The total transformation of this urban townhouse has taken it from conventional to contemporary. It’s now light, bright and the perfect example of how to do minimalism with warmth.
Finding the balance between chic and laid-back is, unsurprisingly, easier said than done.
But it is exactly what Lauren Bolus and her brother, JP, have achieved after the complete renovation and refurbishment of the townhouse that they co-habit in Sea Point, Cape Town.
The building’s discreet, boxy façade gives little away of the beautifully designed surprises inside, though the light wood screens and extra-wide pivoting cedar wood front door hint at a prevailing contemporary aesthetic sensibility. The reveal offers a striking sense of openness and sophistication – a clever combination of clean lines, natural light, practical (but beautiful) materials and a neutral colour palette that give the home its less-is-more character as well as belying the narrow proportions of the plot.
Opening up the house means that it now takes in iconic landmarks such as Lion’s Head (above) as well as Signal Hill and a snatch of the ocean.
The ground floor is one big airy living area. “As you can imagine, it was a case of bash out whatever walls we could to maximise the sense of space,” says Lauren. “It might also seem obvious, but both upstairs and down I used mirrors to create a feeling of space.”
The drawers and cupboards are handle-free and appliances have been integrated to enhance the streamlined geometry of the architecture. The vast kitchen island is a bespoke feature piece made up in mirror and white marble. The eye is led outside to the high-walled courtyard. Simple hanging bulbs are a contemporary element.
“It might also seem obvious, but both upstairs and down I used mirrors to create a feeling of space.”
The staircase is clad in engineered oak which is continued in the wide oak wooden floorboards, imbuing the spaces with a sense of generosity and warmth and introducing an organic layer to the interiors. The clean-lined sofa is upholstered in a masculine grey fabric.
The tan leather armchair is by Italian furniture manufacturer Poltrona Frau, and the inlaid backgammon set is a family piece.
Upstairs, three small rooms and a bathroom were removed in favour of a tiny gallery landing space that opens on either side onto two generously proportioned master bedrooms that bring to mind all the luxury of a five-star hotel.
Lauren’s knack for maximising space and penchant for open-plan arrangements is evident here too, where she has incorporated the en-suite bathrooms as part of the layout. Cleverly, they are visually separated from the rest of the space by their placement on platforms.
Cedar wood screens dapple the light in Lauren’s bedroom and provide a layer of privacy and security.
Lauren’s understated and elegant bedroom has something of a luxe hotel room aesthetic to it.
JP’s bedroom is simple, warm, masculine and sophisticated. A wall of mirrors enhances the sense of light and space in JP’s bedroom. The bed was made to his own design.
As with Lauren’s, JP’s en-suite bathroom is set on a raised platform. A dark grey colour palette in the bathroom lends it a classic, masculine feel.
