IN PICS | Large trees grow through the heart of this modern Salt Rock home

Ensuring that the interiors felt uncluttered was also important because, Lisa says, the pieces put into the space need to enhance the simple and sculptural qualities of the house, rather than detract from it.

But of course that doesn’t necessarily mean creating a brutally minimalist look. Rather, while finishes here are kept “pared back and subtle, so that the raw materials and construction of the house remains central”, says Lisa, colour is also important to her as a designer — as is “a thoughtfully curated space”.

She relished the “freedom of curating our own space with our favourite things”, and adds that she enjoys “creating depth and surprise by combining unexpected colours, such as mannequin pink and deep orange”.

The family’s lives are busy, with both Lisa and Will at work during the day and the kids coming and going to and from school and other activities.

Fortunately, Lisa says, “the house is our oasis. The island in the kitchen is where we congregate on weekdays — homework for the kids and cooking for us.”

For both Lisa and Will, the loveliest place in their home is their tranquil bedroom. Essentially “a simple box” with an outlook that frames the view of the nearby Indian Ocean, “it’s great for a siesta, and the best view to wake up to”, says Lisa. And the deep grey wall colour is perfectly conducive to rest.

“The place where you start and end your day is so essential to your wellbeing — and this room has proven that to me tenfold,” she adds.

The entire house is generally cool throughout the long summer days and nights, but in spite of this, during the warmer months “the kids spend a lot of time in the pool during the afternoons and evenings, as do we on the weekends”, says Lisa.

Saturdays and Sundays here are usually given over to lazy lunches after mornings spent at the beach — Will is a dedicated surfer.

Form follows function in the best possible way in this home. It combines simple, authentic materials with an architectural design that sensitively responds to its location, as well as Lisa’s laid-back yet sophisticated approach to its inviting interiors. No wonder, then, that she happily declares this house to be “the most uplifting space I have ever lived in”.