HOME COMFORTS: One of the rooms, The Middle Room, is tastefully decorated
EVERY good story has a delicious twist in the tale and there is little more delectable than quirkiness, so subtle surprises confront you around every corner.
From the first breathtaking walk through flower-strewn paths – where the sounds of birds and running water collide – the Long Story Guesthouse in Plettenberg Bay has been designed to add a chapter to a guest’s book of life.
Despite the calm, somewhat homey feel about the Robberg BnB with a difference, it’s clear that nothing has happened by accident.
When you look deeper than the roaring fire, the comfortable chairs and proprietor Meg Ward, who treats her quests as family, you begin to see all the little quirks in the deliberate yet understated design delights.
QUIRKY TOUCH: The kitchen’s drawer handles, made of cutlery
The farm-style kitchen with its creative décor is the heart of the establishment, something that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Meg is a chef and her love for food has seeped into every corner of her kitchen. Drawer handles are fashioned from large cutlery items. Forks, cake knives and your conventional knives have been bent into shape to form the handles of the cupboards and cabinets.
Just outside are herb boxes where fennel and chives and purple cabbages are grown. Hanging lamps over the kitchen counter are made from old glass produce bottles and two large ovens and hobs fit easily into the airy space.
PACKING A PUNCH: The fruity breakfast – a delight to the eye
Two ovens are a necessity as guests can take part in a “cook and stay” holiday where, with Meg’s help, they will whip up their own gourmet meals.
It’s not a cooking class says Meg, it’s a communal experience, a chance to share your love of food, get a taste of cooking and come away with new ideas, recipes and friends.
The rooms all form part of the tale and are aptly named, starting with The Beginning Room, The Middle Room, The End Room and The Twist In The Tale.
Breakfasts are also named with fresh fruit, cheeses, homemade banana bread, yogurt and muesli forming part of The Short Story, while The Long Story is a hot breakfast.
MODERN MIX: The bathroom faucets add to the quirky appeal
The food is nothing short of spectacular, with Meg sourcing her products locally and growing her own herbs.
The rooms are very comfortable and the eco-friendly aspects, such as copper towel warmers which are warmed up as water from baths or showers flows through them, all just add to a stay that is completely outside the norm.
PACKING A PUNCH: The fruity breakfast – a delight to the eye
Staying at the Long Story Guesthouse was certainly a chapter in our life story that will not easily be forgotten.
