A Bit About Us
REST is a modern and cosy guesthouse located in the quaint town of Dullstroom. Holding core values of friendly service, reliability and quality, Rest is a modern, family-friendly space to soak up the calming atmosphere of Dullstroom and make memories to be cherished for a lifetime.
Built from an old house, Rest is a cosy and relaxing space grounded in Barefoot Luxury. Inspired by Hebrews 4:9–10: “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.”
And the REST is History...
1990
A Glimpse Into the History of the House
2011 - 2021
It started with a dream
28 August 2021
A stroll through Dullstroom
April 2022
The meaning behind the name
October 2022
The building process
December 2023
Our First Guests
Long before our vision for Rest Guesthouse began in 2011, this building held a very different purpose. It once served as a doctor’s practice — a place of care and community in Dullstroom. The loft was simply a storage room, and the historic drawing plans were all crafted by hand, a testament to an earlier era of architecture. The braai area, too, spoke of humble beginnings: a covered space supported by pillars and topped with a tin roof. That simplicity, that honest charm, is the foundation of what Rest would one day become.
Our journey began in 2011 when we first started dreaming together about owning a guesthouse. For years, it remained a quiet hope in our hearts — something we often spoke about, prayed over, and imagined for the future. That dream stayed with us through many defining seasons of life, including difficult times with Diederik’s illness and the challenges of COVID. Through it all, the idea of creating a place of true rest never left us. So when the right house eventually appeared years later, we recognised it instantly as the fulfilment of a long-carried dream.
On 28 August 2021, while strolling through the streets of Dullstroom, we noticed the house that would eventually become Rest Guesthouse. It was for sale, and from the moment we saw it, something stirred. We could immediately imagine what it could become, and that walk marked the beginning of a journey that would unfold into our dream project.
We officially became the owners of the house in April 2022. Purchasing this home felt like a confirmation of the hope we held onto through many tough years. Dullstroom had always been a place of rest for us, a retreat we returned to again and again. Through prayer and reflection, Hebrews 4 became the scripture that confirmed the name “Rest” for our guesthouse—a place grounded in peace, renewal, and the promise of true rest.
The building process began in October 2022, marking the start of transforming the old house into the warm, modern guesthouse we envisioned. With careful planning and thoughtful design, every space was reshaped to create a calming, comfortable atmosphere while preserving the character that first made us fall in love with the property. From structural updates to interior details, this phase brought the dream to life—one wall, beam and brushstroke at a time.
By December 2023, the transformation was complete and the property was finally ready to open its doors. What began as a vision years earlier had become a welcoming, thoughtfully curated guesthouse infused with warmth, comfort and intention. Hosting the very first guests was a defining moment — the culmination of countless decisions, late nights, prayers and careful craftsmanship. Rest had officially come to life, not just as a renovated space, but as a place where others could experience the peace and solace it had given its owners for so long.
The RESToration Process
The restoration of Rest Guesthouse was a careful and deeply considered process, blending the charm of the original structure with the refined comfort guests enjoy today. Every room, beam and detail was thoughtfully reimagined while honouring the home’s history as an old doctor’s practice. From transforming the loft into a warm, inviting space to rebuilding the braai area and reshaping the interiors, the journey was one of patience, vision and craftsmanship. You can explore this transformation in the photos below, capturing each step that brought Rest to life.
