Blue-sky living: Inside Kim Stephen’s South African home

July 7, 2019

Huge folding glass doors turn interior designer Kim Stephen’s South African home into an extension of her garden. Add a pool, playground and a view of Table Mountain for outdoor life at its spectacular best.

London-based interior designer Kim Stephen, whose accolades include being nominated for the Andrew Martin Interior Designer of the Year Award, splits her time upscaling houses for clients in London and – the setting for her own childhood – South Africa. Her recent projects range from a family home in Cobham, Surrey to a compact apartment in London’s Knightsbridge.

Her Cape Town home, which she shares with her husband Graham, who works in brand licensing, their children Jamie, 13, and Anna, three, plus dogs Buster and Bella, is a masterclass in contrasts. Sophisticated yet playful pieces are mixed with quirky finds and glamorous touches, all set against the majestic backdrop of Table Mountain and punctuated with jewel shades and bursts of pattern.

The house, originally a simple A-frame which took three years to renovate, gave Kim the opportunity to push her creative skills in a new direction. ‘When I’m working in London, I gravitate towards muted tones. This was a chance for me to be creative without having to work to a client brief,’ she says. ‘It allowed me to experiment with colour.’

Instead of being intimidated by the acres of lush greenery and jaw-dropping scenery around her, Kim designed the house to work in harmony with its surroundings. ‘I used nature as an anchor for the bold colours I wanted to incorporate. The citrus shades became grounded when interspersed with the warm woods and lush greenery.’

Kim’s love of contrasts extends to the use of materials: terrazzo flooring is paired with raffia wallpaper in the entrance hall, and weaved furniture sits alongside bold patterned fabrics. ‘I wanted to use materials that complemented each other but that are different enough to create interesting focal points,’ says Kim.

For more information on kim’s designs, visit kimstephen.com