A celebration of Mala Mala’s rich heritage through a contemporary revisioning of the romantic colonial era – mixing animal print, bold graphics and tribal patterns, and local objets d’arts with a nod to traditional luxury
The refurbishment of Mala Mala Sable and Mala Mala Buffalo Camps were a dream project to work on for Michele and her team. An existing client, who the team had worked with on various projects over the past decade, bought the establishment, which was steeped in provenance but needed a 21st century makeover.
The overall brief was that the 40 year-old camp had to retain its homely and casual family feel but needed new life breathed into it, with regards to aesthetics and modern amenities. Most importantly it had to retain its rustic charm, ease of elegance and prominent connection to the bush.
This camp is a more family-orientated one where parents, teenagers and small kids are all catered for. In terms of furnishings, the team utilized what was already there and gave the pieces an update, like the riempie benches throughout as well as the cane furniture, all of which got a fresh lick of paint.
Michele and her team’s neutral palette, laden with texture and interesting combinations of materials and accessories, perfectly complimented the home’s bountiful structure and use of space. The pine wall panelling, typical of an Alpine ski resort, which creates warmth and depth throughout, contains the volume of the pitched roof. The taupe and red-brown stone tiled floors were cut from stone found on the farm, which frames up the mostly neutral palette of furnishings and rugs. One of the sitting areas has a blood red colour theme and is where all the grandchildren hang out, while the grand and voluminous dining area has hundreds of tiny LED lights dotted throughout the pine-panelled ceiling that when switched on looks remarkably like the Karoo night-sky.
The second biggest challenge was that all work had to be done in as unobtrusive way as possible because guests were still present during the 2-year fit out. The team had to be very strategic with this, namely all drilling and chisel work had to be done during the early morning and evening game drives and when guests returned to camp was when painting and laying of tiles happened so as not to disturb the peace.
The second biggest challenge was that all work had to be done in as unobtrusive way as possible because guests were still present during the 2-year fit out. The team had to be very strategic with this, namely all drilling and chisel work had to be done during the early morning and evening game drives and when guests returned to camp was when painting and laying of tiles happened so as not to disturb the peace.
