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 villa 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
being an inspiration is timeless ... we have enjoyed our stay with you tremendously and will
cherish the memory for the rest of our lives.
piet | amsterdam
we passed by due to pure coincidence — like many of the best occasions in my life — they were
always completely out of my hands — things just happen. the book is full of praise and applause
about the way you live and where you live — everything surrounding yourselves radiate this message
anthony | copenhagen
you are very special people, this is a very special house with special cats and many special things.
we spend a very special 8 nights with you. the dinners were excellent as was your hospitality and
all of us felt very much at home
uta | köln
an oasis conceived by a visionary firmly rooted in earth, thank you i feel revived and inspired
sonja | cape town
i loved the house. the cats were very cute. i like to stay here. we liked the sharks too and we
liked the cake — it was delicious. you were very very very nice and you have a lot of cool things
marius | paris
once or twice in a lifetime all your senses are totally satisfied and we call it bliss !— this is it
thank you a wonderful time — it certainly will not be the last
clifford | zürich
thanks a lot for staying at this wonderful and relaxing place ! never seen such an individual and
amazing place. i will never forget it and hope, coming back
uschi | hamburg
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
toni | london
what a wonderful house you call home! thank you so much for your hospitality !
the breakfasts and dinners were 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 accidentally 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 and dinners
the inspirational surroundings, the quiet attention like truffles on the bedside table and
refills of fresh water and the view
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
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
