Contemporary Cape Town Home

WORDS Michaela Stehr IMAGES Greg Cox


This glass-fronted house was transformed into a chic, contemporary space thanks to local interior design studio ARRCC.

For ARRCC, it was vital to relay the homeowner’s love for art throughout the home, bringing vibrant hues and original artworks into every room.

“By working with the homeowner’s wide and varied art collection we were able to create spaces that allow for a dynamic dialogue between the artworks and furnishings,” explains ARRCC director Mark Rielly, who worked together with designer Sarika Jacobs on this house, originally designed by Jenny Mills Architecture.

From Marine blue rugs in the informal lounge and Missoni-covered ottomans to paintings and wood-panelled walls in the adjacent dining room, each space has been carefully contemplated and crafted.

Entering the vast marble foyer is the perfect introduction to the rest of the home. Guests are greeted with a statement geometric Emmemobili Arlequin C cabinet, which is complemented by a two-tone suede sofa, angular rug and organically shaped side table.

In the kitchen, sliding pocket timber doors connect the room to the dining room, making entertaining a simple experience. A large granite-and-wood counter, surrounded by a selection of OKHA stools, brings texture into the space and serves as the hub for the surrounding area.

Outside, a slat-covered terrace is the ideal spot for al fresco dining, complete with a fireplace, pizza oven and a braai that overlooks the expansive garden.

When the weather calls for time spent indoors, there is a cinema complete with sofas, daybeds and comfy recliners, while the cigar room-cum-wine cellar is perfect for after-dinner nightcaps around an OKHA Stix coffee table.

Following the homeowner’s brief for high-energy spaces upstairs, the bedrooms make use of bright palettes and statement wallpapers.

“The children’s bedrooms feature bold primary colours and paint-splashed walls, with playful elements such as hammocks and bucket stools adding youthful freshness,” says Sarika. The guest bedroom continues to play with pattern, with bright Graffito wallpaper by Kelly Wearstler and a custom-designed rug to pull the space together.

See more projects by ARRCC at arrcc.com.