As a visual merchandiser, Sanet Coetzee has honed her talent for creating captivating spaces with a single, well-placed item that sets the perfect mood. This expertise became a personal passion as she transformed her home in Cape Town into a tranquil sanctuary. When she stumbled upon the charming Victorian house, she faced a challenge: It had previously functioned as a boarding house and featured six cramped and unappealing bedrooms. However, she immediately saw the hidden potential within its walls.
“Having experienced apartment living, I was overjoyed at the prospect of having a garden and being on the ground floor. While I had no choice but to replace the deteriorating windows and doors, it presented an opportunity to invite in natural light,” she explains. The terrace house required not only the rejuvenation of neglected areas but also practical improvements. The sash windows were replaced with meticulously crafted ones, and a bold decision was made to extend them up to the ceiling, allowing for mountain views. Additionally, she infused a touch of whimsy by introducing a series of arches that flooded the ground-floor living space with an enchanting abundance of natural light.
Coetzee decided to break free from the traditional open-plan layout commonly found in Victorian renovations and put her own spin on things. She ingeniously transformed the entryway into an unexpected guest bathroom while maximizing the space by incorporating a pantry for the kitchen right behind it. Also on the ground floor, she skillfully designed a set of liveable spaces that transition from the lounge to the dining room, creating a harmonious connection to the home’s central hub, the kitchen.
Here Coetzee was drawn to the original small terracotta tiles on the floor, appreciating their simplicity and beautiful range of colors. She selected a palette of pistachio and pink lemonade to complement them, but the effect is far from saccharine. The addition of sleek copper handles, a vintage-inspired SMEG gas hob and minimalist open shelving establishes an understated foundation, which Coetzee then adorned with plants, art and an array of intriguing curiosities amassed over decades. An unused courtyard was transformed into an extension of the kitchen, featuring a terracotta-toned gravel floor, vintage furniture and a wall of plants that blend the two spaces.
The kitchen also flows with ease into the dining area and lounge – linked by a double-sided fireplace. These rooms feature a medley of classic and vintage furnishings, softened and enhanced with table decorations that play with height, dark sheepskin throws that contrast a soft Persian carpet and glass cabinets brimming with precious collectibles. A cheeky portion of exposed brick was left visible, showcasing the time-worn beauty of the bricks beneath.
As Coetzee notes, “The house’s neglect became its greatest strength because most of the original features were untouched. I couldn’t believe how beautiful the staircase was. It was there, just waiting to be brought to life.” Coetzee credits architect Alet Barnard for pushing her to play with the concept of arches and creating an organic opening from the staircase to the lounge and dining area. “It frames the staircase in a way I couldn’t have pictured,” she adds.
Upstairs, two bedrooms and a bathroom leading directly off the landing have been fully revived with a simple monochrome palette and, again, with open shelving creating spaces that Coetzee has peppered with precious finds.
“I’m loving the transition from an apartment to a house,” she shares. “It has allowed me to incorporate more delicate pieces into my living spaces. I never anticipated how much I would enjoy this change – not only because of the extra room but also the opportunity to explore different levels within the house.”
Photography by Warren Heath.
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