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The house has a harmonious flow throughout, thanks in large part to
the almost ceiling-height glass and steel doors that link each room;
porthole windows mirror the circular garden beds outside and the
geometric details inside, such as an artwork by Andrzej Urbanski
and a vessel by Nebnikro; in keeping with the home’s oak parquet
floors, the kitchen is fitted out with retro-look white cabinets; the
playful Tintin figurines and the Lucky Star stool in the TV lounge
were both sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo.‘Every time I fit out a new shop, my house ends up looking like
it,’ she says, referring to the ‘disco’ lights that are fitted into the
kitchen cabinets and were inspired by her ‘karaoke-look’ store
in Cape Town’s Silo District. ‘I love the notion that we’re having
a regular family dinner, but have disco lights on too. It’s all about
being playful. I’m not afraid of mixing shades, but you almost have
to be deliberate about it to pull it off. I’m not big on decorating.
I’m more about throwing something down to see if it works.’
As a filmmaker and photographer, Clive has his own
conspicuous contributions, and a series of his eye-catching prints
as well as objets collected from artists, craftspeople and markets
across Africa can be found throughout the home. ‘I think we have
a penchant for the unexpected, the sometimes unloved and the
brave, but we are also big on quality, longevity and comfort,’ says
Kirsten of their design choices. ‘I’d say we lean towards a clean,
bold style, but we also get a lot of joy out of eccentric pieces.’
The furniture ranges from antiques to Mid-Century Modern
and contemporary items, and the addition of oak parquet floors