Ritzy meets rustic in this South African home

Kayla Gulec Kayla Gulec
Residence Naidoo, FRANCOIS MARAIS ARCHITECTS FRANCOIS MARAIS ARCHITECTS Modern living room
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In every project that we here at homify share with you, there are so many different creative interior ideas, brilliant architectural designs, and beyond fantastic grounds. Different professionals demonstrate different stylistic specialties with the hopes of not only creating a house that matches the needs of the residents, but also to make them a home where they can feel truly at ease.

Today, we are taking to you the land of extreme contrasts to bring you a captivating project from the talented professionals at Francois Marias Architects. The home you are about to see replicates South Africa's varied existence and is situated in the capital city, Johannesburg, and if you're a fan of blended styles, you're sure to take a liking to this home. Fashioned with both contemporary and rustic design ideals, this house offers everything from functional to sophisticated living. Once you step inside, you'll never want to leave the amazing comfort you feel behind… we know we sure didn't!

First impressions

They say you only have one opportunity to make a good first impression, and this façade outclasses the competition in that respect. We marvel at the linear beauty as it jumps out at us in perfect dialogue with the natural wood and concrete materials used to create the structure. Earth tones and neutrals on the exterior convey a contemporary and down-to-earth atmosphere both in and outside the home, and those generous windows suggest an incredibly illuminated interior, so why don't we go check that out right now…

The magic begins

As we enter the home, we are greeted with open spaces, subdued colours, top of the line furnishings, and robust accents. Touches of beige, grey, white, and black set the tone for a modern home, but as we will soon discover, that's not the only style present here. Natural and rustic design elements were added to almost each room in order to balance out the somber contemporary features and make the home that much more inviting. 

One of the main features of the home is the abundant use of windows and open entryways to the outdoors, which makes natural light just as much of a design element as the furniture. 

Close up

Just look at this table set! It is the representation of this contemporary-rustic fusion we've been hyping up. High-class, transparent chairs paired with decorative table pieces and modern overhead lights make an interesting statement when used with the wooden rustic elements. 

The living room

This leather sofas are about as rustic as it gets, and when placed in this spacious all-white living room, it really leaves its mark. It adds a sense of the untamed–the wild nature that is quintessentially rustic, and amidst a pure and clean room, the only feelings we get are those of invitation and hospitality. The wall space to our left is made entirely of glass and opens up to a beautiful courtyard in the back of the home that we'll see later. 

Let's take it down a notch

Here in the bedroom, we have a milder atmosphere, and we have to admit, that's for the best. Plush furnishings, a light colour palette, natural wood and stone, and that natural light balance each other in a way that brings you down from the high energy stress of daily life. What's more, there's also a balcony attached to the room that overlooks the backyard. This, along with the rustic features, really bring Mother Nature indoors, contributing to the tranquility.

Oh, did we forget to mention…

Lastly, we bring you to the back of the home, where we find the most interesting twist. As you can see, it practically hits you in the face with its presence. It's that glorious pool! Nothing is classier and more refined than an in-ground swimming pool, and when set with raw wood decking, it complements the rest of the home. This home demonstrates that contrary to popular belief, the natural and the unnatural can coexist in a truly remarkable way.

If this combo style home got you curious about how you can do the same, then you should read up on these 9 creative ways to combine different decor styles!

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