A cosy cottage surrounded by nature in Scarborough

This little cottage with its awesome ocean and mountain views makes for an idyllic getaway.

Once a bustling crèche, the exterior walls of this little wooden cottage were painted a bright green,

the interior finishes were far from luxurious and the front garden was nothing but a big, flat patch of lawn. That is until it was put up for sale in 2013 and Megan de Beyer leapt at the opportunity to turn the tiny space nestled in the Scarborough mountainside into a heavenly getaway.

“The house boasts expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as Cape Point Nature Reserve,” says Megan, a psychologist and facilitator of workshops for mothers of sons. She often retreats to the cottage to spend quality time reconnecting with her own boys, James and Jonathan Bailes – both adults who have moved out of home.

“The first thing we do after waking up is throw open the doors, then it’s time for breakfast on the stoep followed by a brisk walk up the mountain, a cycle to the nearby nature reserve or a walk down to the beach which is just five minutes away,” says Megan. “In between, our days are spent reading or gardening. It’s rejuvenating, especially since our home is surrounded by nature which provides the perfect place for us to catch up and just be together.” >>

Cosy and cool

Megan grew up in Durban and says being accustomed to the sea air, ocean views and a “veranda lifestyle” is the reason she was keen on a coastal holiday home.

One of the first things she did was replace windows with glass stacking doors at the front and back of the home to maximise on light and views of the surrounding landscape.

The impressive setting then served as inspiration for the décor. Megan previously had a beachfront holiday home in KZN and kept many of her most prized possessions, including an old Cécile & Boyd couch, inherited crockery and gorgeous throws. But this time round, she also incorporated touches of green, tan, grey and blue to reflect her tranquil surroundings.

Even the textures in her home are nature-inspired. “I love things that are interesting to touch,” Megan says. “I love rich cotton, wool and, of course, anything woven – I guess that explains why my space is filled with so many second-hand pieces, which are generally much richer in character than new purchases.” >>

The pathway made from local mountain stone meanders through a richly textured and hardy fynbos garden to the front door.

A comfortable old Cécile & Boyd sofa, Nguni rug, natural textures and pops of blues and greens create a relaxed, beach-style living area. Pendant lights and ottoman from Abode; rug from Woodheads

A strict budget prevented Megan from getting the wooden floors she wanted. She also considered coir carpets. “I decided on painted white concrete floors as they offer the next best Zen look; they’re also easy to clean and wet feet don’t pose a problem!” she explains. Stove from Tafelberg Furnishers, island from Froggatt & Frost

A sugar gum deck alongside the house serves as an outdoor entertainment area. Megan recently added a large stone fire pit next to it. “We love to light a fire and relax on this side of the house as it’s always sheltered from the wind,” she says.

The kitchen (below) opens up onto the deck, which is a favourite spot for al fresco lunches. The curtain rod is a simple latte pole picked up from the side of the road in Kommetjie, and Megan found the weathered curtains, previously used as a tablecloth, on a trip to Mozambique.