Our Place​​​​ in the Sun

Simple lines and rustic finishes make this Vleesbaai retreat the perfect spot to simply relax and rejuvenate.

What’s the one thing a house needs in order to feel like home? For Johan and Madeleine Smuts of George it’s a seamless flow between the interior and exterior – so synonymous with a South African lifestyle.

“With an abundance of sunny days – and our love of braaiing – this was a top priority for us,” says Johan.

The Smuts’ holiday home in Vleesbaai flows from the living room to the kitchen and out to the braai area. Huge sliding doors make the interior living areas and the exterior feel like one big space and with large windows that open onto a counter just outside the kitchen, no one is ever excluded from what’s going on.

Usually, the entire family – including the couple’s three adult children – gathers here every December. Sometimes, Johan and Madeleine slip away for a weekend too; they live less than an hour away in George where they run Die Waenhuis guesthouse.

“At this stage of our lives we don’t regard this as our retirement home but rather as a wonderful getaway spot that we’ll use more and more in the future,” says Johan. 

In a farm style