La Baia is a 6-bedroom villa in Camps Bay, sleeping up to 12. It has a private pool, sea views and views up to the Twelve Apostles. Practical bits: air conditioning, WiFi, off-street parking and a braai area. This property does not accept pets. The address is 20 Rontree Avenue, Camps Bay, 8005 Cape Town. That is a short drive down to the beach, and about twenty minutes into the city bowl.
A whitewashed cottage-style villa with an enormous timber deck and a braai room nobody willingly leaves.
The deck is the whole point: broad hardwood boards running out to a cable balustrade, a dark-lined pool set flush into them, charcoal loungers facing the sunset. Under a thatch and gum-pole pergola there are pale timber-framed sofas with grey cushions and Ikat scatters, daybeds and patio heaters for later on. Behind it all the Twelve Apostles stand over the white walls and tiled roofs of the house, with small-pane French doors opening onto the boards.
Off the deck sits a covered room with a reed-and-pole ceiling, sage-green walls and a slate floor. A long timber table seats ten on white-framed mesh chairs and a large built-in braai with a log store beneath takes up one wall. Woven pendants hang low, gas heaters run overhead, and the room works in any weather.
Two lounges, both under white-painted beamed ceilings with track lighting. The first has grey linen sofas, raw-edge timber stump tables, monochrome patterned armchairs and a black steel fireplace, with French doors to the deck. The second is anchored by a driftwood-framed mirror and a beaded artwork panel. There is a study nook with built-in white shelving, and an entrance hall with a bench and hooks already hung with beach bags.
The kitchen has a timber-fronted island with a white top and built-in wine fridge, copper pots and vintage lanterns on a hanging rack, open shelving with glass jars, travertine underfoot and a dining table with tan leather chairs alongside. Six bedrooms follow a relaxed African-influenced style: carved timber panels above the beds, buttoned linen headboards, wrought-iron wall motifs, woven pendants and white linen throughout. All six are air-conditioned.
20 Rontree Avenue, Camps Bay, 8005 Cape Town, South Africa