WAVELL HOUSE was opened as a guest lodge in 2011 and has continued to delight visitors for almost 10 years – just check out their glowing reviews on the international TripAdvisor website. Wavell House is owned and run by Ros Byrne who most people will know from her Pottery and Kudhinda Fabrics shop at Doon Estate. While Doon is a shadow of its former self – thanks to the prolonged economic meltdown – Ros has continued to produce beautiful and unique hand printed fabric and accessories at her workshop in Ruwa. She has also been busy running Wavell House as well as growing organic vegetables and herbs for the lodge’s table and for sale to other outlets.
The home where Wavell House is located was originally built in the 1920’s with a courtyard structure as the earliest part of the home.
“Once in a while you come across an owner run and managed establishment that has all the normal things we expect like clean well-kept buildings, sparkling pool, manicured gardens, comfortable rooms, well presented food, but, then on top of that is a hidden extra that is hard to define… it’s that tingle in the air, a heightening of senses that leaves you feeling pampered, some would call it atmosphere, whatever way you want to put it, Wavell House has it.”
The courtyard is visible behind the brick parapets which form the heart of the building. The courtyard has since been covered with a huge skylight which adds privacy and security to the private residence part of the house. Additional wings were added in the 1950’s which now make up the heart of the home, including the lounge, dining room, the large kitchen and a generous verandah overlooking the pool and garden.
In 2019 Ros designed and built an additional two bedroomed cottage within the expansive grounds. The cottage has elegant finishes with engineered timber floors, teak counter tops in the kitchen and beautifully appointed bathrooms. The bathrooms have exquisite French porcelain floor tiles in a black and white diamond pattern. The cottage also has a European style fireplace in the lounge so residents can feel cosy and warm on chilly winter evenings. It has a private courtyard with a separate entrance and a dedicated office space for business meetings.
All the rooms have great views over the well maintained garden with mature indigenous and exotic trees. The existing garden was enhanced and developed with help and advice from Tom Muller (from the National Botanical Gardens) and Kerry Wallace (formerly from Emerald Seedlings – now at the Shop Café at Amanzi.) There’s also a beautiful well maintained pool for those that want to swim laps to keep fit or just to chill out with an evening sundowner.
Ideal Accommodation for Short or Long Stay Guests
Wavell House offers 2 executive apartments purpose designed for a comfortable long stay in mind, with spacious interiors and private parking space.
These apartments are strategically placed in the extensive grounds to provide privacy and a sense of peace and tranquility.
Facilities ‒ private garden and parking, spacious bed sitting room, dressing room, double bathroom, separate toilet, fully equipped kitchen, Wifi, DSTV, Inverter and Generator. Daily Housekeeping and laundry. Optional meals. Nightguard.
Conveniently located in Highlands.
The cottage and apartments would make an ideal writer’s retreat if you wanted a quiet, serviced place to relax and focus on writing the great African novel. All the interiors have been designed by Ros with her usual attention to detail. The rooms have a relaxed, unfussy colonial feel with comfort and a touch of luxury in mind. Much of the furniture has been sourced from bespoke furniture manufacturer Nigel Joscelyn with additions of soft furnishings from Kudhinda. Truly a unique African flavoured retreat. The oversize wooden doors in the cottage were custom made by Delcardo Designs to compliment the high ceilings while the black aluminium and glass interior doors were supplied to order by Architectural Aluminium.
Ros has included Colonial elegance in her interior designs with ample and elegant mosquito nets, beautiful and graceful furniture and local artworks. She’s even copied the vaguely Oriental design of the portico over the main entrance and repeated it in the new builds. Some paintings include works by Daryl Nero and Heather Van Buuren (Ros’ aunt). The kitchens and bathrooms are fitted out with the latest in luxurious accessories. The lodge has serious ‘green’ credentials too with solar power installed for inverters and hot water. The lodge also has a large generator for emergencies and a prolific borehole.
Ros is scaling down the business, separating the guest accommodation from her home, to create more privacy. The two garden suites are available for bed and breakfast guests with room service.
Long term guests can relax in the beautiful surroundings and chill out enjoying an amazing, fully serviced private garden apartment, with great food available on order. Guests have all the comforts of home without the hassle.
Text: Michael Nott
From: S&D ISSUE 29
