Of ostriches and bygone fortunes

Published Oct 26, 2014

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Cape Town - It has been a family home, a bridal shop, and now a guest house. De Avond Rust may have had something of a chequered history, but it was none of these that lured me… It was the velvet-draped four-poster bed – something which always stirs the hedonist in me.

The house dates back to 1927, when ostrich barons were rubbing their hands in glee at the prices feathers were commanding on the international markets. Although it was not one of the famous Feather Palaces, it still reflects the refined lifestyle its owners must have enjoyed.

Enormous, gilded mirrors, fine woodwork, walls with a ripple effect, delicately painted and etched in gold leaf, a glass coffee table supported by elephant tusks, arrangements of ostrich eggs, fine Oriental and Moroccan carpets, fancy fireplaces surrounded by intricate tiling, chandeliers and lamps bedecked with tiny glass hangings, all work their charm.

An enormous oil painting by Paul Munro, featuring a dirt road leading to a farm, a windmill and reservoir all overlooked by rugged koppies and distant mountains, had me sitting for hours imaging all sorts of wondrous travels.

To enter this little bit of magic, guests walk up a pathway, shaded by a rugged old tree, and pass through a front door with stained glass inserts.

In the master bedroom (the one with the wine-coloured, velvet-draped four-poster bed) a surprise awaits in the bathroom. Here guests can recline in a slipper bath and watch a large flat-screen TV set. While the emphasis is on the past, there are many mod-cons. Each suite has its own charm.

The current owners, who farmed in the Vryburg area, have stamped their own mark on the adjoining enormous garden. Here they have established De Soete Inval tea garden and restaurant, which has proved highly popular with visitors and Oudtshoorn residents.

Tables on raised wooden platforms are sheltered by tent tops, giving an impression of a series of gazebos, scattered alongside a pool crossed by small wooden bridges. Guests at the B&B take breakfast here and can place dinner orders, which are then served in the main house’s elegant dining room.

There is a fascinating wall adjoining the B&B, made of rough-hewn slabs of rock of all sizes, with inserts such as wagon wheels.

Being located in the middle of this peaceful town De Avond Rust is within walking distance of a variety of restaurants and shops. Many of the streets are tree-lined, adding to the charm.

Contact: 044 272 0071 or www.deavondurst.co.za

Sunday Tribune

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