#2 Cool, calm and collected

A blue-and-green colour scheme works beautifully in the Cape Winelands – the green is reminiscent of the lustrous vines and blue reflects the vast bright skies. According to Chris Willemse and

Dané Erwee, two of the co-owners of Johannesdal 1207 near Pniel outside Stellenbosch, this palette creates a calm and serene setting, without having to overthink it.

“It’s quite an obvious palette, but we find it harmonious and enjoy working with these soothing colours,” says Dané.

In all the rooms in the venue, the primary focus is on functionality. The décor is minimal with just one or two pieces of art and a variety of velvet and linen textures as accents.

It works because…

PAINTED BED Instead of typical white, the vintage cane bed was spray-painted in a darker gunmetal colour. The bed is positioned in the middle of the room, so the dark colour grounds the space and creates an interesting focal point.

DOORWAY The narrow door behind the bed was made taller during the renovation; it leads to a charming little terraced courtyard, creating a romantic and intriguing setting. Aluminium security shutters add a modern element.

FLOATING SHELVES are ideal in a bedroom as they provide extra storage space. A railing fitted under the uppermost shelf serves as hanging space. >>

After the standard ceiling boards had been removed, the owners fell in love with the look of the exposed beams and simply painted them white to match the walls. Laminated oak flooring from Oggie Flooring; flowers by Okasie The curtains were dip-dyed in green and blue to create an interesting ombre effect.

The en-suite bathroom is a new addition to the original building and boasts a transparent roof with a screen of wooden slats to allow ample natural light into the space. The shower opens onto the stoep.

Second-hand lamps from France were rewired and suspended from the ceiling.