VISI: Fairview House

I was approached by Nicky Rattray, who wanted to transform her family’s dilapidated home into a boutique hotel. I was excited about the project, as I could see the potential in the property.

Fairview House is located above a beautiful valley, with sweeping views. A sprawling Cape Dutch styled home that offered lots of potential to create some character. However, it was in need of a lot of work. The walls were in disrepair, the floorboards falling away, and the spaces were illogical after years of tampering with the footprint of the house.

Nicky and local architect Tessa van Schaik and I worked closely together to create a plan for the renovation. We wanted to create a space that was both luxurious and homely. We also wanted to make sure that the hotel reflected the beauty of its surroundings as well as a tribute to Cape Dutch architecture, as Nicky wants to appeal to foreign visitors.

The renovation took several months, but it was worth it. The finished product was a beautiful eight-bedroomed boutique hotel. The rooms were decorated in a modern yet cozy style, and they all have sweeping views of the valley.

READ VISI ARTICLE