It feels both urban and country at the same time. What’s more, its distinctive lilac facade gives way to a cleverly restored interior that was previously a rabbit warren of rooms and part of the original hotel, De Waterkant Lodge.
‘I had zero intention of buying a house in Cape Town,’ mused the owner, ‘but I’ve been coming to De Waterkant for 15 years and was always largely anchored here. So, when a third lockdown loomed in the UK, I jumped on a plane and rented the house opposite. And then one day, the sign went up… and the rest was history! I think people want “pop” not “greige” today so when I discovered – at a lunch with the owners of the Ebony Gallery in Franschhoek – that Dom had worked with a great friend on my favourite house in Constantia, it made for an easy decision.’
The kitchen, now opened up to the Moroccan-style inner courtyard, was to be traditional racing green to contrast with striking black and white floors. ‘I consulted Jaguar’s historian for the exact paint code, while the deep reds of a striking work called Philadelphia by South African photographer Kevin Mackintosh, from Deepest Darkest Gallery down the road, and six graphic Matt Smith prints based on pieces from Oxford’s Pitt-Rivers Museum, that literally “pop” against the living room’s Georgian Blue. Art is my passion. My job involves cultural diplomacy, so I wanted the works in this house to be relevant to the narrative of my peripatetic lifestyle between London, the Middle East and Cape Town,’ explains the owner.
Inner-city sanctuary
Today three en-suite bedrooms each have privacy, two of them leading into the courtyard with its ancient vine providing dappled shade in summer. Each bedroom has its own colourway, the catalyst being the hint of North Africa in the patterned bathroom tiles and a hint of Indian paisley, Ikat and ticking, all of which go beautifully with soft ochres, madder reds, coral pinks and the palest aqua.
But the heart of Vine House is undoubtedly its charming vine-covered courtyard with its remarkable handpainted mosaic on the wall above a generous Cape-Dutch style bench.
Commissioned from a local artist, Sarah-Jane Jordaan, it tells the story of the owner’s life and travels. Settle back in the oversized wicker armchairs, possibly the most peaceful spaces to retreat to in this sensitively restored heritage gem, and let the charm of this inner-city sanctuary wash over you. It is indeed a real find.
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon
Updated and optimised by Michelle Snaddon