WELCOME TO
DE KELDERS PRIVATE VILLA

travellers to the de kelders PRIVATE villa are well looked after | guest rooms have high ceilings, ample light and ventilation and offer complete privacy | the house is a gem for the magazine, movie, book and music fundi | the large and spacious garden is a ten year creation of overberg flora, planted with privacy being the keyword | the salt water pool a welcome escape from the summer heat | the open terrace is secluded and offers the perfect hideaway for reading, drinks and a south african braai | the ocean is 200 steps away | at the beach you can meander on trails and watch the spectacular sunsets over walker bay and talk with the whales [ june - december ] , before you return for dinner | simple courses prepared by your hosts , washed down with local boutique estate wines | and then to the comfort of bed made with egyptian white percale cotton, sleeping with the sounds of the whales to awaken refreshed to the smell of a country breakfast of home baked confectionery, home made jams and preserves , fresh fruit juices and the smell of roasting bacon and brewed coffee

elle decoration autumn 2008
the de kelders private retreat, near gansbaai, has a spirit of quiet kindness, thoughtful generosity and relaxed ease where there is space for both lively conversation and rejuvenating silence

elle decoration winter 2009
designer neil stemmet of koncept design and architecture designed the home to complement the laid-back yet incredibly sophisticated style of this beach home in de kelders

neil stemmet's uncompromising green philosophy makes you sit up and notice . " the idea behind the construction of de kelders private house was to celebrate creativity, both natural and human. so often amazing things in life is overlooked. it's about taking time out from modern life and looking at a tree trunk to remind yourself of the dual functions of beauty and sustainability
conde nast house and garden SA september 2009

objects tell stories and enrich our interiors and our lives. at de kelders PRIVATE villa you will be inspired by the people, places and ideas that make this home a personal memory map of the owners the house and indigenous gardens are custom designed by the owners and have received international acclaim for the sublime interior vignettes and eco-friendly building ethos: natural cross ventilation air flow, large windows that capture heat in winter, a single large hearth to heat the house, solar heated water heats the myriad of pipes under the floors, natural paint pigments were used and where possible the vertebrae of the old house were recycled into the new home

" our favourite time is from autumn to spring, the days are crisper and shorter, you can see the weather moving over walker bay, the sunsets are even more spectacular than in summer, there is a gentle quietness in the area, few people, champagne days filled with soft, glorious sunshine, schools of dolphins cut through the sea that display the colours of mother of pearl, the succulent-aloes cover themselves with vibrant flower cloaks, the whales arrive mid-june and our days are spent reading, walking the cliffs, exploring new bays and flora whilst at supper time enjoying feasts of simple produce of the overberg..."

capturing the spirit of the house

composition | music | quiet | sleep | gentle | timelessness | enriching | self time | art | literature | nature | inspiring | rest | being | simple feasts | pärt | preisner | ando | mies | kundera | matthee | kieslowski | mahler | preserves | slow | battiss | skotness | national geographic | world of interiors | elle decoration | cats | piano | sugar birds | light | breath 

comments from our visitors book

thank you so much for your gracious hospitality, wonderful conversation,
obliging whales and a time of re-connecting. i hope many more people come
here to enjoy and share in the abundance and beauty of your home and this place

theresa | grahams town

thank you for a lovely stay and fantastic hospitality, what a great place [ so well done ]
we will be back ! the champers and the truffles were very thoughtful

toni | london

what a wonderful house you call home! thank you so much for your hospitality !
the breakfast was just delicious , we filled our tummies to the brim with your home made
goodies. we will definitely be back for more relaxing days in your place

marianne | cape town

we found this place just accidently and it made our last 3 days of our vacation just perfect.
there is no better place for whale and gold fish watching . thank you for your hospitality
and all the small things we could enjoy

heilo | germany

david , host of hosts
thank you so much for the music known and unknown, for the most wonderful breakfasts,
the inspirational surroundings, the quiet attention like truffles on the bedside table and
refills of fresh water and the view . we would not have been here if the initial b&b wasn't
fully booked, so....... lucky us!

han | netherlands

a really superb and welcoming stay
superb house , beautifully decorated – comfortable – home from home, but
with service. stunning views . thank you for a wonderful experience

sandy | cape town

thank you for the most awesome stay. it was wonderful to be spoilt in such a pleasant
manner. breakfast was great, and your home has a warm and homely feel.
would love to come back soon

bolus | johannesburg

thank you for treating and spoiling me like royalty at your truly fabulous house
here in de kelders. i had a fantastic time and certainly memorize it as one of the
highlights of my trip in your wonderful country

reto | switzerland