Nestled on the base of the Helderberg Mountains, lies a stunning Somerset West home designed by GSQUARED Architects. The home has panoramic views stretching across the bay. GSQUARED Architects approached Spotlight Joinery for the full home scope of joinery. Soon after Craft Furniture and Infin8 Surfacing joined the project for their expertise in timber and solid surfacing respectively.
The home was designed for Swiss clients, which did make things slightly more interesting as they were not based in the Cape. We closely worked with their Cape Town-based architect to ensure that we had strong communication and worked as a team to produce the magnificent family home. The design brief was one of practicality, ensuring that each element was functional and made sense for the intended use. However, it still turned out to be a visual feast in both architecture and design.
For the kitchen, the design focus was around neutral colours and natural materials. We kept to the minimalist aesthetic by using a touch of grey through satin sprayed MDF fronts and panels to anchor the space. We used a folding pocket door system for the backrun which concealed the ovens. A natural timber cantilevered kitchen island was incorporated to bring a sense of warmth to the space as well as an area to sit around for socialising with friends and family. This was complemented by oak shelves.
A definite hero of the home was the hidden wine cellar. The clients, who are avid wine collectors, wanted something custom to fit their various wine boxes that are imported from Bordeaux. To continue the functionality, the door of the wine cellar is made entirely out of stone to match (and disappear into) the exterior facade. Once entering, you are met with a moody and luxurious atmosphere of dark timber finishes. Strategic LED lighting throughout the cellar illuminates the bottles to add to the aesthetic.
The custom-made oak elements were continued in the bedrooms. The master walk-in wardrobe included timber detailing for the handles and decorative slats done by Craft Furniture. Another design feature was the complete slatted wall in the bedroom with light fittings and plug points integrated into the slates through small cut-aways. This creates a cohesive final result and exudes tranquillity like a bedroom should!
Infin8 Surfacing did all of the en-suite vanities as well as the guest bathroom. We used bright white Solid Surfacing, paired with Spotlight Joinery’s timber cabinetry below, to match the joinery colour palette. The double vanities had integrated basins to add to the seamless aesthetic. The unique nature of Solid Surfacing and the fact that it shows no join lines, made it an obvious choice for this project.
It is projects like these that best reflect our intention at The Excellence Group – a one-stop-shop for the high-end residential home. Having multiple businesses work together to bring the client’s dream to life is always a special experience for us.
