Cape Town Heritage House: Villa Rose

WORDS Michaela Stehr PHOTOS Supplied/Shelley Cozijn

A passionate couple combined their love of warm and welcoming interiors and heritage Victorian houses to transform a house in Gardens, Cape Town, into a home they can share with guests.

“We hadn’t actually decided on what house to buy, it all happened very quickly just weeks after having met for the first time- falling in love with each other and Cape Town,” explains owner Markus Bolinder. They both knew they loved Cape Town, especially the centrality of Gardens and the old cape-dutch houses with a lot of history and charm.

“Once we saw the ad of Villa Rose, it ticked every box for us so it was almost as if the decision made itself,” he elaborates. “To be able to have a house with a garden so central where so many great experiences are close by is rare. The calmness and security of the suburb, with the vibe of the city a stone’s throw away, was a unique and perfect mix for two young Europeans such as ourselves.”

The couple wanted to maintain and cherish the house’s heritage foundation while adding contemporary colours, furniture and artwork. “We don’t really have one style – instead we tend to go for interiors that we love and believe will suit the house,” he continues. Sometimes that can be something antique, other times it can be something highly modern. “We are firm believers in the power of details and didn’t want to leave much to coincidence. We want to think of living space just like one’s mind, it’s a bit too complex to be narrowed down into one simple style.” In their case, it ends up being a mix of new and old – abstract and minimalistic – European and African. Markus thinks it’s exactly this mix that gives the house character and soul, without becoming too abstract. “Going too crazy on colours and art takes away from the stillness which we believe is a key component to any home,” Markus continues.

Being from France and Sweden, the duo wanted to mix in some European influences while maintaining the South African feel. It’s this mix that we believe makes Villa Rose such a special place. With their own custom-made furniture company – bomo interiors, the team filled the home with their custom-made contemporary pieces that they produce themselves here in Cape Town.

The house was built more than 100 years ago and what seems to be pretty symbolic about the architecture during that time was the use of a front patio. Not only does the patio blend the inside and the outside, but it also helps create a very pleasant level change where you can sit and look down into the garden. Fifteen years ago, the previous owners extended the house with a third bedroom and a new kitchen and laundry area in the back of the house. The central living room with its high ceilings and fireplace is the perfect gathering spot during winter time which is part of what makes the house a great place to stay all year round.

“To create an authentic, loving living space you need to find items and objects that were created with love, and those take time to find,” says Markus. “Hence, we chose not to rush but to take our time finding the right piece for each space. When you maintain patience and an open mind, the right pieces somehow find you. The challenge is to actually stay patient and not buy average stuff just to fill the space up.”

Among these prized pieces include artworks by local artists such as Walter Battiss, St John Fuller, Cecil Skotnes, Louis Nel, Obie Oberholzer and Hannes Harrs.

Villa Rose is the perfect spot to unwind, explore Cape Town and relax in an unpretentious and curated setting.

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