A Social Space
The clients, a family of four with two pre-teen children, envisioned a home that supports their modern lifestyle and love for family-oriented social events. The mother, an avid cook, wanted a space that seamlessly integrates cooking, dining, and living areas.
To achieve this, I suggested modernizing the home by removing most of the internal walls on the east side and replacing the back wall with a bi-fold door leading to a patio. Additionally, a large picture window was added to create a bright and airy space.
The living room, placed at the front of the house, benefits from a south-facing orientation, ensuring it is light and bright during the day. As the sun moves west in the afternoon, the room receives less natural light, making it perfect for cozy family movie nights. I extended the wall to the right of the front door and added a sliding room divider between the sofa and kitchen, allowing for an intimate, cozy space that can block off kitchen noise when needed.
The dining area, located beyond the kitchen, accommodates a large table with removable leaves for flexibility. The bi-fold door provides a garden view, enabling alfresco dining in good weather. The garden features a spacious patio ideal for entertaining, with a large outdoor dining space, a braai station, and a casual seating area around a fire pit.
On the western side, I created a relaxing study that doubles as a spare bedroom, leading into a guest shower room with Jack and Jill doors connecting to a small hallway off the dining room and a utility room.
New Floor Plan
Colour Scheme
For the first proposed scheme, I chose a soothing pale green monochromatic palette to bring the calming effects of nature indoors, creating a relaxing space for a busy family. The light shade ensures a bright and airy ambiance, while the warmth of the green adds coziness.
To avoid a monotonous atmosphere, I incorporated texture and pattern to create a cohesive space with visual interest. The main colour, a pale green, is accented with two darker greens, adding depth and variety to the open plan area.
In the living room and study, a botanical wallpaper introduces texture. In the bathroom, light green wall tiles contrast with dark green floor tiles, enhancing both texture and colour.
Furnishings and Decor
Entry Hall: As the first room visitors see, the Entry Hall sets the tone for the house. Designed to be practical yet inviting, it starts the soft leafy green theme of the home. Custom storage maximizes space for shoes, bags, and other essentials, while a washable rug handles high foot traffic. Natural textures like wood, jute, honeycomb, and leaves bring the outside in, creating a relaxing feel. Continuity is achieved with consistent light switches, electrical socket plates, handles, and lighting styles throughout the home.
Living Room: The living room, often the heart of the home, is designed to be cozy and inviting. Darker fabrics for the sofa, cushions, footstool, and curtains create a snug atmosphere. A corner sofa and footstool maximize seating, while nesting tables provide surfaces for drinks and can be neatly stored away. Organic colours and textures—marble, leaves, wood, greens—are used in fabrics, rugs, surfaces, and artwork to continue the natural theme. Stripes on cushions, footstools, lights, and the TV unit draw the eye and provide continuity.
Dining Room: The dining room, the main entertainment space, features an expanding table and minimal furniture for flexibility. Natural colours and shapes—wood, green, curves, scalloped edges—are paired with linear shapes in the rug, table legs, and lighting to create an energetic feel. Comfortable, fully upholstered chairs in customized fabric are protected against spills. A Bromeliad plant adds a vibrant splash of orange, maintaining the natural theme.
Study and Guest Room: This multifunctional room serves as both a workspace and a relaxing guest bedroom. Light tones create a calm atmosphere, while a dark carpet adds drama. Luxurious quilted bedding with a satin finish and an informal cable knit throw blanket enhance guest comfort. Themes from other rooms—colour, texture, fabric designs, vertical lines—are continued for continuity. Personal photos add a personal touch to the workspace, reminding users of their purpose.
