Val de Vie in the Cape Winelands has earned an enviable reputation as one of the world’s leading luxury wellness estates, where discerning and style-conscious families live in harmony with a biodiverse environment that includes pristine fynbos, lakes and mountains. Here, magnificent residences, ranging from luxe lock-up-and-go apartments to stately mansions, are designed with an indoor-outdoor flow to take full advantage of the secure, peaceful, outdoorsy lifestyle.
Images: Italtile
Recently, the Robinson family of Val de Vie invested in a top-tier reimagining of their patio and poolside to add value to their property. They found inspiration in the onsite Val de Vie Gallery. where a well known local distributor of tiles, Italtile (www.italtile.co.za), has a display.
A carefully curated collection
This carefully curated collection of the company’s bijou home design products is overseen by the suppliers Cape Town branch, where Etienne Jordaan is a commercial agent and the Val de Vie key account manager.
Having extensive experience in and knowledge of both commercial projects and home design, he was able to offer the Robinson family qualified advice and guidance in their home décor choices.
Jordaan worked alongside Bergstreme Developers, which also has a presence in The Shed @ Val de Vie Estate, who are specialists in contemporary custom-built homes.
According to the suppliers, the result was “an impeccably envisioned, one-of-a kind outdoor living area that speaks of the lively, active Robinson family personality, underpinned with a sense of timeless luxury and eternal summer.”
Sustainable, biophilic porcelain tiles were used
A layering of sustainable, biophilic porcelain tiles was proposed to honour the home’s proximity to wild nature, using the exclusive, Klif Silver by Italian tile masters, Atlas Concorde, as the ‘base canvas’. Klif is a full-bodied porcelain tile that reimagines a living stone look, with deep detail and fascinating variances.
Around the swimming pool, precision mitred edging was created. Mitred edges create a superb finish (incorporating two 45 degree angles which deliver a 90 degree angle when installed); here, the end result is a seamless illusion of a horizontal tiled surface that appears to ‘spill over’ onto the vertical surface, and into the pool.
In the creation of an outdoor feature wall, the Robinsons wanted ‘something different’. Jordaan helped them realise the standout nature of what they were dreaming of, with the botanical fantasia of a trendy tile from trendsetting Ceramica Sant’Agostino. This is a spectacular wallpaper print décor tile exclusively available, featuring a lush profusion of sun-splashed island-style foliage.
Focus on incorporating the natural world into the built environment
Biophilic design is a macrotrend that saw its roots strengthen during the pandemic. It’s a design movement that focuses on incorporating the natural world into the built environment, to reduce stress and improve human productivity, creativity and well-being.
With this in mind, the Robinson family can look forward to years of relaxed, inspired living on their eco-chic, Italtile-style patio, and, in due course, should they wish to sell … an excellent return on their investment.
The House Robinson project began in November 2023 and was completed in December 2023. All tiles selected carry the supplier’s LiveGreen label.
