Dark blue was chosen for the pool, to reflect the mountains and create a link between the stylised garden and surrounding countryside. Plain pool coping slabs and hedging are a calming foil for the backdrop of vineyards and mountains. Below the pool, an olive grove with lavender and blue irises echoes the soft greys of the mountains.
The steps are a literal link to a higher level of the garden, as well as an imaginary link to the dramatic Vlakkenberg mountain in the background. Searching for something vertical to lead the eye upwards and to bring formality into the garden, Sue settled on weather-resistant, wrought-iron structures covered with trained brush cherry (Syzygium paniculatum) to create high, triangular topiaries, an idea she gleaned on a visit to a garden in Apremont, France. The bench, a birthday gift from friends, makes a delightful focal point. Opting to keep the main garden white and green, Sue has planted perennials such as white arum lilies, agapanthus, lavatera, delphiniums, day lilies, irises, yarrow, gaura, watsonia species and Salvia leucantha, which have been interspersed with annuals such as violas, delphiniums and foxgloves for a carefree mix of textures and foliage. However, the biggest challenge, besides the wind, moles and snails, is Loulou, the Great Dane and her destructive antics!
This verandah is a much lived-in, comfortable space. There is a mix of Cape country atmosphere and a hint of the Mediterranean, with reeded ceiling and overhead fan – ideal for hot summer evenings. Frameless glass folding doors serve as protection from the north-west wind and rain.
Sue and Doug Band, originally from Johannesburg, stumbled across this magnificent hillside site by default. They were hunting for a Cape weekend retreat, with no thought of relocation. But they loved the property so much that they decided to live here, and that Doug would commute. Doug agrees that returning from his busy schedule in Johannesburg to this peaceful haven with its 360-degree views of vineyards and mountains is worth the travelling.
The house was radically altered; the original windows were replaced with larger sash windows and frameless folding doors were installed to encompass maximum views. Working shutters in a light, washed celadon subtly simulate the muted grey-greens of the surrounds.
As a ‘hands-on’ gardener, Sue loves to create different spaces within her garden and is particularly fond of the formality of Australian designer Paul Bangay’s gardens, which she combines with the loose planting of the English countryside.
She discovered that gardening in the Cape is a very different scenario to Gauteng and says, ‘Wind, soil, heat, rain … It’s not a gentle environment where we are. I have had some fatalities, especially with hedges, and I am learning what works and what does not. Indigenous plants exist here for this exact reason! ‘I am also trying to decide on some sculptures and maybe introduce a water feature to give the garden some depth, but that is another project.’
‘The lions inspired me to build the steps,’ claims Sue of a pair of handsome faux-stone lions.
‘The views are totally mesmerising, so much so that it is difficult to achieve anything during the day …’