This family’s coastal holiday home is a cosy social hub from which to dash off into the waves

‘I used to holiday on the Langebaan Lagoon as a child. When I met my husband Marc I took him to Langebaan, and he fell in love with all it had to offer, too,’ says Carla de Fondaumiere of finding the perfect spot to create a family beach home.

After years spent decorating beach resorts in dreamy locations such as the Seychelles, Mozambique and Tanzania with her interior design company GDF Design Lab, Carla was finally presented with the opportunity to create a very personal beach home. The De Fondaumiere family eventually found a beach property just an hour away from Cape Town. An ideal match for the family’s sport-filled lifestyle, their house allows direct access to the beach and lagoon from its back yard, 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 kite- surfing, a sport that has put Langebaan on the international kite-surfing map.

‘There are no typical days in this home,’ she admits. However, one essential thing is a daily feast. How could you not when this is your view? ‘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. The 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, cane armchairs or benches around the 10-seater oak table. ‘It seems predictable to use blues, but it just works so well with the internal finishes and the external surroundings,’ says Carla, explaining the use of organic materials and pops of aquamarine.

The raw finishes include the large raw poplar timber beams of the living area’s ceiling and hardwood sliding screens in the bedrooms, as well as the rough stone walls in the kids’ bedrooms and on the staircase leading up to the master bedroom. These elements, 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 is a look that is raw yet refined.’ That’s what keeps the relaxed holiday aesthetic strong here – every decor item is well chosen and adds another element that whispers beach-chic. Subscribe to Livingspace, to receive monthly updates on all decor trends.