A Safe Space

With the exclusive Villa Maison Noir under their belt, Jim Brett and Ed Gray’s new sanctuary is just as calming and chic

- JULIA FREEMANTLE

When Jim Brett and Ed Gray decided to launch a sister property to their exclusive-use Villa Maison Noir in Hout Bay, Cape Town, it was with the intention of creating yet another sanctuary-like space that was inspired and informed by the natural beauty of the bordering Oudekraal Nature Reserve and surrounding areas. To bring this vision to fruition, the couple earmarked a plot of land right next door to Villa Maison Noir and dreamed of replacing the drab ’70s-style building housed on the site with something much more memorable.

Their wealth of interior experience, passion and expertise stood them in good stead to dream up a property that would do justice to the astounding setting. Between them, Jim (previously of Anthropologie and West Elm) and Ed (who founded luxury furnishing store Bruges Home) have a passion for design and art. This new project provided the perfect blank canvas on which to continue the creative journey they started with Villa Maison Noir.

Like Villa Maison Noir, Villa Verte – socalled for its densely treed setting – was to be a showcase for exciting furniture design, artwork and craft. But first, the structure had to be conceived, and to achieve this, the duo enlisted talented local architect Thomas Leach.

Echoing the same “village” structure of Villa Maison Noir, with its five peaked roofs that symbolise the five elements, Villa Verte seamlessly combines private and open spaces. This thread continues strongly throughout the structure, with private rooms cantilevered into the trees making the space feel like a beautifully appointed treehouse, exposing its occupants to the panoramic views of the mountains surrounding them. The expansive interior living spaces allow guests room to breathe.