Tucked away in the hills of Hout Bay are two serene properties that offer the ultimate escape from it all –Villa Maison Noir and its brand-new addition, Villa Verte.
Located on the mountainside of the Atlantic seaboard, these luxurious contemporary villas are a home away from home for guests and promise unique experiences and opulent features for getaways, events and extended holidays. The overarching theme of these bespoke properties is relaxing and recharging in one of Cape Town’s most charming settings.
Designed and owned by American power duo Jim Brett, of Anthropologie and West Elm, and Ed Gray, previous owner of a luxury home furnishings store in Philadelphia, Maison Noir Villa Verte came into existence when they came to South Africa to export craft to the US but fell in love with the country instead.
“We loved the people we met, the culture, the food and we were awestruck by the beauty of the landscape,” explains Brett.
They found the perfect spot in Hout Bay, where a blue gum forest on the back side of Table Mountain had been cleared, this is where they built their expansive property cluster Villa Maison Noir.
After careful considerations and huge demand from local and international guest the brand has created a new private residence on an adjacent property, which is connected to Villa Maison Noir by expansive gardens and is also a secluded mountain retreat.
Villa Verte will extend the combination of luxury amenities and its exquisite location. It is set up on the wooded slopes above the valley of Hout Bay and in magnificent gardens, the villas are a mere ten minutes from pristine Llandudno Beach and a 30-minute drive from the centre of cosmopolitan Cape Town.
“We really enjoyed building the brand and wanted to keep extending the business. There used to be an old 1970s house on the property when we bought it, and we knew we could build something better in its place to complement Villa Maison Noir next door,” says Brett.
“We hope that people will come to this magical place and feel like they are living in a tree house, with endless views of the mountains and nature all around them,” adds Gray.
Following the same concept of a ‘village’ of structures as opposed to a single dwelling, Villa Verte has five peaked roofs, reiterating the five elements which are ever present throughout the entire homestead. The circular backbone of the house echoes the circular motif found throughout Villa Maison Noir.
“We use curves and circles throughout the entire property as nothing in nature is square or rectangular, even at its most cellular form. Even the furnishings have many round shapes and curved edges. We love everything that the circle represents: equality, inclusivity, unity, sustainability and of course the circle of life,” Gray explains.
“When we first bought Villa Maison Noir, we loved the way the original architect, Poalo Deliperi, had brought the concept of the African ‘kraal’ to life. He recommended architect Thomas Leach to help us manifest our vision for the new Villa Verte,” says Gray.
Villa Verte demonstrates the same passion for design that Brett and Gray have added to Villa Maison Noir since they took ownership - the eclectic mix of art and design gives it global appeal as well as local relevance.
“We’ve always travelled the world, looking for unique products that could help people express their personal style at home,” states Brett. “Your home is your story - and yes - it’s told through the architecture and the interior design; but, most importantly it’s about your soul shining through. There is a shortage of truly authentic luxury experiences at affordable prices. We believe that both our properties - the existing and the new – combined with our amazing people create an experience that is unparalleled in Cape Town.”
Villa Verte is now open for pre-bookings and will officially launch on 5 March 2020.
For 2020 Villa Verte reservations please contact: Michelle Snaddon from Perfect Hideaways on Michelle@perfecthideaways.co.za