Naomi Campbell, a supermodel and new mother, has broken borders, stormed catwalks, and graced innumerable magazine covers during her incredible 35-year career. She keeps a full schedule, yet she is motivated and enjoys her work.
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Even symbols deserve rest. When it’s time to unplug completely, Campbell retreats to her villa in Malindi, a tranquil beach hamlet in Kenya. For almost 20 years, she has utilized her gorgeous property with a view of the Indian Ocean as her primary escape from the busy pace of her adopted New York City and her native London. An excellent example of indoor-outdoor life.
The big area is furnished with soft earth tones and natural light to evoke informal opulence. She stated, “It’s a very calming place.” Really, you should avoid having phone interactions. Are you certain you aren’t shopping for a television? You simply want to read for relaxation. Both quiet and the sound of crickets are relaxing.
For a quick morning swim, go to the saltwater pool that extends outside from the center of her living room. The model’s entertaining tables, located beneath the twin voile-curtained pergolas, are great for family gatherings.
Campbell was particularly struck by the makuti thatched roof and the massive cathedral ceilings of sun-dried coconut palm leaves. She claims that makuti roofs, which are hand-stitched with a sophisticated layering method, have been a popular building material in East Africa for thousands of years.
We’ve had this one for at least 12 years, and it’s still in good shape, she boasts.The author said, “Things can degrade very quickly here due to the air, wind, and sea salt, yet it has held up so well and is practically a work of art in and of itself.”
The large, brilliant latika lamps from Morocco and Egypt hang from the rafters. Campbell enjoys shopping for furniture all across Africa, but she has had the most success in Marrakech and Cairo.
Campbell does not have to travel far to find high-quality woodwork. “A lot of the wood furniture that we have in the house is made in Malindi,” she said. In reality, the house’s backyard contained a workshop.
