scurr of Rennie Scurr Adendorff, a practice specialising in the conservation and restoration of historic buildings, the pair conceptualised what Doreen describes as a “modern intervention into an old building. I felt strongly that the cottage had to have a character very different from the existing house.”
Two primary architectural elements intersect to give the habitat its contemporary allure: a glass facade of generous proportions taking the form of a transparent cube, and an open-truss ceiling with a sharply pitched roof in the main living area as well as in the bedroom, which conveys the atmosphere of an urban loft.
This is an all-in-one habitat that belies its compact footprint thanks to Doreen’s savvy for solving spatial and privacy issues. The open-plan interior runs from a living and dining zone to a galleystyle kitchen, and the bedroom, along with a bath, is set just off the sitting area.
A prefabricated cube that has been painted bright green provides a graphic architectural interjection in the living area. Practically speaking, it also cleverly conceals the shower and toilet.
The glass facade, though visually striking, is also so much more than an architectural conceit. As well as inviting in an abundance of natural light and providing a meditation on the wonders of the nearby mountain, the bi-fold glass “wall” opens onto an adjoining deck, giving the interior an elasticity and instantly extending the cottage’s dimensions.
Visual surprises and big ideas for small spaces are Doreen’s forte. In the kitchen, you will find bespoke floating shelves for storage and a wall-mounted dish rack to conserve counter space.
In the bathroom cube, simple wall-mounted shelves have been installed to support the sink as well as hold towels and toiletries. There are plants too, but don’t expect to find them in space-consuming pots and containers. They are, instead, hung from the ceiling.
In the bedroom, a bistro stool doubles as a bedside table, and dining chairs are light enough to migrate from indoors to out if need be.
Although the interior landscape has been kept ordered and functional, it is far from devoid of personality. Fresh shades of green, from bright emerald to zesty lime, sing against a background of crisp white and poplar wood.
Cheap hardware-store finds – such as the oversized light bulbs and pendant cords with interesting concrete detailing in the kitchen – that could have come from a high-end design store reveal a knack for recontextualising everyday objects. And quirky touches demonstrate a breezy irreverence, such as the single leg of a painted pine table on the deck that was given a lick of electric green, and the solitary leg of a green plastic chair coated in white.
Although she is still happily living at home, for Doreen’s daughter Jade, 22, a fringe benefit of having a space such