Imagine this: You return to South Africa after more than 20 years away, only to discover that the house you’ve been admiring for decades is being sold on closed auction. And it’s not just any house. It’s the former home of 1960s Afrikaans author Jan Rabie and artist Marjorie Wallace in Vermont near Onrus River, just this side of Hermanus. You take a chance and, sure enough, your bid is accepted – suddenly, a dream comes true…

This is what unfolded for Peter and Seugnet Viljoen in 2006.

The Project
Renovating a heritage home with such a rich history isn’t easy. ‘I realised it would be a huge project,’ says Seugnet. ‘We had to replace the entire roof and do a lot of restoration work on the structure, especially around the windows. The whole place had to be rewired. It’s certainly not something I would’ve tackled if I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted.’

Meanwhile, Peter met architect Neel Saayman while catching waves at Onrus. As a child, Neel used to visit Jan and Jorie so he was the obvious choice for architect and project manager.

The Viljoens’ neighbour, décor expert Estelle Spaarwater, was also a huge help; she used to be a member of the Heritage Committee, which had to approve all the changes. This committee stipulated that nothing on the ground floor could be altered.  ’As new owners, we wanted to retain the integrity of the original house as far as possible, while creating a comfortable home for our family. The attic made a world of difference,’ says Seugnet.

The main bedroom now features huge frameless windows that slide wide open. Seugnet felt that the windows should make an impact as soon as you reach the top of the stairs and, sure enough, the sea view takes your breath away the minute you arrive on the top floor. ‘It’s an amazing spot where you can spend all day contemplating and appreciating the constantly changing colour of the sea and light,’ says Seugnet.

A Blend Of Two Styles
Seugnet’s décor style is so unique to her that one cannot put a label on it. ‘Here, we have a bit of Viljoen, a little Wallace, some Rabie and a touch of Kenya,’ says Peter. ‘To live in such an historic home is a privilege. But just as the Masai of Kenya happily travel the world with just a spear, blanket and sandals, we also prefer not to be tied down. After all, we already live in two countries…’

Words: Marian van Wyk and Ilse Zietsman, Home magazine
Images: Francois Oberholster