On The Stoep

One things for sure, South Africans love theoutdoors and making the most of this sociable space whatever the weather!

- Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

[1] Room with a view

Those who’ve had the privilege of congregating around Isabella Niehaus’s table at her home on the West Coast know that this stoep is the ideal place to forget all your troubles. This is where she serves heaps of delicious oysters and chilled champagne while guests revel in their surroundings.

The “Long Tables on the Dune” are an institution that Bella, as she is known by many, began six years ago when she swapped the bright city lights for the peace and quiet of the seaside. “Exchanging all my branded high heels, frocks and sunglasses for a long T-shirt dress and slip-slops wasn’t just a major decision, it was a premeditated choice!” she writes in her blog.

The stoep, with its epic views of the Atlantic Ocean, is anything but pretentious, thanks to a simple cement floor and weathered balau deck. The floor of the stoep on the upper level serves as a partial roof, but otherwise it’s completely open.

Why it works…

Stacking doors that fold open along the 12m length of this stoep give new meaning to the term ‘inside out’. “The stoep is literally an extension of the living room,” says Bella. “There’s no division between indoors and out, and the entire space forms one large living room and entertainment area. Sometimes, we drag all the living room furniture out onto the stoep, while the rest of the furniture stays outside all year round.”