Into The woods
Home South Africa|September 2019

This couple ditched city life for farm living and recently added off-the-grid Airbnb accommodation to their spacious plot in Stanford.

Kim Arendse
Into The woods

For the past 20 years, Cathy Marriott and Basil Stilwell have owned Sondagskloof, a 14-hectare farm just outside Stanford. For 12 of those years, they lived in Cape Town but spent most of their weekends on their getaway property.

In 2010, after building their dream eco-home with strawbales, site-sourced clay, ROK bricks and a steel frame (it was featured in the February 2019 issue of Home), they moved to Stanford permanently. Then last year, Cathy, a former fashion designer, and Basil, a commercial diver, decided to add two cabins to their property as Airbnb rentals.

“Our daughters recently left home to study and it felt like the right time to invite the outside world in to enjoy our sustainable lifestyle,” says Cathy who raises livestock and grows organic vegetables on the farm.

Cathy and Basil opted for solar-powered, off-the-grid timber cabins from Swissline Design. “Beautiful timber construction is a Swissline trademark, but I had a good deal of input when it came to the design,” says Cathy. “I wanted a high mono-pitch roof with clerestory windows to introduce as much natural light as possible and to create a sense of spaciousness within a small footprint. This way, you can also stargaze from your bed at night!”

[FOR A TIMBER FRAME]

Nadia Lüdi of Swissline Design says a timber frame built like this one can last for three generations or more.

“There are houses in Europe built with these materials that have lasted more than 200 years,” she says. “The Siberian larch façade is UV-oiled: UV oil penetrates the wood, keeping it flexible; the surface is rendered water- and dirt-repellent. Thereafter, no sanding is required and it rarely needs to be touched up with an oil or sealant, if at all. The timber is kiln-dried, so it’s of a good quality and can contend with various climates.”

This story is from the September 2019 edition of Home South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2019 edition of Home South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HOME SOUTH AFRICAView All
Pestilence Domestica
Home South Africa

Pestilence Domestica

We usually call them dirty, dangerous and utterly gross. But what if we looked at domestic pests through a different lens, asks Karin Brynard.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Quick as a flash!
Home South Africa

Quick as a flash!

These 15 dinners can be whipped up in a jiffy - before the power goes out!

time-read
10+ mins  |
May/June 2023
The gift that keeps on giving
Home South Africa

The gift that keeps on giving

By taking cuttings and dividing existing plants and those from friends, Anne Turner and her son David have created a stunning garden that takes on a whole new personality as the seasons change.

time-read
6 mins  |
May/June 2023
Upcycle it!
Home South Africa

Upcycle it!

Tuis Home food editor Johané Neilson and her husband Allister revamped a second-hand melamine wall unit to create a bespoke wall-to-wall display cabinet, for less than R3 500!

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Little house in the forest
Home South Africa

Little house in the forest

Thanks to her capable father, Neilke Pretorius and her partner enjoy an idyllic lifestyle in a custom-made home hidden in the trees.

time-read
4 mins  |
May/June 2023
Living large, inside and out
Home South Africa

Living large, inside and out

South Africans love a space where indoors and outdoors come together.

time-read
8 mins  |
May/June 2023
Modern CLASSIC
Home South Africa

Modern CLASSIC

With authenticity as a guiding design principle, a young family has created their happy space in a 105-year-old house in the heart of vibrant Sea Point.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Peace & quiet...
Home South Africa

Peace & quiet...

A cinematographer and a set designer found the perfect bolt-hole in the Eastern Cape Karoo where they can truly relax and unwind.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
ART AND SOUL
Home South Africa

ART AND SOUL

Five years ago, the Krugers transformed a tired city bungalow into a unique and modern family home.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Group therapy
Home South Africa

Group therapy

Add impact and create rhythm using repetition and collections, as these Home readers have done.

time-read
1 min  |
May/June 2023