 - photo Sanet Oberholzer.jpg)
 - photo Sanet Oberholzer.jpg)
Step inside this 1950s, six-bedroom home turned guesthouse in East Street, Observatory, and any lover of mid-century and Art Deco furniture and design will find a slice of décor paradise. From the entrance hall with its ornate cupboard to the lounge which opens before you, filled with chairs and couches in vibrant colours and soft fabrics surrounding chequered carpets juxtaposed by dainty chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.
If you ask co-owner Gina Gabriel, she’ll tell you the contents of the guesthouse are from years of collecting. And it’s an impressive collection, indeed. Retro and chic, it comprises pieces beautifully restored to their prime.
Past the vast dining room, you’ll spot a desk perched on pristine wooden flooring and framed by all manner of lovely things – a gramophone, an intricate table bearing a typewriter and silver tea set, quirky lamps, and bright posters in the French Art Nouveau style.
Once outside, you’re greeted with a lush view over the garden and swimming pool, all of which you can enjoy from a rocking chair on the porch, recliners on the lawn, at the inviting dining table, or outside on a wicker lounge set padded out with plush cushions and livened up with greenery in all directions.
Sister guesthouse to The Great Gatsby on Munroe Drive in Houghton, we expected nothing less than a distinct feel and well-thought-out décor. Our expectations were entirely met but the atmosphere here is more relaxed, prompting easy conversation or contemplation. It’s a gentle space to settle in with a book or simply enjoy the greenery around you as you take in the quiet of the neighbourhood.
The lower level is dedicated to large spaces to lounge around in, from the dining room and two sitting rooms to the cocktail lounge with its bright velvet chairs.
Upstairs, six rooms invite many a different traveller. There’s the grand Presidential Suite – a spacious room described as able to “accommodate both Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor plus all their adoring admirers”. A ball and claw bath in the en suite bathroom gives an added layer of finesse. The Chocolate Room, named for its rich brown walls, oozes a quiet comfort, while each of the remaining four rooms have a character of their own. The White Mischief Room sleeps four in a double and queen-sized bed. We couldn't resist admiring the original wooden cupboards, a tell-tale sign of an old house with plenty of character. They just don't make them like they used to. Then there’s a Man Cave – “a perfect bolt hole for James Dean”, plus a Country Room and Twin Room, both charming in their simplicity.
Take a moment to look out the windows from this floor and you’ll spot the Hillbrow Tower and Ponte in the distance, standing in stark contrast to the quiet, tree-lined street below.
It’s a popular destination for long-term guests, business travellers, or visitors who cannot be accommodated at The Great Gatsby. Not that a stay here instead is drawing the short end of the stick by any means.
The beautifully curated house has also made it a popular choice as a filming location for talk shows, music videos, and advertisements, and it’s available for venue hire, complete with catering services. Looking for a unique space for a workshop or training day? They can comfortably accommodate up to 40 guests.
The food that flows from Gabriel’s kitchen is always scrumptious, down to the last bite. If you’d like to have a taste (and we recommend you do), be sure to arrange for your meals in advance. We are partial to a quiet breakfast outside but find the idea of breakfast in bed all too alluring. If you opt for dinner, know that the table setting will be second to none – think romantic and tasteful, with touches like linen serviettes.
If you need a ride to or from the airport, ask about their shuttle service. Just don’t be too hasty in arranging your trip; once you arrive, you might find yourself hesitant to leave, especially if you’ve become acquainted with the lovely Hazel, resident pooch and cutie pie. If the eye-catching furniture doesn’t liven up your Instagram reels or photographs, she doesn’t mind standing in as a model. Ear rubs are payment enough.
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