Review of Bloomestate Luxury Retreat, by Brian Johnston

Located at the western end of Swellendam, Bloomestate is far enough from the centre for quiet, yet near enough to be in town within minutes. Wrought-iron gates swing back to let you into its grounds, and the tyres of your car crunch satisfyingly on the white gravel driveway, further evoking a sense of separateness and serenity. Two ridgebacks bounce out to meet you, followed by cheerful (and, you can't help suspecting, terrifyingly organised) Dutch owners Carla and Maarten.

The facilities

Bloomestate has the minimalist chic of a Hollywood film set, its white pavilions set against green lawns, its swimming pool backed by a blue wall that seems to echo the range of blue mountains behind. Here and there, there are unexpected splashes of bright colour: the contemporary tables on the terrace, the huge flowerpots that turn into glowing blobs at night. But minimalism doesn't detract from comfort: a hammock strung under the trees by the lily pond, an open-air spa tub, wellness therapies and hot stone massages in your room.

There are board games and magazines in the lounge, a coffee machine and an honesty bar. (We like the sanded-down floorboards and large windows in the lounge pavilion, but aren't so sure about the zebra skin - didn't we just see a live one of those the day before?) And the breakfast pavilion is lovely in the morning, with sunlight seeping through the French doors and flooding the pine floors with light. Sparse and modernistic, Bloomestate is also light and peaceful - just the spot for a leisurely breakfast while reading The Cape Times or gazing over the lawns.

The rooms

There are just seven guestrooms at Bloomestate, located in two pavilions on the grounds. The smell of lavender from a large flowerbed permeates a four-roomed pavilion based on the seasons, while the three-roomed pavilion takes as its theme earth, wind and fire (the elements, not the disco classic). Wherever you are, guestrooms are all the same, but with large windows across the front, daytime privacy might be an issue to some in the elements pavilion, which is gazed upon by lounge-lizards by the pool. The only difference is the splashes of colour in the décor: pale green for spring, red for summer, blue for wind - you get the picture.

You can also choose between king and twin beds. But all rooms are pleasantly large, non-smoking, piled with magazines, and offer a good-size desk, iPod docking station, DVD player (with house library to chose from) and wireless Internet access. (You can rent a laptop if you don't have one, but isn't the pool beckoning and blue just outside the window?) The thick mattresses are excellent, the pillows good, and good pillows are as rare as ostrich teeth in South African hotels. The black leather chairs and glass coffee table are a bit Charlie's Angels for those who remember the TV series. We aren't sure if Bloomestate is really, really modern or actually a bit retro, but isn't everything old new again? Besides, it all works so wonderfully.