Well, all I can say is you are in for a treat today. If you are not following Sue Bond on Instagram. you will want to now. I am completely smitten with her vacation home (and everything else she does) on the West Side of the Cape in South Africa. Our daughter spent a summer abroad at the University of Cape Town and I have been fascinated with their design aesthetic ever since. I contacted Sue and asked if I could feature her lovely home and she said yes. Let’s take a tour of Sue Bond’s Thesen Island Retreat on the Western Cape.
The outdoor spaces are absolutely mesmerizing
Wouldn’t you love to be a guest for dinner?
Her attention to detail impeccable. How about Christmas in this lovely spot?
I love the invisible line between the indoors and out.
Beautiful artwork from local artists accentuates the lovely interiors. Beautiful collections everywhere.
Her dining room …what can I say?
Her tablescapes definitely hold center stage. Love the blue her. Blue is a favorite of Sue’s. She always sneaks in a little green. Love the combination.
How about this kitchen from her Cape Town home. I think even a non-cook could be happy here.
Love the open shelving and the huge rattan pendants.
Love the gorgeous fabrics in this beautiful bedroom.
Love the mirrors in this beautiful bath
Even the laundry room is beautifully outfitted. Love the art.
Everywhere you look there are beautifully styled vignettes, in the garden…
Adore the styling on this console table.
The outdoor spaces reign supreme don’t they?
I hope you enjoyed the tour of Sue Bond’s Thesen Island Retreat. I intended to make this one of my Sunday favorites but felt it deserved it’s very own post. Thank you Sue for so graciously allowing us this peek into your gorgeous home. Be sure and follow Sue here for more of her signature gorgeousness.
You might also enjoy my post The Captivating Interiors of Serena Crawford a fellow South African.
Below I have linked some collected accessories so you can make Sue’s look your own!
GET SUE’S LOOK WITH RATTAN & COLLECTED ACCESSORIES

thank yo for sharing the picture of this gorgeous home. This home is so inviting.
Isn’t it amazing so much to study
Thank you Meg ! I am honoured 💙
Thank you Meg , what a beautiful feature ! I’m honoured 🛋
Thank you so much Meg ! What an honour to be featured on Cindy’s blog ! She does everything so beautifully with the most gorgeous style ! My style is layered with comfort to make sure it is lovable and not just good to look at .
Just Beautiful Cindy! Love all the blue and green.
Hi Robin
How are you guys doing? I am so glad you enjoyed it. I LOVED it as well
We are well, in lockdown.
How are you doing in CA?
Celebrating America- so good.
Blue and white is my first love so I have loved bringing the greens into our holiday home ! Such a beautiful feature … Cindy is just amazing !
Thanks Sue! It’s mutual!
Thank you Robin ! My first love has always been blue and white . At our holiday home the outlooks are so green I thought I would bring it indoors . Just love how it turned out . So thrilled to be featured here !
I love this post. Thank you for sharing.
I am so glad you enjoyed it. Sue’s work is so inspiring.
Hi Alice , thank you to all of you for liking this post ! I am beyond delighted to be featured by Cindy
Stunning!!! So much inspiration! You’re right Cindy, this home deserved its own post. Headed to check out more of Sue’s work on IG.
I am so glad you enjoyed it. It’s all in the details isn’t it? Sue nails it!
Thank you Treva ! Wow I am overwhelmed by the beautiful feature and such lovely comments ! I adore Cindy’s style , such a compliment
I simply love Sue Bond’s South African Home. And the style and decor are truly inspiring. I especially love the rattan tray, she used for her bar and for her breakfast station and her Ikat pillows, make me certain I will study Sue’s lovely home more. I would love to visit South Africa to see more style like this home. As a new reader to your blog, I can’t thank you enough for providing your readers interesting content.
Hi Beth
That was my favorite as well. Do you think I could source that? I could not find it in the USA. I will ask Sue.
Fabulous rattan tray and everything else you can imagine from Private House in SA . Great on-line shop … have a look
Thank you so much Beth ! You should come and visit our beautiful Country ! My father lives in California and I adore Cindy’s style home ! The rattan tray that you love is from one of my favourite companies called Private House in SA . They ship all over the world , have a look at her on-line store
Wow, this home is so inspiring for Spring! So many details to look at! It definitely deserved its own post! Anyone have a suggestion on a paint color that resembles that green on the dining room wall?
Hi Patti
Maybe we can get Sue to chime in. I think that wall was papered.
Hi Patti , thank you !! Such a lovely compliment . Our dining room is wallpapered in a green grasscloth . In the flesh is a natural fibre so the texture is just superb ! It is a Thibaut product
This home, and garden was certainly deserving of its own spot. Absolutely beautiful, and inspirational. My husband and I were fortunate enough to be able to travel to South Africa, four years ago. Beautiful area, wish we had had even more time to spend there, and their wineries and wines, are spectacular, especially the pinotage.
Hi Jill
It is on our bucket list as well. What was your favorite spot?
Hi Jill , so glad you have visited our beautiful Country ! We live in Cape Town , I have just completed a private wine estate in Franschhoek , a wine region I adore . The foodie part of it has taken off … it is a culinary delight ! Thank you for your lovely compliments
Breathtakingly beautiful home!
Hi Nan
Isn’t it just wonderful?
Thank you so much Nan ! Wow ! What a treat to be featured ! Cindy has the most fabulous style – I adore her home too !
Such a beautiful home and garden! I particularly like the wallpaper behind her open shelving in the kitchen and laundry room. Her table vignettes are inspiring me to up my game. I am now following her on Instagram.
Hi Joanna
Aren’t her tablescapes beyond amazing. I will refer to them whenever (when I can?) I am entertaining. Tablescape Ed with Sue Bonds!
Thank you Joanna ! That beautiful wall behind my open shelving is a hand painted mural on Belgian Linen by a fabulous Company here called African Sketchbook . Proteas are my favourite flower … they did a stunning job ! In my laundry room that paper is a Sanderson . I am a bit of a wallpaper junkie ! So lovely to be featured by Cindy !
WOW! An absolutely beautiful home! I have went back 3 times to look at it!!!
It is just stunning! I am now following Sue on Instagram. Thanks so much for sharing.
Maryann
Hi Maryann
I understand what you are saying we can learn so much from her creativity. Amazing!!
Thank YOU so much Maryann ! What a treat to be featured by the fabulous Cindy ! I love everything about her style
What an inspirational home. Thanks for sharing and all the links.
Hi Sylvia
There is so much inspiration each square deserves studying doesn’t it ? So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you to all of you who liked my home ! Such a fabulous feature , I am blown away by the compliments . I can see why people follow Cindy , she is just fabulous with all of her shares ! I am so lucky to do what I love Sylvia
Just WOW=so beautiful! Love,love,love her all of her hanging light installations. Thanks for sharing something wonderful again.
Hi Carolina
I am so glad you enjoyed it. She is such a talent.
Thank you so much Carolina ! Lucky me that Cindy shared my home – such lovely compliments ! I adore using hanging lights in my interiors … watch this space , I am on my veranda today styling up !
Cindy,
I love the images you’ve shared, I can’t seem to link up with her Instagram account using your links. Let me know if it’s me or your links. =D
xo,
Karen
Hi Karen
I emailed you the direct link but it worked on my end. Did anyone else have this problem?
Thank you so much Karen ! I am so thrilled that Cindy chose to share my holiday home ! WOW ! An honour . I hope you managed to find me on IG
OMG!!!! She wins!!! It’s fabulous!!!!
I thought you might like this one Sandra!!
Thank YOU Sandra !! I am delighted that you like my holiday home ! What a fabulous compliment !! Thanks to Cindy
DIVINE! Everything about Sue Bond’s home is perfect! Very comfortable and inviting. Wonderful collection of items picked up because she fell in love with them. Do you think she’d mind if I dropped in?
HI Cherie
Maybe we both could drop in!
Drop in any time please Cherie ! I am such a collector !! I have carried things home with me from all over the world – including America . My last trip was to New York to shop with my Client at Ralph Lauren for his private wind estate in Franschhoek ! What a treat . So lovely to meet some of Cindy’s fabulous followers . Thanks to her !!
Just “followed” her, thank you! I love how she has a mural in the kitchen behind the shelves! Pretty colors used throughout the home and gardens. Thank you for spotlighting this talented woman. Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Cheryl
She has so many amazing details doesn’t she?
Thank you so much Cheryl ! What lovely compliments ! So much talent here in SA , our artists are great ! The mural was painted by African Sketchbook on Belgian linen . I adore proteas which they captured so well ! Love Cindy’s page !!
Stunning. Inspiring! Thanks.
Hi Pam
I am so glad you enjoyed it. I am in awe of Sue!
Thank YOU Pam ! What a treat to be on Cindy’s Blog !! I love meeting her followers too
Wow! Thats a stunner! Thank you for sharing this gorgeous home!
Hi Jean
You are welcome. I thought it needed it’s own post as well. I did mix a few pictures accidentally of her Capetown home as well.
Thank you so much Jean ! I am honoured to have my own post ! WOW ! Such lovely comments , truly thanks to Cindy !
Hallo from sunny South Africa, Cindy.
Loved to look at the gorgeous pictures of Sue Bond’s house. Inspiring.
I mostly follow your style posts, which I enjoy because of the unique content.
Thank you.
Hi Shirley
I am so glad you enjoyed this post. It is always a challenge for me to keep my fashionistas and designers both content!
Hi Shirley , isn’t Cindy’s style just fabulous ! I love her posts !! Hope you are staying sane in this weird world we find ourselves in !
I just discovered Sue Bonds two weeks ago!!! Love, love, love her work so I was more than pleased when you featured her! Thank you!
Hi Judie
I did too. I am so enamored of her work!!
Thank you so much Judie ! What a lovely compliment to be featured by Cindy ! She has such style and great taste … not to mention her own home ! I look forward to seeing you on my page
I am obsessed with Sue’s work 👌👌👌… Her home is really something else ❤️❤️❤️❤️Amazing work 🥰🥰
I so agree we can all learn so much from her.
Thank you so much Lesego ! I am blown away by all of the lovely comments . So glad you like my work , I love what I do . What a treat to be featured here !
Oh My Gosh ~~~ Thank you for sharing the home of this very talented woman – I’m now following her on IG – just want to see more & more. It seems so rare these days to see homes that are truly unique, and hers is now at the top of my list! Thank you Thank you!
High praise Barb ! Thank you so much ! I am passionate about my work so it is always a huge compliment when loved by someone else ! I have never been a follower of fashion … probably why I love Cindy’s unique style too ! Watch this space I am on the veranda today !
Cindy !! What can I say … a HUGE HUGE thank you for sharing my holiday home ! What a fab fab feature . I am honoured , high praise from you . Such style and gorgeous interiors … not to mention your garden ! I love what I do , but more than anything , to inspire is a treat ! I hope you are planning your next trip to South Africa . Such lovely comments from your followers too X
I love how elegant yet casual Sue’s home is. A hard look to achieve but my favorite style. Thank you for sharing her gorgeous home and garden.
Hi Carol
Sue’s home just stopped me in my tracks. I think she did everything right and more. We may see more soon!
Thank you so much Carol for this lovely compliment ! I agree with you , it’s not easy . Especially when you want your family to feel comfortable and relaxed but in a beautiful space . Such high praise to be featured by Cindy
The wallpaper behind the shelves! Obsessed and I need it!
Yes Pierette! Agreed so good. Sue is just a master at the collected look.
Gorgeous feast for the eyes! The green really make the blue and white sing! And SO many fabulous details everything! Breathtaking!
Thank you Ginger !! I am such a huge blue and white fan it was the best discovery by adding green to see just that – it really does make it all sing ! I am such a detail person I drive myself mad … but I love it ! Thank you to Cindy for this beautiful feature
Thank you so much Cindy ! I cannot believe all of these fabulous comments and compliments ! The collected look is so satisfying , comfortable and full of stories about the journey of each piece into it’s place !
Thank you Pierette ! Isn’t it just too beautiful ! It is actually hand painted Belgian linen by a SA Company called African Sketchbook ! So talented !
Thank you so much Pierette ! That wallpaper is beautiful Belgian linen hand painted by a Co here in SA called African Sketchbook . So talented … my fave proteas !