The luxury of simplicity: Grecian style in Kommetjie
Cocooned into the Klein Slangkop dunes in the relaxed seaside village of Kommetjie, and with magnificent views across the pristine beach towards Noordhoek and Chapman’s Peak, Farniente ticks all the boxes.
If I was asked to describe my ideal man, I’d resort to the shamefully banal narrative of honest, open, kind, romantic and built like a hunky Scottish outlander. If I was asked to describe my ideal home, the same depiction would apply. The walls will tell an honest story. The space shall be vast and open. The build will be kind to the environment it inhabits. There shall be light and views redolent of romance. And it will be strong enough to protect and shelter my clan.
As it is, when you find yourself in the company of that ideal person for the very first time, and your heart skips that proverbial beat and your knees do that shaky dance, so it did when I arrived at Farniente, in Kommetjie on the eastern shores of Cape Town’s Southern Peninsula.
Perched on the Klein Slangkop dunes, alongside the notoriously dreamy long beach, this meticulously combed thatched cottage, opens its heart and seduces your soul with sincerity.
The conversation begins in the pebbled courtyard, at an enclosed stone seating area, around an old wooden table, beneath the calming branches of an olive tree. From there, it drifts off under the vines, up the bougainvillea, into the three en suite bedrooms. As much as this tranquil space offers enough eye candy, intrigue takes you up some stairs, through the Zanzibar driftwood doors, and into the party. Where to next, you ask yourself. Do I hang out in the kitchen that opens itself out towards the long, chunky dining table sitting centre-stage? Or do I slide on over to the cozy living area beside the blazing fire, where the games are going on, the music is playing and the books are looking good. Or perhaps I climb the white stone stairs to the quiet, little nook that leads out onto a balcony overlooking the ocean. It’s ok, I tell myself, I have time for all of it. There’s no urgency here, only serenity. For now, I’ll saunter across the sun-heated floors, beneath the poplar beams, towards the French doors, out onto the verandah and stand still for a moment. Just me, and that view.
A curated masterpiece
Everything about this hideaway whispers, wow. The owners, both with a background in fashion retailing and all things creative, have collected pieces of furniture, fabric, souvenirs and stuff from wherever their travels have taken them, and curated a masterpiece of a beach house. It’s their postcard, with their stamp, sent to you from Indonesia, Europe, all around Africa and beyond. Neutral, earthy colours, open driftwood shelves, sun hats, kikois on hooks, shell lampshades, beach blankets, woven baskets, quirky pottery, family sketches and a year’s candle supply all declare mi casa wants to be su casa. And be it, it shall.
So, instead of denying myself of this dalliance, I take a trot down the rugged path to the beach, plonk myself into the sand and watch the paddle boarders surf amongst the whales, the dolphin, the darting birds, and the seals. In true abandon of reality, I commit to this house and my one-night stand with it. As the sun begins to set, and my gin and tonic needs topping up, I return to the charming banter, tiptoeing downstairs to the main bedroom, where I’ll be sleeping – in that magnificent four-poster iron bed – and slip into something comfortable. Who cares what happens after that, the story is clear;
Once upon a time on a quiet, remote stretch of shoreline, a questionably-young lady stumbled upon the home of her dreams.
What we love!
- The ridiculously romantic bathtub looking out beyond the succulents and aloes in the front garden, all the way to sea.
- The plunge pool in the courtyard, offering respite from spurts of intense sun, or wind.
- The never ending sunsets, that colour the mountains dusty pink.
- The separate scullery with dishwasher for dumping all of the dinner dishes, allowing the evening to continue
- The calm and tranquillity of the area, where only the sounds of the sea and the birds can be heard.
What you need to know…
- Unfortunately no pets are permitted.
- Though families are absolutely welcome, the property is not entirely child-friendly. It features an open stairway and an easy-access plunge pool.
- The little town of Kommetjie is a 5-minute drive away and is full of quirky cafés, convenience stores, a bakery and a deli.Â
- A little further away, you’ll find The Village Hub in Scarborough, a popular surfing spot, Imhoff Farm and Noordhoek Farm Village.Â
- If Farniente is booked already on your dates, browse our handpicked collection of beach houses in Kommetjie or the Southern Peninsula.Â
Reviewed by Colleen Ogilivie
Edited by Michelle Snaddon