Holiday Home

I don’t really have a dream ‘everyday’ house. But I do have a dream holiday home: House Paradys in Langebaan, designed by Gawie and Gwen Fagan (and also their own family holiday home). A few years back, in my very first edition as Editor of House and Leisure (Issue 293: Oct/Nov 2019), I decided to feature this masterpiece of a home. For this story, I got to experience a weekend away with Gwen and Gawie (accompanied by friend and photographer Inge Prins).

This shoot and story was to become a career (and life) highlight, as we got to spend a whole weekend with these two incredible humans, in their iconic space, while we were delicately yet excitedly moving and shooting among them. It was a pinch-me kinda moment. When we were leaving, Gwen pulled me aside and said, ‘My child, you can come back any time. As long as you know we’re joining too!’ We both laughed. She knew I had fallen head over (sandy) heels for the place, and for her.

I’ve always been drawn to homes like theirs: spaces that have a permanent holiday feel about them. In my own way, I’m always gathering things to display in my house that evoke a sense of this spirit: woven sun hats, beach bats, brightly coloured towels and seashells all casually displayed as decor objects. I’m still teased about displaying a beach umbrella in my living room, alongside my stripy deck chairs (outdoor furniture placed indoors is underrated, okay!). It’s my way of injecting a bit of holiday into my everyday life and space. A surfboard might just be the next decor object I place next to my bed, to really make me feel like it’s holiday time.

For this edition, we’ve gathered homes that evoke this sense of permanent holiday spirit, all with their own very distinct aesthetic and style. And, for me, the best part was that we got to return to Paradys to shoot our super-joyful inspiration story (see p 36): a visual feast and ode to summer living. I’m definitely taking some inspo from it – a literal manifesto or recipe for summer.

The ingredients? Delicious, long lunches, lazy naps and plenty of sun, sea and ice cream. A happy holiday indeed.

See you in 2025 for Volume 16.

*We hope you enjoy the second edition of Dog and Leisure (a.k.a. ‘The Dog Paper’), with this issue of House and Leisure. If you’d like another copy (or can’t find yours), reach out to us at hello@houseandleisure.co.za.