COCOON founders redefine luxury at South Africa’s MAISON Estate

When Seb and Jessie Ackerstaff, the founders of luxury bathroom brand COCOON, acquired MAISON Estate in 2023, the property already felt like home to them. The couple had been coming to the estate for years on their regular visits to South Africa; so when an opportunity presented itself to invest in the property, their response was instinctual. ‘MAISON presented the perfect canvas for us to use our skills to create embracing spaces that embody the COCOON lifestyle, while respecting the original environment,’ says Seb.

The symbiosis that existed naturally between the COCOON and MAISON brands - in ethos as well as aesthetic - made the couple a perfect fit to steer the property into its next incarnation. ‘The words ‘COCOON’ and ‘MAISON' even speak to the same sensation of being surrounded by a safe and welcoming environment,’ points out Jessie. Advocates for understated, tactile, timeless and yet contemporary luxury, both brands have formed around a lifestyle rather than merely a product line.

The couple conceived the idea of a boutique bathroom brand in their 20s, while renovating and letting out a selection of high- end houses on the canals of Amsterdam. ‘When we started COCOON, it was with the aim of creating everlasting products and timeless design,’ says Seb. While based in Amsterdam, the brand works with some of the world’s most lauded creative minds, from architect John Pawson to multidisciplinary designer Piet Boon, to create luxury collections that seek to elevate the bathroom’s potential for creativity and customisation.

A place to relax, retreat, escape: the bathroom has increasingly risen in the ranks as one of the home’s most design-oriented spaces. They’re more immersive, calming and cleverly equipped than ever - traits that are never more apt than in a hospitality context.

So, when setting out on this next venture, not only did the couple bring with them an already deep love of the estate, but an intimate understanding of the transformative power of design. ‘MAISON offered the perfect playground in which to pursue creation while connecting people to a feel-good environment,’ says Seb.

COCOON’s philosophy of design that is ‘warm and inviting’ aligned perfectly with the foundation laid by MAISON’s former owners; and the couple drew on this existing sense of ease and immersion in the setting when extending the accommodation, which now includes the new two-bedroom Stable Villa and one- bedroom Botanical Suite.

These additions - that seamlessly complement the existing four-suite Residence (the property’s original converted 100-year old barn) - turn the estate’s accommodation into a versatile and luxurious 14-sleeper. ‘It has a touch of Ibiza, one of the places aside from MAISON that we’ve called home for the last 15 years, as well as some Mexican and Balinese influences, since we travel a lot,’ says Seb.

A focus on beautiful bathrooms (naturally) and spa-like outdoor spaces with pools and showers deepens the easy-living aspect of the estate further still, and speaks to its multi-sensory appeal - the experience of waking up in the Botanical Suite and submerging yourself under a Piet Boon outdoor shower while surrounded by a lush herb and flower garden brings the design to life.

The beautiful scenery is of course complemented by the superb Chefs Warehouse mere steps away (now presided over by the talented Francis Xavier). ‘The experience of staying here is about enjoying and savouring the experience without any pressure of time,’ says Jessie. This encompasses all the aspects of farm life - from enjoying breakfast on your terrace while watching the miniature horses amble to their paddocks at first light, to seeing how the wine is made, enjoying a leisurely lunch, and strolling in the vineyard at sunset, all without needing to leave the property.

Text by Julia Freemantle