Akasha Mountain Retreat

When talking about Akasha, you have to start with the mountain  . . .

This beautiful Moroccan styled retreat sits high up and  close to the southern most point of Africa and the magnificence of its location cannot go unmentioned!

Owners Elana and Chris have created and built Akasha into a peaceful little bit of luxury on this mountain top. They have incorporated their love of Moroccan design and craft into every aspect, and these design elements from way up north combine perfectly with a Southern African aesthetic.

The palette and tones are muted and natural, complimenting the view rather than distracting from it.

 A carefully constructed combination of vistas, and decorative details.

Original old doors from morocco, logs from the farm, sculptural candelabra all work together
to form a harmonious "cape-maroc" mood board.

It's the details that always distract me in a place like this!

tea-in-akasha anyone?

Silver tea trays and containers add a reflective note to the palette

The bedrooms are designed to maximise the views,

while the sequins on the handira reflect the morning sunshine.

And just because you are, quite literally, at the end of a well beaten track, doesn't mean that all your creature comforts won't be taken care of.

There are even plans {I hear} of a spa and some interesting Earth Zen products -
so time for a massage and a little detox before sunset and a glass of red?

Doors open onto secret spaces and the barriers between inside and outside melt away.

 Carefully sourced items from Moroccan souks have found a new home and add a brush of colour to the palette.

And finally again  . . . that view

My visit was a fleeting one - but I do plan to go back!

To find out more about staying at Akasha Mountain Retreat you can find them on Facebook
or on their website: http://www.akasharetreat.co.za/

join tea-in-tangiers on facebook

Cape Town

And a few of my favourite things . . .

I spent a few days in Cape Town last week - a fleeting visit so not really enough time to visit all that the city has to offer, but thought I would share a few of the places I tend to beat a path to.

1. Haas Coffee Collective: http://haascollective.com/

my favourite coffee shop plus a great gallery for a little visual stimulation while enjoying your caffeine intake.

2. Bree Street : worth finding a sought after parking spot here and walking!

Part of the First Thursdays initiative: http://www.first-thursdays.co.za/

3. Sarah Ord Interiors: http://www.sarahord.com/ 

for an eclectic burst of colour - it certainly brightened up my {rainy} day!

4. Neighbourgoods Market: http://www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za/cape-town 

 If your visit falls over a weekend pop across to the Old Biscuit Mill in woodstock

food glorious food - that's all there is to say!

5. Robert Sherwood Design: http://www.robertsherwooddesign.com/

back to Bree Street for this showroom - a beautifully curated collection of art and interior objets.

6. The Sushi Box: http://www.sushiboxsa.com/ 

out of the city and into the suburbs, a lovely tucked away spot and of course great sushi

7. Cassis: http://www.cassis.co.za/

a patisserie with 4 outlets in cape town so no excuse for not trying their macarons!

8. Cinema Nouveau: https://www.facebook.com/CinemaNouveau

have a quick look around the waterfront then see whats showing here - I managed (at long last!) to see The Grand Budapest Hotel although I think I might need to watch it again.

any other suggestions and additions?

beach house basics

If you have had time to flick across to either my twitter or facebook page, 

you will have seen me describe myself as

 moving between the southern tip and the northern edge of africa 

Well, last month saw us spending holiday time down south,

 and for the last week we were lucky enough to sit still for a while and stay in a friends beach cottage.

 This was a cottage full of nostalgia for me, full of patina and texture from my childhood beach holidays.

 No grand vistas, vast sheets of glass or cutting edge design, but instead hot water that comes on with a woosh of the gas flame, beds that just might have a slightly grainy feeling of sand at your toes, piles of shells collected over the years . . 

I developed a little routine in our short stay there.
In the quiet morning light the moka pot was put on the stove

And then I would light an oil lamp.
Yes, there was electricity, but I just loved sipping my coffee
with the gentle warmth of oil glowing.

 

worn textures
and collectable cushions

the perfect tap for the shower
form and function

garden textures

                                 

and indigenous plants

All this under the protective boughs of  tree
which I would imagine has been there longer than the house.

Perfect!