Between the wild Cape gardens and the steady presence of the Eerste River, Spier Hotel’s new villas reflect the intimacy of home, while drawing inspiration from its natural milieu. After a year-long closure, the hotel reopened earlier this year with 80 luxury rooms and suites, two new restaurants and three bars — as well as an expansive heated pool, nature inspired kids’ club and a Cape herbal spa.
Cape Town-based interior designer Jacques Erasmus, designed the villas to express a relaxed farm aesthetic with a layered language of old-world charm and local artisanal craftsmanship. The result is a collection of timeless spaces that feel like a home away from home. ‘The palette was inspired by the colours and textures of the farm,’ says Jacques. ‘In curating this mix, it is important to draw from the influence of the setting, the personal taste of the family owners and a nod to handmade quality’.
Aptly named The Riverside and Garden Villas, these two spaces mirror their locales of beautiful river surrounds and rewilded gardens. The Riverside Villa’s viridescent palette echoes the colour of trees, water and birdlife to create an atmosphere that blurs the line between the indoors and outdoors.
The property’s connection with nature is enriched by handcrafted furniture, auction finds, heirloom pieces and contemporary art. In contrast, the Garden Villa’s colour palette is that of warm, earthy hues alongside a pergola-covered outdoor lounge with a fireplace, dining area and built-in barbecue.
Each of the three-bedroom residences feature their own heated pool, private chef and dedicated service team to ensure an unmatched experience of comfort and luxury. ‘It was important that these villas had a timeless quality to them,’ says Jacques. ‘We used heavy washed linens, soft aged materials, and made full use of the tactile quality of the furnishings. This amalgamation of different genres and styles always brings interest to a space. The key consideration is always quality.’
Every detail of the interiors is carefully curated: Sofas are designed for absolute comfort, four-poster beds frame the large, airy rooms, and touches of English and Cape antiques create a strong sense of place. Artworks from the family’s personal collection sit alongside contemporary art from the Spier Arts Trust, resulting in a blend of heritage and style where each villa tells its own story.
Credits
Text by Shai Rama
Images by Elsa Young
This article was originally published in the House & Garden September/October issue
