The Perfect Holiday!

Some friends from the United States are coming to stay with us over the summer holidays in December and January. Somehow when you have visitors from elsewhere - it makes you look at your own surroundings with fresh eyes. I started thinking about what a fabulous place Cape Town is for a holiday and if you are visiting with US Dollars, Pounds, Euros, in fact most foreign currency, it would be even more fabulous because you would get such fantastic value for your money. Because many of the readers of this blog are from foreign shores, I thought I would do you a favour and find some wonderful accommodation for you if you were clever enough to plan a holiday in my part of the world.

I came across a website called CAPSOL that has a wonderful selection of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. I chose a few of the homes from their portfolio that I thought you might like.....



The first from Capsol's portfolio is called Overglen and is situated in Camps Bay along the Atlantic Seaboard. This 4 bedroomed home would be ideal for a family that likes a home away from home feel. It has a beautiful mountain backdrop and wonderful sea views.



It is decorated in such a cheerful and relaxed way that you really feel that you could move in and feel at home right away.



Comfortable furnishings in muted shades with accents of blue are evident throughout the home.









The main bedroom is so tranquil, perfect for morning lie-ins or afternoon naps!



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The second home from Capsol's portfolio is called Bakoven Dream. You might recall a post I did here on another home in Bakoven, which, incidentally, is also in Capsol's portfolio. Bakoven has a small section of beach which is surrounded on either side by rocks and boulders. This secluded little bay is a great place for sunbathing and relaxing in the summer heat.  Imagine enjoying the magnificent sunsets sitting on this deck with a glass of chilled white wine from the Cape Winelands.....perfection!.

This home, right on the water's edge is light, bright and airy with sea views from almost every room.

Imagine waking up to the sounds of the ocean right on your doorstep every morning!

The home is decorated in shades of blue, grey and white which blend perfectly with its natural habitat.

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The final home I'm sharing with you today is in Camps Bay and is called Big Rock Villa. This home is for those who like something a bit more sophisticated. It is very spacious and is perfect for a family who like entertaining on a large scale. Decorated in muted shades, and sumptuous fabrics, the interior invites you to sink into a comfortable sofa with your feet up and a good book or just gazing out at the wonderful views.



The kitchen has an extra long island, perfect for the type of meals where everyone helps to prepare the food or takes a seat to chat to the hostess.



The bedrooms and bathrooms are beautifully cool refuges from the summer heat.

 To find out more about these and many other stunning homes, visit Capsol's website here and get planning your perfect holiday. I guarantee that you won't be disappointed .....  that could be you sitting on that rock below!

I will be back next week with V is for ........ . In the meantime, plan your escape from the Northern Hemisphere winter and head to beautiful Cape Town where I'll be happy to meet you for a sundowner. Cheers!

Till next time.

Sharon x

All images via Capsol, except the 2nd image which is via Cape Town Direct and the last image  which is via National Geographic.

A wonderful break, now I'm back

With my family in Covent Garden, London

I won't bore you holiday stories or photos, but I do want to congratulate my American and British blog friends and readers on your wonderful countries. My family and I had such a fantastic time in both countries and everyone we came across was so friendly and helpful. My 15 year old son is having a hard time deciding if he wants to live in London or New York one day!

I actually got back more than a week ago, but have been having a bit of trouble getting my blogging "groove" back. Has this ever happened to you?  I am going to need some time to think of new ideas for posts this year. My brain is definitely still in holiday mode! But I have to start somewhere so in this post I'm just going to show you some random ideas that I like and perhaps you will like too. 

This is such a great look. It is perfect for hiding a less than attractive table and if you are short of storage, a basket placed underneath can hold all those things you don't want in the public eye. A very elegant and budget beating option, in my opinion.

This arrangement is the perfect solution for a guest room. If your guests require two single beds, instead of a double, you can just move them apart and put the table between them. Definitely more versatile that a double bed. 

The lack of any overhead cupboards make this kitchen feel far more spacious than it actually is. The demi-lune table flanked by 2 chairs works very well in this fairly narrow space - the perfect spot for a cup of tea or a chat with a friend.

I thought that this was such a clever idea, all you need are some glass vases and different sizes of rope and voila! Another budget beater too.

I love these overstuffed ottomans placed at the bottom of the bed. I can imagine having a cup of coffee here, a chat with my husband, the ideal place for the dogs to have a nap and if I need extra seating anywhere else in the house for an occasion, I could use these. Perfection!

I love, love, love this idea of using factory style doors and windows for a shower enclosure. It has so much more character than the more common plain glass shower surround.

And finally, what a great way to use that vintage silver tea set that has been gathering dust - to house your bathroom essentials - of course!

In closing, a big welcome to my new followers, and wishing you and all my regular (and irregular) readers a  New Year alive with possibilities!


Till next time

Sharon x

Image source: 1. Roses and Rust, 2 Tunmblr   3.  Tumblr  4. L'Ambience, 5. Tumblr 6. Tessa Proudfoot 7. via Providence Ltd, 8. Tumblr

Life is Good!

I'm back after my little blogging break and I see that many of you have been very prolific with your posts so I have lots of catching up to do.

We had a wonderfully relaxing holiday. While the boys had lots of fun doing things like this......

.... I spent my leisure time doing this.

If you are a Francophile like me, or even if you aren't, I can highly recommend these two books. So amusingly and well written by British author, Michael Wright, about settling into a property in rural France and looking for a soul mate.

I am also currently reading and loving this book, a true story about an Australian couple trying to buy an apartment in Paris.

And when I wasn't reading, I was bonding with our baby!

Baxter is as cute as he is mischievous and gets away with murder! One look at those warm brown eyes and long velvet ears and all is forgiven.

In between reading and playing with the pup, I planted some new veggies....

...watched my garden respond to the warmer spring weather...

...and finished a painting of the boys and Baxter on the beach.

And finally, because this is essentially a blog about interiors and decor, I couldn't sign off without throwing in some pretty pictures I came across recently.

I love the simplicity and soft colours.

I am now going to go and catch up on as many of your lovely blogs as I can.

Till next time

Sharon x