Bare essentials

PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Sumien Brink WORDS Mirelle Leyden

In the heart of the Mother City, two foreigners sit cooling their toes in the pool of their renovated abode. For now, Holland is their home and Cape Town a mere holiday destination.

This home on the hill, with its straight lines, sharp edges and uncluttered spaces, leaves no doubt that owners Joost Alferink and Emmy van Gool make a point of practising what they preach. When asked about their combined style, Emmy draws a comparison between her design and decorating philosophies, “Whatever I design has to convey a certain message.

“Upon first glance at a graphic design, its main objective must be loud and clear. In the same way, I like to create a clean and uncluttered living space. In both design and decorating my message is: simple says it best!”

Emmy was the Design Jury Chairperson for the 2006 Loerie Awards, and Joost an acclaimed product designer.

When buying the house a few years ago, the only piece of furniture they chose was a large modular brown leather sofa, along with the bed in the main bedroom. “The strange thing is that, even with hardly any furnishings, the house didn’t feel empty,” says Emmy.

“It was during that time that our shared philosophy of ‘stick to the basics’ truly gained meaning and has continued to be one of the core fundamentals in our work and personal lives,” continues Joost.

Minimalism exemplified

It goes to show that a simple and clean style should never be confused with a cold one. Although a few pieces of furniture have been added over the years, Joost and Emmy’s house continues to exemplify minimalism. Yet, nothing seems to be lacking.

“Warmth or homeliness in a house is often created by adding family heirlooms or other decor accessories that have sentimental value,” says Emmy. “The traditional framed photograph is a good example of this. However, Joost and I have found that there are alternative ways of achieving warmth that still retain the essence of the sentiment.”

With her eye on the pieces of whale baleen that hang on the wall behind the dining-room table, it’s clear what she is referring to. On one of their first visits to South Africa, Joost and Emmy found the baleen on a beach. Simply telling the story brings a twinkle to Emmy’s eyes. “On that day we realised how vast in possibilities, creative inspiration and hidden treasures South Africa was,” she recalls.

Though laden with sentimental value, thereby adding to the ambience in the home, the symbolism is hidden from the visitor who hasn’t yet heard the story. The house is filled with similar objects boasting such stories, and one soon understands the cosy, rich-in-life-and-warmth feeling that permeates the walls, despite their relative emptiness.

Renovating in a foreign country was a key contributing factor that made it easier for Joost and Emmy to implement their philosophy, as they were able to start from scratch. “There are no inherited furniture pieces that you’ve wanted to throw away numerous times but simply haven’t had the heart to,” Emmy explains. Every single added trimming, from the foundations up, is brand new.

For Joost and Emmy, this project was a first in more ways than one, considering that they had never previously undertaken the decoration and design of a house together. “Emmy is a compulsive perfectionist,” says Joost. “And she cares far more about the excellence of the final product than the enjoyment of the process.”

As an acclaimed product designer, Joost is the perfect opposite. “He would experiment for hours before getting close to actually conceptualising the final result!” Emmy teases in response.

Form follows function

One thing on which they do agree is that form follows function, and not the other way around. According to Joost: “When a product is over-designed, yet struggles to serve its purpose, it fails as a good design. The trick lies in attaining a designer symbiosis.”

When it comes to adding trimmings to their home, whether it be decor accessories or kitchen appliances, the same story goes. “Luckily, both Emmy and I prefer straight lines and sharp edges,” he says. The objects we are drawn to have very definite, clear-cut forms. Curves belong on the body of a woman.”

When it came to colour, Emmy and Joost opted for muted as well as rich tones of grey, whereas most of the furniture is in shades of brown, beautifully showcased against a white wall. “l love muted shades for the larger parts of the house, but adore adding a cheeky splash of colour here and there,” says Emmy.

The outside areas are a brilliant example of how to make good use of small spaces, while remaining in tone with what Emmy and Joost refer to as their “sober-stylish” approach to decorating. Quartz Carpet has been used as the outdoor floor covering, helping to create a desert-like oasis in the midst of the urban jungle. Decks were built to maximise the extraordinary views: In the backyard you almost look Table Mountain square in the eye, and from the deck in the pool area one can see the entire CBD lying below.

The ability to come into your own with such confidence and flair in a foreign country is certainly worth admiring. After all, it was this creative pair’s countryman, Vincent van Gogh, who once asked: “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

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