When you think of the outlandish Southern Peninsula seaside hamlet of Scarborough – with its rugged nature trails and long stretches of sand, spectacular surf, quirky cafés and delicatessens, country pubs and buoyant community of creatives and farmers, inspired entrepreneurs and active families – scenes of an idyllic rural existence occupy your mind. Where you’ll settle amidst the quiet seclusion of the Cape Point Nature Reserve, wandering barefoot and fancy free, gleefully basking in the serenity of its surroundings. It’s a novelty then, to discover a home that evokes the rockstar in you, the rebel with a cause for calm and tranquility, inspired by its contemporary take on a beach bungalow. A home that defies the rules of convention, yet pacifies the soul and harnesses a stillness. Scarborough just got a whole lot sexier with The BLVCK HOUSE.Â
Tucked into the hills beneath the Slangkop cliffs of Table Mountain, overlooking the ocean and verdant blankets of fynbos, The BLVCK HOUSE invites you in to a playful, curious environment of inimitable taste and sublime comfort. Two separate homes are adjoined by a desert-inspired courtyard, where cacti cushion themselves into the sand around a swimming pool with its languid loungers, a pergola with a swinging hammock and cozy seating, a jacuzzi, a fire-pit, a succulent garden and ample seating spots on long decks, all taking in the magnificent views. The main house holds the entertaining spaces that flow into one another, from the fabulous open-plan kitchen into the living / tv lounge, the diner-style dining room that’s set up against tall glass windows, allowing the light to permeate every space. A statement fireplace adjacent a spiral staircase and refined contemporary furnishings, bespoke pieces of art and lighting, quirky crystal collectables and eclectic ornaments all tell a tale about where they were sourced and what their intentions are for the home. A curation of seamless storytelling throughout the two dwellings, and its open spaces, that incites a wondrous, whimsical way of avant-garde living.
Rising from the main ensuite, witnessing the sun do its little morning dance over the ocean, with a hot brew and a rusk will set your stride into motion as you make your way down to the shoreline. A morning stroll and a quick dip with the jovial residents before heading home for some hot bakes and pancakes for breakfast on the deck, accompanied by a mimosa or two. Pool time, book time, music time, reconnect and recharge time. Perhaps a hike into the mountain on one of the trails that sit just behind the property. Pack a picnic and spend hours exploring the abounding nature. Back to prepare the evening’s feasting around the table with your favourite people. Another dip in the saltwater pool or under the outdoor shower before sundowners on the upstairs terrace then settling in the garden around the fire-pit, beneath the changing night’s sky. The jacuzzi calls, as does the next track for some slow simmering beneath the stars. Those glorious bathtubs await, inducing more calm beneath the stars, before climbing into one of the heavenly beds. Off you’ll drift with the tide, attuned with Scarborough’s seductive soul, enraptured by an oh-so-sexy abode.
What we love!
- Early evening baths spent in the main ensuite bathtub, watching the summer sun set with a tipple in hand. The little cottage has the most glorious bathtub to sink into, beneath the glass ceiling where the stars pierce through, adding to the ever-constant romance of the property.
- The courtyard is a lovely, secluded spot to spend hours in, resting in the hammock or reclining on the loungers. With the atmosphere of the mountain and vastness of the surroundings nurturing that holiday feel of a seaside retreat.
- It has to be said that the artwork, the refined furnishings, the layers of texture from the stone, timber and tile finishes are so cleverly considered. The atmosphere of the home is entirely soothing and seductive.
What you need to know…
- The main beach is only a 5-minute walk down the hill from the property, and access to the mountain trails are a 2-minute walk behind the house.
- The saltwater swimming pool is heated for those nights that are a little breezy and chilly.
- The two dwellings have their own kitchen spaces with state-of-the-art cooking facilities, ample office space, too, and plenty of little pockets to chill out.
- There are only a handful of quirky cafés and delicatessens, a gin bar and a camel restaurant so it’s best to stock up on all of the finer ingredients before arriving in the quaint little town of Scarborough.
- Aside from the obvious activities of swimming and surfing, there’s lots to explore in and around Scarborough. Including plenty of hiking trails, windsurfing, kitesurfing, fishing, kids adventure courses, flavours of fynbos at the Good Hope Nursery, mussel harvesting (permits can be collected from the local post office) and Redhill Pottery shopping on Kilfinian Farm.
Reviewed by Colleen Ogilvie