WAVE BREAK

On the West Coast of South Africa, a family’s holiday home is a cosy social hub from which to dash off into the waves and enjoy a sporting lifestyle.

WORDS TRACY CHEMALY PHOTOGRAPHY WARREN HEATH

After years spent decorating beach resorts in dreamscapes such as Seychelles, Mozambique and Tanzania with her interior design company, Carla de Fondaumiere was finally presented with the opportunity to create a very personal beach home.

The Capetonian designer found a beach property just an hour away from her hometown. “I used to holiday on the Langebaan lagoon as a child,” says Carla of South Africa’s West Coast village where her new family holiday home lies. “When I met my husband Marc, I took him to Langebaan, and he fell in love with all it had to offer, too.”

A perfect match for the family’s sport-filled lifestyle, their house allows direct access to the beach and lagoon from its backyard, allowing Carla and Marc’s children – Chloe, 15, and Alex, 10, to run out and catch a wave as soon as they see the swell appear from their rooftop terrace.

“The weather dictates our activities here,” laughs Carla. She’s an avid runner and surf-skier, while Marc enjoys cycling and kitesurfing, a sport that has put Langebaan on the international kitesurfing map. “There are no typical days in this home, which is exactly what one wants when on holiday… a break from routine.”

She admits, however, that one thing common to every day spent in their beach pad – over the summer holidays and as many weekends as possible during the year – is a daily feast. “Whether it’s lunch or dinner, there’s always one meal where the table is filled with family and friends, good wine and tasty meals,” Carla smiles.

NATURAL IMPACT

One wall has been left raw – its rough stone surface softened visually by the white cement of the staircase leading up to the master bedroom.

BEACH-CHIC AESTHETIC

Natural wood and raw cane elements are complemented by textured cushion fabrics and pops of colour in the patio area.

The sturdy wooden Meyer von Wielligh dining table, surrounded by wicker bistro chairs, plays host to indoor occasions when the wind picks up, but gatherings are usually held outdoors on the patio, lounging on the oversized built-in sofa, Malawian cane armchairs or casually spread out benches around the 10-seater French oak table, all presenting views of the lagoon and peninsula hills beyond.

Covered by eucalyptus latte, the natural wooden forms of the patio roof create beautiful lines of dappled sunlight passing through, adding to the home’s beach-chic aesthetic, brought to life in organic materials and pops of aquamarine colour. “It seems predictable to use blues,” says Carla of the decor’s tonality, “but it just works so well with the internal finishes and the external surroundings.”

HOT THEN COOL

The master bedroom leads to a bath inside and an outdoor shower, ideal for cooling off from hot West Coast days.

The finishes she’s referring to include the large raw poplar timber beams on the living area’s ceiling and hardwood sliding bedroom screens, as well as the rough stone walls in the children’s bedrooms and on the staircase leading up to the master bedroom; elements that Carla feels keep the interiors grounded and suited to Langebaan’s no-frills atmosphere.

By including furnishings from Meyer von Wielligh, which she champions for their attention to detail, the interior of the home maintains a sense of the outdoors. “The furniture is handcrafted and inspired by nature,” Carla explains, pointing to the kitchen’s sculptural stools. “It’s a look that’s raw yet refined.”

Be it seated on these stools, sipping a breakfast smoothie, or positioned on a stand-up paddleboard or lying on a surfboard, awaiting the perfect sunset wave, this family takes full advantage of every aspect of its beach home. It’s what holidays are made of.

CREATE THE LOOK Beach retreat

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Belize Coral Sculpture boconcept.com; Blue Bagru Cushion republichome.com; Indira Cushion in Ochre and Archer Cushion Large studioblack.co.nz; CDF Oragon Table Lamp corso.co.nz; Basin Bowl boconcept.com; Malawi Single Cane Chair cittadesign.com; Seagrass Square artisancollective.co.nz; Millboard Driftwood Oak and Millboard Vintage Oak flooring forteflooring.co.nz; Humla Coffee Table bauhaus.co.nz; Blue and White Bone Inlay Stool republichome.com; Brick Hornbeam Side Table ecc.co.nz

Roasted sumac pumpkin, walnuts and coconut herb tahini dressing

HEALTHY, PLANT-BASED LIVING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ALL-CONFINING. THIS SUMMER SALAD HAS PLENTY OF ZING, WITH A HERB TAHINI DRESSING, WALNUTS AND POMEGRANATE SEEDS TO ACCOMPANY THE CLASSIC ROASTED PUMPKIN.

We always say a good dressing makes any salad. This is an excellent example. It turns a good old roast pumpkin salad into something with a bit of wow factor from the herb tahini dressing, earthy walnuts and pops of pomegranate seeds. This can all be made in advance, as the dressing will last in the fridge for up to a week. Serve alongside a green salad and roast lamb, chicken, salmon or hummus and avocado for a delicious plant-based meal.

Serves 8-10

INGREDIENTS: 1/2 a butternut pumpkin, cut into chunks 1 red onion 1 1/2 tbsp ground sumac powder sea salt oil

DRESSING: 1/4 cup tahini 1/4 cup coconut yoghurt 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 cup mixed herbs (mint, coriander, rocket, parsley) 3 tbsp water 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 1 tsp ground sumac powder juice of 1 lemon good pinch of sea salt black pepper

GARNISH WITH: rocket leaves 3/4 cup walnuts, roasted and roughly chopped pomegranate seeds dukkha

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Place the pumpkin and onion between two baking trays, sprinkle over the sumac, sea salt and drizzle the oil. Toss to coat the pumpkin and onion evenly. Place in the oven for 20 minutes on fan bake then turn the oven onto its grill function and grill for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the tahini dressing. Add all ingredients to a blender and blitz until a smooth, creamy dressing is formed. Alternatively, place all ingredients in a small deep bowl and blitz together with a stick blender. Pour into a bowl and set aside. To plate the salad, get a flat round salad plate. Put down a layer of rocket, followed by half of the roasted pumpkin, dressing, walnuts, pomegranate seeds, then sprinkle with dukkha. Repeat this process for another layer. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. If there is any leftover dressing, store it in a glass jar or container in the fridge for up to one week.

TWO RAW SISTERS

Margo and Rosa are best-selling authors and incredible cooks. Their mission is to inspire, motivate and educate people on the benefits of plant-based eating and create healthy, happy and sustainable lifestyles. Two Raw Sisters have a unique approach to plant-based living. They build delicious meals starting with vegetables, unprocessed, raw, whole food and pantry staples, then add meat, poultry or fish as you choose. Neither Margo or Rosa are vegan or vegetarian and welcome all eaters into their kitchen.

While they take healthy living seriously, they love having a laugh, entertaining and sharing their inspirational story.

@tworawsisters | two rawsisters.co.nz

Extracted from All Eaters Welcome, by Two Raw Sisters, published by

Bateman Books.