R+W Naturals: Karen Roos
Karen Roos has a way of making things feel as if they’ve always been there. Her spaces don’t shout—they settle. Rooted in history, shaped by nature, refined by intuition. With an editor’s eye and a gardener’s patience, Roos turns old farms into living worlds—first at Babylonstoren in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, then at The Newt in Somerset. What began as private sanctuaries quietly grew into places others could enter. Not just hotels, but ecosystems of experience—where orchard meets archive, where history breathes through glasshouses and old stone walls.
Her instinct is restoration, not reinvention. She listens to the land, reads the bones of a building, and works with architects and artisans who understand that beauty is often found in restraint. Her version of luxury is tactile and elemental—linen on limewashed walls, figs warm from the tree, a clawfoot tub under rafters that have seen centuries. Chickens wander past as guests gather in sun-drenched courtyards. Every decision flows from the question: “Would I want to live here?” It’s not design for design’s sake, but a lived-in elegance—intuitive, earthy, whole.
Karen Roos at the Newt. Photo by The Newt
Photo by The Newt
In R+W Naturals, we connect with extraordinary people making waves in sustainability, art, design, architecture, gastronomy, wellness, and wildlife — from travel and hospitality industry icons to acclaimed architects, designers, influential artists, forward-thinking musicians, boundary-pushing chefs and visionary explorers.
We connected with Roos and explored the hotelier’s philosophy of hospitality—one that is not just about interiors, but about ecosystems and letting the land lead. At Babylonstoren and The Newt, nature is co-author. There are no set paths, only suggestions. Guests follow foot trails that drift through orchards, forage for lunch, or watch bees at work in glass hives. These are places that ask you to slow down, look closer, and fall back into rhythm—with the land, with yourself. Through her work, Roos reminds us: the most meaningful stays don’t just impress. They root. They restore. They return us to what matters.
“[The secret to creating spaces that feel effortlessly lived-in rather than overly designed ] is intuition. The only question I ask myself: do I want to live in this room?”
Photo by The Newt
R+W: When you first bought Babylonstoren and The Newt, you hadn’t planned to turn it into a hotel. At what moment did you realize you wanted to share it with the world?
KR: In both cases we thought we’re buying a weekend retreat where one would stretch out on the couch reading a book. With a glass of good wine to hand. But, being compulsive builders, both estates quickly evolved into public gardens, then hotels.
“In both cases we thought we’re buying a weekend retreat where one would stretch out on the couch reading a book. With a glass of good wine to hand. But, being compulsive builders, both estates quickly evolved into public gardens, then hotels. ”
Photo by Babylonstoren
Karen Roos at Babylonstoren. Photo by Babylonstoren
R+W: Both Babylonstoren and The Newt involved restoring historic buildings. What is your approach to preserving authenticity while making spaces feel contemporary?
KR: The easy (but expensive) part is restoring old fabric. The hard part is turning it to practical use by modern people. That involves marrying old and new – which requires innovation.
“Both the Hadspen Manor (Georgian) and the Babylonstoren werf (Cape Dutch) were built in the Enlightenment, just before the French Revolution. Both celebrate Enlightenment values: appreciation of light, classical proportions, craftsmanship. In each case we tried to stay true to the essential nature of the building.”
Photo by Babylonstoren
Photo by Babylonstoren
Photo by Babylonstoren
R+W: Babylonstoren’s Manor House dates to 1777, and the Cape Dutch architecture is centuries old; Hadspen House at The Newt was built in the 18th century (Georgian). What were some of the biggest restoration challenges you faced?
KR: Both the Hadspen Manor (Georgian) and the Babylonstoren werf (Cape Dutch) were built in the Enlightenment, just before the French Revolution. Both celebrate Enlightenment values: appreciation of light, classical proportions, craftsmanship. In each case we tried to stay true to the essential nature of the building.
R+W: What drew you to the architects and landscape designers you worked with, such as Simon Morray-Jones and Patrice Taravella?
KR: We discovered the beautiful medieval garden that Patrice Taravella built near Bourges in France. He agreed to design both the gardens at Babylonstoren and at the Newt. (But each according to his own cultural evolution.) On building we’ve worked with many architects, depending on the challenge of the particular structure.
“The easy (but expensive) part is restoring old fabric. The hard part is turning it to practical use by modern people. That involves marrying old and new – which requires innovation.”
Photo by The Newt
R+W:The Farmyard at The Newt reimagines traditional farm structures. You’ve spoken about "mixing high and low"—from casual luxury to barn luxury. How do you define that balance in your spaces?
KR: We dig into the original thinking underlying a building. It’s important to understand its original functions and cohesion before you start fiddling. Any modern addition has to respect that.
Photo by The Newt
Photo by The Newt
R+W: What is the secret to creating spaces that feel effortlessly lived-in rather than overly designed?
KR: I think intuition. The only question I ask myself: do I want to live in this room?
R+W: The Newt feels like a world of its own, with layers of experiences unfolding over time. How did you curate that sense of discovery and child-like wonder for guests?
KR: We value guests that are interesting people. Sometimes they surprise us by verbalising things we might have felt but hasn’t been able to formulate.
“We dig into the original thinking underlying a building. It’s important to understand its original functions and cohesion before you start fiddling. Any modern addition has to respect that.”
Photo by The Newt
R+W: One of our favourite memories from visiting the Newt was being in the communal house as chickens wandered in. How important are these unscripted, organic moments in hospitality?
KR: House animals make guests relax. They were part of farm life for ages. A farm belongs to free-range hens as much as to people.
“House animals make guests relax. They were part of farm life for ages. A farm belongs to free-range hens as much as to people.”
R+W: Walking through The Newt, you experience the full food cycle—from livestock to harvest to the plate. Why was it important to showcase that ecosystem to guests?
KR: Once guests understand the farm-to-fork cycle (and the effects of seasons), they enjoy their food more.
Photo by Babylonstoren
Photo by Babylonstoren
R+W: Both Babylonstoren and The Newt are deeply connected to their landscapes. How do you ensure that nature plays a central role in the guest experience?
KR: By getting guests out into the landscape. There’s no point in coming out to Somerset unless you wander across meadows and fields into copses and woods. Or to go on long walks on many footpaths and hills on Babylonstoren, to experience harmony in these dramatic Cape surroundings: mountains rising above us, water rills and streams at our feet, edible fruit and veggies within reach. Guests can swim in the farm dam, enjoy an hour at the spa, eat a simple fresh dish from the gardens, walk op the conical Babylonstoren hill to await sunset with a glass of wine in hand.
Photo by Babylonstoren
R+W: Babylonstoren has been called “the Versailles of vegetable gardens.” What is your personal connection to the garden?
KR: Actually, Versailles is a bit pretentious, like Louis XiV. We are modelled on the Company’s’ Garden at the Cape, that supplied ships sailing between Europe and Asia with fresh veggies and fruit.
“One realizes that you create for people. So you start thinking about what they really need.”
R+W: Having worked as an editor at Elle Decoration, you bring a unique editorial perspective to design. How does that visual sensibility—especially your awareness of how a space photographs—influence the way you curate and create environments?
KR: I think it did develop my thinking. One realizes that you create for people. So you start thinking about what they really need.
R+W: What is your vision for the future—do you have plans for new projects or expansions?
KR: Right on a beautiful little beach in South Africa’s Eastern Cape we recently opened BLOU in Keurbooms:
see www.blouinkeurbooms.com
Room + Wild is the world's first and leading collective and platform for landscape-enhanced accommodation, ecotourism, nature-based destinations, and sustainable luxury travel experiences. We consistently inspire, influence, and spread awareness through our tailored travel guides, curated media content/channels, brand activations, press trips as well as visual and narrative storytelling.