A Winelands Sanctuary

A complete overhaul turned a cramped two-bedroom house into a warm family home with uninterrupted mountain views.

- Dina Venter

When Dewald and Suzanne Coolen went on a hunt for the perfect family home in 2015, the 360Ëš views from a 1990s home in the Erinvale Country and Golf Estate in Somerset West caught their attention.

“Situated at the end of a cul de sac, the property boasts epic vistas from the Helderberg Mountain on one side to Lourensford Wine Estate, the Hottentots Holland Mountains and all the way to False Bay on the other side,” explains Suzanne.

A renovation was on the cards and the couple brought in an architect and construction company to advise them on possible structural changes before purchasing the property. As it turns out, the Coolens decided to first live in the house with their two sons before tackling the makeover; a year later, they started working on a new layout in conjunction with architect Rory Bands of The Plan Co.

In the end, Rory only used part of the existing footprint and a few walls. The final result is a modern block design with a butterfly roof and plenty of full-length windows and stackable doors for uninterrupted views.

A combination of styles

Living on the property first turned out to be a wise decision, as it gave them plenty of time to figure out what they needed as a family. “We discovered the ins and outs of the stand, the South-easter and the hot afternoon sun from the west – we ended up constructing two covered stoeps leading off the main living area, which we use interchangeably, depending on the direction of the Cape wind,” says Suzanne.