COLOUR HAPPY
Sarah Ord’s vibrant home pays homage to the individuality and creativity of family members past and present
Bold hues and family heirlooms create a unique look in a Victorian bungalow in Cape Town
Though the first thing you notice may be the dramatic colour, if there is one thread running through Sarah Ord’s home – it is the concept of family. Almost every treasure within its walls has a familial connection, from the hatboxes owned by her great-grandmother and the paintings by her cousin to the trophies won by her uncle. What’s more, Sarah’s mother used to live here, too.
‘I bought the property more than a decade ago, and for a time my mum lived here while I lived in Cape Town’s city centre, which makes it extra special,’ says Sarah, who returned to this quieter suburb with her young children, Charlie, six, and Sam, two. ‘To me, a house is not a home if it doesn’t reflect the layers and stories of the journey you take through life – the things that are beautiful or have meaning to everyone in the family. So our place is full of one-of-a-kind items, from a glass claret jug that was owned by my grandfather to lamps collected by my mum.’
When Sarah moved back to this Victorian bungalow, it was the start of a new chapter. ‘I felt like I needed a new lease of life,’ says the interior designer who runs Sarah Ord Interiors. She immediately painted the walls of the kitchendiner/living area in a deep forest green, inspired by the shade of a ceramic tankard that she had found in a local antiques store and now uses as a vase next to her bed. ‘Colour resonates so much for me that I can’t imagine my home without it,’ she says. ‘I surround myself with as many contrasting patterns and hues as I can.’
Layering is key to Sarah’s look. ‘Because of our home’s heritage status, there is a limit to how many structural changes I can make,’ she says. ‘So
aside from knocking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, I’ve focused on aesthetic improvements over the years. The front door, for instance, has been through a few incarnations – from heritage green to yellow, red and blue.’
Alongside family heirlooms and memorabilia are pieces that Sarah has picked up on her travels and extended stints living in Paris, London and the Maldives. Also a self-confessed Gumtree addict, she trawls the website late at night in search of items to add to her collection. Sam’s cot was one such piece, its turned legs and embellished edges revealing rare craftsmanship. Another lucky find was the writing bureau in the hallway, which opens to reveal leather inlays. ‘I love to bring old pieces into a modern context,’ says Sarah, whose home happily accommodates a blend of vintage and contemporary. ‘Mixing the two styles creates a new narrative. For me, it’s as though funky grandparents are indulging quirky youngsters under one roof!’
Thinking outside the box has resulted in some inspired design decisions: the master bedroom’s headboard is upholstered in a blue-and-red patterned dress fabric; the coffee table is covered in a vibrant woven plastic floor mat; and various pieces of cloth, including ikat, African wax prints, florals and leopard print, have been sewn into myriad cushions or turned into striking lampshades. Sarah is also a fan of John Fowler’s English country-house aesthetic, evidenced by the Forties-style chintz drapes in the dining area. ‘I love to mix and match – collecting is what I do best,’ she says. As a result, Wedgwood dishes sit comfortably alongside Moroccan pots and candlesticks bought at the side of the road.
Although these treasured pieces bring joy, Sarah’s home is very much a place to be lived in and used. ‘The boys love to jump on the furniture, build forts under my desk and snuggle up on my bed watching movies,’ she says. ‘It is always loud and messy, but so full of love.’ Proof, if it were needed, that this colourful home boils down to one essential ingredient – family.
INSPIRATION
‘My schemes are filled with treasures that I collect on my travels – eclectic pieces such as fabrics, ceramics and small artworks that catch my eye’