Couvaloup

Step inside and it feels like life here has always been about connection, creativity and comfort. And perhaps that’s because of the owner – a French fashionista turned innkeeper, who traded London’s chaos for Hopefield’s quiet skies and star-studded nights. With his eye for design, his love of freedom and a heart for hospitality, he has turned this historic home just 120km north of Cape Town into an unforgettable haven.

History and heart

Couvaloup’s bones are old and beautiful – soaring ceilings, wide verandahs, wood-burning fireplaces, thick walls and wooden floors that tell their own tale. But the interiors are playful, eclectic and alive with stories. In the large lounge, an Edra sofa gifted by Joe Corré (son of Vivienne Westwood) sits under the gaze of Paco Rabanne’s silver artwork. A petit salon next door offers a quieter nook, filled with photographs, vintage finds and treasures from the owner’s travels.

The house has eight bedrooms in total – five in the main home and three in the converted barn – each with its own character. From the sunlit Yellow Room to the richly toned Hermès Room, each space tells a story inspired by the owner’s extensive journeys to faraway countries or celebrates the style of a particular artist or era.

Discover each suite’s unique narrative. The Indian Room, with its turquoise walls, peacock chair and hanging wall tapestry will transport you to the colour, song and spice of India. The Dali Room, styled after the art of its namesake, celebrates surrealism and form in clean lines and eclectic art. The Mondrian Room is the epitome of modern, sophisticated yet offbeat luxury, paying tribute to the works of Piet Mondrian.

A collector of curiosities from a tender age, the owner has filled this home with treasures that make for an abundant atmosphere. Guests don’t just check in here; they enter a world of curated beauty, with details that spark joy and conversation. It’s no surprise that beautiful Couvaloup has been featured in international publications, including Vogue Living, Elle Decoration and House & Garden.

Stories from the stoep

If Couvaloup has a heart, it is the wide stoep that runs the length of the house. Shaded and welcoming, it overlooks a lush garden where palm trees stretch skyward and sculptures gifted by friends find their resting place. This is where guests linger with morning coffee, lose themselves in a book or sip a sundowner as the heat of the day softens into evening.

The garden itself is the owner’s pride and joy. A river runs at its edge, a saltwater pool lies tucked between palms and winding paths reveal one inviting corner after another. It is both cultivated and wild, designed and yet unpretentious. A place where you can dip into the pool, harvest from the garden or simply stargaze into the endless West Coast night.

Country living redefined

For those dreaming of a country home for sale on the West Coast, Couvaloup is more than property – it is a way of life. It’s afternoons spent by the pool, evenings sharing long-table dinners under the stars, mornings at the Hopefield market and the simple pleasure of community in a small town that still moves at its own pace.

And because it’s a fully functioning guesthouse for sale, it comes with everything needed to continue the story. Guests are already drawn here for its history, its creative flair and its promise of peace and quiet. Hopefield itself – with its annual flower show, its historic church and its desert-like landscapes that burst into bloom in spring – is a destination worth discovering.

Old soul, new comfort

While Couvaloup wears its history proudly, it also offers comfort for modern living. The house and barn were extensively restored – from stripped and polished wooden floors to renovated bathrooms and the reimagined saltwater pool. Every detail, from the teak shutters to the ironwork of the pool house, has been carefully considered and brought back to life.

Yet Couvaloup isn’t precious or stiff. It’s warm, whimsical and welcoming. A guesthouse where Great Danes once guarded the door, where friends gather in vintage peacock chairs on the verandah, where Brigitte Bardot photographs hang beside modern artworks. It is, in every way, a house with personality.

Hopefield magic

Hopefield may not be on the typical tourist map, but that’s part of its magic. An hour and a half from Cape Town, it is both accessible and remote – a small West Coast farming town surrounded by flatlands, windmills and wildflowers. In spring, the veld comes alive with a kaleidoscope of Namaqualand daisies. In summer, the skies stretch endlessly blue. This is the kind of place where you can hear your own thoughts, where silence is a companion, and where time slows down enough to notice the details.

And when you’re ready for a change of scene, the pristine waters of Langebaan Lagoon and the glorious West Coast National Park are just half an hour’s drive away.

Why Couvaloup?

For anyone searching for a West Coast guesthouse for sale, Couvaloup offers more than just a business – it offers a home with heart, a creative refuge and a piece of South African history. For those seeking a country home for sale with room to breathe and dream, it offers just that, too. Whether you wish to continue the owner’s legacy as a guesthouse or simply make it your own family estate, Couvaloup is ready for its next custodian.

This beautiful property for sale in Hopefield is a wonderful find. This is not a house that fades into the landscape – it is a landmark, a storybook and a sanctuary. Here, life is lived fully, creatively, joyfully. Or as the owner himself says: “Welcome to Couvaloup, my friends.”

Written by Sally Rutherford

Photography by Jan Ras

What are the property details?

• Erf size: 13 521 m²
• House size: 550 m²
• 8 bedrooms (8 en suite)
• 9 bathrooms
• Saltwater swimming pool
• 1 garage and ample parking
• Laundry room
• Cold room/storeroom
• Staff accommodation
• Abundant fruit trees
• Borehole and well water
• Outdoor braai