Historic homes in vogue
2006-02-02
WITH a sea of all-too-similar developments leading to South Africa being dubbed “Little Tuscany”, many South African buyers are hankering now after homes with more of a locally-grown flavour.
“The trend among discerning buyers towards South African architecture is gaining momentum,” says Suna Dorfling of the Chas Everitt International branch in Paarl, “and historic homes are definitely in vogue again.”
One such property currently being marketed by Chas Everitt International is located in Mill Street in Paarl.
This restored homestead, priced at R2,9 million, reflects many aspects of South Africa’s diverse architectural history, with the original coach house facing on to historic Oranje Street having housed the printing press for the country’s first Afrikaans newspaper, Die Patriot.
The façade of the four-bedroom homestead is South African-Victorian with the familiar “broekie lace” and curved corrugated iron roof over the verandah.
Intricate wrought iron scrolls also top the low front walls and frame the wooden pedestrian gates leading to the front door.
And inside, the olde-worlde ambience has been carefully preserved despite extensive renovation.
While all electrical wiring and water connections have been overhauled, for example, walls have been re-plastered in keeping with the rough surface common in homes of a century ago.
The four bathrooms also feature the original-style exposed brass pipes that double as towel warmers, while the original brass taps, porcelain baths and wooden shutters have been restored.
The large kitchen with scullery features a cane reed ceiling and the original porcelain basins. All the copper-clad geysers are exposed.
Throughout the house, wooden strip floors have been restored and there is even a peach-pip floor from an earlier era that has been coated with resin to improve durability.
Wooden doorframes have been restored and some doors replaced in keeping with the originals.
An antique fireplace in the living area downstairs warms the home on chilly evenings while a spiral staircase leads to a loft running the length of the house.
Outdoors, the back garden features a swimming pool that doubles up as a water feature with a rock stream.
Dorfling says the house is definitely one of a kind.
“It is not for the purist, since it is not a pristine example of any one period of our architectural history.
“It does, however, weave strands of different historic styles together in a welcoming and comfortable home and would really lend itself to the operation of an studio or home-based professional practice.”
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