Fresh ideas for using colour in your home

Feel at home

Creating an inviting atmosphere in his guest accommodation is a priority for Jan Sauer Lambrecht.

He finds that the uniform dark blue palette in this cottage in Richmond in the Northern Cape Karoo creates a cosy feel in winter and a cool atmosphere in summer.

Jan Sauer adores the Karoo landscape; in the main bedroom he has hung a print of a photo he took on his family's farm in the De Aar area.

"There aren't any big windows with a view here," he says."Now, visitors can enjoy an expansive landscape from the bed."

Trophies, like those on the side table, can be seen throughout his cottages. They add interest and serve as receptacles for flowers, thorn tree twigs and even sweets.

One for the books

The four nagmaalhuisies (communion cottages) that have stood side by side in Richmond since the late 19th century have long captured Jan Sauer's imagination.

"They were the town's book houses and I bought them, one by one, over three years," says this guest accommodation entrepreneur.

The book houses and annual book festival, which were internationally renowned, were a wonderful economic injection for this small town next to the N1. This bookcase in the first cottage that Jan Sauer renovated serves as a tribute to this history; he designed it himself.

"The taxidermy parrot introduces an eclectic element and inspired the d cor colour scheme," he adds. The bathroom is just visible to the left of the bookshelf.

A playful twist

In the dining area the dark drama of the uniform blue palette is interrupted. This focal wall is the only light wall and the graphic motif contrasts beautifully with the dark blue.

"Since the Victorian cottage is so stately on the outside, I could take a few risks with more playful d cor on the inside," says Jan Sauer.

He painted the chairs in a brighter blue than the walls, which makes them stand out while also contributing to the colour-drenching technique used in the space.

All fired up

The bathroom is the only room with Victorian finishes.

"But I didn't want to make it overly Victorian," says Jan Sauer, referring to the black and white tiles which connect visually to the wallpaper in the dining area and also offer relief from the intense blue palette.

The large fireplace is a telltale sign that this room was likely the original kitchen. Overnight guests can shower next to a crackling fire when the temperature plummets here in the Karoo.

What a treat!