BARNCROFT NAPIER, OVERBERG, WESTERN CAPE
Slow Living...
When the owners were first searching for a holiday home in the countryside, they had one non-negotiable stipulation: it had to be 1½ hours’ drive from Cape Town to make for an easy escape. It was a lucky accident that while en-route to Arniston for a weekend away they happened on this modern-style barn house in the farming village of Napier in the Western Cape. Even though they landed here by happenstance, the owners have found a true home in this eclectic and welcoming community. Another plus is that although Napier is in the heart of the Overberg farmlands, it is unexpectedly close to coastal gems like Arniston, Hermanus, Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai, as well as the historic town of Swellendam.
MILLION
BARNCROFT
Napier, Overberg, Western Cape
The original barn that forms the central living area dates from the 18th-century, and they were immediately charmed by the sensitive restoration that honoured its heritage while updating it with contemporary appeal. “I loved its rustic-chic, modern barn design. The original barn was built in the 1700s to house livestock, and its thick, chalky walls keep the living area delightfully cool in summer. It was updated so sensitively, with new wings added to each side. These are clad in corrugated sheeting in keeping with a contemporary barn aesthetic. It’s a wonderful way to bridge the past and the present,” says the owner.
For her, a stand-out feature is the gorgeous stone verandah with its rietdak ceiling, which stretches the full length of the living area. “This is where you’re bound to find us, soaking up the stupendous views over the fields to the Soetmasberg mountains in the distance. A row of wild pear trees shelters us perfectly from any breezes. We live out here – and share breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks alfresco, entertained by the prolific birdlife that is drawn to our garden. They even lay eggs in our hanging baskets so we get to watch the baby birds grow up.”
We, too, find this magical garden irresistible! It’s clear that this verdant oasis is a labour of love. While the home is deep in the countryside, with spectacular views of endless fields of wheat, barley or canola, the garden was a blank canvas. With this being a holiday home, the owners knew that the garden had to be low-maintenance and so they embraced meadow gardening. “I always let things seed and I never weed – if a weed is beautiful, it stays! I chose wind-resistant plants (afternoons can be breezy here) and carefully selected ones that flourish in our Elim shale and renosterveld conditions,” says the owner. She also judiciously planted trees, being careful not to create too much shade or to obscure the glorious views.
The fish pond is a draw card for indigenous blue cranes and herons, and the firepit in the garden is just the spot to share a bottle of wine in the evenings as you watch the mountains fade from purple to black. This is country living at its finest – a garden home with endless countryside views where you can perfect the art of slow living.
Specs
• Erf size: 1 331 m²
• House size: 157 m²
• Open-plan kitchen and living room
• 3 bedrooms (2 en suite)
• 3 bathrooms
• Storage area/scullery/staff toilet
• Aggregate parking area with stairs
• Plunge pool
www.perfecthideawaysforsale.co.za
helenhoekstra@perfecthideaways.co.za Call Helen +27 73 337 6122