9 minute read
Exotic
from Cxfgytrcc
reader home
Advertisement
Shades of green and blue, exotic treasures, paintings and heirlooms set against a black and grey backdrop create the ultimate refuge.
WHO LIVES HERE?
Mariëtte and Peter Bouwer; their son Martin (22) visits over weekends WHERE Bosplasie, Onrus River SIZE 430m 2
Mattress made by Alida Clarkson
A cow skull picked up in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley adorns the wall next to the built-in braai on the stoep. The mosaic artwork on the tables is Mariëtte’s handiwork. An old carved Indian
door (opposite) surrounded by potted spekboom
and common tree Euphorbias welcomes visitors at the driveway. >>
reader home
On the banks of the Onrus River and a stone’s throw from the ocean lies a slate-grey house filled with the wondrous beauty that only a bold creative could put together. Here you are taken on a trip with the homeowners, artist Mariëtte Bouwer and her husband Peter, not just to distant lands and all corners of South Africa where they have collected colourful mementoes, but also to a bygone era with antiques and heirlooms, many of which have been given a fresh new look. It is a true spectacle that delights the heart and soul.
Little wonder then that Mariëtte calls herself a dreamer. “I would love to have been a traveller by profession...” she says wistfully.
But then she hastens to add: “To me, my house is the best place under the sun. It’s where I feel completely at home; it’s my refuge. I love the ocean and spend many a happy hour exploring the coastal byways of Onrus with my dogs Pablo and Frida.”
Wooden statuettes and plants (above) create a still life on a weathered table. “Fortunately, we started acquiring cactuses a long time ago; they are now huge,” says Mariëtte. The stoep (right) is
characterised by earthy colours and textures. Mariëtte bought the wicker chairs in Hermanus and painted them grey. The white lanterns are old Chinese Christmas decorations.
A cactus and Frida Kahlo print create a Mexican atmosphere in the TV room. The Bouwers bought the rug from a gypsy in Lisbon. The curtain over the front door is a tablecloth from Sri Lanka and two Indian dolls are hanging on the right.
More rooms, steps and levels Mariëtte and Peter, who owns a glass and aluminium business in Hermanus, had this two-storey house built in 2001 and then redesigned it eight years later. They drew up the plans for the extension themselves in 2009, deciding at the same time to change the interior layout of the house. “We didn’t use an architect but because we live on a slope, an engineer had to plan the driveway,” explains Mariëtte. “Our daughter Saskia Bekker is an architectural designer in Onrus, so she helped with the planning.” (Saskia’s house was featured in Home Renovations in 2019.)
The Bouwers moved out during the alterations. “We packed everything up and rented a house for six months. We even relocated our collection of cactuses.”
Other than the new driveway and double garage, the shape of the house pretty much stayed the same. “Although it’s now 3m longer and 7m wider, and three more levels were added to the original two. With all these steps we have to climb, Peter and I will need to be fit in our golden years, like the old people in Greece,” says Mariëtte with a smile.
The negotiating of stairs begins at the antique carved Indian door on the street side. “If I had to choose something to take with me when I move, it would be this door,” says Mariëtte. Not that it’s actually a front door, since it doesn’t take you into the house but rather down a flight of stairs to the stoep. “This is an upsidedown house,” explains Mariëtte. “You enter at the top and end up a couple of levels down at the bottom.”
From the stoep –a sociable nook with a braai, built-in seating and a cement table –steps lead down to the kitchen, living room and main bedroom en suite. “We host festive meals in the kitchen, which was specially extended to make room for an antique table that seats 12 people. It’s about 140 years old.” >>
reader home
Colourful furniture and accessories from all corners of the globe come into their own against the grey walls; these include a wardrobe and pouffe from India, an ottoman upholstered in Chinese silk, rugs from Morocco and gold cushions from a store in Woodstock, Cape Town. The walls were finished with CemWash, a product from Cemcrete, in the colour Grey; they were then sanded to make them a little lighter. Mark Dixon, a student friend of Mariëtte’s, did the paintings.
Toilet Bath
TV room
Study Bath
Lower level
Bedroom Kitchen
Scullery Main Bedroom
Ground level
Stoep
Street level entrance
I love anything with a story. Most of our furniture consists of other people’s hand-me-downs. – Mariëtte
The lounge flows seamlessly onto the stoep. The cement floor was treated with CreteCote and sealed with Cemcrete Colour Hardener in the colour Grey.
Mariëtte colour-washed the Balinese coffee table in Plascon Jade and then applied a silver leaf finish. Peter made the rectangular table and the curtain fabric is men’s suit linen.
Star pendants from Hadeda; green artificial rattan chairs from MRP Home
Paint colour Plascon Black roof paint
The kitchen dresser against the black wall is another heirloom piece from Ouma Malie. Mariëtte gave it an undercoat of Plascon Midnight Blue and then colour-washed it with Teal Tide; the glass in the doors was replaced with wire mesh. “Most of the crockery stored in it is old family tea sets.”
Paint colour Plascon Iron Ore
The spindle chairs were painted grey and the black-and-silver Indian chairs were bought from a shop in the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town, which has since closed.
Pine drawers and baskets from MRP Home
The wooden drawers under the concrete slab in
the kitchen (left) were custom made by a friend,
Anton Rossouw. Mariëtte painted the proteas above
the glasses cabinet (far left); it was previously a
bookcase that belonged to her late Ouma Malie.
The old enamelware was collected from all around the country.
The old cabinet is from Bali; it was whitewashed for a weathered look. The artworks on either side were created by a friend, Craig Cockroft.
The main bedroom on the top floor overlooks the Onrus River and garden. Mariëtte’s favourite photo in the large frame at the top of the gallery wall is of her mom Sannie Goosen (now 89), smoking a pipe behind the water tank on the family farm in Porterville.
Cane headboard from Snuffels
[MARIËTTE’S DÉCOR TIPS ]
“I’m a bit of a rebel when it comes to following interior décor rules! I think the soul of a house, what you think is beautiful, what you treasure and find practical all depends on individual taste. Feel free to create your own interior design rules,” says Mariëtte.
• Combine different fabrics and textures to create a wonderful atmosphere. “For me, it starts with walls in various shades of grey, against which the colours and textures I use are shown off to perfection. I even sanded some walls to create a rougher texture and a livelier look.” • A uniform floor creates a beautiful whole and comfortable flow throughout the house. “I play with loose rugs in various sizes and shapes. Sometimes, I toss rugs on top of each other for texture.” • Finish the walls with artworks that make strong statements. “Also use ornaments such as plates and plants. For even more texture and ‘movement’, I add contrast with items from different cultures and interesting accessories –both old and new.” • Move your furniture and ornaments around regularly to create new and interesting looks. • Paint can work wonders. “Feel free to give an old, boring bench or cabinet a fresh coat of paint in a new shade.” • Different textures, colours and patterns on cushions, bedding, loose rugs and curtains always add warmth. “Have fun with what you have.” • Plants can add life to a room and give it natural appeal.
Ten shades of grey
With its new palette, the Bouwers’ home now boasts six black walls, with the rest in 10 shades of grey.
“I love the tranquil feel of these colours. I only use the black walls as focal points, and never more than one in a room. A black backdrop allows black-and-white artworks to stand out so beautifully. Other colours work just as well against a black wall –as do plates, masks and plants,” says Mariëtte. “But who knows, next time I might use only white throughout my house.”
Mariëtte, who also paints under her maiden name Goosen, describes herself as “an undisciplined artist who does paint techniques on furniture”. She painted most of the wooden furniture in her house herself and finished it off with a colourwash technique in a different shade to soften the look.
“I prefer to give old pieces a new lease on life and tend not to buy new furniture. I also have old family pieces, some of which are from my late grandmother Malie,” she explains.
“Some of the furniture had many layers of old paint, which I took off with paint remover. Then I sanded and painted the wood –any good water-based PVA works for me. It can easily be sanded down.”
Mariëtte purchased her collectibles in countries such as Bali, India, Morocco, Portugal and Turkey. “I love their exotic look. They complement the earthiness of my African items and weathered wood.”
The beauty of this house lies in the detail: textures of wood, rugs and steel, and the sudden bursts of colour in fabrics and paintings that when combined form a glorious whole.
The charcoal drawings were done by Mariëtte. The lighter wall is finished with CemWash, here in the colour Light Grey.
Paint colour Plascon PVA Black
The fabric hanging at the window in the goldthemed guest room comes from Bali. Mariëtte made these curtains from a tablecloth bought at H&M Home. The black-and-white woven cotton pot comes from Morocco. The built-in bath and vanity in the main en-suite bathroom were finished with Cemcrete SatinCrete, and the walls with CemWash in the colour Grey. Balinese glass bead necklaces, a suitcase from Spain and baskets add warmth to the space.
Baskets from MRP Home
