|
|
Villa Toscana
Villa Toscana
Sir Abe Bailey was one of South Africas more colorful randlords, a sportsman, politician, farmer and businessman of high caliber, he sired seven children.
His oldest son, John, married Winston Churchills daughter, Diana, in an arranged marriage that lasted a year. John then married Capetonian Stella Chiappini and died shortly afterwards in 1947.
In 1954, Stella (Lady Bailey) built her dream house on the slopes of Table Mountain, overlooking the city and the sea, with the Hottentots Holland Mountains on the horizon.
Her brother, Lorenzo Chiappini moved in with her and they lived happily ever after for 40 years. Drawing from their Italian heritage, they created Villa Toscana, she decorating the house, he designing and building the garden.
In the late 1980s Beezy Bailey, her artist nephew, and his wife Nicci came to live with a senile old Stella.
Things were run down. Upon Stellas death, Beezys family bought the house from her estate and set about renovating and decorating it to its present day high standards. Today it has survived the tidal wave of small units being built all around it to be the largest privately owned garden in the City Bowl.
Surrounded by other properties, yet with its entrance on Kloofnek Road, it offers unique privacy and security. Its two and a half acres offer the feel of English country estate. Although frayed at the edges, it has all the modern conveniences such as DSTV, air conditioning, fax and Internet facilities, and music in four stations.
An eclectic collection of family antiques, the artists paintings and other objects have had this house featured in Harpers and Queen, Elle Decoration, Casa Vogue, as well as several books including Taschens New Inside Africa Volume.
David Bowie, when writing an article for Modern Painters magazine described the house saying, There is a wild sexy garden around it, outrageously spacious.
| 
|
Other News on featured properties
| Kleinefontein on the garden route, South Africa. | |
| Villa St James, Muizenberg. | |
| L'Olivier Farm, Stellenbosch. | |
| Hunters Moon Lodge, Constantia. | |
| . | |
| An eclectic mix , Simons Town. | |
| Villa Toscana | |
| Flaux du Cap, a house in Southern France. | |
| A Stellenbosch farmhouse to rent. | |
| Maanschijnkop, a country guest house in Hermanus. | |
| Jan Harmsgat, a Swellendam country guest house | |
| Le Domaine Charmant, the Cape Winelands, Franschoek | |
| The Owners Cottage, Grande Provence Estate, Franschoek Valley | |
| Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse, Western Cape | |
| Wild Olive House, Bartholomens Klip. | |
|
