Creating a relaxed, playful escape for their kids on their 78 hectare farm was more fun than they ever thought it would be and today it’s everything you’d ever want for a weekend away with space for up to 16 friends. To begin with, it has the ultimate luxury in the Klein Karoo: water. Lei water tinkles through troughs in the garden and there’s a pool in the old cattle kraal surrounded by dry packed stone walls and with a peaceful view across the olives, ostriches and tobacco fields in the fertile valley below – perfect for the hot, still summer days.

Inside, the whitewashed 100-year old interiors are every bit as laid-back as you’d want them to be yet oozing with eclectic inspiration juxtaposed with the best of contemporary South African design and ceramics.

You’ll find original art (children’s art rubs shoulders with that of famous South African artist William Kentridge), antiques, recycled furniture and beautiful linen (with summer or down duvets and electric blankets) together with thoughtful touches – Harper’s, Tatler and Vogue, and loads of DVD’s for adults and kids, plus puzzles and toys. Choosing your bedroom could be difficult – will it be the one with the Droog-inpired ostrich chandelier above the Cape Dutch gable headpiece? Or the botanical prints as wallpaper? Or the four-poster master suite in black and white?

The large airy kitchen with its clotted cream Aga (and fabulous pots and glasses) is a gathering place for friends preparing for slap-up farm breakfasts or meals outdoors in the garden (there’s a full gas hob and bbq) or around the boma fire pit on balmy, starry evenings… all perfect ingredients for a farm holiday that’ll restore and revive. Winter time is special here: pack your bikes, light the fires and laze in the sheepskin-lined Adirondack chairs on the sunny stoep. Come spring, the mountains burst into swathes of purple, lavenders and pinks and there’s water running everywhere – time to walk and come back to good food. You can’t beat slow-roasted local lamb.