Filled with natural light and fresh, lively touches, this home brims with unassuming sensibility. Lovely and feminine, Bette .
THERESA’S HOME TRUTHS I fell in love with my house right away – it had the right position, and the right light, even though it has a block of flats in front of it. But because I come from Johannesburg I don’t think of life as a view! Moving to the farm got me out of Joburg, which I’ll always love. I love the energy, the bigness of it… But country life changed me. I felt like it wasn’t my time there any more. In summer I spend all my time on my veranda. There’s no wind at all. Even in winter I lie there. I’m a bath freak, I could live in my bathroom. My furniture is all collected, from my parents and grandparents, or schlepped with me from Joburg. It’s a bit like me – kind of textured, unboxed. I don’t have a specific style. It’s whatever I think is nice. I love adding to and editing my home while maintaining a constant theme of humour, comfort and tranquillity. My favorite thing is going to second-hand shops, and finding things behind everything… I collect books: I keep buying them; I have millions. And I’m mad about antique linen – proper, thick linen – and lace. I don’t cook at home because I cook all the time. I’m at my restaurant six days a week, and on a Sunday I’ll often just get a takeaway pizza.For guests, I’ll cook something simple like a roast chicken. In my fridge you’ll find anchovies and Parmesan – and organic, lean mince for dogs. I have breakfast at the restaurant as I’m there early – I cook every single thing fresh, every day. The thing with being a chef is that when it comes to your free time, you don’t want to look at a recipe, or go to a restaurant.
Text Leigh Robertson Styling Retha Erichsen Photographs Micky Hoyle on House and Leisure