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The lighted-filled white-on- white drawing room marries 1913 old-world charm with contemporary Mid-century- inspired sculptural, functional furniture. From custom crochet lampshades to silkscreen botanical fabrics, a yesteryear map-lined drinks unit and the tree forest cabinet, it all forms part of the “agri-village” heritage. -
Victoria House’s main entrance with restored original stained glass windows. -
The Leccino stoep is named after the olive trees that form the privacy hedge around the property. -
The Jasmin pavilion is built around a century-old wild fig, creating a yoga deck/meditation area, with a reading deck on top. -
Bougainvillea adds vibrancy to the white-on-white courtyard. -
A sunken firepit, surrounded by comfortable weatherproof seating, is great for stargazing and storytelling. -
Galvanised water pipes were installed on the basis of sound, to create a soft, calming ambience with the running water. -
The vine veranda, with a solid-oak Morris-inspired outdoor lounge set. -
Mark Swart sculptures form part of this viewing corridor framed by vines. -
The country pool is surrounded by a spekboom hedge, with a built-in martini seat. -
Above the bay sash window is gable-shaped original moulding detail, while an African mahogany bridge server – part of the Symbols in the City collection, inspired by Jozi – sits below. Retro couches in white Duco were manufactured specifically for this space. The artworks are by Alexandre Vosloo. -
This open-plan kitchen/dining room’s extensive built-in spice rack creates a theatre of flavours. The cloud pendants were designed by owner Adrian Lombard to bring the Karoo skies indoors, and gentlemen’s club carved tub chairs add elegance. -
In the Emerald Room and fire kitchen, a pre-World War I Niendorf piano forms part of the entertainment space. Vintage movie posters are flanked by copper lights that Adrian designed with Land Rover springs, symbolic to him of travelling over the iconic Swartberg Pass. -
The old coal stove and the open fire allow for generous fire-cooking spaces. -
The Pool House studio kitchen incorporates recycled wood panels and cork-like textures for a contemporary cabin feel. Vibrant red Ero’s chairs by Philippe Starck for Kartell bring a playfulness to the space. -
An Essential Curiosity daybed with jazz legends upholstery stands in the piano lounge. The leather and organic velvet bamboo headboard is a focal point, and the laser-cut screen closes to create a private sleeping space. A vintage ball-and-claw chest has been sprayed gloss white and used as a drinks unit. -
Natural light floods into the Garden Suite bathroom. Terracotta pots in a steel frame, lush with greenery, bring the outside in, creating a solid screen that separates the toilet from the open shower, and a Mid-century kiaat server has been repurposed as a vanity unit. -
The Library Suite in the Barn is dedicated to books and an immersive knowledge experience. A striking backdrop of colour-coded floor-to-ceiling books makes it an enchanting and inspiring space. The grey-washed oak architectural server, knitted headboard, oak clothing stand and generous raw wood table were all custom-made for this suite. -
The Conservatory Suite bathroom was inspired by Eastern cleansing rituals – first a shower to rinse off, then a bathtub to soak in. The custom macrame shelf is by Kent & Lane, woven by Mimi Roberts. -
The extension of the open-plan Conservatory Suite is like a little house within the house. Natal mahogany grows lusciously under the opaque roof, creating a conservatory-style retreat. A wooden birdcage forms a great point of interest beneath the trees.
WORDS Lynette Botha PRODUCTION Mark Serra & Samantha Charles PHOTOS Paris Brummer
A tumbledown residence in the heart of Prince Albert has been lovingly and eccentrically reinvented as a boutique guesthouse, creative retreat and South African showroom of sorts.
De Kleine Prince is not easily defined. Situated in the little Karoo town of Prince Albert, it offers both a space to stay and to play; to create and to ponder; to discover and to be amazed – and it’s all set against a showroom backdrop that celebrates South African art, design and decor. Owned by Adrian Lombard, founder and creative director of Essential Earth Global, this reimagined village homestead comprises three separate sections – the Victorian House, the Barn and the Poolhouse – and can be booked out in its entirety or individually, as accommodation or as a creative retreat.
DKP, as Adrian calls it, is a conceptual design space layered with stories. “It is powered by essential curiosity, through curious design, which to me is fundamentally designing spaces to inspire discovery and offer surprises and the unexpected, from a quirky bridge server to an indoor forest,” he says.“ Curious design invites you into spaces you’ve never experienced before – spaces to entertain and celebrate, zones to chill and contemplate, and places that inspire you to be your creative self. This is the ethos and guiding light behind De Kleine Prince.”
A true labour of love, DKP has been taking shape ever since Adrian first chanced upon what was then a forlorn, neglected house while on holiday in Prince Albert in late 2016. “I fell in love with its interesting roof structure and the bones of the property.Something about it spoke to me; I wanted to unlock its potential.”
Adrian, who has decades of experience in designing homes, restaurants and hotels, as well as in furniture design and product development, drew up all of DKP’s architecture himself, working in collaboration with a draughtsman. He and his Essential Curiosity team have spent the last five years slowly and organically bringing the space back to life, incorporating a vibrant colour palette, touch-me textures and an enviable art collection.
“All of the trusted manufacturers, fabricators and suppliers who I have worked with for over two decades have played a part in making De Kleine Prince what it is today,” he says. “More than 250 custom pieces and
installations were created and are featured throughout. I view walls as installation spaces to tell stories. I hate the word ‘decorator’ or ‘interior designer’; I think of my world as a contemporary art installation that I live in, with inspirational, functional spaces and zones with different energy levels.”
Two things that also needed to be considered were the light and the temperature extremes you get in this corner of the Karoo. All that pollution-free country air and harsh sunlight can result in unrelenting brightness, and it’s not uncommon for the looming Swartberg mountains to be dusted in snow, with the legendary Swartberg Pass channelling a blast of icy-cold air onto the town. With this in mind, each indoor space was intentionally designed with a generous outside covered area, creating a seamless transition from internal white and green spaces, scaling it up as you move outside.
Being conscious of light was especially important at night, to maximise the spectacular stargazing experience that is the Karoo night sky. Looking up at the majestic vista of the Milky Way is nothing short of breathtaking – you quite literally have a window to the universe. Inspired by the iconic Erlenmeyer chemistry flask, the custom white ceramic throughout lights are designed to emit only a soft glow towards the ground. Light pollution is limited, and you can clearly see the stars while moving through the property.
Given all that the space offers, Adrian finds it difficult to pinpoint his favourite part of De Kleine Prince. “During the day, I love the open loft Poolhouse with its music room, massive flowing veranda, spekboom-hedged pool and the outside mountain bar,” he says. “At night, however, it would have to be the Emerald Room fire kitchen, which is at the heart of the Victorian House, and feels like your own private, sophisticated restaurant and cocktail lounge. But I really do love every part of DKP. I don’t feel like I chose this house – I feel like the house chose me. A stroke of serendipity.”
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