Luxury, elegance fit for a movie star

Helen Crooks

THINK Summerstrand and you think beachfront, hotels, apartment blocks and perhaps even the recently revamped Something Good.

It's also a suburb where you think of new townhouse complexes surrounding the older, more established gracious homes which have seen generations growing up close to good schools, while still being a hop, skip and jump from the beaches and great surfing spots.

So, it comes as somewhat of a surprise to come across a modern gem nestling discreetly in the midst of the more established homes in this sought-after area – and indeed, this is a home which would not be out of place in other high demand areas like South Africa's Camps Bay or perhaps even the French Riviera.

The home in question takes up a corner stand in Seventh Avenue and Brighton Road and is the kind of place that stamps the words elegance and style on your mind, from the moment you step into the enclosed garden with its attractive borders and koi ponds with miniature fountains.

The Brighton Road entrance to the property can either be accessed via "the workman's entrance", an immaculate double garage on remote, with a useful hallway leading to the interior accommodation or via a secure gate leading to a covered area offering protection from the elements while the front door is opened.

And when it is, prepare to have your breath taken away. A sweeping staircase leads the eye to the first floor, momentarily detracting from a home where flow, light and exquisite attention to detail are the order of the day.

Floor tiles are of the best quality and all areas feature underfloor heating with separate controls allowing for different areas to be heated according to need.

Everywhere you look in this house, which just cries out to be a family home, there are comfortable yet intimate seating areas, from the formal dining area and bar which has two distinct seating areas, to the undercover entertainment area, featuring a secluded sunspot and an award- winning swimming pool.

The flow continues into the cooking area which has ample space for an informal dining table and that absolute but real cliche – a cook, or entertainer's, dream kitchen.

There are cupboards galore, state-of-the-art worktops and ovens as well as a flat screen TV which is regarded as part of the fittings and fixtures.

The main kitchen leads off into a scullery with double Bosch fridge/ freezers, while a neat pantry completes the kitchen in style.

But that, as they say is not all. To the right of the entrance hall there is a guest loo with a modern handbasin and a guest suite overlooking the koi ponds.

As in the rest of the house, this is a suite with a difference with the built-in cupboards concealing a delightful, light-filled en-suite with huge shower and stunning vanity unit.

Adding to the dramatic use of natural light in the house, there are no curtains to be seen with all the rooms featuring either folding American shutters or discreet blinds, which are also regarded as fixtures and therefore come with the house.

Upstairs there are yet more delights to be found: a huge coir-matted landing has space enough for a piano and yet more of those intimate seating areas with two extra-large bedrooms, both of which are currently being used as studies, serviced by a modern bathroom with free- standing bath and shower.

As if that is not enough, there is a massive master suite where even your most demanding movie star would feel right at home, featuring as it does, a glamorous walk-in dressing room with seating areas in the vanity units, where natural light floods in for hair-styling or putting on make-up.

The en-suite bathroom has an extra-large freestanding bath and wet room type shower, plus his and her sinks.

Back on the ground floor, there is yet more pluses: a maid's room with shower and toilet which has been made into a self-contained laundry, plus a bachelor pad with shower and toilet behind the one set of double garages.

Backing onto the other double garage, there are two separate one-bedroom open flats, each with their own kitchen and en-suite bathroom.

In today's world, where the trend is heading back towards children opting to stay in rather than flee the family nest, this is a stylish home with many living options, not only for grown up children, but also for granny and granddad too.

And should there be the pitter-patter of more little feet, there is space for them too – with the added bonus that the beach is a mere minute or two walk away.

The house is being marketed by Verity Angus of Pam Golding Properties. The price: a pocket- pleasing (for the well-to-do at any rate) R5.5-million which includes most of the fittings.