OLD TOWN LIVING
A garden cottage in urban South Africa mixes functional design with timeless touches
The small town of Stellenbosch in South Africa has few purely residential properties in the heart of its oak-lined central historical district, where some buildings are centuries old. But when Peet and Mary-jane (MJ) Hunt discovered their neighbouring property was on the market, it was sold to them with a proviso from the owner of 40 years. ‘She was only willing to sell it to us if we promised not to develop it or resell it to commercial developers. This was fine with us as we also wanted to keep the street strictly residential and because we’re right next door. She was happy about our plan to construct a cottage in the grounds, which we wanted to turn into a place for guests and my family to stay when they visit,’ explains MJ, who met Peet while they were students at the town’s university. ‘We love living here and both have offices nearby, so walking to work is a pleasure and meeting up with friends afterwards is great too. Stellenbosch also welcomes lots of tourists and this makes for a very vibrant, fun atmosphere,’ she says.
While the couple commissioned an architect to design and maximise the space, it was interiors whizz Charlotte Collins who brought the cottage in line with their vision. ‘We wanted it to be a relaxing place for my parents, where they would feel welcome and happy but also slightly spoiled, as if they were on holiday,’ says MJ, who explains that she and Peet gave Charlotte free rein for the decor, although there was a clear understanding between them. ‘We wanted a look that would mix new and old yet remain timeless; we love Charlotte’s style so were confident she’d produce something special and she did – she nailed it,’ she says. With its two bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms, open-plan kitchen and dining area, the cottage is a little like a modern barn, albeit with a mix of stylish details and delightfully modern-retro elements.
Charlotte, a well-known Cape Town-based decorating expert, can spot a treasure from a mile away and many of the pieces she incorporated here have been revived from dusty junk shop finds into treasures that now take pride of place. ‘My parents love ornate antiques and Charlotte
‘We wanted a STYLE that would mix NEW and old, but remain TIMELESS ’
managed to incorporate some while keeping the look fresh and modern,’ says MJ. Other old-yet-new touches include the terrazzo tiles and slabs in the bathrooms, an upholstered bed that re-imagines a classic retro look, and a colour palette that manages to be both country and cool.
It’s clear that Charlotte uses her skills to tell a story wherever she can, especially with found or upcycled furniture and objects. ‘I’m all about mixing old and new, and including salvaged pieces in a home is a must for me in order to add history and layers,’ explains Charlotte. ‘When we were discussing art for the walls, MJ mentioned she had a print of her grandfather and his fellow cowboys on the ranch where her father grew up in the US. We had it scanned and reprinted in black and white and put it on display – it looks fantastic and tells an amazing tale.’
Other playful details, such as collections of old polo mallets and mid-century-modern swivel armchairs, display Charlotte’s delight in tongue-in-cheek nods to the past – it’s a wonderful way to bridge the gap between two generations who clearly get a lot of enjoyment from the same space. ‘What I love is how Charlotte managed to make a relatively small cottage seem spacious and luxurious, but also familiar, comfortable and welcoming and in a style that’s unpredictable but not jarring,’ says
MJ. ‘I think our whole family will continue to be pleased with the outcome for many years to come – it’s absolutely timeless.’
‘I love how our relatively small COTTAGE seems LUXURIOUS’