All posts tagged: Cape Town

Love of colours

Published by

I arrive at Carin’s home straight from Asia. Stepping through the front door into a room full of vivid colours, bold patterns, face masks and artefacts, I immediately feel that I’m in Africa. Her home is a small Victorian townhouse in Green Point. The house has a discreet grey façade, but isvibrant with colours inside. A living room on the ground floor opens up all the way to the rafters, with a kitchen to one side. Two bedrooms, a bathroom and an enclosed courtyard swathed in greenery are also on this floor. Tucked away under the eaves is her bedroom that also has a small workspace and a second bathroom. Carin is a freelancer, often working from home with photo and copyright research for publishers. Her background as a textile designer shows up in the strong colours and prominent patterns found in her home. She is also educated in art and painting and plans to return to it one day. The paints and brushes are ready and waiting. But it’s in interior decoration where she …

An Accommodating Home

Published by

“I’m passionate about my family,” Doreen tells me. “We are very lucky in that we really like each other and have something to say to one another. Every single member of the family has something to offer in the creative field. It may be different but it’s always interesting”. Doreen and her family live in an old, historic house, a former rectory in a leafy, quiet part of Gardens. That is, she shares it with Meyer her huband, their youngest daughter Olivia, who is still at university, and Jinja the dog. Their son Uno lives in Johannesburg, and another daughter, Jade, has recently moved out, but still lives in Cape Town. There is no doubt that this is a very tight-knit family, and a very creative and talented family too. It’s a beautiful, large house standing in a lush garden, with the majestic Table Mountain as a stunning backdrop. From the front door, a long, narrow corridor runs down the middle, with many rooms leading off it. A vast kitchen, a dining room, a couple …

Cape Town VII –Cool & colourful Bo Kaap

Published by

My final week I moved to Bo Kaap that has it’s own flavour and feel. It’s known for it’s brightly coloured houses situated at the foot of Signal Hill. Many of the residents are descendants of slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia and other African country that were imported to the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch during the 16th and 17th centuries. The slaves were known as Cape Malays, and Bo Kaap is known as The Cape Malay Quarter. It’s the home of the Cape’s Muslim community and have several mosques here. First I stayed with fashion designer Olivia with her own brand Lalesso and her husband Wesley, a confirmed surfer, production manager for photo shoots and film production, and now co-owner of the new barista company Frothing. They have a lovely house in Bo Kaap and I spent a coupe of days in their home, with them and their Rhodesian Ridgeback Chesa. Olivia is from Kenya and Wes is from Cape Town. Here is Wes with his barista truck stationed at the corner of Buitensingle and …

Cape Town VI –Organic food heaven

Published by

I absolutely love the local farmers markets that they have here! Especially this one in Granger Bay. They have a large area packed with lovely organic products of all kinds every Saturday. There are also stalls here with delicious food and with freshly pressed juices to enjoy while you are here. Tons of vegetables of every kind. Straw on the floor. Inspiration! Eggs from happy hens. Organic produce of different kinds. Beautiful flowers. And really nice and friendly feel to the place. I wish I could spend every Saturday here! Copyright and photo: Anita Martinez Beijer

Cape Town V –Design & delight in Gardens

Published by

I moved to Gardens next, to the wonderful family home of Doreen and Meyer. I loved staying here! Doreen is fantastic and interesting woman. She has worked as an editor and stylist at Elle Decoration amongst other interesting jobs, and now she now runs her hospitality business InAweStays.  Their house is the old vicarage that belonged to the next-door church and it’s absolutely beautiful. As are all the charming and tasteful cottages that are on the premises, all done up with Doreen’s skilful eye for design. I loved my new home, an L-shaped loft with magnificent views through the glassed facade towards the Table Mountain. It was not only the stylish design. Or the beautiful setting of this home. The attention to detail here was amazing. A blackboard with a welcoming message. Handmade toiletries on the bathroom shelves in InAweStays own brand. Masses of thick and fluffy towels changed on a daily basis. Wonderful treats in the shape of trays with all kinds of delicious nibbles and goodies, appeared like magic when I needed them the …

Cape Town III –Quirky & trendy Observatory

Published by

I moved to Observatory for the next couple of weeks. Named so because the South African Astronomical Observatory is here. Known as Obs to the folks here. Also known as a student neighbourhood because of the proximity to the University of Cape Town.  During the years of apartheid this was one of the few ”grey” suburbs where all races lived together. It still is a very multicultural area today, with a lively, quirky and bohemian feel to it. Though I can’t say I felt totally at ease when walking home at night here. Crime is a problem. Still there is an Observatory Neighbourhood Watch close by and they are working on making it a more safe area. Saying that nobody walks in general in Cape Town. Everyone takes their cars or Uber. Never taken so many Uber rides in my life as here. And due to that I had one of the most interesting conversations with a taxi driver ever! Who in the thirty minutes or so that it took to drive me to the airport …

Cape Town II – Green Point & other stories

Published by

My first home was with Carin in Green Point. When I arrived from a hectic month in Asia, I had tons of photos I needed to take care of and blog posts to write. But none of that for Carin. – Come on, you have to see this…let’s go… And off we went. She went over and beyond to show me amazing places that I would never have found myself. So my first thanks is to you Carin. Thank you for showing me both hidden and not so hidden gems. And also for showing me some great contemporary African design. And of course for your lovely company! Carin’s home is itself wildly and wonderfully creative. It’s a veritable cascade of colours and made me feel that yes, I’m in Africa now. A small Victorian house, it has been opened up and felt spacious with it’s high ceiling, loft and large glass doors leading out to a very private courtyard, where the sound of water pouring in a small wall fountain was relaxing to listen to. …

Travel itinerary

Published by

The route for my trip around the world is set. I’m finalising the finer details now but it is going to  be as showed on the travel information board. I begin my world tour in Shanghai and will come back to Copenhagen approximately eight months later. Looking forward to sharing more details with you soon!               <a href=”http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13623373/?claim=up2uutwhfem”>Följ min blogg med Bloglovin</a>