You bought the house to enjoy, not to worry about from far away. We look after it while you are away, and when it is time for more, we design the rooms, renovate, furnish and make the pieces it needs.
Family-run · Garden Route
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Home watch
From far away you cannot see what a wet winter does to a closed house, or open it up to air. We walk through on an agreed schedule, check what can go wrong in an empty house and send you the report, with photographs of anything that changed.
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Interior design
You want the house to feel like yours and still hold up to guests, dogs and a full December. We start with how you live in it, then plan each room around that, in natural, durable materials and a calm palette. You know the fee before any work begins.
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Renovations
You want the kitchen or bathroom done properly without having to be on site to see it through. You make the decisions and we carry them out: anything in timber comes from our own workshop, and the plumbing, electrics and building go to vetted contractors. You see the progress in photographs as it happens.
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Furnishing & staging
You want to walk into a finished house, beds made and every room ready, whether for your own arrival or for the first viewing. Send us the floor plans and we put together a concept for you to approve room by room. Then we buy, deliver, install and style.
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Custom furniture
You want a piece made for one particular wall, room or way of living, not found in a catalogue. We measure, design, make and fit it to your brief. You know the timber, finish, price and lead time before we begin.
Questions
What people ask us first.
What is property caretaking?
Property caretaking is looking after a home that nobody lives in full time. We walk through on an agreed schedule, check the things that can go wrong in an empty house, and send you the report with photographs of what changed. Where something needs fixing, we either fix it or bring in the right person to do so.
What happens after I get in touch?
We arrange an initial walk-through of the house, after which you will have a report and a proposal from us. There is no obligation either way.
Do you let or manage houses?
No. We hold no rent and no deposits, and we do not let or manage rentals on behalf of owners. Typically an agent looks after a tenancy. We look after the home itself. If a tenancy is what you need, get in touch and we can recommend someone who does that.
Which areas do you service?
We are based in Knysna and work along the Garden Route: Mossel Bay, George, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
How will I know what is going on at the house?
That depends on what we agree, and every arrangement includes a photographed report each month, in your time zone. Anything that cannot wait until the next report, we phone through the same day.
What does it cost?
Caretaking is a monthly retainer, quoted for your house once we have walked it. Furniture, furnishing, renovation and interior design are quoted per commission or per project. Either way you will know the cost before any work begins.
Can I see work you have done?
Yes. We are still building our portfolio online, so get in touch and we will send it through.
Enquire
Tell us about your home.
A brief introduction to your sanctuary is all we need. Melanje replies herself, usually the same day.
