About
An Italian architect. An Afrikaans matriarch. And an energetic team of Stellenbosch locals.These are the characters in the story of Summerwood, a stylish grand dame built in 1904, and lovingly restored to cater for the cosmopolitan tastes of the contemporary traveller.Nestled in a leafy street in the old Stellenbosch suburb of Jonkershoek, this late-Edwardian villa was the pride and joy of Maria Petronella de Villiers. Aunt Maria, a mother of eight, planted 108 fruit trees to create a harmonious haven that lived up to the estate’s original name – La Paix (Be peaceful). Here family and friends were always welcome. She even sent dried fruit and home-made jam to her children many miles away to remind them where their true home was.Since then, Summerwood has gone through several facelifts to become what it is today – a lush retreat for local and international guests with a taste for modern comfort.Run by the Nel family since 2012, the house consists of eight spacious rooms – each equipped with upmarket finishes and decorated in tasteful neutral tones. However, it is the garden with its large swimming pool and beautiful old indigenous tree where guests end up spending their most relaxed hours reading
