We ask ourselves the question: What does luxury mean in 2023? What are the things that truly make us happy? And how much of what do we really need? Dietmar Silly, the owner of „PuresLeben Premiumhäuser,“ has asked himself precisely these questions. He has discovered that, for him, luxury lies in simplicity. This philosophy is also reflected in his „PuresLeben“ vacation homes concept. These are premium hideaways nestled in the untouched nature of southern Styria in Austria, designed and furnished with high-quality natural materials and a great deal of attention to detail.

Because the owner plans and builds here himself, he expresses his passion for architecture and design. The general style is a harmonious blend of traditional and modern—pure and chic. The properties are mostly old wooden farmhouses that have been transformed into unique chalets by adding modern extensions with large glass fronts, plenty of wood, and natural stone. No two vacation homes are the same here; each has its own individual character.

Simply live life to the fullest: in one of the twelve pieces of natural jewelry.

We have the pleasure of being guests in the premium house called „Grabenschake,“ the latest and only recently added natural gem. It has been part of the „PuresLeben“ family since 2021. The chalet impresses with its absolutely secluded location, surrounded by 55,000 m² of nature. Meadows, fish ponds, mixed forests, and rolling hills promise plenty of privacy. Because that’s what Dietmar’s guests are looking for: simply enjoying pure life undisturbed. Being somewhere else and yet feeling at home straight away.

In the middle of nature, but also with all the comforts you could wish for on vacation, such as a freestanding bathtub, cozy lounge and reading beds, a small library, ambient sound box, and chic reading lamps that convey an absolute feel-good factor. The outdoor panoramic sauna and the 10-meter-long heated pool provide relaxing wellness moments. You have everything you need here, but not too much, so that you can concentrate on the essentials.

Culinary delights are served contactless in the „PuresLeben“ houses if you wish. You can place your breakfast order in the letterbox by 6 o’clock in the evening at the latest and have your breakfast delivered directly to your door the next morning, as quiet as a mouse. A variety of regional products such as milk, sausage, cheese, spreads, eggs, and jams await you there—all sustainably packaged in jars, of course. Depending on the time of day and the weather, you can enjoy your breakfast in the stylishly furnished kitchen or on one of the two outdoor terraces.

A three-course menu is also served to your door in the evening. Here, you can choose between a meat or fish dish for the main course. And don’t worry, vegetarians are also catered for. A phone call or WhatsApp is all it takes. Christoph, the chef and son of owner Dietmar, caters to all requests. And if you are overwhelmed by the peace and quiet and idyllic natural surroundings, there are plenty of opportunities to do sports or socialize.

For example, you can visit one of the surrounding wine taverns or, every Thursday, dine at the „PuresLeben Restaurant“ called „Kuchl.“ Here, the name says it all. Christoph Silly conjures up down-to-earth Styrian delicacies for his guests on an old, rustic wood-fired oven, just like in the old days. He explains exactly what he serves, when, and how. Because seasonality and regionality are inseparable parts of the Silly philosophy.

To a glass with Dietmar Silly: How „PureLife“ began.

Host Dietmar Silly takes time out for us and drops by the „Grabenschake“. He tells us how it all began with the „PuresLeben houses“. It all started with the desire to become self-employed. „I just wanted to do something of my own. I asked myself what I liked. The answer was quite simple: Living, drinking, and eating. While building my own house, I came up with the idea of renovating, modernizing, and renting out vacation homes.“ Unlike many other success stories, there was no big, sophisticated marketing concept at the beginning, but rather simply a person who did what he believed in based on his gut feeling and trust and pursued his goals with calm and deliberation.

It was only gradually that more and more properties and houses were added. Rapid growth? That was never his goal. After all, it was not typical to build luxury vacation homes in the remote Oberhaag region, and many people initially found the idea a bit „silly“. However, demand quickly showed that more and more people were longing for exactly this type of vacation, that Dietmar’s gut feeling was right, and the idea was not „silly“ at all.

One of his next heartfelt projects is a square farm in Sausal, where he wants to grow the majority of his produce himself in the future and let his guests share in the simple „pure life“. „At some point, it will become a completely well-rounded and sustainable business,“ says owner Dietmar. Incidentally, „PuresLeben“ is a family business in which his children will also be joining him. Christoph has already taken over the culinary scepter, and daughter Anna will join him in management after completing her training. But even that, all in good time. This is particularly important to father Dietmar, which is why he has already acquired three plots of land for further „PuresLeben houses“, but will leave the design of these to the next generation in the future. In any case, we are very excited to see where the journey will take us and will be following it closely.

lonely class

The world of the Sillys consists not only of 12 vacation homes but also of the associated „Silly“ winery, which has been run by brother Gerald for over 15 years. The range of typical Styrian varieties such as Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muskateller can be tasted and purchased in all PuresLeben houses. In addition to wine, there is also sparkling wine. For example, the rosé sparkling wine „Rosarot“, which tasted particularly good to us due to its fruitiness and can be recommended as an aperitif.

Psssssst! A real insider tip for dog owners.

What particularly impresses us personally and counts as a real insider tip is that dogs are also more than welcome. Not only the team, but also the chalets themselves and the surrounding area are very dog-friendly and are perfect for long walks. Our Samoyed husky mix „Rocket“ was greeted warmly on arrival with a bowl of water, blanket, and small welcome treats – and felt right at home.