A french affair
Catheryne Gaeyla has created a peaceful, French-inspired paradise in Hyde Park for family, friends and clients
You’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d suddenly been magically transported into the pretty heart of Provence once ensconced inside Catheryne Gaeyla’s Hyde Park home.
Born in Madagascar when it was a French colony, Catheryne has lived in South Africa for 30 years. “My origins are French but my heart is in South Africa,” she says. Yet, both in France and here, she feels she’s considered a foreigner and so describes herself as “a citizen of the world”. It’s no surprise, then, that her home, although predominantly French in terms of decor style, is also multicultural, revealing its worldly secrets on closer inspection.
Catheryne renovated most of the house before moving in 10 years ago and since then has conjured a tempting fashion paradise within its walls. Starting from one room, the shop has now invaded two floors, which are filled with select designers. She caters for a clientele wanting imported, impeccably stylish fashion. “It’s about the entire experience,” she says. “We offer an escape – an Eden with French tea, Italian coffee, delicious sweets and pampering.”
The office is filled with gifts from friends, family photographs and special souvenirs collected on global travels. Surveying the room like some kind of otherworldly creature is a beautiful lamp from Paris. Clipped to its “wings” are papers on which are written inspiring words of wisdom in French, such as “Truth is found between the lines,” and various postcards, including one depicting the Hindu god Ganesha.
Madagascan handmade silk pictures line the walls and an alabaster antique vessel from Egypt, a gift from Catheryne’s daughter, sits regally on the shelf. Guarding the stairs are the Asian three wise men, also a gift. “I’m sentimental,” says Catheryne. “I have the most tremendous friendships. The bonds are forever. I need to be surrounded with people I love.”
In Catheryne’s bedroom, pops of colour punctuate the neutral palette. Massive Tibetan prayer beads rest on the day bed and tomes on yoga practice, as well as books such as I Am That on spiritual philosophy beckon. The fluffy carpet provides a perfect resting spot for a painted ceramic turtle, which was a birthday gift. The bathroom, a serene enclave, is where you can spot two birds (with wool hats!) from Austria nesting next to the bath.
In the dining room, a cabinet made of wooden boxes by Catheryne’s friend, Sabine Thomas, pays homage to South African and French wine farms. A tray filled with salts from around the world is a special touch. “I especially love the sophisticated purple Persian salt, which you grate over your food,” says Catheryne.
The massive “Patisserie” sign was found in an antiques shop in Provence and the elegant curved chairs are also French antiques (from Paris, this time). “In a few months, it may all change,” says Catheryne, and her visitors can expect anything from French to Zen to baroque. “It’s all in a state of constant transformation. Never stagnate,” she says.
On the veranda, framed posters from the south of France grace the walls – one of them featuring a bullfighter. Rain-rusted metal animals, rescued from the rubble when she moved in, perch in flowerpots and a neat, structured vegetable and herb garden provide fresh ingredients for Catheryne’s cooking.
In her country kitchen, all festivals are celebrated, including Diwali, Pesach and Christmas. The kitchen wall above the fireplace is the canvas for a collection of French clocks. Says Catheryne: “The wealth of today is time.”
And where does this world traveller plan to visit next? “Bhutan in the Himalayas. There, the currency is not gold or oil, it’s happiness.” One has the distinct feeling that this, above all, is what Catheryne treasures most.