Grand and with good bones. It might well be a passing reference to a duchess of some standing in society of the 1920s. But it is embodied in one’s first sight of the antique rose coloured exterior of Hope House with its glorious architectural proportions and what seem countless visual aspects from its setting high on the slopes of Oranjezicht. Secluded garden areas open up to a sky view of Table Mountain and a distant city roofscape that becomes a carpet of lights by night. It is a perfect city escape yet only minutes from the best of Cape Town from restaurants to galleries and the harbour beyond. The house has three distinct levels; the lower floor is an entirely separate wing with two bedroom suites, private entrance, living and dining areas and a wine cellar; the ground floor living area is perfectly proportioned with both formal and informal dining areas. Off the main living area, an entertainment room has wide, comfortable settees to sprawl on and shrug off the day. On the upper level four bedrooms vie for the best views of city and mountain. These bedrooms all have their own distinct charm: one has a balcony with cafe chairs and table for a secluded breakfast; another a suntrap of a veranda.

Outside there’s a Jacuzzi with a mountain view and a sheltered swimming pool a few steps from a glass-fronted conservatory with a gym and steam room. The house is a masterful arrangement of symmetry and ample space infused with light, while the colours have been chosen to create calm; soft greys, warm wood, oatmeal linen, and a soothing repetition of an elusive blue somewhere between duck-egg and teal.

Furniture is an eclectic mix of 20th century antiques, modern classics and contemporary pieces, with a European/Scandinavian feel. Leather, linen, amber-toned wood, cool grey marble and brushed steel are drawn together to create wonderful asymmetrical focal points. Every room features original works by South African and international artists and contemporary photographers. What gives Hope House its design foundation are the original oak floors, artfully matched with new oak laid in a chevron design with several contemporary rugs that define living areas within the spacious rooms. These spaces gently suggest what you might do there… talk, entertain, dine, read, and perhaps enjoy the Danish concept of hygge – simple, small, pleasurable moments.

Images: Alain Proust