Apartment Tour: Cape Town Penthouse Blends New York Chic with Coastal Warmth
At the foot of Cape Town’s iconic Lion’s Head, this high-rise penthouse combines sophisticated New York sensibilities with the welcoming bustle of the Atlantic Seaboard’s coastal living.
Inspired by the home’s panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean — thanks to beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows and strategic furniture placement — natural light becomes a rich hallmark of the space. Brimming with locally-produced bespoke furniture and the owner’s personal collection of African art, a sense of local heritage is paired with modern sensibilities, setting the interior of this four-bedroom penthouse apart from that of other properties in the area. Art plays a pivotal role in not only adorning the space, but also punctuating the flow of the home. When exiting the private lift, the entrance hall features Afro-futuristic artworks by Kenyan artist Cyrus Kabiru and spherical pendant lights by Lee Broom.
‘I wanted to create a very sophisticated colour palette throughout the penthouse,’ says Cape Town interior designer Simone Hirsch, of Simone Katherine Interiors. ‘I used lots of neutral tones, like black, white, grey and beige, which I accented with bold colours so the art could really sing.’
Materiality plays a crucial role in the home, allowing light to not only permeate the space, but to sparkle, glow and reflect off surfaces. Consider the pair of bespoke perspex coffee tables in the living room and corresponding stools in the bar area, paired with chrome finishes that create a beautiful radiance during sunset and sunrise, as well as throughout the day.
The homeowners also wanted a beautiful, luxe apartment inspired by their regular travels to New York City, in which they could entertain their friends. Upon an impressive Gregor Jenkins dining table (whose works have become one of South Africa’s most sought after exports), sit two one-metre tall vintage pharmacy vases adorned with crystal tops as sculptural centrepieces.
Other organic materials like shells, raffia and linen are nods to African design aesthetics — as understanding the place, both culturally and architecturally, is essential. To incorporate African design into an ultra modern kitchen, a woven Zimmer + Rohde curtain is paired with a handcrafted tasselled tie-back, created by a local craftsman.
Perched in the space between living and dining, sits a ficus Benjamina in a self watering pot housed within woven covering created by the Cape Town Society for the Blind, notes Simone. ‘Herringbone flooring with beautiful brass detail and the owner’s wonderful accessories are paired with luxurious fabric like houndstooth, almost like men’s suiting fabric,’ she explains.
In the vibrant red Formula-one inspired lounge, which sits adjacent to the sixteen-car garage, Herringbone textiles can also be found in the seating’s fabrication. The garage is fit for this collector of cars and memorabilia, including a vintage Mobilgas pump and an infamous photograph of actor Roger Moore.
Modern retreats don’t have to be stiff. There is room for humour among the sophistication that complements the breathtaking surroundings too. Seeking inspiration? This penthouse will have you looking up.
Text by Kimberly Schoeman
Photography by Elsa Young