Houses and spaces

The kitchen faucet is from Moen, the quartzite kitchen countertops are from Formation Stone, and the drawer pulls are from CabinetParts.com.

“From the slate floors to the stone countertops, to the wood, brick, steel, and glass—all of it felt like something I wanted to celebrate,” says Derek.

In a Cape Town suburb known for its views of Table Mountain, architect Liani Douglas transformed a rundown, 80-year-old cottage into a house for her friend, Derek White, that embodies their shared design sensibilities. In the leafy neighborhood, the house announces itself with a pair of arched doorways at the front gate and the entry.

“These clients really wanted it to be as dead accurate as it could be,” architect Jordan Snittjer says of this Chicago town house’s masonry, which transitions to an overhauled interior and a glassy rear extension.

In the kitchen, Bontempo cabinetry by Armazem Design complements iceberg quartzite slabs for counters and backsplash. The pendants are by Matter Made.

The house was built by Medellín company Edificar Más, whose owner, Verónica Vásquez, took on the complex challenge “with gusto,” says Serge. Other local collaborators include Taller Hombre de Hojalata, which designed and fabricated the metal staircase and mezzanine that doubles as the family library.

Luisa sits at an inflection point in the plan, which connects four modules—one for each family member plus one for the common areas—in zigzag fashion down a sloping site.

Milla and Nigel thought the kitchen island should anchor the first floor, and they wanted colors that matched the frescoes. Stone specialist Nick Blok found exactly what they were looking for: a monolithic piece of Italian quartzite with muted pinks and umbers in the veining.

Cape Long lights by Cedar and Moss illuminate the kitchen, which features dark Dekton countertops and Thonet Bentwood counter stools.

The family share a love for the color teal, which was already featured in the home. So, when selecting a backsplash tile, teal was the obvious choice. The tiles are locally sourced from Yeomans Bagno & Ceramiche in Eltham.

The pink island in Fireclay tile anchors the reimagined kitchen, where white oak cabinetry by Michael Grandy features integrated custom pulls. Cedar and Moss flush-mount fixtures replace generic can lights throughout the space.

“We worked on the stonework, plastering, and exterior textures by modeling original finishes of Ibizan houses, but without falling into imitation,” says Jaime. “We reinterpreted their spirit through a contemporary language.”

A view of an outdoor eating area in the garden.