Tucked into the foothills of Hout Bay’s mountains, Future Found Sanctuary feels like stumbling upon a secret world. The estate sits so close to the mountain slopes that it almost creates its own microclimate – verdant gardens flourish where you’d expect drier terrain, pockets of flowers bloom in unexpected corners, and quiet reflective spaces reveal themselves as you wander the property.
The vision behind this sanctuary belongs to Jim Brett, whose experience running design brand giants such as West Elm and Anthropologie brings a retailer’s eye for curated beauty to hospitality. His understanding of style – how spaces should feel, how details matter – permeates every aspect of the property, but nowhere more so than in Mountain View Villa, the residence he and his partner originally designed and built for themselves, which can be booked by guests for exclusive use.
A Villa Born from Travel
Mountain View Villa represents what happens when people who’ve travelled extensively create their own perfect retreat. The design and retail executives brought decades of aesthetic sensibility to the space, resulting in a residence that balances grandeur with intimacy, luxury with livability.
The design and retail executives brought decades of aesthetic sensibility to the space, resulting in a residence that balances grandeur with intimacy, luxury with livability.
The villa’s architecture speaks through volume and light. Vaulted ceilings soar overhead, creating a sense of space that feels both impressive and comfortable. The master suite exemplifies this thoughtful design, with a walk-in closet that would make Carrie Bradshaw envious, dual toilets in the en-suite (because even in paradise, practicality matters), and proportions that allow for genuine retreat within your retreat.
Design That Understands Living
The kitchen alone reveals a great deal about the owners’ priorities. Marble tops gleam against navy blue cupboards, and cream Smeg appliances provide that perfect blend of retro charm and modern function. This isn’t a showpiece kitchen – it’s designed for actual use, for those who understand that holiday cooking can be as pleasurable as dining out.
Between the master wing and guest quarters lies a comfortable TV room, connected by a temperature-controlled hallway that makes moving between spaces comfortable even during Cape Town’s winter months. This attention to transitional spaces, those in-between moments, reveals designers who’ve actually lived in their creations and understood what makes daily life pleasant.
This attention to transitional spaces, those in-between moments, reveals designers who’ve actually lived in their creations and understood what makes daily life pleasant.
The villa’s layout creates natural separation between private and social zones. The guest wing occupies one side, providing autonomy for friends or family, while the central entertainment area serves as the property’s heart. Here, indoor and outdoor spaces flow seamlessly – kitchen to lounge to sheltered braai area to private lap pool, all reserved exclusively for villa guests.
This outdoor pool area became our sanctuary within the sanctuary – a place to settle with views stretching before us, a simple platter we’d assembled ourselves to nibble on, and the luxury of unhurried conversation. The kind of uninterrupted connection that a space this peaceful naturally allows.
The Broader Sanctuary
Mountain View Villa exists within Future Found’s larger ecosystem. The estate includes the original hotel building (Maison Noir) with its collection of rooms, a second structure housing additional accommodation (Villa Verte), plus a gym and yoga studio. As well as separate Sky and Earth pods. With thirteen rooms spread across the property, the sanctuary maintains intimacy despite its offerings.
Meals come from the main Maison Noir kitchen, where Chef Malika van Reenen prepares meals that are served communally. A tailored lunch and dinner menu is presented each day, and guests can choose if they want to dine. Villa Verte guests have us of their own kitchen and dining area, and Forest Pods guests can choose to dine at either Maison Noir or Villa Verte.
Breakfasts include a daily spread feels generous without being excessive – we enjoyed fruits, yoghurt, granola, pastries, cheeses and charcuterie, plus eggs cooked precisely to our preference. It’s the kind of breakfast that fuels exploration or encourages lingering over coffee, depending on the day’s mood.
Wellness by Choice, Not Prescription
The property’s position on the slopes of Table Mountain lends itself naturally to wellness pursuits. The original concept leaned heavily into this identity, and the menu of offerings reflects that commitment still. You can arrange for a guided nature walk up the mountain, a yoga session, tai chi, a sound journey, or even activities like a private cacao ceremony can be arranged.
The onsite spa exemplifies a thoughtful approach to wellbeing, with a varied treatment menu and an onsite rassoul. Our massage experience began with selecting a scented oil, each paired with an intention to set for the treatment, a ritual that felt meaningful.
The therapist commenced with the gentle cascade of a rainstick, its sound creating an immediate shift from the outside world. What followed was a wonderfully relaxing massage that balanced technique with intuition, delivered by a team who clearly understand their craft. It was a lovely addition to our stay.
Yet there’s no pressure to participate, no judgement if your idea of wellness involves wine rather than meditation. The proximity of the Constantia Winelands makes this alternative equally convenient, with top culinary destinations like La Colombe and Chef’s Warehouse also easily accessible.
Twenty minutes in the opposite direction delivers you to Camps Bay’s white sandy beaches, and thirty to Cape Town’s vibrant city centre. Future Found Sanctuary works equally well as a base for exploration or as a destination unto itself.
The Gift of Choice
What makes Future Found Sanctuary particularly special is how it enables different types of stays. You might never feel the need to leave the property (we didn’t), reading by the private pool, meditating in hidden garden corners, existing in the suspended time that this property seems to create. Or you might use it as a sophisticated headquarters for your Cape Town adventures, returning each evening to your own slice of private paradise.
Future Found Sanctuary works equally well as a base for exploration or as a destination unto itself.
The staff understand this duality. They’re present when needed, invisible when desired, and seem genuinely attuned to guests’ rhythms. There’s no forced cheerfulness, no interruption of quiet moments, just competent service that anticipates without imposing.
A Sense of Elsewhere
Walking the property’s grounds, you could be almost anywhere in the world. Yet this placelessness becomes an asset – it allows you to focus on the immediate sensory experience rather than contextualising everything through tourism.
The property offers genuine privacy, something increasingly rare in our connected world. Whether you’re seeking space from others or just time for yourself, Future Found provides the physical and psychological room for it.
Five-Star Simplicity
The term “five-star” can get overused, but Future Found earns it through execution rather than excess. The views deliver exactly what mountain settings promise. The peace feels authentic, not manufactured. The reflective spaces work because they’re actual spaces, not decorative concepts.
The property manages to feel refined yet comfortable, hidden yet accessible, serene yet connected to Cape Town’s energy.
Why It Works
Mountain View Villa succeeds because it was built by people creating their own perfect refuge, and then made it available to others. The design choices reflect actual preferences rather than trend-following. The spaces work because they were lived in before being shared.
For those seeking restoration, whether from travel fatigue, life stress, or simply the need for beautiful surroundings and time to think, Future Found Sanctuary delivers. It’s a place that doesn’t demand anything of you, doesn’t promise transformation or enlightenment. Instead, it simply holds space for whatever you need – quiet reflection, joyful exploration, or that precious blend of both, allowing restoration to unfold at its own gentle pace.
10 Hunters Way, Hout Bay | +27 21 427 5901
