La Grange Interiors

Situated in picturesque Stellenbosch and overlooking the surrounding mountains, photographer Ida Bester and her husband, Gustav, recently undertook a complete renovation of their family home.

Not wanting to move, the couple enlisted the help of architects Henk Lourens and Tina Gallagher of Gallagher Lourens Architects who set about knocking down the old home to make way for a new build that would tick all of Ida’s boxes.

Structurally, the outdated and dark house was replaced with a modern and airy design that straddles the divide between old and new, lived-in familiarity and all the new conveniences one can wish for.

Sunlight now streams in through lofty glass windows and, when opened, the house flows out onto a pretty garden and courtyard pool.

Of course, to compliment the new design, new decor was needed. 

For this, the couple sought the expertise of interior designer Sumari Krige, owner of La Grange Interiors.

To tie in with the architecture and natural finishes (think stone and wood), Sumari opted for a natural palette and comfortable furniture pieces. 

To warm up the palette, Sumari introduced lots of textures and warm colours, such as mustard-coloured upholstery on the La Grange Interiors Roll chair and ottoman in the study and a massive ochre-coloured vase on the kitchen table. As well as copper and bronze metallic accents in the artwork, accessories and fittings.

Elsewhere, large ceramic vases in bottle green add another layer of colour and graphic black-and-white upholstery on the dining chairs enlivens the space.

A considered combination of had and newly found, the wonderful thing about the Bester’s new home ist that it still holds all of the couple’s cherished memories – and the opportunity to make many more.

www.lagrangeinteriors.co.za