Curious in NIEU-BETHESDA

If the word eclectic had a home, it would be in Nieu-Bethesda. If you were to redefine the word, however, you would visit Mukti

- DAVID HENNING

The small Karoo Town of Nieu-Bethesda has long been home to absurdism and surreal representations of art - its renowned Owl House is regularly cited as a South African example of outsider art. But two outsiders from Johannesburg, Marc Watson and James Moffatt, have transformed an old heritage cottage into a Karoo Wunderkammer.

A CABINET OF CURIOSITY

Bringing the charm of the Karoo to the present, Mark and James have converted an old derelict cottage into a living cabinet of curiosity that seems to be defining a new interior aesthetic: Karoo chic.

In 2018, they were charmed by the town, extended their stay and made the bold decision to buy the dilapidated building. 'Mukti was for sale as part of a deceased estate. She was very rundown, but we loved her friezes and traditional Karoo architecture. So we made an offer without even stepping inside.'

Having a good idea of what would be inside, their gamble paid off: Oregon pine floors, high ceilings and thick walls. Their only challenge was natural light, typical of old Karoo homes. 'We remained true to the original layout of the home. We added a window and used glass between rooms to let in maximum light.'

From the street, it is a simple, classically restored structure where cacti accentuate the whitewashed walls. Opening the double front door and stepping inside, the passage is a pathway to the rooms of wonders. The pine floors charmingly creek as you stroll down the passage. The bedrooms are off the passage to the left, each simply, but elegantly decorated. To the right of the front door, a bright reading room. Further down the passage, a sitting room with a cast-iron fireplace in the corner and a comfortable couch to lounge about on those cold winter days.