Living With the View in Mind
A View Worth Reimagining
Perched high above the Atlantic, an apartment in Sea Point begins its transformation not with scale, but with intent. Light, position, and outlook become the guiding forces, turning what was once a compartmentalized, dated interior into a calm and considered retreat. The project demonstrates how thoughtful design can reframe everyday living without relying on excess.
When Walls Get in the Way
Originally, the apartment reflected a familiar mid-century layout: separate rooms, angled corridors, and wasted transitional spaces. Despite its relatively square footprint, the interior felt fractured. Rather than forcing a conventional open-plan solution, the redesign responds to the realities of apartment living, allowing spaces to overlap and soften into one another instead of being rigidly defined.
Hiding Function in Plain Sight
The kitchen becomes a quiet participant rather than a visual anchor. Recessed cabinetry and discreet technology allow cooking functions to disappear when not in use, shifting the focus back to living and dining. This sense of concealment ensures the space never feels dominated by utility, reinforcing the idea that function and calm can coexist.
Borrowing the Outdoors
While heritage regulations require the balcony to remain enclosed, design choices blur the boundary between inside and out. Pocketing windows, a shift in flooring material, and carefully placed furniture create the sensation of stepping into an exterior zone. Sunset views and changing light become part of daily life, even within enclosed walls.
Rethinking Size and Luxury
By sacrificing a second bedroom, the apartment prioritizes generosity over quantity. The layout is reconfigured to create a comfortable one-bedroom home with a walk-in wardrobe and a home office. Throughout, the design refuses to treat the apartment as “small.” Instead, finishes, textures, and detailing are applied with the same confidence expected in a larger home.
Texture, Tone, and Continuity
Art Deco influences subtly inform the material palette, from darker wood grains to layered neutrals. Restored parquet floors are re-toned to harmonize with walnut cabinetry and stone surfaces, ensuring visual continuity throughout. Texture replaces ornament, and small moments of play prevent the space from feeling overly restrained. The result is an apartment that feels cohesive, elevated, and quietly immersive, proof that good design is less about size and more about clarity.
