Lacea and Frans Smit of Stellenbosch already had a soft spot for Witsand on the Southern Cape coast when the last plot with a sea view came on the market.

Having camped in the same spot over the summer holidays for years, they knew that this unspoilt coastal town (with its whales) was the perfect place for a holiday home. Without a moment’s hesitation, they decided to buy the plot together with Lacea’s brother Charles and his wife Debbie who live in the UK.

‘Because we’d camped here every year, we knew exactly what we wanted,’ says Lacea. In June 2012, construction began and in December that year they spent their first holiday there. Two sisters-in-law planning one interior sounds like the perfect recipe for a family feud, especially if one is British and the other a farm girl from the Kalahari, but for Debbie and Lacea it was a surprisingly smooth process.

Lacea managed the project from Stellenbosch – and acknowledges that long-distance building is quite stressful: ‘Some things I had to accept and let go.’ Debbie, on the other hand, would bring beautiful Egyptian rugs, linen and bedding with her every time she and Charles came to visit. Lacea’s architect friend, James Basson, drew up the plans and a good friend of the family, interior designer Claudia Fabian of Mer Design, began working on ideas while still in the design phase.

Two Families, One Space
Lacea explains why the Witsand house is such a practical space that accommodates everyone so comfortably!

• We kept the décor earthy and simple, with an informal feel. We have second-hand and wooden furniture with few ornaments, and the concrete table outside definitely won’t get blown over by the wind!
• The house requires little maintenance because we finished the exterior walls with Nutec fibre cement panels instead of paint. We also have a low-maintenance garden planted up with succulents and fynbos by my mom, Marie.
• We often have two or more families visiting at the same time but all the residents and guests have their own private space. Having the open-plan bathrooms next to the two main bedrooms helps a great deal – and keeps us from getting in each other’s way.
• The open-plan layout of the living rooms contributes to a relaxed, informal vibe and prevents us from ever feeling cramped.
• The windows and sliding doors are double glazed, which helps to control the temperature and noise levels (in season).
• The sea views and proximity to the beach are a bonus!

Words: Marian van Wyk, Home
Images: Donna Lewis, Home