Inspired by a villa in Montpellier, France, this Mediterranean-style home set on a working olive farm near Franschhoek in the heart of the Cape Winelands has long been the envy of everyone who admired the work of legendary landscape architect, Ann Sutton. Between Ann and a well-known artist and original owner, a magical oasis was created on Upper Waterfall Farm, backing onto the dramatic slopes of the Drakenstein Mountain Range.Â
Montpellier’s timeless aesthetic echoes that of French or Italian-style manor houses built in hand-hewn stone with classic shutters. Naturally aged walls successfully blend into the mountainside, bringing carefully curated views into focus – both from the terraced garden and the unusual windows of the house itself. From every angle, including the pool, dramatic views of the rugged cliffs open up, while quaint walkways lead to little nooks and secret gardens. The mix of indigenous grasses, succulents, aloes and natural fynbos that contrast so effortlessly with French-style topiary and cypress trees, never ceases to inspire visitors to Open Gardens each year. The front garden, recently ‘softened’ a little by landscape designer Leon Kluge, is gentler as it’s framed by hedges and walkways but a pathway beyond the mature fever trees ascends steeply via a stone staircase to a rocky outcrop and enormous overhang ‘cave’. This is a spectacular look-out, particularly at sunset, with expansive views.
Inside, the newly renovated kitchen and breakfast room is the heart of the house. In keeping with a farm-style kitchen, the green tiles are artisanal and floors set with klompie bricks. Living areas feature generous French Country hearths and high-ceilings with beams on shuttered concrete, but the patio remains a key focus, with a thumbnail-shaped arch framing a magnificent view – a unique part of the house. The bedrooms, with their four-poster beds, are heavenly retreats. Each one provides an added opportunity for styled furniture or linen shoots with softened light, especially when the cicadas begin to buzz in the sizzling heat of midsummer.Â
What we love!
- The aged patina of this home that’s matured with time – there are beautiful terracotta and clay-coloured walls, perfect backdrops for furniture shoots.
- Location: it is right on the mountain and the rocky outcrop above the house is ideal for shoots requiring mountain scenery. There’s ample space for camera crew here, and the unusual rock formations, overhang and spectacular sunset views make this a convenient location to work in despite the fact that it looks remote.
- That this is a working olive farm with photogenic orchards, where olive harvesting is by hand in late April or early May.
- Rugged terrain: it doesn’t feel like manicured Franschhoek up in these mountains.
- That there are so many hidden delights and nooks in this beautifully designed garden, a testament to Ann Sutton, whose work here has been published frequently. Ann was hearing impaired, and later walked with a prothesis, but many believe it was her deafness that ‘added to the sensate details of her extraordinary designs’. It took 18 months of dedication to build this garden.
- More recently, Leon Kluge (award-winning designer from the 2024 Chelsea Flower Show) worked on the front garden of the house with the aim of softening it.Â
What you need to know…
- There is a car park for 8-ton trucks below the house plus parking for 10 smaller cars can go up the driveway.
- Furniture and artwork are movable but no painting of walls is permitted.
- There is a cottage on the property called Montpellier Mountain Cottage, which is also available for shoots.
- It’s a 45-minute walk to a seasonal waterfall (at its best just after the rain has started in April/May) but the stream has smaller ponds all year round.
- There are only four houses in this nature reserve bordering the Drakenstein Mountain Range so it’s very private.
- It’s 30 minutes from the N1 highway and a 12-minute drive on tar from Bridge House School (R45), and then a short driveway in gravel.
- For more details on Montpellier, contact our dedicated shoot locations team at Perfect Hideaways or browse here for more locations to suit your brief.
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon