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White glamour : Three ‘Bloom’ pots from Créma add drama to the deck at night. -
White glamour : Corné Terblanche in the multifunctional second lounge/TV room/office, which was once the apartment’s third bedroom. The glass stacking doors can be adjusted for privacy. A small herb garden with a tranquil fountain can be found off this lounge. -
White glamour : Corné and Kobus love to entertain in their new home and their appreciation of beauty and attention to detail can be seen in this place setting, which includes items bought on Corné's travels: placemats from Vietnam and napkin rings from New York. -
White glamour : The mahogany dining table was one of the few original pieces retained by the team. The shield-back chairs, custom-designed by HotCocoa Interiors & Design, were upholstered in Contemporary Opera fabric (colour: Charbrown) from The Silk and Cotton Co. -
White glamour : City chic in a small space: A special feature in the guest bathroom is the ceiling-mounted square shower head, with a frameless glass shower screen that closes against the wall when not required. The bath has a flat bottom for comfort when showering. -
White glamour : Lucia van der Walt, Dawn Dickerson and Carmel Naudé of HotCocoa Interiors & Design. Lucia was responsible for all the detail work on this project, and managed the site and building process. -
White glamour : The original white sofas were reupholsered in Desert Cloth fabric (colour: White) from De Le Cuona. The Bunda Stripe throws (colour: Stone) are also from De Le Cuona. Lipsmacking by artist Pamela Stretton is displayed on the floating ledge. -
White glamour : The seamless flow from lounge to outside deck makes the most of the breathtaking view. HotCocoa used chocolate accents and lighting to add depth and glamour to the white palette, and the Philippe Starck Rosy Angelis floor lamp adds a playful element. -
White glamour : The en-suite bathroom, with the Oval bath from Flush, was opened up to become part of the bedroom and sandblasted glass doors can be used for privacy. The split-marble feature wall adds texture and depth to the entire space. -
White glamour : The balau timber deck, previously on three levels, was completely redesigned and opened up to maximise the space. The foldaway deck awnings are from Solara.
PHOTOS Greg Cox PRODUCTION Sumien Brink WORDS Michelle Coburn
What was once a dated apartment in Cape Town has become a sophisticated home that pays tribute to the beauty of a pure-white palette – a space that’s as tranquil by day as it’s glamorous by night.
A love affair with all things white that Dawn Dickerson shared with Corné and Kobus Terblanche, made the trio the perfect interior designer and owner match when it came to designing this immaculate apartment situated on the Atlantic Seaboard’s most desirable drive. White – clean, calm, perfect. It’s resonance with all three proved to be the best foundation imaginable when they embarked on a year-long renovation project that would see the interior of the original home completely gutted in the process.
Dawn and Carmel Naudé co-own HotCocoa Interiors & Design – a five-member team that creates interiors as warm, sensuous and comforting as the drink for which they named themselves. The duo’s ability to understand the mind-set of a diverse list of residential, retail and hotel clients, including Liz McGrath of The Collection, has built them a solid reputation, word of which has reached the English capital where they are currently working their magic on a fashion store in a new mall in West London.
“A client’s needs and our skills and passion must connect,” says Dawn. “We pour a lot of attention to detail, time and energy into each project and have learned that if the job does not challenge or inspire our creativity, it does not work well. When we ‘feel’ the clients and are able to get into their heads, we are able to develop a concept that they will absolutely love.”
The brief
When it came to this project, the team was more than ready to meet the challenge presented by owners Corné and Kobus. The brief from the couple, who had lived in the apartment for six years before deciding to renovate, was for HotCocoa to create a slick, warm look that made the most of the apartment’s great position and enhanced their love for indoor-outdoor living. They especially wanted the outside deck, with its striking view of the Atlantic, to become a greater feature (it had been divided into different levels, which restricted the usage and made it feel smaller than it actually was). They also asked for a completely new kitchen and bathrooms; and wanted a third bedroom to be opened up and converted into a TV room and lounge.
After putting most of their belongings in storage, the couple moved into an available apartment upstairs from where they kept an eye on proceedings. Their extensive international travels and exposure to global design meant that they were actively involved in the development of the concept. “I enjoy it when the client has great taste and is constantly quietly ‘tapping you on the shoulder’, pushing you in a constructive way. I think this always achieves great results,” says Dawn.
She even found that her concept of “white” was challenged. Says Corné: “Dawn discovered that her idea of white is actually cream, because whenever she showed me something I’d ask her: ‘Can’t it be whiter?’ She understood perfectly and says I helped her to truly see white for the first time!”
A classic-contemporary dream
HotCocoa took the existing seeds of the Terblanche’s tasteful furnishings: the inspirational white sofas and dining table, and set about creating a classic-contemporary dream of an apartment. They were constantly aware that the appeal of a white palette lies in the feeling of spaciousness and tranquillity it creates, while the challenge lies in creating a mood of warmth and depth at the same time.
The subtle use of diverse textures to achieve interest becomes increasingly apparent the longer one spends in this space, compelling one to want to touch and stroke the surfaces: Sleek kitchen cupboards and a smooth, pristine work island contrast with the grainy earthiness of the huge fossilised shell on the coffee table; a breathtaking crystal drum chandelier above the dining table is in dramatic opposition to the bleached whale bone on the living-room wall, while glittering Swarovski-crystal bedside lamps and a high-gloss mirror frame contrast with the split-marble feature wall in the main bedroom.
Dark chocolate accents are also cleverly used to show up the white textures and surfaces, helping to create a warm and rich sensuality.
Says Dawn of the final result: “Finally, we asked Corné and Kobus to go away for a week and let us install and accessorise. They came back to a totally ‘wow’ apartment and were thrilled at how their personalities and lifestyle were reflected in the new space – it can be quite an emotional process.”
The spaces flow into each other; the deck, with its pool, masses of white cushions and over-sized planters that light up dramatically once the sun sets, is the ultimate entertainment area; and the kitchen is a glamorous focal point where Corné loves to cook surrounded by friends.
Now that their renovation project has culminated in a dream apartment that is as at home on Ocean View Drive as it would be in any of the international cities the couple travels to regularly, what’s next? “Possibly a farm cottage in the Karoo,” muses Corné. “Whatever we decide, Dawn and the team will definitely be on board.”
HotCocoa Interiors & Design: 021 424 0444, info@hotcocoa.co.za, www.hotcocoa.co.za
First published in VISI 38. See more of our favourite beach houses online and buy the Endless Summer edition of VISI for the ultimate beach house collection.
