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September 2020 FOOD

DIY

A taste of

Trendy barn door with wood & steel

Thailand

A-Z GUIDE

Grow veggies to share!

Prawn curry, chicken satay and more…

Create a victory garden A veld oasis in Montagu

5 gorgeous OVERBERG

Hemp & glass hideaway

PRETORIA

An energy-savvy home in the city

Off the grid!

s

STANFORD

‘Our solar-powered family getaway’

We love this stunning container conversion!

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Reader home

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Reader home

22

Reader home

Container living

92

Reader garden

décor 16 22

38 48 56

Fresh ideas with botanical designs Container living Two readers’ clever conversions A hemp house that treads lightly on Mother Earth Nifty detail and abundant natural light in a Pretoria eco home An off-the-grid haven set between a milkwood forest and a lagoon

do it yourself 66

Make a stylish barn door

in the kitchen

108 118 122 124

Thai flavours take centre stage Quick food We’ve got supper sorted!

Pap tart, step by step Food & drinks to feed your senses

competitions 10 68 82 90

Write in to Your Space and WIN Meet the 2nd finalist in our Declutter Competition Send us your pet pics and WIN Complete Crossword #145 and WIN a book worth R300

Thai style

in the garden 92

100

A veld garden at one with its natural environment Veggie gardening Grow to share

regulars 12 70

130

What’s new on the décor scene Advice Ask the experts 74 Trash or treasure? Let’s find out 78 Renovation Build something new!

82 Pets and their peculiarities 84 Gardening notebook Last words from Karin Brynard September 2020

home

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Cover photograph Francois Oberholster • Styling Marian van Wyk

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this is our kind of 2

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Easy.

Designed byUS

An original MRP Home design created by a one of a kind creative team.

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Single printed polycotton duvet cover set

3/4 R229.99 D R299.99 Q R349.99 K R399.99 SK R429.99

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1 *Side table 51,5 (l) x 37,5 (w) x 62 (h) cm R799.99 2 Table lamp R199.99 3 *Velvet headboard 153 (l) x 4 (w) x 90 (h) cm R3000 4 Microsatin cushion 60 x 60cm R159.99 5 Printed cushion 30 x 50cm R99.99 6 Framed artwork R179.99 7 Ceramic vase R59.99 8 Hanging faux plant R99.99 9 Embroidered cushion 40 x 60cm R199.99 10 Tweedle cushion 48 x 48cm R99.99 11 Printed cushion 50 x 50cm R139.99

ONLINE | IN-STORE | APP

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99 each

249

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10 Tweedle cushions 48 x 48cm

99 each

Linen like curtains 230 x 218cm

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12 *Oslo co ee table 80 (l) x 80 (w) x 40 (h) cm R1500 13 Medium ceramic vase R79.99 14 Large ceramic vase R129.99 15 Round ceramic vase R99.99 16 Decorative plate R199.99 17 Decorative timer R199.99 *All items marked with an asterisk and furniture are available online at mrphome.com or in selected mrphome stores.

Product available from 20 August 2020, while stocks last.

LESS PLASTIC, MORE FANTASTIC. 50% of plastic packaging has been removed from our duvet covers, curtain ranges and table cloths.

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MODERN LIVING AND SAVING...

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10 Small oval platter Medium R79.99 Large R129.99

made Simple.

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and bowl

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Canape dish and bowl R15.99 each 2 Pack of 4 side plates R169.99 3 Napkins R19.99 each 4 Placemat R25.99 Stoneware dinner plate R19.99 6 Stoneware side plate R19.99 7 Stoneware bowl R19.99 8 Stoneware mug R19.99 Small oval platter R39.99 Medium R79.99 Large R129.99 10 Glass plate R25.99 11 Placemat R9.99 Pack 3 tea towels R79.99 13 Wine glass R49.99 14 Hi-ball glass R39.99 15 Tumbler R35.99

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Dinner plate, side plate, bowl and mug

ONLINE | IN-STORE | APP ONLINE | IN-STORE | APP

Product available from 20 August 2020, while stocks last.

Dear reader The magazine you’re holding in your hands is an historic one.

This is the last monthly issue of Home; from now on, South Africa’s No. 1 home and garden magazine will only be published d eight times a year.

While I write this with a heavy heart, I’m still full of hope and have plenty of plans up my sleeve. Because I’m a glass-half-full type of person. I’d rather be part of the solution than part of the problem. And as much as our enthusiastic, creative and hard-working team would have liked to continue putting together 12 monthly issues of this beautiful magazine each year, the Covid-19 pandemic has also hit us hard. Like so many other magazines.

The good news is: it’s far from over! And in addition to these eight issues per year, we will still produce our special editions to inspire you in-between.

Home Yard is currently on shelf, we’re already working on our annual Home Renovations issue, and there’s a stunning Garden Notebook in the pipeline again. In the new year, other exciting projects await – I’ll tell you more about those later...

What does all of this mean for you as a valued reader?

First of all: you’ll have to wait a little longer for the latest issue of Home, which will from now on be on the shelves every six weeks (only the holiday edition over December and January will be on sale for eight weeks).

Secondly: a small price increase; but not like the one we had in June.

Give me a moment to provide some context here...

In the six years that I’ve been the editor, I’ve never been in such deep trouble as I was in June. The jump to R75 was part of a broader strategy that very clearly did not go down well with Home readers.

The idea was to include something extra with the magazine (a mask in our case) and then increase the price – just for that issue. But we didn’t explain it clearly enough and I got a lot of flak on Facebook and in my inbox. Someone even called me a skelm. Ouch.

Hence the following: if anyone still believes we’re simply pushing up the price because we’re greedy and just want to make more money out of readers, think again. A radical decision like the one we’ve just had to make, which included three of our team members losing their jobs, is surely enough proof that times are hard and that we have to push in a new direction. So, please, understand that the new price of R65 per issue is the proverbial ‘sweet spot’ that ensures Home can still be part of the South African magazine landscape for years to come, albeit less frequently.

The simple truth is a magazine printed on good quality paper, featuring photos taken of homes all over South Africa by professional photographers (flights, vehicle hire, petrol, accommodation…), styled by our creative editor with stories produced by top writers – all published in English and Afrikaans – costs a lot of money to put together.

I’m thrilled it’s spring because this season brings with it new growth.

And a time of crisis such as our world is experiencing currently is fertile ground for creativity.

I invite you to walk this road with us. We’re ready – and, as always, we are here for you.

editor@homemag.co.za

8 home September 2020

EDITOR CAPE TOWN OFFICE Cape Town postal address Office Manager JOHANNESBURG OFFICE

EDITORIAL Features Editor Creative Editor Food Editor Art Director Designer Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Digital Editor Multimedia Journalist Photographer Retoucher

Wicus Pretorius • editor@homemag.co.za 20th Floor, Media24 Building, 40 Heerengracht, Cape Town PO Box 1802, Cape Town, 8000 Amina Essop 021 406 2401 Media Park Building, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park

Shané Barnard • shane.barnard@media24.com Marian van Wyk Johané Neilson • johane.neilson@tuis.co.za Andrew Maritz Jade Cupido Tessa Jean-Jacques Gillian Eva Amy Johnson Suné Esterhuizen Francois Oberholster René Nortjé

CONTRIBUTORS Kim Arendse, Jani Augustyn-Goussard, Karin Brynard, Elza Cooper, Greg Cox, Deon de Goede, Paula Dubois, Gerda Engelbrecht, Amora Erasmus, Marié Esterhuyse, Karen McEwan, Kay Montgomery, Beatrice MooreNöthnagel, Maryke Roberts, Karl Rogers, Marie Opperman, Hettie Scholtz, Carin Smith, Ludwig Taschner, Elna van der Merwe, JJ van Rensburg, Amanda van Wyngaardt Production Manager General Enquiries ADVERTISNG HEAD: Advertising Sales (Cape Town and KZN) Key Account Manager (CT) Sales Manager (JHB) Classified Sales MEDIA24 LIVE Head of Events Head of Sponsorship Marketing Manager LIFESTYLE CREATE STUDIO Creative Director Commercial Manager: Monthlies Commercial Editor CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Product Manager

Kerry Nash Donvé Myburgh 021 406 2387

Sarah Curtis-Bowles 021 461 2396 Charlene Meyer 082 928 5970 Susan Pienaar 083 281 7300 Evonne Mehl 021 461 2396

Francois Malan 021 406 2376 Nikki Ruttiman 011 713 9147 Andile Nkosi 021 406 2257

Michael de Beer Lise Coetsee Gerda Engelbrecht

Armand Kasselman Janine Snyman 011 713 9918

SUBSCRIPTIONS, RENEWALS AND ENQUIRIES TEL 087 353 1300 • FAX 086 296 6681 • EMAIL subs@media24.com SMS “home” to 32361 (R1 per SMS) • WEB Zinio.com or Magzter.com

Published by Media24, 40 Heerengracht, Cape Town, 8001. Tel: 021 406 2121

CEO: Media24 Ishmet Davidson • CEO: Media24 Print Media Rika Swart GM: Media24 Lifestyle Minette Ferreira Head of Finance: Media24 Lifestyle Jameelah Conway CMO Media24 Lifestyle Nerisa Coetzee Copyright Media24. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of the publisher. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information given to readers, the editor, proprietors and publishers cannot accept responsibility for any damages or inconvenience that may arise therefrom. Home has the right to make alterations to any material submitted, and cannot be held responsible for the loss of or damage to any material submitted for publication. All prices stated are subject to change and may vary from store to store; retail prices in-store should be considered the final confirmed amount.

your space Write to us at Home, Readers’ Letters, PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000; email editor@homemag.co.za, fax 021 408 3046, and join our Facebook group (facebook.com/homemag) or follow us on Instagram @TuisHomeMag. When submitting a letter, please include your full name and the town in which you live.

In the garden

Dawid Sekgoro of Kimberley writes My love for gardening comes from my childhood; my uncle worked at a nursery and he would call me to come and help him because he believed I had green fingers.

When I started my own garden nine years ago, there was only a shack on a barren piece of land. Fortunately, it had good red soil.

I started by collecting stones and bricks for the layout. I didn’t buy any plants; I planted cuttings. My neighbour had a leaking tap where grass grew and I started replanting the grass. The size of my garden is 14 x 11m. I use empty paint buckets for

IN SHORT pot plants and my neighbours have also started collecting paint buckets for me.

My favourite part of my garden is the entrance. I made a stepping stone with the initial D to welcome guests and I have a heart-shaped bed with two stone pots.

Here are a few of my gardening tips: when potting plants, add enough stones for drainage before filling up with soil; mow the lawn when it’s damp; never water the garden after 12pm; shape hedges while they’re young and plant waterwise plants.

My garden makes me proud! I currently work as a gardener for four families and one day I’d like to have my own landscaping business.

I’m inspired by every issue of Home to use items I already have in my house, rather than buying new. I inherited a lovely Coricraft sofa from my Gran, but the cream colour wasn’t practical, especially with a dog who loves cuddles.

I contemplated buying new but decided to recover instead and bought a slipcover through Coricraft. The couch didn’t even have to leave the house!

Good quality furniture can be kept for many years with a little TLC when required.

– Claire Gray, Cape Town

I hope that Home grows from strength to strength and continues with its publications as, especially during this difficult and challenging time, it gives me a sense of normality over and above the pleasure of reading it. Thanks to all for keeping the ‘home fires’ burning; your efforts and dedication are sincerely appreciated. I hope you enjoy what you do as much as your readers enjoy what you have done. – Ilona Baguley, Edenvale

Your biggest fan!

Debbie Stretton of Kloof, Durban writes During his illness, my husband was your biggest fan! He always ensured that he got the latest copy of Home. As a photographer, he appreciated its aesthetic and the exciting, inspiring and achievable ideas it shared. I think it also gave him the opportunity to escape. We bought our fixer-upper in 2010 with the intention of renovating it and creating our dream home. Sadly, we never got the chance as my husband passed away in October 2019. However, lockdown gave me a chance to start dreaming again and I’ve started giving thought to the renovation…

I connected with my husband through a spiritual medium in April and couldn’t help p but smile when she asked me the meaning of “the kitchen”! I understood immediately as that was the room we planned on renovating first and, prior to his passing, he suggested that I continue buying Home as he’d be instructing me from the other side! I have no doubt he will.

Thank you for igniting that passion and joy in him! Right until the end, he continued to love life and sought inspiration in nature, his orchids (which are starting to bloom en masse!), our garden, coffee and cake at Madeleines and, of course, Home mag!

10 home September 2020

The writer of the winning letter gets a weekend for two with wine tasting and a bottle of Pinot Noir from Spookfontein worth R2 405!

Spookfontein, nestled among the fynbos and mountains of the Bo-Hemel-en-Aarde valley, offers a haven for wine enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Taste their boutique wines, enjoy a meal in the restaurant or stay in one of their luxurious cottages from which you can explore the area on foot, on horseback or on a mountain bike.

Visit spookfontein.co.za.

WIN!

The editor reserves the right to edit letters at his discretion.

WINNING LETTER

Send décor and lifestyle news to news@homemag.co.za.

what’s new

Compiled by Shané Barnard

Fine fabrics Labyrinth in Beige

Fire Fish in Coral

Speckle in Green

Inspired by goddesses, rare botanicals, insects and camouflage, these ink-dyed cotton canvas fabrics from the Room 13 Collection (1.48m wide; R860/m) are not only gorgeous but ecofriendly too! Go to room13collection.co.za.

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Wilmie Smith WHERE Cape Town BUSINESS Mathilde & Amélie HER WORK Mathilde & Amélie was born as a result of Wilmie’s lifelong love of crafts, knitting, embroidery and needlework. “When I came across textiles, tapestries, lace and handwork at brocantes (flea markets) during the 10 years I lived in France, I was struck by their quality and imagined the many long hours devoted to these nostalgic items,” Wilmie recalls. “I developed a desire to restore dignity to these neglected but once fashionable objects and to renew them as items that could be useful, decorative and desirable.”

Wilmie started repurposing old tapestries, turning them into unique pieces including a variety of handbags, chairs, jackets, cushion covers and lamps. “It’s such fun sourcing tapestries and planning all the detail that goes into each item. Mathilde & Amélie is all about respecting and caring for these wonderful vintage pieces.”

Explore Wilmie’s unique collection at mathilde-amelie.com.

Blombosse cushions by Casamento are inspired by the beautiful Cape Floral Kingdom and feature hand-embroidered wildflowers, trees, seeds and roots.

The Linara fabric is a cotton linen blend with a soft touch. We love the Tarragon Pincushion (right, top) and Tarragon Dakriet scatters (35 x 52cm; R2 530 each) – they make for classic heirloom pieces! See the collection at casamento.co.za.

Recycle in your sleep All of MRP Home’s hollow fibre duvet inners and pillows are now made from recycled plastic bottles – so you can rest easy, knowing that you’re doing your part for the planet.

Plus, 50% of their plastic packaging has been removed from duvet covers, curtain ranges and tablecloths, helping to reduce the impact of plastic on the environment.

And if you’re not sure what to do with your used duvet inners and pillows, you can take them to any MRP Home store for recycling. This way, they will be given a new lease on life as part of the #closetheloop campaign. Find details at mrphome.com.

12 home September 2020

These fynbos bowls (R250 each) from Shelley Maisel Ceramics are both functional and beautiful and will add some local flavour to your tapas spread or favourite display.

See more at Instagram.com/shelleymaiselceramics.

A stunning new generation @homelivingspace store has opened its doors in Stellenbosch Square Mall in the heart of the Cape Winelands.

The 500m² shop offers a boutique selection of @home’s best and most fashionable homeware and furniture styles, coordinated and displayed in a way that invites you to imagine these beautiful pieces in your own home.

Go to home.co.za.

The Plascon Colour Advice team’s palette for spring, Gentle Serenity, is a modern and fresh interpretation of chalky pastels with gender-neutral appeal. Gentle Serenity enhances moods and moments that embrace imperfection in order to generate happiness, wellness and contentment. The cooler tones in the palette, including Divina, Maple Pecan, Velvet Coast and Warm Violet, bring peace and the tranquillity of an oasis to your space. Visit plascon.com for more.

Divina

Maple Pecan

Velvet Coast

Warm Violet

Woolworths Homeware has collaborated with Mo’s Crib, a Pretoria-based sister duo.

Morongwe ‘Mo’ and Michelle Mokone specialise in manufacturing handmade décor items, including an impressive range of recycled PVC and grass woven baskets and planters.

Now available exclusively at Woolworths, the Grass Woven range is an embodiment of tradition and raw style.

Handmade from natural fibres of iIala palm leaves, these round baskets come in varying sizes, with or without lids and handles.

Visit woolworths.co.za for details.

FOR YOUR WALLS Inspired by bold botanicals, local wallpaper designers Groen have added three new looks to their range. Groen designs, prints and applies custom-made wallpaper to suit your space. Their unique designs are seamless and scratchresistant and prices range from R425 to R550/m2 (excluding installation).

Make a statement with this tropical motif. Check out groenjan.co.za.

what’s new Nitiphyllum 100% linen cushion cover with green seaweed print (75 x 45cm) R850, Evolution Product

Local is lekker!

Support our producers with these beautiful décor buys.

Elephant’s Ear leaf ceramic plate (20 x 11cm) R215, Knus

Newport bookcase (120 x 36 x 140cm) R3 000, MRP Home

Classic 4-seater velvet sofa in Charcoal (67 x 240 x 90cm) R10 999, @home

Trumpet side table in Sapphire Blue (51cm D x 67cm H) R2 450, Knus Stitched pro-felt (upholstery-grade felt lookalike fabric) stellar pendant with yellow rope border stitching (50 x 65 x 45cm) R2 495, Knus

Rhino wine holder (38 x 12 x 21cm) R389, Yuppiechef

Botanique scented candle R229, @home Vimba 100% cotton cushion cover in Rock Salt (above left) and Uvongo (50 x 50cm) R335, Mungo

Kafue printed panel on 100% linen (220 x 150cm) R3 950, Evolution Product

STOCKISTS @home 0860 834 834, home.co.za Evolution Product 010 900 0631, evolutionproduct.co.za Knus knus.co MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Mungo 044 533 1395, mungo.co.za Yuppiechef 021 702 4969, yuppiechef.com

fresh ideas

Coming up roses!

Make a bold statement with beautiful blooms and gorgeous greenery.

By Shané Barnard Photographs Greg Cox and Karl Rogers Styling Marian van Wyk

Bedroom beauty

In this guest suite at Galashiels Lodge in Stanford, owner Rosalind Nale created a fabulous fabric focal point with a colourful cherub-and-roses print that turns an ordinary bed into a showstopper.

“The angels and roses are a tribute to my mother Gill, who passed away in 2017,” says Rosalind. “She adored flowers and fervently believed in guardian angels. When I saw this beautiful linen fabric at a décor shop in Cape Town, I knew it would be perfect.”

Taking advantage of the extra-high ceiling, Rosalind used wooden cladding at headboard height all around the room as a functional decoration that not only ties the space together but also serves as an actual headboard and provides a solution to rising damp in this old heritage home.

“We stripped the walls down to the raw plaster, allowing them to breathe,” she explains. “The panelling isn’t flush against the walls, which also helps to keep damp at bay.”

16 home September 2020

An old Singer sewing table (above) with a new marble top and quirky coat of fresh blue paint perfectly complements the more feminine touches in the room, such as an antique crocheted throw that Gill bought on holiday in France many years ago and a vintage bedside lamp.

Layered luxury Different textures including stone cladding, linen and wood are layered to create a romantic sanctuary in this bathroom at Galashiels Lodge. The rich, earthy tones of this muted palette are perfectly balanced by a classic freestanding bath and touches of gold and crystal in the form of a delightful cherub and luxurious chandelier.

A Roman blind with a delicate floral print offers privacy, while accentuating the arched window that still allows for plenty of natural light to flood the room. >> Scatter cushion from MRP Home

September 2020

home 17

fresh ideas

Keep it natural

In the small courtyard leading off artist Kim Black and her husband Brendan’s bedroom in their home in Fish Hoek, a graphic fern painted on the wall creates height and adds more greenery to this cosy corner, while a dark backdrop creates depth and space by receding into the background.

“I painted this mural during the drought a couple of years ago to add some ‘waterwise’ greenery,” Kim recalls. “It creates a bit of an Alice in Wonderland feel. I love ferns! They remind me of forests and streams, and having greenery around is so calming.”

The pattern is repeated in the living ferns that were added when the worst of the drought in the Western Cape was over. Kim and Brendan used pebbles to cover the existing brick floor and to create additional texture. Retro metal chairs, bought from a shop in Muizenberg that has since closed down, complete the picture.

Scatter cushions from MRP Home

Hit the high notes!

Move over ‘granny chic’, there’s a new floral in town! This bold mural in the Blacks’ lounge with its rich sultry palette is all about luxury. Kim painted the artwork as a practice run for a mural that she has since done at the Mount Nelson Hotel’s Oasis Room.

“The colours are reminiscent of a lush tropical jungle. I wanted lots of greens and oversized elements to create a magical feel,” she explains.

Kim drew all the images in chalk before she started painting; she then sealed the wall with a matte varnish. While feminine, the modern colours make a statement without overpowering this space where the couple relax at the end of the day or entertain friends.

An ottoman repeats the millennial pink touches in the mural, while large rugs create balance with the oversized artwork.

Ottoman from Mobelli

CONTACT AND STOCKISTS Galashiels Lodge 028 341 0181, galashielslodge.co.za Mobelli 086 133 2355, mobelli.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com

September 2020

home 19

A cosy retreat ...

22 home September 2020

eco home

Building with containers

Whether creating an extension to a cottage or a retreat on its own, these innovative homeowners show that the sky is the limit.

By Beatrice Moore-Nรถthnagel Photographs Francois Oberholster and Greg Cox Styling Marian van Wyk

...and a clever extension to an old cottage

eco home

WHO LIVES HERE? Rina-Marie and Niel van Velden with their kids, Simon (6) and Alex (3) WHERE Overgaauw Wine Estate, Stellenbosch SIZE 120m²

Kitchen island from Greenway Interiors

Two I-beams serve as a base for the structure of the aluminium windows.

The roof trusses are anchored by means of custom brackets welded directly on top of the two containers.

Where the trusses connect at the top the 45° gradient is supported by more custom brackets. IsoBoard and ceiling board have been fitted between the exposed beams.

24 home September 2020

1 Make a connection W

#

ith the arrival of their two children, Rina-Marie and Niel’s 90m² cottage on the family farm soon became too small and they were keen to extend.

However, with the old shepherd’s cottage dating back to the late 1700s, they were sensitive to preserving its original character. “We didn’t want to build on and make the new part look old to match the cottage,” says Rina-Marie. “Instead, we planned a very modern addition so that one could clearly see the difference between the old and the new, thereby retaining the charm of the existing dwelling.”

The Van Veldens looked at various building options and under the guidance of architect Stephen Hitchcock of Stretch Architects, they opted for containers. “With the site located on a slope, containers worked out much cheaper than any other building method as they could simply be anchored on concrete pillars – and we also really liked the design effect,” explains Rina-Marie.

However, the design isn’t your standard rectangular container converted into a home.

Two 40-foot containers situated opposite each other are connected by a concrete slab floor, aluminium-framed windows and a pitched roof. A glass walkway links the shepherd’s cottage with the new container home, clearly distinguishing the old from the new, all while blending in harmoniously with the beautiful farm setting. >>

The main bedroom leads off the living space.

A complete home The new structure is a complete three-bedroom home where the young family now spends most of their time. The two containers, customised off site by Topshell and delivered in August 2019, serve as bedrooms – one is divided into two rooms for the kids and a small bathroom and the other serves as the main bedroom en suite. There is also a small scullery for the kitchen.

In the open-plan kitchen, dining and living room between the containers, some of the container panelling was left as is, a look Rina-Marie and Niel love.

The rest was clad with Nutec sheets.

“We love all the natural light that floods into our home, thanks to large windows and a double-volume living area,” says Rina-Marie.

“The cottage has such small windows – we always had to go outside to enjoy the scenery. Now we have a view from every room. Visitors often say that it’s the simplicity of the structure that creates such a lovely cosy space.

And everyone loves the natural ‘paintings’ framed perfectly by all the windows.”

Scullery

26 home September 2020

eco home

The containers were finished by Topshell prior to delivery: all rust spots were grinded back before they were spray-painted. Once the building work had been completed on site, the Van Veldens could finish the interior with a final coat of paint of their choice.

eco home

Exposed wooden trusses and steel I-beams together with screed floors add to the contemporary style of the home.

Windows by Go Green Design

I love that you can still clearly see that it is a container with the exposed walls inside. – Rina-Marie

Steel shelving made

by Rayner Joubert

The large portrait, ‘Johannes’, is by M Els while the two smaller artworks are by Stefania Origgi.

Drawer unit from G Designs

A stylish combination Rina-Marie’s love for the old and the new is also evident in her décor. “A very natural relationship between old and new is important,” she says. “I like things that look lived in and inviting.

Most of our furniture consists of heirloom pieces, and other items come from second-hand stores. Set against the very modern structure of our home, this creates a good balance.”

To create a natural palette that complements the home’s surroundings, Rina-Marie opted for earthy colours such as charcoal, white and green as well as textured finishes such as cement and wood. She also loves to decorate with greenery.

The Van Veldens’ kitchen is where everything happens. “I love cooking, so the kitchen had to be functional,” says Rina-Marie.

“But we also entertain around the island, so it was important for the space to be inviting.” The large island (see page 22) with its steel frame and engineered stone top is quite the showstopper.

“I love all the drawers – the kitchen in the cottage had almost no cupboards at all,” says Rina-Marie. “Now there is a place for everything – it’s fantastic!” >>

Paint colour

Plascon Monsoon Lagoon

September 2020

home 29

eco home

Kitchen Connecting corridor Bedroom

Dining room

Scullery Main Walk-through Bathroom bedroom cupboard

Shower

These three artworks entitled ‘Table Conversations’ by Shany van den Berg were a gift from Rina-Marie’s parents on her 21st birthday.

30 home September 2020

Lounge

Bedroom

1 A glass walkway connects the old cottage with the new container home.

2

3 4

From offloading to moving in: 1 The containers are lifted off the truck and onto concrete pillars; containers were the most economical option for the sloping site as they could be anchored on the pillars.

2 The pop-out bay windows specially added for the bedrooms are clearly visible here.

3 The two containers are put in place so that further building work can commence.

4 The concrete floor between the containers is completed and the I-beams for the window structures are fitted. The roof trusses are fitted in custom-made brackets on top of the containers. >>

Rina-Marie plans to soften the structure with creepers.

EXPE RT A D VIC E “A tight budget forces you to reimagine everyday materials in a new and innovative way,” says architect Stephen Hitchcock of Stretch Architects. “While containers have always been very popular when a portable structure is required – think mobile clinics, site offices or mobile shops – it has become a viable option to incorporate them into permanent homes, especially with the rising cost of traditional construction methods.”

Advantages The majority of the work is done off site within a controlled environment. This allows for better quality control and reduces the construction time needed on site.

If done correctly, it is a cheaper alternative to traditional construction methods.

Drawbacks The containers need to be water- and fireproofed as well as properly insulated. These costs add up quickly. A flatbed truck is required to deliver the containers, therefore sufficient access to the site is important.

Tips If you decide to use containers, embrace them for what they are and use them as close to their original form as possible. Stack them in such a way that they create and enclose a new space. If you treat them as habitable walls, then all you need to do is place a roof over the new space they define and you will have a home!

CONTACT 084 516 3976, stretcharchitects.com

The containers came with their original metal floors; these are ‘deeper’ than regular floors and the space had to be filled before new floors could be laid. The Van Veldens fitted 9mm and 12mm boards to accommodate the height difference; thereafter, the new floors were fitted on top. In the main bedroom there is reclaimed parquet flooring and in the kids’ rooms the floors are pine. In the two showers, the original container floors were removed completely and replaced with custom-made metal floors welded in for waterproofing purposes.

[ NIEL AND RINA-MARIE’S TIPS ]

STOCKISTS AND CONTACTS G Designs 074 305 8610 Go Green Design 021 945 1156, gogreendesign.co.za Greenway Interiors 021 868 1289, greenwayinteriors.co.za Qasim Jakoet (building contractor) 084 563 4870 Rayner Joubert 081 773 7474 Shany van den Berg 082 821 1620, shanyvandenberg.com Stefania Origgi 082 880 4005 Topshell 076 770 4500, topshell.co.za

• Choose a quality manufacturer; Topshell impressed us with their knowledge and standard of work. They understood and implemented the adjustments and reinforcements well.

• Use the containers to create extra space.

By positioning ours opposite each other and connecting them with a concrete floor in the middle and a roof on top, we managed to design a total space of 120m2.

And by installing pop-out bay windows (this was done off site by Topshell), we added an extra 900mm to each of the bedrooms, which makes a big difference to what is quite a narrow space.

The minimalist and tranquil main bedroom is reminiscent of a treehouse with its view over a large tree outside.

All the bedrooms have wooden floors.

eco home

2 Our tiny getaway F

#

or Jean and Hanli, the idea of a small container home was born in 2019 when they bought a plot in RiebeekKasteel with the intention of building a bricks-and-mortar house and relocating there permanently from Cape Town.

“Since our plan was to be hands-on once the building work on the house commenced, we wanted a place to stay on site when checking in on progress,” says Jean. After chatting to the local municipality, it was decided that they would establish a site office as well as a storage facility on the property.

Says Jean: “We chose to invest in a 20ft (15m²) container and convert it into an office. However, we soon realised that we were not going to be satisfied with simply welding the odd window and

A local aluminium supplier manufactured windows, doors, frames and a shower cubicle according to Jean’s designs.

The couple then fitted the frames and windows. Since they wanted lots of light in the unit, the entire north-facing side of the container is glass.

Aluminium windows from Cape Glass and Aluminium

34 home September 2020

WHO LIVES HERE? Jean and Hanli Fourie WHERE Riebeek-Kasteel SIZE 15m²

a door into the container; we wanted to design a fully-fledged little home.”

Jean, a mechanical engineer who designs race and sports cars for the international market, and Hanli, a beautician by trade, set about converting the container into a trendy home singlehandedly – from cutting and welding to insulating and painting, and fitting the plumbing and electrics.

The result? A cosy weekend getaway complete with a bedroom, shower, toilet and open-plan living area – not to mention a mechanical fold-down front deck! Once their bricks-and-mortar house has been built, the couple will either keep the container home as a guest cottage or sell it. >>

eco home

Wallpaper from WCI Wallpapers; ceilings from Happy PVC Ceilings; hardware from Builders; plywood from Online Building Supplies; cushion on chair from MRP Home

The container was insulated against cold and heat by cladding the walls and ceiling with 18mm plywood suspended over 10cm-thick Isotherm. The walls were sanded and primed, then wallpaper was applied to the plywood. “This was exciting as the container now started to look like a home,� says Jean.

eco home

For the shower, Jean had to cut and recess the container oor. He made a stainlesssteel tray to catch the water, which is then used in the garden, and used decking leftovers as oorboards.

He even created a recess in the shower wall for shampoo bottles and the like, and a dividing wall and aluminium door separate the bedroom area from the kitchen area.

The two main container doors were retained but Jean installed a sliding door and a window just inside the front edge of one side.

Fabric on bed from SophiaHelen Design; Lemon Delight scatter from Makietie Fabrics

36 home September 2020

On the job...

The couple acquired a B-grade container from TCC Container Services and did the entire conversion off site at Jean’s business premises before moving the complete unit to Riebeek-Kasteel. The conversion cost about R110 000.

Jean cut out the entire ‘front’ panel of the container then added a sturdy frame, four purpose-made hinges and a 12V winch with guides and a roller to this panel so that it could easily fold down, creating a deck when open and providing complete security when closed. This gives a whole new meaning to the concept of ‘lock up and go’! Wooden decking was fitted on the inside of the panel and now the deck adds another 15m² to the home, thereby doubling the living space. Once on site, a roof with transparent sheeting was fitted over the deck for shade.

A solar roof panel feeds into two 12V batteries.

[ JEAN’S TOP TIPS ] • If possible, buy an A-grade container rather than a B-grade one. It takes longer and it’s more expensive to make the B-grade version presentable.

• Insulate the container well; apart from regulating the temperature, this also helps to reduce outside noises.

• When adding plywood to the walls, use at least 18mm-thick or even thicker ply instead of 10mm ply.

• Next time around, I would buy ready-made cupboards!

Jean custom made most of the kitchen cupboards and installed a gas stove (right). Large ceramic tiles were glued into place instead of cemented, as he was concerned about movement when the container was relocated to the site. The floors are covered in wood-look vinyl and wallpaper creates a lovely backdrop.

Countertop from The Board Store Flooring from Flooring Solutions

STOCKISTS Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Cape Glass and Aluminium 078 367 4322, capega.co.za Flooring Solutions 021 982 8008, flooringsolutions.co.za Happy PVC Ceilings 021 701 1414 Makietie Fabrics 084 206 9898, makietie.com Online Building Supplies 021 712 1550, onlinebuilding.co.za SophiaHelen Design 021 976 0114 TCC Container Services 021 510 1677, tcccontainers.co.za The Board Store 021 551 3060, theboardstore.co.za WCI Wallpapers 021 465 6547, wallcoverings.co.za

eco home Most of the furniture has been collected over many years; here and there, Gill has added pops of colour and new acquisitions.

THE HOMEOWNER Gill Staniland WHERE Hill Top Farm, Baardskeerdersbos SIZE 50m²

38 home September 2020

Gill fell in love with the silence and beautiful scenery of Baardskeerdersbos.

She built her house in a corner of the large property where she can enjoy unobstructed views of the valley and mountains beyond.

MY

house

Gill Staniland’s getaway spot reflects her commitment to living a green lifestyle.

By Maryke Roberts • Photographs Greg Cox • Styling Marian van Wyk

eco home

Double-glazed windows, wooden floors and walls from Hempcrete keep the house cool in summer and cosy in winter. The blue gum timber for the floors comes from a sawmill in Groot Brak River.

Glazing by Glassmen

The ‘artwork’ above the bench in the living room literally provides a glimpse into the hemp wall. The timber pattern shows what the DNA structure of the Cannabis fibres in the wall behind it looks like.

Fringed throw from Arabesque; cushions and baskets (used as tables) from MRP Home; fabric on bench from Mitat

H

er colleagues call her the “plastic police” but she likes to refer to herself as a green warrior.

Because Gill Staniland of Baarskeerdersbos believes that one should tread lightly on Mother Earth, even when it comes to your place of residence. So three years ago, she decided to build a hemp house on a 7ha plot of land that she had already acquired in 2014.

And it’s not just the building method that’s ‘green’; thanks to water tanks, solar panels and gas, this little hideaway is completely independent of municipal services.

“My total municipal bill is just R150 a month as I only have to pay inheritance tax,” Gill explains.

Even though her home is tiny, it creates a big impression set against the gorgeous backdrop of its natural surroundings.

The modern cabinet in the living room is from Pieter Deon Interiors, a local furniture maker in Baardskeerdersbos.

The abstract artwork in the dining room was done by Gill’s sister, Jen Chaplin.

Table runner from Liza Kerrod Botanical Art

An eco journey Gill’s interest in hemp construction began at a water conservation conference in 2011. Tony Budden, co-owner of the company Hemporium which manufactures and distributes hemp products in South Africa, gave a talk on the benefits and sustainability of industrial hemp – and this provided the impetus for Gill to begin her eco journey.

With its vast open spaces and sense of tranquillity, Baardskeerdersbos was the perfect locality for Gill.

She loves the Overberg and drove around weekend after weekend, looking for the ideal spot close to Cape Town.

“I love gardening and there is more than enough space here to create a lovely vegetable garden,” says Gill. “I have already started playing around with the idea of creating a 400m2 vegetable garden – similar to the Oranjezicht City Farm in Cape Town.”

But Gill says it’s important to her that most of the property should still be covered in natural fynbos. “If I do create a veggie garden, it must have an automatic drip irrigation system that works with solar power.” She is already developing such a system. >>

THE BENEFITS OF HEMP CONSTRUCTION “The use of hemp in the construction industry has great job creation potential and reduces the carbon footprint of this industry as a whole,” says Wolf Wolf of Wolf + Wolf Architects. Not many builders are familiar with hemp as a building material but it is simple to work with.”

• Hemp is non-toxic, fire-resistant, provides excellent insulation and is carbon-negative – which means it does not release harmful carbon into the atmosphere.

• The crop grows quickly and doesn’t require much water.

About one hectare of hemp can produce up to 8 tons of hurd – enough building material for a 50m2 house like Gill’s.

• It regulates internal humidity by preventing condensation when it is cold outside but warm inside.

• It doesn’t rot or get mouldy.

• Hemp is microbe- and insect-resistant.

• It is an excellent heat and sound insulator.

• It is hypo-allergenic, making it ideal for people with breathing problems.

CONTACT 082 788 8834, wolfandwolf.co.za September 2020

home 41

The varied textures of the hemp walls, the wooden structure and all the glass work well with the many shades of blue to form a striking whole.

42 home September 2020

[ ECO ELEMENTS IN GILL’S HOUSE ] • Six Si large large sol solar lar panel panels, ls an iinverter nvertter and d batteries provide electricity.

• Gill uses gas for cooking and also to heat water.

• One rainwater tank stores irrigation water and two other tanks store borehole water for use in the house. This water is filtered and pumped into the house via a solar-powered pump.

• A bio-digester breaks down sewerage into compost, without the use of chemicals.

• Energy-saving LED light bulbs are used throughout the house.

• Double glazing on all the windows helps with temperature control.

• All the wood has been treated with ProNature products that contain no or

few VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

• The interior walls are dry walls made of magnesium oxide board. These boards consist of several layers of ecofriendly materials, including magnesium oxide and other natural minerals. They are fire-resistant, soundproof, waterproof, strong and stable, and they provide excellent thermal insulation.

In keeping with Gill’s preference for natural materials, the splashback consists of handmade clay tiles.

Linen tea towel from Liza Kerrod Botanical Art; tiles from Moroccan Warehouse; solar power installation by All Solar; bio-digester from Alveo Water; windows and doors by Gous Joinery; floors and kitchen cabinets by Luke Boshoff; LED lights from Starke Contrast; magnesium oxide board from Magnastruct

The oil painting by A Kyle has been in the family for years.

A zinc bowl serves as an outdoor sink.

Gill’s late mother collected the blue-and-white porcelain ware from all over the world.

eco home

Plant residue for walls Gill, an IT consultant and co-owner of a business that manufactures and sells baby clothes made with sustainable materials, lives in Milnerton outside Cape Town, but spends at least eight days a month at her hemp house in Baardskeerdersbos.

When the Covid-19 lockdown started in March, she was able to escape the city and spent three blissful months in this home, where she plans to retire one day. “I long for the day when I can move here full time,” she muses.

This building project was her first, and Gill began the process with thorough research on the benefits of hemp construction.

Because not every architect or builder has experience in this field, Gill approached a team of specialists: Wolf + Wolf Architects, a Cape Town firm that has been using hemp as a building material since 2008.

Hemp, a variety of the Cannabis sativa plant, is used in various forms as a building material. The inner woody core of the plant’s stem is separated from the long bark fibres and cut into pieces.

This is known as hemp hurd, which is then mixed with hydrated lime and a small quantity of ordinary cement to make Hempcrete. As with concrete, this mixture is cast in formwork to create walls; the same mixture can be applied as plaster.

The outer fibrous bark can also be compressed into blocks and used in the same way as bricks.

Like all hemp houses, Gill’s home is actually a wooden structure on a concrete foundation. A low stem wall on the foundation

Easily removable modular Geoplast formwork panels were attached to the wooden frames inside and out before the Hempcrete and clay mixture was inserted. Once this was dry, the formwork was removed and installed on the next section of the wall.

Roof by Stephen Jones Roofing

supports the outer wooden frame. The exterior walls were built by placing formwork boards against the inside and outside of the wooden frame and filling the cavity in-between with Hempcrete – a thick, runny hemp mixture (similar to cement slurry) that can easily be added inside the formwork by hand. It dries extremely hard to form a sturdy wall once the formwork is removed.

As there are no commercial hemp farms in South Africa as of yet, Gill had to have the hemp hurd imported from England by Hemporium. As a result, the construction worked out about 20% more expensive than regular plastered brick walls but since the insulation is so much better, there was no additional cost for heating or cooling. This results in major long-term savings.

As with any home construction project, Gill had to submit plans and get approval from the local authority. Fortunately, this was not a problem as the Overberg Municipality was satisfied with the strength of the wooden frame around which the house was built.

The construction process, from approval to completion, took about six months – more or less the same as with the conventional construction of a house of the same size.

Gill worked mostly over weekends and had to put things on hold several times due to winter rain. Apart from a few specialist suppliers from Cape Town who laid the electricity, gas and plumbing and supplied the roof, she used local suppliers and artisans. >>

Décor considerations Gill says she wanted a new home that was not only ecofriendly but also stylish and comfy. High on her wish list was a design that blends in with the natural beauty of the area; in addition, the style had to be classic yet modern – and that’s exactly what Wolf + Wolf Architects delivered.

“The roof’s V-shape not only gives the house a contemporary look, it also allows for large windows at the front that provide the best possible view,” she explains.

This design also allows the roof-mounted solar panels to face north and get optimal sun, but not be visible. An added bonus is that only one gutter at the lowest part of the roof was needed to direct rainwater to the tank.

Inside, the furniture consists of a collection of treasured heirlooms, with a new accessory here and there. Gill used Moroccan tiles above the kitchen sink and in the shower for a touch of colour in the otherwise neutral environment. Some of the walls were painted in shades of blue.

Gill likes to pick fynbos and display it indoors. At dusk you’ll find her strolling around her property, enjoying what the change of season brings. “It’s my favourite time of day because the wind has died down and the birds are busy.”

She may not have retired yet, but Gill says that B’bos is a balm for her soul.

“The house feels so comforting and the entire building process was peaceful, and clean. Even my 10-year-old granddaughter Taylor lent a hand.”

Floral linen from Mitat; swan cushion cover from Twig and Fi

Paint colour

Dulux Sapphire Salute

46 home September 2020

STOCKISTS All Solar 028 008 5005, allsolar.co.za Arabesque 021 975 3438 Alveo Water 021 851 2576, alveowater.co.za Glassmen 028 312 3870 Gous Joinery 028 312 2697 Hemporium 021 702 4988, hemporium.co.za Liza Kerrod Botanical Art lizakerrodbotanicalart. wordpress.com Luke Boshoff lucasb92@gmail.com Magnastruct 021 531 2145, magnastruct.co.za Mitat 083 375 8501, mitat.co.za Moroccan Warehouse 021 461 8318, facebook. com.moroccan-warehouse MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Pieter Deon Interiors 082 309 4487, pieterdeoninteriors.co.za Starke Contrast 021 555 1927, starkecontrast.co.za Stephen Jones RooďŹ ng 021 761 2617, stephenjones.co.za Twig and Fi twigandďŹ .co.za

Living room

Kitchen

Front stoep

Bedroom

Bathroom

Paint colour

Back stoep

Linen towel from Twig and Fi

N

Midas Envirolite Delft

A Lots of natural light and clever architectural detail make this house easy on the eye, while careful planning makes it ecofriendly too.

By Amanda van Wyngaardt Photographs Elza Cooper

Large windows in the sunny open-plan living area let in plenty of natural light. Thanks to double glazing and high boundary walls, curtains are not necessary.

A collection of medicine bottles and carafes on an antique filing rack create a focal point.

eco home

WHO LIVES HERE? Dieter and Laura Matzner, their daughter Lara and two Schnauzers, Peppie and Mannetjie WHERE Menlo Park, Pretoria SIZE 440m²

The large veranda connects to the living room and kitchen; an array of potted plants, antique furniture pieces and accessories enhances the look. The floor tiles are the same as in the rest of the house but were given a slip-resistant coating for outdoor use.

Lighting from Arc Lighting September 2020

home 49

F

or many years, Laura Matzner fostered a keen interest in an extremely run-down house in her neighbourhood. She even Googled the property and began dreaming about what she would do if it belonged to her. The home, however, was not for sale.

But then in 2012 the property was unexpectedly put up for auction.

With their kids now out of school, Laura and hubby Dieter suddenly had different needs. Laura, an interior designer who doesn’t shy away from a building project, was keen to take on a new challenge and Dieter, a mechanical engineer, was eager to build an energy-saving house, something he had been interested in for years.

Their bid was successful and at last the Matzners could seize the opportunity to make both their dreams a reality.

The erf was large enough for them to build four houses; they live in one and rent out the other three. As an added bonus, all four are north-facing so plenty of sunlight streams through the windows.

Paint colour

Plascon Ewa

Nine ceramic plates made by André du Toit of Porterville take pride of place in the open-plan living area. The dots, circles and crosses are a reference to the game of noughts and crosses.

I believe a successful building project is one in which the interior becomes an extension of the architecture and the two are not regarded as separate entities. – Laura

Pendant from Minima; Terrazzo Double Black floor tiles from Union Tiles

Paint colour

Laura’s design philosophy

Plascon Sand Island

“With a new construction project, there are three constraints within which you have to work and plan,” explains Laura, who runs her own business, Muto Interior Design. “Your budget, the erf’s building restrictions and the municipal regulations applicable to your suburb.”

The couple had their plans drawn up, got the necessary permission and once construction was completed, set about decorating their dream home.

Laura’s décor philosophy is simple: “It’s sometimes easier to determine what you don’t like and then through a process of elimination achieve the look and style you want. I’m drawn to authentic materials such as wood, stone and glass.

“I also have a great appreciation for older handmade pieces of furniture – those that craftsmen have spent a lot of time making. I get just as excited about more contemporary items with clean lines. I love order and detail; clutter makes me anxious. Fortunately, I’m able to see the bigger picture and it’s extremely satisfying when an idea starts to take shape.

“With each project, I decide on one essential element as a starting point.

The item is then ordered or purchased and I know it cannot be changed.

The rest of the interior is then planned around it. In our house, it was the 600 x 600mm terrazzo floor tiles throughout the living area.”

When one views the completed project, it is clear that this contemporary choice anchors the home and forms the basis for layers of décor that will be added in years to come. >> The entrance hall and passageway were designed around two antique display cabinets. A closed combustion stove heats the living area and Dieter’s office upstairs.

eco home

Pendants from Hoi P’loy

Paint colour

Plascon Lisbon Cove

The couple wanted a functional kitchen without any gimmicks.

Granite, which is easy to clean, was chosen for the work surfaces while the kick plates were deep set to create the illusion that the cupboards are floating. The look in this space is a combination of contemporary clean lines and farm-style elements.

Dieter’s eco plans Dieter spends most of his professional life working on various energy projects. “I’m passionate about helping to bring about a more sustainable world and addressing climate change,” he says.

Once Laura had laid out her style requirements for the execution of his plans, architect AJ Smit of Palin & Smit Architects brought everything together.

Solar panels on the roof presented Dieter with a challenge: they operate optimally at a 15º angle but he decided to install them at less of an angle to make them less visible. In addition, underground rainwater tanks didn’t make economic sense – the installation would have been too costly in relation to the relatively small water saving.

52 home September 2020

Other eco adjustments like cavity walls and double glazing were feasible and thanks to elements such as a heat pump and solar panels (see box opposite), the Matzners use about 43% less municipal electricity – this is measured by an app that shows the home’s total energy consumption, as well as how much of that is solar power and how much is municipal electricity.

Although they already have a back-up battery for when loadshedding kicks in, Dieter plans to install a battery system that will provide the entire house with electricity at all times. “The switch-over should be economically viable within the next three years. Then we’ll be completely off the grid,” he says proudly.

[ GREEN PRINCIPLES ]

Because the Matzners built from scratch, they were able to apply certain eco principles from the outset. These include: • IsoBoard panels were installed as insulation under all the floors and in the ceiling; these have excellent energy-saving properties and a variety of uses.

• Windows were tinted according to the amount of sun that shines on them in order to regulate heat and limit the need for air conditioning.

• A central heat pump with a capacity of 450L was built in. Heat pumps are more economical than a traditional geyser. They have the added benefit of a smart circulation system that makes hot water immediately available when you turn on the tap, so less water is wasted. A timer ensures that the water circulates in the system in the mornings and evenings when it is most needed. The pump works with solar power but, if necessary, it can switch to municipal or battery power.

• An 8kW solar panel system provides for 40% of the home’s energy needs.

• A 30kWh battery ensures that loadshedding is not an issue.

• Rainwater is collected in tanks for irrigation.

• The house is equipped with ecofriendly electrical appliances throughout and the family cooks on a gas stove. >>

The home’s façade (above) is dramatic with colour blocks framed by a paper bark tree and a sweet thorn tree, as well as a tree aloe that survived the building process. The established trees with their leafy canopies give the property a lived-in feel, which is rare in new homes. They also attract birds and from time to time even bushbabies. The garden requires very little maintenance – there is only a small lawn for the dogs. Tanks with a capacity of 8m3 on the roof hold about a week’s supply of drinking water in case of an interruption in the municipal water supply.

Construction by Thomas Carsten of Telca Developments; heat pump by Istvan Nuyal of Node360 Smart Solutions; solar power system by Rhino Energy

Scullery

Study Bath Bath

Double volume

Entrance

Garage Main bath Garage

Lower level

Upper level

Main bedroom

Kitchen

Water tanks

Stoep

Study

Stairs

Passage

Dining

Living

Borehole

Water tanks

It makes sense that we use solar panels and batteries for our energy needs.

Electricity will only become more expensive and loadshedding won’t be going away anytime soon. – Dieter

Water tanks

Paint colour

Plascon Light Stone

A sense of calm reigns in the minimalist monochromatic main bedroom. A box-type headboard also serves as a display shelf.

54 home September 2020

Moroccan tiles adorn a focal wall in the main en-suite bathroom.

The guest bathroom might be compact but it is fitted with a shower and has loads of character.

Tiles from Moroccan Warehouse; Vero basins from Duravit; Axor Citterio taps from Hansgrohe

The second bathroom has a retro feel, with metro wall tiles.

Tiles from Tile Collage; Happy D basin from Duravit; shelf and mirror from Joe Paine and Muto Interior Design

Wall tiles from Italcotto; Ovo basin from Sterlings; Axor Citterio tap from Hansgrohe; mirror and shelf from Joe Paine and Muto Interior Design

CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS A.J. Smit 082 416 3803, ajsmit@mweb.co.za André du Toit 082 656 3021 Arc Lighting 021 981 0539, arclighting.co.za Duravit 011 555 1220, duravit.com Hansgrohe 011 445 0000, hansgrohe.co.za Hoi P’loy 021 447 1433, hoiploy.com Italcotto 021 425 4192, italcotto.co.za Joe Paine 072 200 1803, joepaine.com Minima 021 788 2515, minima.co.za Moroccan Warehouse 021 461 8318, facebook.com/Moroccan-Warehouse Muto Interior Design 083 450 3637, muto.co.za Node360 Smart Solutions 076 957 2029, node360.co.za Plascon 0860 204 060, plascon.com Rhino Energy 011 704 5678 Sterlings 012 998 6713, sterlings.co.za Telca Developments 012 997 4287, telca.co.za Tile Collage 012 111 0055, tilecollage.co.za Union Tiles 011 663 2000, uniontiles.co.za

Next to a lagoon and a MILKWOOD FOREST Nestled in pristine surroundings, the Slabberts’ sandstone holiday home in the Overberg is completely off the grid.

By Marie Opperman • Photographs Greg Cox Styling Marian van Wyk

A

t Wortelgat, between the ocean and the Kleinrivier lagoon, lies a family getaway perfect for relaxing and making memories. This is where Stellenbosch residents Joritha and Roelou Slabbert head to whenever they need to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Their home is special – not just because it is completely off the grid, but also because it was designed to blend in with its gorgeous natural surroundings.

“We love coming here – summer or winter,” says Joritha of her rustic home surrounded by the gnarled trunks of milkwood trees and with a fabulous view of misty blue mountains in the distance.

“This place is precious to me. I love sitting and reading on the veranda and we all gather around the table for hours on end,” she says.

“The best thing about the house is the family time it affords us. Our boys – Daniel, Janneman and Martin – play cards or board games and we also go jogging or cycling.

We don’t even have a TV here.”

Wortelgat, an exclusive development near Stanford, is managed by the Wortelgat Outreach Trust and also offers conference facilities. There are about 25 private properties which all stretch down to the lagoon. “Since it’s a conservation area, it is an unspoilt corner of the Overberg,” says Joritha.

“Sometimes we see a caracal or a bushbuck and we often hear fish eagles calling.” >>

THE HOMEOWNERS Roelou and Joritha Slabbert and their sons Daniel (19), Janneman (17) and Martin (11) WHERE Stanford SIZE House 120m², erf 2 489m²

eco home

Towel from Mungo Design

September 2020

home 57

The kitchen opens onto the stoep.

Joritha says she decided on the red and blue bar fridges as she wanted a pop of colour and a fun element in the kitchen. “We use one for cold drinks and the other for food. If we lived here permanently, I’d probably need a bigger fridge.�

Bennett Read refrigerators from Makro

This space combines earthy materials such as wood, stone and concrete. The colour of the cabinets blends in beautifully with these elements, as well as with the polished concrete oor. The pendants are suspended from an I-beam.

Old-fashioned wooden cabinet from Odds & Ends; kitchen cabinets by Loubser Wood Components; stools from Arabesque; pendants from Orejen; oor by 180 Degrees

Paint colour

Plascon Graphite

September 2020

home 59

The house is clad with sandstone rocks from the surrounding area.

Electricity and water Roelou visited Wortelgat as a student and immediately fell in love with its pristine natural beauty, Joritha says.

The couple bought their property in 1995 and built on it in 2017.

Roelou is a real estate developer in Stellenbosch.

Joritha, an interior decorator, previously helped Roelou with bookkeeping and taxes, but is now a full-time mother. She says: “To blend in with the natural environment, all the houses in the development are independent of Eskom power, and everyone uses borehole water. Yet we still have a dishwasher, ice maker and microwave. Our six solar panels and a lithium battery provide all the electricity we need.”

They do, however, have to manage the energy supply. “For example, I only use the dishwasher during the day when the sun is shining, so that the solar power can recharge the battery,” says Joritha.

“We keep track of what percentage is loaded, and use it accordingly.”

The Slabberts use gas to heat water for the three showers and for the stove and oven. The kettle is boiled on the stove.

“If you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t even notice that we don’t have Eskom power here. We are very content with our little piece of heaven and wouldn’t change a thing about it,” says Joritha.

The family spends many happy hours around the wooden table on the veranda. The stacking doors between the courtyard and the veranda can be closed when the wind becomes too much.

Table from Odds & Ends

60 home September 2020

Kitchen

Wooden deck Covered stoep Bedroom

Living room

Stoep

En suite

Bedroom En suite

Courtyard Stoep

Garage Trees

Janneman and Martin play a board game in the living room.

Ottoman from Supreme Furniture Manufacturers

[ STONE AS A BUILDING MATERIAL ]

Our doors are always open, so it feels like we’re outside all the time. – Joritha

Eugene Theron, who built the house, tells us more about the stonework and other challenges presented by the project: The house was built with ordinary brick walls clad with stone.

Constructing with stone is time-consuming and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find professional stonemasons. It can, therefore, work out to be quite expensive, especially if the stone and labour have to be sourced from far away.

Luckily, the Dickson brothers, Euston and Daniel, as well as their father Jerome all live in Stanford. The family has been practicing this form of construction for generations.

There were many challenges when it came to the construction at Wortelgat, such as properly preparing the levels of the different sections of the house. “During the excavation of the stones, we hit a rocky substrate and had to dig trenches almost 2m deep to get to the sandstone,” Eugene recalls.

Stonework requires skill, patience and attention to the finest details.

Sandstone can range from the size of a soccer ball to about the size of a suitcase. It is then cut with an angle grinder into usable, symmetrical shapes, while retaining the original aesthetic as far as possible; sharper and straighter angles are easier to build with. Sometimes, a chisel is used to make the stones fit perfectly.

Instead of ordinary lintels, the beams – as well as the pillars – in this house were made of steel. This allowed for greater structural spans in the walls than would be possible with lintels.

Because a crane could not get onto the premises to lift the steel beams, they had to be put in place with brute force. “We used scaffolding that we raised little by little as the walls progressed.”

But that wasn’t the only challenge Eugene and his team faced.

“We had a few snakes to deal with, including a puffadder!”

CONTACTS Eugene Theron 084 208 5165; Euston Dickson 064 850 0676

The house is surrounded by milkwood trees and has a stunning view of the Kleinrivier lagoon and mountains.

[ THE ARCHITECT’S VIEW ]

The boys’ bathroom is all about simplicity.

Joritha and Roelou bought the mirror at a Design for Living Expo in 1996, just after they got married.

Bathroom accessories from Bathroom 4U

Pieter Schoonwinkel was commissioned to ensure that the Slabberts’ house blended in with its natural surroundings.

The house had to comply with the Wortelgat Homeowners Association regulations but still be stylish and cosy.

According to the building regulations, the house and garage combined (excluding verandas) could not exceed 120m2. Sandstone from the area had to be used; the construction of the house was not allowed to adversely affect its natural surroundings or obstruct the view of residents across the lagoon.

Joritha and Roelou had a clear vision of how their house should blend into its environment and Pieter took his cues from nature. “I made the most of elements from Wortelgat’s pristine natural environment, such as the milkwood forest which provides natural protection for the house; the exceptional bright, clear light; and the views of the trees, lagoon and mountains,” he says.

Milkwood trees are protected and may not be removed. “I knew where every milkwood was located on the property, and not even the tree roots were damaged.

“To get the house well positioned between the trees, it was designed in four segments around a milkwood in the courtyard. It was as if I broke off pieces of the house and placed them there separately. Yet they form a cohesive whole, because the sections are connected via enclosed stoeps and wooden decks, which form a seamless extension of the interior spaces.”

Large windows throughout the home offer fabulous views from each segment, down towards the trees and lagoon and up towards the mountains. They also let in plenty of light.

Because the surface area was limited, the roof is very high to create a sense of space. It also captures rainwater and has sufficient space for solar panels.

Pieter says that the design of the house awakened new possibilities. “It was an enlightening experience.”

CONTACT 083 460 2001

STOCKISTS 180 Degrees 021 981 9832, concretefloorservices.co.za AA Shades 0860 742 337, aashades.co.za Arabesque 021 975 3438 Bathrooms 4U 021 883 9861, bathrooms4u.co.za Die Wakis 021 850 8422, wakis.co.za Loubser Wood Components 021 982 4979, lwc.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Mungo Design 021 201 2374, 044 533 1395, mungo.co.za Odds & Ends 021 851 8267, facebook.com/oddsandendsantiquefurniture Orejen 011 888 6811, orejen.co.za Ridgways Furniture 021 853 6022, ridgways.co.za Supreme Furniture Manufacturers 021 887 2756, supremeupholstery.co.za

eco home

Paint colour

Plascon French Chartreuse

It’s in the detail

The blinds roll up neatly into the I-beams.

The main bedroom opens onto the stoep.

Wardrobe from Die Wakis; bedside cabinet from Ridgways Furniture; blinds from AA Shades; throw from Mungo Design; scatter cushions from Arabesque; baskets from MRP Home

September 2020

home 63

Practical and stylish

SPRING INTO ACTION WITH

ISOBOARD Improve your home’s insulation with energy energ gy-efficient efficient IsoBoard.

IsoBoard

I

soBoard offers an easy-to-install insulation solution to fit to new builds or retrofit to existing buildings.

This enables your home to manage external temperature fluctuations with ease, maintaining comfortable living and working spaces for the lifetime of your building.

Suitable for all the different areas in your home, this environmentally responsible thermal insulation solution is as versatile as it is effective.

You’ll keep your home’s temperature steady, which means using less electricity for heating or cooling.

PROMOTION

IsoBoard is easy to install; watch the video at homemag.co.za.

Did you know?

1

IsoBoard can be treated with water-based paints and wood stains to suit your own colour scheme.

2

When replacing a ceiling, leave the existing ceiling as is and simply install IsoBoard directly underneath – a quick and permanent solution with minimal mess or fuss!

3

Adjacent boards interlock with tongue-and-groove edges, providing easy installation and a continuous layer of thermal insulation.

4

Use IsoBoard concealed fixing clips and an adhesive when installing your ceiling.

5

IsoBoard is available in thicknesses ranging from 25–80mm and lengths up to 8m to match your thermal insulation requirements.

For more tips, tricks and information, visit isoboard.com, like us on facebook.com/isoboard and follow us on Twitter @isoboard.

GET IN TOUCH CAPE TOWN 021 983 1140, southsales@isoboard.com DURBAN 031 569 1800, dbnsales@isoboard.com PRETORIA 012 653 8204, northsales@isoboard.com September 2020

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65

On the right track Make that barn door you’ve always wanted in a stylish combination of wood and steel.

Deon de Goede

By Deon de Goede Photographs Francois Oberholster Styling Marian van Wyk

Dining chairs and vase from Haus; parrot from Block & Chisel; door ironmongery and track custom made by The Barndoor Shack

66 home September 2020

do it yourself QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 5/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 2 to 3 hours Do it yourself for ± R4 500: timber R1 800; screws R80; adhesive R40; sandpaper R10; angle iron R370; track, wheels and floor guides R2 200

PROJECT NOTES • Instead of using solid wood, the door panels were constructed with strips of plywood.

• The instructions and materials are for two doors of 2 300 x 1 000mm each; adjust the measurements and quantities according to your needs.

• Sand the individual wooden strips beforehand.

• If you do the welding yourself, wear a welding helmet.

You will need SHOPPING LIST • 18mm plywood, cut to: 250 strips of 35 x 995mm • Alcolin Fast Set Glue • 10 packets 6mm x 40mm chipboard screws • 150-grit sandpaper • thirty-six 6mm x 30mm coach screws

• 40 x 40 x 3mm angle iron in the following lengths: four of 2 300mm four of 1 000mm • iron track with stoppers, steel wheels and floor guides

TOOLS • cordless drill, 3mm and 4mm drill bit • electric drill and 10mm masonry drill bit • pencil • tape measure • welding machine

Here’s how...

1

1a

2 Complete the frames by welding together the lengths of angle iron at the corners (or get this done by a blacksmith). Paint the frame if desired. Now place the frame on top of the door panel and screw together with the coach screws. Position the wheels and screw them in place with the coach screws.

2

3

1 Work with four 995mm plywood strips at a time. Lay the strips side by side on your work surface and drill four pilot holes in each strip; stagger the position of the holes so that the screws do not end up on top of each other (see photo 1a) when you stack the strips. Glue and screw the strips together, one by one, on top of each other. Repeat with the next four plywood strips and continue until the door panel is the desired size.

3 Mark the position of the track on the wall and make sure everything is level.

Drill the necessary holes and screw the track into the wall.

Hook the doors on the track and make sure they slide smoothly. Screw in a floor guide for each door – that way the door will not swing back and forth.

STOCKISTS AND CONTACT Block & Chisel 021 691 0878, blockandchisel.co.za Deon de Goede 084 589 5026, deon@diydeon.co.za Haus 021 914 3390, hertexhaus.co.za The Barndoor Shack 071 683 1328, thebarndoorshack.co.za

‘A CORNER JUST FOR ME!’

By Shané Barnard • Photographs Francois Oberholster Styling Marian van Wyk

The second finalist in our Declutter Competition in collaboration with Gumtree is Cheryl Button; with help from our experts, she has created a functional workspace where she can pursue her hobby.

Paint colour

Paint & Decor Blue Skies

Basket and water caraffe from Sofa Company; paint supplied by Paint & Decor

Cheryl Button

Before This nifty ‘trestle table’, a project by Home’s DIY guru Deon de Goede, was featured in our July 2020 issue. To showcase its versatility, we used it here in a different configuration with the trestle in the middle and the freestanding cupboards on either end to create two work stations. “The desk really works for me because it’s accessible from both sides, making it ideal for sewing and cutting fabric,” Cheryl says.

68 home September 2020

SPECIAL PROJECT

I

n the 30 years that Cheryl and Trevor Button have lived in their house in Bantry Bay in Cape Town, they’ve accumulated many hand-medown items of furniture, trinkets, kitchenware, clothing, books and toys.

“There was just too much of everything!” exclaims Cheryl. “We had to create space by getting rid of our mismatched furniture and various pieces passed on by friends and family.

I wanted to be free of all this clutter and keep only the items that we use and that hold meaning for our family.”

With the help of our declutter experts Carin Smith and Jani Augustyn-Goussard, Cheryl identified a spot in the corner of her living room in which to create a multipurpose space where she can both sew and work on her computer.

Jani, a colour expert, suggested demarcating Cheryl’s new workspace with a soft blue paint

[ #DECLUTTERFORGOOD ] By selling some of her unwanted items on Gumtree, Cheryl put cash in her pocket.

You can do this too, and even support small businesses with Gumtree’s Declutter For Good campaign. For every advert posted on Gumtree along with the hashtag #DeclutterForGood, Gumtree has pledged to donate R10 to help SMEs recover post-lockdown. This way, Gumtree is doing its part to help businesses and communities most impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Post your own advert to help them make a difference!

[ ON THE BOX ] Tune in to Pak weg, pak reg on VIA (DStv channel 147) on Monday 24 August at 19:30 to see how Cheryl’s space has changed. Episodes are broadcast every Monday until 26 October; in each one, the team declutters a reader’s home and transforms it into a practical living space.

– now it’s ‘separate’ but not isolated from the rest of the room where the family spends most of their time.

A big cupboard that previously took up all the space in this corner was removed to clear the back wall and make room for an innovative trestle table. A large wooden table and two extra armchairs were sold on Gumtree to free up even more space. The remaining dining room chairs, floor lamp and chest of drawers were simply rearranged to create an easy flow in this nook.

“The experience has motivated me to tackle the entire house, room by room,” Cheryl says.

“The most important thing I’ve learnt is that our home should be designed to meet the needs of my family – and to keep only the things that are special to us. Less is more! Having less clutter creates more space for work and play.”

A floating shelf (above) was painted in the same soft blue as the wall so it seems to ‘disappear’; it serves as a display for treasured items and painted glass jars keep stationery neat. “During the sorting, we came across my children’s artworks – these pictures always make me smile and I’ll definitely be framing more of them. The kids were tickled to see their art after all these years!”

STOCKISTS AND CONTACT Gumtree gumtree.co.za Paint & Decor 021 976 0114, paintdecordiy.com Sofa Company 021 200 5904, sofacompany.com

advice

Email your queries to experts@homemag.co.za

Ask the experts

ASK US ON FAC EBO OK Do you have an urgent question that just can’t wait? Then join our Tuis|Home Experts group on Facebook and get help from the team, professionals and other readers.

Need help deciding on a rug for your living room or advice on how to care for slate floors? You ask – we find the answers.

Compiled by Shané Barnard

The right rug Christel du Preez of Cape Town writes My living room needs something to ‘tie it all together’, like a rug. But I have no idea where to start! For example, what should I consider when it comes to size, design, material, texture and colour? Please help!

Wouter le Roux of Hello Charlie Interior Design Studio replies Rugs are a great solution when it comes to bringing furniture, and a look, together. They can also create spatial definition between dining and living areas in an open-plan room where furniture has a tendency to ‘float’.

Here are some tips on choosing the right rug: 1 Proportion and size is key Avoid a ‘floating rug’ look: it should sit under the front legs of a sofa and occasional chairs to connect the furniture visually and create a cohesive whole. Make sure that you buy the right size rug for your space so that it’s in proportion with your existing furniture; it is a good idea to ‘overextend’ on either side of an item of furniture.

A general rule of thumb when buying a rug is to subtract about 80–100cm from the dimensions of the room, as leaving the edges of the floor bare makes the space appear larger. When looking for a rug for a dining area, always try to find something about 60–80cm larger than the table; this means that the back legs of the chairs are always on the rug, even when the chairs are pushed out. When purchasing runners for a hallway, it’s important that they are between 15–30cm narrower and 40–60cm shorter than the space.

Circular rugs are becoming increasingly popular these days; if you go this route, the above rules obviously no longer apply. A great way to introduce a quirky element in a room is with circular rugs placed asymmetrically within the space as this creates striking focal points.

2 Colour You can use a rug to create a uniform palette, to highlight a colour in your existing scheme or to introduce contrast. A rug adds personality and a pop of colour and pattern – so be as bold as you like!

Since a rug anchors a room and the furniture in it, its colour, style and texture will establish the mood of the space too. Dark, rich and masculine colours work well to define a more intimate space, whereas lighter colours will make an

70 home September 2020

DINING ROOM

1.8m

2.8m

Match the size of your rug with the size of your space.

Fix your floor

Izel van den Heever of Johannesburg writes The screed floor in our living room is roughly 50 years old and full of cracks.

What is the best way to repair it?

Joanne Sykes of Cemcrete replies Large structural cracks like these are quite difficult to repair without showing the repair work. There are three approaches: 1 You can use a repair mortar or something such as our PrimerCote mixed to a paste to fill the cracks. However, these repairs will show up and it won’t look like a ‘new’ floor.

2 Alternatively, once the cracks have been filled, our Concrete Primer can be applied to reduce the curing suction of the current floor substrate and then either our CreteCote or RenoCrete can be applied over this to give the whole floor a fresh new look. Unfortunately, the cracks might still reappear over time.

3 A third, more drastic, option is to fill the cracks as per above and then lay our CemLam membrane over the entire floor followed by a 50mm screed with our Colour Hardener to create a completely new floor finish that isn’t reliant on the below substrate for integrity. This way, any movement below the CemLam will not show through to the new surface. This will, of course, change the level of the floor and doors will need to be adjusted to the new level. >> CONTACT cemcrete.co.za

1.8m

1.5m

1.8m

1.5m

2.4m

area appear larger. Warm tones like yellows, oranges and reds will add warmth, while cooler 3m tones such as greens and blues will create a relaxing, calm atmosphere. The amount of sunlight a room gets will also contribute to your choice of colour.

3 Pattern and texture Texture is an integral part of any interior LIVING ROOM as this is how interesting layers 2.4m are created. Rugs offer a great way to add texture and depth to a room, and pattern will also enhance the drama of a space.

Start experimenting with different weaves such as silk, wool, cotton, faux fur, hides and even jute and bamboo rugs – all of these will create different textural experiences 3m and moods as they reflect or absorb light differently.

4 Material Opt for something BEDROOM that’s durable and hard-wearing – especially if your rug will be positioned in a high-traffic area.

1m A good quality rug that will stand the test of time is worth the investment, so make sure you choose something you are happy to look at for the foreseeable future. There are also a wide range of outdoor rugs available; be sure to choose one that’s hard-wearing, fade-resistant and easy to clean 2.8m and maintain. Many of them also look good inside!

Depending on where you intend to use your rug, consider the following attributes of the various materials: Acrylic is hard-wearing and easy to clean. It can be woven or tufted to look like the more expensive option of wool.

Polypropylene is a hard-wearing and easy-to-maintain synthetic fibre perfect for high-traffic areas.

Viscose isn’t as durable as other materials, so it’s not ideal for high-traffic areas, but it adds a lovely luxe or sheen finish to a rug. It is usually blended with another material such as wool.

Wool is a natural fibre that’s incredibly soft underfoot and exceptionally durable.

Jute and sisal are both extremely hard-wearing natural fibres suitable for high-traffic areas and readily available in different weave patterns and colours.

CONTACT hellocharlie.co.za

September 2020

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71

Quick questions Q: I love the rug in Antoinette Stockley’s living room on page 35 of your June 2020 issue; where is it from? – Jeanne de Klerk, Upington A: The rug was sourced for her by Oak Corner Interiors (oakcorner.co.za). Rugs in similar designs are available from Haus (hertexhaus.co.za), Morelli Rugs (morellirugs.co.za) and Lund (lundruggallery.co.za).

Clean slate Chrizanne Niehaus of Pretoria writes What can I do to give my slate floor a shiny appearance like the floor in Hermann and Lochie Wessels’ home on page 37 of your May 2020 issue?

Robert Scott of Tile & Floor Care Chemicals replies Slate varies from black, silver and greens to many different browns and red.

Generally, low-porosity slate will be black or silver, and high-porosity slate will be multicoloured. It’s sold most commonly with its natural textured finish but it can also be honed (smooth and matte) or polished (smooth and gloss).

Protecting the surface of slate tiles is of the utmost importance, as this protects the colour. There are two ways to protect slate: apply a surface sealer that will protect the tile from the top or apply a penetrating sealer that will bond and strengthen the tile. There are three sealers specified for slate tiles: Deep Seal, Natural Stone Sealer and Top Seal. Use Deep Seal on honed and low-porosity slate and Natural Stone Sealer or Top Seal on natural (unhoned) high-porosity slate.

After installation there will always be grout residue, no matter how well the installer cleans. It’s essential to remove this as sealers cannot penetrate and bond with the tile if there are any impurities or residues in the floor or if the floor is acidic because it hasn’t been neutralised. Allow 10–14 days drying time after installation before cleaning and sealing. Acid wash with Grout Off and rinse before neutralising and degreasing with Easy Clean. Rinse until there are no more bubbles or residues from cleaners. Allow the floor to dry for 8–12 hours when using waterbased sealers or 48 hours when using solvent-based sealers.

Seal using a sheepskin applicator and wait the correct time in between coats. Apply surface sealers in medium coats in opposite directions; this will require 3–4 layers. Penetrating sealers are designed to penetrate and not to sit on the surface; only apply as much sealer as the tile will accept. The most practical method is to apply thin coats in opposite directions until the tile is filled with sealer and won’t absorb more.

CONTACT tfc.co.za

72 home September 2020

Q: What colour was used to paint the cabinet under the round window on page 20 of your March 2020 issue? – Ina Ehlers, Durbanville A: Try a soft grey from Duram (duram.co.za) such as Divine Diana, or Lourain’s Cream from Tjhoko Paint (tjhokopaint.co.za).

Visit one of our showrooms Johannesburg 227 Jan Smuts Avenue Parktown North 011 447 3149 Centurion 15 Coachmen’s Park, 26 Jakaranda Street Hennopspark 012 653 6808 Cape Town Eagle Park, Computer Road, Montague Gardens 021 555 1034

Manufacturers of Distinctive Decorative Coatings www.cemcrete.co.za

0860 CEMCRETE

enquiry@cemcrete.co.za

advice

Email your queries to experts@homemag.co.za

More

Quick questions

Q: What was used to cover the latte on the patio featured on the cover of your March 2020 edition?

– Faith Bischof, Germiston A: The roof covering consists of corrugated polycarb sheets which you can find at suppliers such as Builders (builders.co.za) or Buco (buco.co.za).

Stash it or trash it?

A family tradition

Linda Pietersen of Cape Town writes I’d love to know more about this jug and what it’s worth. Can you help?

Ainsley Taylor of Stephan Welz & Co. replies Moorcroft art pottery has been sought after by collectors worldwide since 1897 when William Moorcroft, the art pottery designer for an English company called Macintyre’s, first began producing wares for prestigious stores such as Harrods, Liberty of London and Tiffany’s in New York.

After winning a gold medal at the St Louis Exhibition in 1904 for his Art Nouveau-style ‘Florian Ware’, sales of his wares increased significantly and in 1913, with backing from Liberty, he opened his own company.

The company’s reputation was further enhanced when William was appointed ‘Potter to HM the Queen’ in 1928. In addition to rich colours and attractive designs, another

74 home September 2020

distinguishing feature of Moorcroft art pottery is that each item is decorated entirely by hand, using a technique called ‘tubelining’ – a labourintensive and highly skilled process of outlining the pattern onto the unfired vessel with liquid clay, after which layers of colour are painted on before it is kiln-fired. Moorcroft also personalised each piece with his own signature or initials.

After William’s death in 1945, his son Walter took over as sole designer for the company, continuing his father’s tradition while also introducing new exotic floral patterns; the hibiscus vase is such an example, and dates from the 1960s. Walter also signed each piece with a signature almost identical to his father’s, which can cause confusion with today’s collectors. While it is William Moorcroft pottery that fetches the higher price at auction, this vase, assuming a height of 30cm, would have an auction value of R3 000 – R5 000.

CIRCA 1960s VALUE Between R3 000 and R5 000 CONTACT swelco.co.za

Q: Where did Kelly Croeser find the beautiful floral fabric and matching throw on the bed as featured on page 11 of the May issue? – Jane Ellis via Facebook A: Kelly bought the fabric on special from a fabric store in Fish Hoek called Global Fabrics (globalfabrics.co.za).

She fell in love with the pattern and bought it without knowing what it would ultimately be used for.

PROMOTION

A LUXURIOUS LOOK WITH JUST A LICK OF PAINT! With Paint Master Sheen you can revamp any space in no time – it’s the perfect durable yet affordable paint for drab interior walls.

Paint colour

Paint Master Sheen Pitstop

T

he easiest way to transform a space is with a fresh coat of paint. And if you use Paint Master’s flagship range, Sheen, you not only get a high quality finish but a 10-year guarantee too!

In this space, Pitstop, a versatile muted sand colour, has created a luxurious feel. And it’s a practical choice too – thanks to its pure acrylic composition, Sheen is stain-resistant and washable, easy to apply and has a satin finish that will enchant you!

Contact the Paint Master team for advice on paint or colour choices. And if you need someone to wield the paintbrushes and rollers for you, their team of experienced contractors will complete your painting project in a jiffy.

For contractor enquiries in Gauteng and North West, call Jaco on 083 267 1122 or send an email to nadine@paint-master.co.za.

Paint Master is the proud manufacturer of Tjhoko Paint.

For more information on Paint Master, their products and where to order the paint, visit paint-master.co.za.

To view all the available colours, go to paint-master.co.za.

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advice

Email your renovation to experts@homemag.co.za.

WITH FLAIR entry

Build

something new!

After their log cabin for guests burnt to the ground in the Knysna fires of 2017, Andrew Yates built this gypsy wagon to take its place.

By Kim Arendse • Photographs Amora Erasmus Styling Marian van Wyk

hen Andrew and Karin Yates think back on the devastating fire that swept through Knysna and surrounds in 2017, a sense of relief overwhelms them.

It was a miracle their own home wasn’t destroyed.

However, the blaze did completely ravage a freestanding log cabin on their 10-hectare plot, where guests would usually stay. Many trees were also turned to ashes. “With the beautiful forest surrounds gone, we wanted to make sure that our new guest space was something really special,” says Andrew, a retired mechanical engineer.

And special it is! Instead of a cabin, he decided to build a gypsy wagon. “I thought the quirky design, an authentic replica of a real gypsy caravan, would be a fun surprise for guests,” says Andrew. He built the wagon himself (the only thing he didn’t do was the window glazing and laser-cutting detail for the exterior) while his wife Karin, a retired primary school teacher, tackled the interior decorating.

“We’ve had quite a lot of guests stay in the wagon,” Andrew says. “It’s a wonderful space in which to get away from it all. An embankment shields all noise from the tar road about a kilometre away and at night it’s often possible to hear the waves crashing in the sea, which is about nine kilometres away.

“We love it so much that sometimes Karin and I use it as a getaway for ourselves!”

78 home September 2020

WHO LIVES HERE? Andrew and Karin Yates WHERE Knysna SIZE 10m²

The roof is curved like a traditional gypsy caravan with a slight overhang at the front and back. Structural pine was used for the roof beams and frame, and tongue-in-groove pine for the interior roof. The walls inside are marine ply.

In keeping with the authentic design, Andrew even made the drawbars a horse would typically be attached to in order to pull the wagon (the white wooden poles on either side of the stairs). Here, they’re purely decorative. The wheels, also decorative, are made of meranti.

The outside was painted with Duram’s water-based exterior enamel in White, Berkshire Green (dark green), Valentina Valley (light green) and Sandy Smile (pink). The stairs unhook from the front of the wagon.

Inside, the kitchenette is equipped with a bar fridge, microwave, kettle and coffee machine. Karin opted for a fresh white-and-blue palette and made all the soft finishes herself. Plugs for cellphones and laptop chargers, dimmer switches for the lights and an electric blanket are just some of the mod cons you can expect in this wagon.

Andrew designed the wagon so that it has windows on all four sides and shutters on the three main windows to help regulate the temperature inside.

The shelves were inspired by original gypsy wagons, and laser-cut from MDF. Laser-cutting by Laser-Cut Studio

Glazing by PG Glass

It’s the perfect place to get away for a few hours of solitude and rest. – Andrew The wheel deal The wagon consists of a bedroom with a double bed, a loo and kitchenette; a shower in the main house is available to guests.

“The wagon took about a month to design and about five months to build,” Andrew says. He used CAD software to create the design and researched gypsy wagons online. “I found lots of pictures taken from every conceivable angle and some fantastic detailed drawings. I decided to cheat a bit on the traditional size by adding about 500mm to the width and length to make it a bit roomier and to squeeze in a small cubicle for a toilet.”

Andrew prepared six different floor plans and he and Karin discussed them until they agreed on the final layout. “It really helped to draw up the complete design on paper, including all measurements right down to the thickness of the wood,” he says.

80 home September 2020

External shutters keep the sun at bay.

Instead of making louvre slots in the frame stiles with a router, Andrew had them laser-cut into a strip of MDF which was rebated into the stiles. The louvres were made from meranti cover strips.

advice

On the job…

WHEELS

Each wagon wheel rim was laminated with 18 layers of very thin bands of wood that had to be glued and clamped two layers at a time. “It took lots of patience!”

Andrew says. He made the arched roof

SUPPORTS

beams with a similar process. The entire structure rests on gum pole supports to minimise damage to the wooden wheel rims from rising damp. The wheels, in fact, float above the ground.

Once you’ve painted a wooden structure, it’s important to protect it from the elements, advises Duram brand manager Jenny Moolman. Here’s how: Treat exterior wooden surfaces with Duram Wood Primer; this will seal and protect the wood. Allow the primer to dry completely before painting a layer of Duram Universal Undercoat to improve adhesion between the primer and topcoat; allow this to dry for 12 hours.

Then apply three coats of waterbased enamel paint, allowing each coat to dry completely (4–6 hours) before applying the next; sand lightly and remove any dust with a slightly damp cloth between layers.

TOTAL R141 039

To ensure waterproofing and stability, Andrew made the roof of the wagon with five layers including a tongue-in-groove pine interior, polystyrene insulation, a sisalation layer for thermal insulation and water protection, marine ply sealed for

waterproofing and a malthoid waterproof layer with bitumen sealing. The gutters have been waterproofed with bitumen cloth flashing and have a decorative gargoyle drain spout in the four corners of the roof.

Andrew needed lots of scaffolding to construct the long timber pieces of the wagon frame, roof and walls on his own. “It was quite a challenge to work out the correct angles and true lengths for the slanted walls. This is where the CAD programme I used to draw the design was very useful,” he says.

MATERIALS 130 232 Meranti, pine, marine ply 68 115 Bolts, screws, nails, brackets, hinges, sundry hardware 16 454 DB board, plug sockets, wire 5 335 Septic tank & soakaway, toilet, sink, tap, pipes & fittings 10 981 Waterproofing & insulation 9 479 Paint 19 868

CONTRACTORS Manufacture of steel suspension parts Wood turning of wheel hubs and spokes Laser-cutting of 3mm Supawood decorative details Window glazing

10 807 3 192 2 310

3 620 1 685

CONTACTS Laser-Cut Studio 044 871 0178, lasercutstudiogeorge.weebly.com PG Glass 044 802 9600, pgglass.pg.co.za

September 2020

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advice

Email your queries to pets@homemag.co.za

Animal antics

Close encounter Lea makes a new friend.

– Carol Willemse, Heidelberg, Gauteng

Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

Spring is in the air!

Fun in the flowers Levi loves to frolic in the veld.

– Caitlin Morris, Cape Town

Ain’t no mountain high enough!

Leo the Collie in his happy place. – Amy Sands, Bellville

Look into my eyes…

Bentley the cat and Mossie the cockatiel locked in a staring contest – winner gets the food! – Karen Jackson, Durban

For the love of lavender George has found the sweet spot.

– Kirsty Haddon, Gordons Bay

Q&A

Top tips for new cat owners

Mary Coetzer of Centurion writes We’ve adopted a kitten from an animal shelter; any advice on how to make her feel at home?

Dr Roxanne Jones, veterinarian and owner of online pet care portal zuki.co.za, replies Your kitty is likely to feel a little out of sorts in her new environment. Here are a few things you can do to help her feel happy and secure:

Green fingers

Jozi digs gardening. – Myrna Petersen, Johannesburg

Hot product We’re smitten with Mungo’s stunning new Moholo dog blanket (R485; mungo.co.za), available in four different colours. You can take it to the beach to dry off a damp doggy, lay it in the boot of your car or bring it along on a picnic. Light, durable and generously sized, the Moholo dog blanket is a must-have!

Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a large Designer Futon for dogs or a medium Dream Pod for cats from Wagworld (wagworld.co.za).

Available from leading vet and pet shops, the new Designer Futon is as comfortable as it is beautiful. The trendy soft canvas fabric is water-resistant and durable, while the recycled polycotton fibre filling ensures great support and insulation against the cold. Similarly, the Dream Pod will fit in beautifully with your décor, while offering your furbaby a cosy and comfortable spot for the sweetest dreams ever. Send your pics (at least 2MB each) and contact details to pets@homemag.co.za – you could be a winner too. See competition rules on page 128 128.

WIN!

Don’t rush it A six-week-old kitten might be adorable, but it’s far too early for her to be separated from her mom and siblings. If possible, wait until she’s at least eight or 10 weeks old.

Mommy cats help to socialise their babies and teach them vital skills like litter box usage.

Smell is extremely important to cats; if possible, bring the blanket she’s been sleeping on or a beloved toy she’s been playing with back home with you. You can arrange this with the shelter.

Orientation Cats need to be totally familiar with a new environment before they feel comfortable.

Letting them loose in an entire house can be overwhelming, so rather do it bit by bit. Start by keeping her in a room for a few days so she can familiarise herself with the sounds and smells of your home. This is especially important if you have other pets or a busy household. If your cat is overwhelmed, she’ll get stressed out. Rather put her in the designated room with her food, litter and toys. Monitor her and see when she’s ready to explore further. Cats are curious and she’ll let you know when she’s ready!

Meeting the family Introducing a new pet into a household can be stressful for humans and pets alike. If your kitten is entering a home with other pets, chat to your vet about the best way to introduce them. Getting this right is critical when it comes to establishing a long-lasting and positive bond between your animals.

Meeting the vet Your kitten should meet her vet as soon as possible. Even if the shelter did all the requisite checks, your vet will ensure she’s 100% healthy – tests like FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FLV (feline leukaemia virus) are critical.

The vet can also microchip her and advise you on vaccinations and deworming. At the very least, a kitten should be vaccinated at eight and 12 weeks with a booster between one and nine months later, followed by yearly boosters.

Eating and pooping Cats don’t like to eat near their litter box; make sure there’s enough space between the two so your kitty isn’t put off her food and doesn’t develop an aversion to her litter box.

Playtime! Great news: playing with your new kitten is the best way to help her bond with you.

Stroke, pet and play with her regularly to help her become socialised and happy around humans.

CONTACT zuki.co.za

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83

advice

Send garden info and queries to gardens@homemag.co.za.

COLOUR FOR SUMMER

Gardening notebook

Gillian Eva

Now is the time to sow annuals such as alyssum, bedding dahlia, sunflower, impatiens, lobelia, marigold, portulaca and zinnia to provide abundant colour in the garden over the coming summer months.

Compiled by Gillian Eva • Photographs Francois Oberholster and supplied

This month we celebrate the beauty, fragrance and blooms of trees.

Trees of life T

he value of trees as sources of beauty, building material, food and medicine, and the important role they play in the environment cannot be underestimated. Arbor Week (1–7 September) is celebrated every September to highlight the role that communities, homeowners, businesses, organisations and schools can play by donating and planting trees. The two ‘Trees of the Year’ for 2020, chosen as part of the Arbor Week celebrations, are baobab (Adansonia digitata) and Cape ash (Ekebergia capensis).

Also known as the cream-oftartar tree, the legendary baobab (Adansonia digitata) is a massive deciduous tree that is regarded as the largest succulent plant in the world. It is often referred to as the upside-down tree because of the root-like appearance of its tangled branches. It is found in frost-free, low rainfall areas and its large, pendulous sweetly scented flowers that appear in early summer are pollinated by fruit bats at night.

The leaves are said to be rich in vitamin C, sugars, potassium tartrate and calcium. The hollow stems of giant baobabs collect rainwater, and have been used as houses, pubs and honeybee hives.

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Photograph Getty Images

Baobab

Photograph Kay Montgomery

Photograph Gillian Eva

Bolusanthus speciosus

Beautiful blooms One of the prettiest spring-flowering trees is the tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus) with a height of 5m, brownish-black bark and scented mauve, pea-shaped flower trusses resembling a wisteria. Note that if you live in a frost belt, the young trees need protection from frost.

Providing an early source of pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators are the blossoms of deciduous fruit trees: apples, plums, cherries, peaches and pears.

Evergreen citrus trees bear fragrant blossoms in spring, followed by decorative fruit that provides a valuable source of vitamins.

Cape ash A member of the mahogany family, Cape ash (Ekebergia capensis) is a large attractive evergreen tree that is found in a number of different habitats, from high altitude evergreen forests to riverine forests, and from sea level to about 1 500m above sea level. Small sweetly scented sprays of white flowers that appear in summer attract butterflies and bees. The tree’s green fruit that turns red in autumn will entice birds to visit your garden.

[ TIPS FOR TREE PLANTING ] • Select the right size tree; one that does well in your area, has a pleasing shape and a non-invasive root system.

• Give your tree a good start by digging a large square hole deep enough to take the root ball, incorporating compost and a handful of superphosphate into the reserved topsoil.

• The day before planting, pour a bucket of water into the prepared hole, and water the tree thoroughly in its container.

• Remove the tree from the plant bag and plant at the same depth as in the container. Fill in with the topsoil.

• Avoid wind damage to new roots by stabilising the tree. Insert two strong stakes on either side of the trunk and secure with cord or large cable ties.

• Water the tree well immediately after planting and give it a thorough soaking once a week until established.

Wild pear

Scents of spring What better way to welcome spring than with the wild pear (Dombeya rotundifolia), a deciduous tree suitable for urban gardens with sweetly scented white flowers that resemble pear blossoms. The blooms are relished by butterflies and bees.

Spring is also the flowering time of Rothmannia globosa, a small tree whose everyday name of September bells tells of its flowering month and the shape of its creamy-white, fragrant flowers.

The aptly named blossom tree, or keurboom (Virgilia divaricata), is a small to medium tree with fragrant sweet pea-like, violet-pink flowers in spring to early summer. It is fast-growing when young.

By Kay Montgomery

We love succulents!

String of pearls

Grow your own!

Spring heralds the start of a new growing season. But don’t be in too much of a hurry; the ground is still cold, and one last frost is expected before it warms up. Stagger your sowing, keep harvesting winter veggies and water more often as the days get warmer.

Sowing plan for spring Early September Sow beetroot, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, peas, spinach and Swiss chard which germinate at cooler soil temperatures.

Sowing tip For fine carrot seed such as ‘Cape Market’ (developed specifically for South African conditions), sow row by row, using a funnel made from a sheet of paper to help distribute the seeds more evenly.

Mid-September Sow bush and runner beans, and bush squash.

Sowing tip Green beans germinate best when two or three beans are sown together in a hole.

Make a bean teepee by tying three canes together (or string for training upwards) and sow the heirloom runner bean ‘Lazy Housewife’ at the base to climb upwards. The kids will love it.

String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus syn.

Senecio rowleyanus) is as decorative as its name,

being a most unusual trailing succulent that looks best tumbling out of a hanging basket or over the edge of a raised bed or rockery. The round green leaves look like pearls strung along slender green stems that can grow 60–90cm long.

Different types Other varieties include string of dolphins with leaves that look like a school of dolphins leaping through the waves and string of bananas with foliage that resembles the fruit of the same name.

How to grow Indigenous to Namibia, string of pearls grows in bright indirect light (indoors) and with some direct sun outdoors.

It likes a good watering but must be planted in soil that drains well. Allow the soil to dry out moderately before watering again.

Flat, shrivelled ‘pearls’ means that the plant is too dry. Reduce watering during winter to encourage flowers in spring. Cut back straggly stems to produce a fuller plant and keep it looking neat.

Feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month from spring to autumn.

Garden uses Its uses are endless: as a groundcover, in a rockery, in raised beds, containers and hanging baskets. As an indoor plant, string of pearls can be displayed in a hanging basket, in a decorative pot on a shelf, suspended next to a window or in front of one (that does not get direct sun) as a green curtain.

Common problems Overwatering can cause root rot; remove dead leaves and stems and let the soil dry out completely.

CONTACT plantimex.co.za

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End September Sow tomato, brinjal, chilli, sweet pepper, mealie, pumpkin, melon and other trailing squash.

Sowing tip Water seed beds and seedlings every day. Use a watering can with a fine nozzle that will not wash away the seedlings.

Runner beans

Did you know?

Onions, carrots and cabbage

Try this!

Grow bite-sized cherry tomatoes in a 35–40cm diameter pot using good quality potting soil with homemade compost and an organic fertiliser.

Water daily in summer and feed once a month with a liquid fertiliser.

Don’t let pots dry out.

Lettuce, spinach, bush beans, baby marrow, and tomatoes are regarded as the most costeffective veggies to grow.

The leafy crops are fast growers, bush beans are prolific CONTACT kirchhoffs.co.za producers and home-grown ier. tast tomatoes are

INDOOR PLANT OF THE MONTH

advice

Waterwise plant of the month

Cross-berry Cross-berry (Grewia occidentalis) is a frostresistant, drought-hardy scrambling shrub or small tree that grows up to 3m tall. This deciduous plant bears purple star-shaped flowers in summer that attract butterflies, followed by four-lobed fruits enjoyed by birds. It can be grown in full sun or shade. Plant in well-composted soil and water often to promote good growth.

Miniature plants and flowers have a special charm, and micro moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are cuter than most.

They are the tiniest of the orchids, but with double or triple the flower power of full-sized plants.

Being smaller, they need less space to grow, as long as they receive bright, indirect light. They also need less water – one ice cube a week melted over the roots compared to three ice cubes a week for full-sized orchids – and less plant food. For a spectacular show, put three micro orchids in a pot or plant with a full-sized orchid for an interesting contrast in flower sizes.

CONTACT plantimex.co.za

Photograph Getty Images

Micro moth orchid

Ask Ludwig

Curling leaves

Ask JJ

Joanne White of Durban North writes The young leaves of my ‘VLV Kaapland’ rose are crinkling and smaller than usual. What is causing the damage?

Ludwig replies It is most likely aphids and thrips that have come out of winter hibernation. Careful inspection should reveal tiny aphids on the buds or underneath the leaves. However, the type of thrips that has ‘VLV Kaapland’ become prevalent in roses in recent years is virtually invisible in the larvae stage.

The adult thrips lay their eggs further down the stems beneath the bark. When the larvae hatch, they move upwards to the new leaves and puncture and suck them out from the underside, causing this curling and deformation. Once they have reached the bud they mature to the adult stage and immediately start sucking the petal edges of the buds and blooms. To deal with both, drench the soil around the rose bush with Koinor (2ml Koinor to 1L water per plant). It works best if the soil is moist before the treatment.

Koinor is taken up into the plant and has a long-lasting action, from three to six months, before it needs to be repeated.

CONTACT ludwigsroses.co.za

An unsightly problem Elanza de Waal of Malmesbury writes I have ivy right around the front part of my yard. On one side it is lovely and green but the front part suddenly started to die.

Must I remove the whole plant? No new leaves are sprouting and some stems look dead – they break off easily, while others seem to still have life in them and don’t break off.

JJ replies Sometimes ivy gets infected with a fungus that damages the plant. Treat it with Mycoguard, prune off the damaged leaves and feed with 7:1:3 fertiliser. Your ivy will soon grow strongly again. >> Listen to JJ’s gardening tips and tricks on Derrich Gardner’s show Brekfis met Derrich at 07:40 every Saturday on RSG. September 2020

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advice

Garden goodies Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel Westermans suet ball bird feeder R249, takealot.com

Galvanised compost container R229.99, MRP Home Esschert insect hotel in teepee shape R339 R339, ta takealot.com India Ink small Marrakesh patterned rug R749, yuppiechef.com

Large woven basket R259.99, MRP Home

Marina gumboots in Lotus Coral R290, Builders

New in nurseries The star of the show Calibrachoa ‘Good Night Kiss’ is vivid and luminous with bright rose-pink blooms featuring a dark, burgundy throat and five yellow lines forming a star in the centre. Also known as the trailing petunia for its small, petunia-like flowers, this new release in the Cabaret series grows into a well-rounded plant that amply fills containers and large hanging baskets. Flowering is from spring to autumn and is not affected by midsummer heat. They like plenty of sun, well-drained soil and regular watering, especially if planted in a hanging basket. Feed with a diluted liquid fertiliser every few weeks throughout the blooming season.

CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za 1 Paduan paver R463.45/m²

Encaustic cement tiles R978 – R1 265/m², all from Moroccan Warehouse

2 Seaward cobble R380.25/m² 3 Huguenot cobble R380.25/m², all from SmartStone 1

Easigrass Easi Windsor artificial grass (2.0 x 1.5m) R1 599, takealot.com

Garden Master 5-piece starter kit R60, Builders

2

3

STOCKISTS Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Moroccan Warehouse 021 461 8318 MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com SmartStone 086 176 2781, smartstone.co.za

88 home September 2020

crossword #145

Compiled by Gerda Engelbrecht

WIN!

One of eight NB Publishers books worth R300 could be yours.

Into the Sun by Takalani M sold out its first print run before even hitting the shelves! This is a South African romance novel with many twists and turns, ups and downs. In a village in Venda, Thandeka has a chance encounter with a business tycoon who offers her the words of comfort she has been longing to hear. They don’t exchange names but she is shocked to learn from a friend that he is a serial womaniser. Gundo is delighted when the beautiful woman he met in Venda shows up as a cleaner at his company in Johannesburg. He would love to get to know Thandeka better.

He doesn’t realise that she has been misinformed about his identity and his intentions… The first eight readers whose correctly completed crosswords are drawn will each win a copy of Into the Sun worth R300.

Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home Crossword #145, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 30 September 2020. See our competition rules on page 128.

Name ............................................................................. Address ..........................................................................................................................

Postal code .................. Cell .............................................. Tel. (w) ............................................. Email .........................................................

90 home September 2020

Note: The solution to Crossword #143 is available online at homemag.co.za.

DStv Channel 147

Pak weg, pak reg Spick-and-span rooms VIA Carin and Jani’s 10 smart steps From 3 August Mondays 19:30 viatv.co.za

VIATV

viatv

reader garden

blend

It goes without saying that a garden in the middle of the veld should meld with its surroundings, require little maintenance and attract abundant birdlife.

By Elna van der Merwe Photographs Francois Oberholster

On the side of the house near the front door, a fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea) is the main feature of the landscape, with leopard trees (Caesalpinia ferrea) in the background.

Fountain grass creates movement with its feathery plumes swaying in the breeze.

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WHO LIVES HERE? Corniel Venter WHERE Kruis Farm, Montagu SIZE OF GARDEN About 1 500m² TYPE OF SOIL Clay with shale

A delightful mix of vygies, statice, wild sage and gazania provides groundcover colour.

reader garden

F

rom the Keisie Valley all the way towards the Waboomsberg mountains – this is Corniel Venter’s glorious view from the stoep of her cottage. Wrapped around her house on three sides, this stoep also allows her to follow the sun as the seasons change on the farm Kruis outside Montagu.

“It all depends on whether the wind is blowing and where the sunshine is best,” she says.

After her husband’s death in 2011, Corniel’s son Pieter moved to the main homestead on their citrus farm and took over the management of the property. Two years later, Corniel relocated to a once run-down labourer’s cottage on the farm.

“One day while strolling around, I realised that the cottage had an incredible view. To cut a long story short, I asked architect Johan Malherbe of Paarl to turn it into a home for me.

The architecture of the main homestead is Cape Dutch and because this cottage is so different, it was important for it not to be visible from the main house.”

Corniel’s garden at the main house was a paradise of rolling lawns, agapanthus, roses and especially oak trees, but this time round she wanted to create a more indigenous garden.

“I wanted it to look like it was part of the surrounding landscape.

In 2014, I approached local landscape designer Jan Hagen for his assistance. My brief to him? ‘Help!’

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“I basically told him that the garden must melt away into its surroundings. I didn’t want a manicured garden or a swimming pool and I wanted shrubs that would attract lots of birds.”

Although she gets water from mountain springs, Corniel wanted the new garden to be waterwise. “And also low-maintenance so that it would not be time-consuming to take care of it. After all, a farmer’s wife loses her garden helpers during harvest time,” she explains with a smile. Fortunately, she has Benjamin Lehanya to help her take care of the garden.

Jan gave her exactly what she wanted – and more.

“My grandchildren just have to walk from my stoep through the garden and they’re in the veld. They love having picnics there.

And the birds flitting among the aloes and the wild dagga make me so happy.

“I love sitting here on my veranda, savouring the beauty of the Little Karoo veld with all the sweet thorn trees, guarri bushes, sand olives, false karees, rhinoceros bushes and butter trees that are covered in red blooms over Christmas.”

[ BEWARE OF THESE TREES AND PLANTS ] Jan Hagen offers advice: • Although thorn trees have a tap root system, be careful if there are shale or rock substrates, as well as clay, present in your soil. The tap root then grows sideways and can damage structures such as walkways, steps and foundations.

• Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) and rubber plant (Ficus elastica) are popular houseplants but when the plants get too big, people often transplant them into the garden.

These become huge trees, especially the rubber plant, which can cause countless problems with their invasive root systems.

• Tickey creeper (Ficus pumila) is popular for covering walls but it can cause a problem when it starts to grow into the smallest cracks.

• People also like to plant the Indian laurel fig (Ficus nitida) because it can cope with wind but its aggressive roots will take over in the plant’s quest for water.

The garden by the stoep was planned in such a way that it softens the building without obstructing the view.

reader garden Bitter aloe forms a striking feature next to the chimney, Carex grasses add contrast and daisy lawn (Phyla nodiflora) is a good alternative to grass in this context. So as not to interfere with the night sky, only downlights were used in the garden – on the stoep pillars as well as on railway sleepers in the flowerbeds.

A deciduous Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis) provides much-needed shade in summer, but lets in lovely sun throughout winter. Jan says he finds that the Chinese species does better in the Western Cape than its indigenous counterpart, the white stinkwood (Celtis africana).

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Custom-made fruit crates in the sheltered nook by the bedrooms provide a ready supply of herbs and salad ingredients at a comfy height for harvesting. Leopard trees create dappled shade that protects the plants against the harsh summer sun. The pathway was purposely not laid in a straight line so as to give it a more natural look.

reader garden

A designer’s touch

Gauras create movement in the breeze while the white flowers of the Australian rosemary attract bees; its grey-green foliage also blends in nicely with the natural palette of the Little Karoo vegetation.

“Developing Corniel’s garden was such a pleasure,” says Jan. “This house, which fits so snugly into its surroundings and allows the Little Karoo landscape to dominate, dictated from the start the direction we would take with the garden.

We wanted the minimalist building to be even softer, to make sure we respected the views and to ensure that the garden ‘dissolved’ into the veld around it.”

Jan and his wife Mariëtte have been in the gardening industry for 35 years, so he speaks from experience when he says that as a landscape designer he has to be careful not to be too prescriptive to his clients. “Once I’m done with the design, it’s your garden, not mine.

“It’s like going to the hairdresser; you have to click with each other to get the best results. For me, a client’s enthusiasm and input are vital elements in a successful garden. I like to create the backbone of a garden and then give the client free rein to colour it in if they want to.

“Corniel has an unorthodox streak. It was great fun to see how she smuggled in zinnias, patches of cosmos and other seasonal pops of colour here and there in amongst the natural vegetation. Even the potted cactuses look wonderful in this alternative garden.”

Jan offers his clients design knowledge and experience; he tends to see a landscape “in pictures”.

“I can plan the most beautiful garden for someone, but the most important ingredient in making it successful is the client’s passion. Time and time again, I have seen it: if someone has a loving interaction with their plants, the garden thrives much more than if it is merely an element of a home or environment,” he says. “Sometimes though, I have to be diplomatic if a client’s ideas or preferences are going to have catastrophic consequences!”

Where possible, Jan likes to include the client when making purchases; this makes the process a special experience. “Corniel loves socialising and has a close circle of friends. She and I chose the trees for the garden, then her friends gave them to her as house-warming gifts. Now the white stinkwoods, fever trees, karees, weeping boer-bean and water pears hold lifelong memories of dear friends.”

[ JAN’S TIPS FOR A DREAM GARDEN ]

• Compile a scrapbook or moodboard of ideas you find in magazines or online.

This will help your landscape designer to get an idea of your thoughts and desires.

• Make sure that what you do will be sustainable and that your lifestyle, time and finances can maintain it. The biggest tragedy is that initial ideas fail due to a lack of ongoing maintenance, full-time attention and sufficient funds for both.

• Even if your garden requires little maintenance, it still needs to be looked after.

• Make sure you know what the plants’ growth habits are and what your designer had in mind so that you can take care of them. Often, plants are forced to grow in a certain space and then one needs to prune them intensively every few years.

• If you use an architect to design your home, also get a landscape designer from the get-go. Then paths can be created specifically to suit the house and white roofs, which reflect the sun and thus scorch plants, can be avoided; likewise white walls in a spot where you’d like to grow plants, as any heat generated there will also scorch plants.

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The Zen-like architecture at the front door called for minimalist plantings; here, the pencil plant (Euphorbia tirucalli) works very well. In the summer months, the stems are yellow-green and in winter they turn more orangey-red.

[ JAN’S PLANT CHOICE ]

“We mainly used indigenous plants but here and there we also used plants that create a Karoo feel, such as the Australian rosemary (Westringia fruticosa),” explains Jan. • The main stalwarts are dune crow-berry (Searsia crenata), wild rosemary (Eriocephalus), salt bush (Einadia hastata syn.

Rhagodia hastata), vygies, bush violet (Barleria obtusa), blue sage (Salvia africana), rough blue sage (S. chamelaeagnea), krantz aloe (Aloe arborescens), bitter aloe (A. ferox), Cape red-hot poker (Kniphofia uvaria), plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), Cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis), statice (Limonium perezii), camphor bush (Tarchonanthus camphoratus), ground morning glory (Convolvulus sabatius), jade plant (Crassula ovata), fountain grass (Pennisetum spp.) for contrast, Carex grasses for texture, Cape thatching reed, and Kei apple (Dovyalis caffra) and big num-num (Carissa macrocarpa) which both bear fruit for the birds.

• Parrot beak (Lotus berthelotii) with its grey foliage and bright orange flowers is a wonderful exotic groundcover that does well in the Karoo climate.

• Wild sage (Salvia muirii) is a dependable filler.

• Osteospermum rikii is an excellent flat-growing groundcover for this type of garden.

CONTACT Zantedeschia Concepts 082 416 2835, jan@zantedeschia.co.za

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food gardening

Grow to share There’s no time like the present Covid-19 crisis to start a victory garden – reminiscent of those planted during the two world wars – both for your own use and for those who may be in need.

An expert tells us how...

By Marié Esterhuyse Photographs Francois Oberholster and Karen McEwan

WHO LIVES HERE? David and Karen McEwan and their kids Lisa (7) and Andrew (5) WHERE Fairfield Farm, Middelburg, Eastern Cape SIZE OF VEGGIE GARDEN 35 x 40m2 TYPE OF SOIL Sandy

K

aren McEwan wasn’t daunted by her lack of knowledge or experience in growing vegetables when she started her food garden on their farm in Middelburg in the Eastern Cape.

“We got married in 2009, after which I moved to the farm. As a trained chef, I initially offered cooking classes and food demos and also did catering in the surrounding towns.

After my eldest was born, I started my veggie garden – largely to feed my family with organic produce,” says Karen.

“In the first year, the harvest was incredible. I couldn’t believe what grew in that dry Karoo soil! The bug really bit me and I began to expand my veggie garden. It then developed into a small business and today all the fresh produce for my cooking classes comes from my own garden. It is paired with delicious Karoo lamb or venison from the farm.”

At the end of 2019, Karen held her first fresh produce farm market and these days she also offers talks on how to grow veggies organically.

And you can do the same! Now is the ideal time to plant a summer vegetable garden.

Start small and expand your food garden as you gain more experience. Keep the climate in your area in mind as it plays a big role in what you plant. Also seek advice from your local nursery. Before you know it, you’ll be harvesting your own fresh produce and will have more than enough to share with others.

Karen tells us more... >>

[ VICTORY GARDENS ] The Level 5 restrictions enforced at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many people growing their own veggies. This time of crisis, just like during the two world wars, made people more self-sufficient. The gardens that were laid out during those wars came to be known as victory gardens. They were born out of the necessity to feed people in times of scarcity and disruption.

This need also became evident during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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food gardening

1 PLANTING SITE A 10m2 vegetable garden will enable you to grow more than enough produce to feed a family of four. Grow a variety, and plant those vegetables your family likes eating. A smaller space shouldn’t be a hindrance; even if you only plant tomatoes and lettuce, it’s a good start.

Choose a spot in your garden that gets about six to eight hours of sun a day, says Karen. “It should preferably be level, or make it as level as possible. Vegetables like well-drained, compost-rich soil. Place a thick layer of compost on top of the soil, but don’t dig it in – let the natural organisms do the work. I mulch the soil every four months with a layer of homemade compost.”

A vegetable garden can be in any shape, whether it be a circle, rectangle or square. Even just a corner in the garden will work.

“The most important factor is that the beds are not so wide that you have to stand in them to get to the veggies,” she explains. “If you constantly walk on the soil, you’ll trample the micro-organisms and compact the air cavities in which they live. Any seed that is germinating will also be squashed.

“Also make sure there is sufficient space to get close to your vegetable garden with a wheelbarrow. This makes it much easier to add loads of compost.”

Karen also plants her own peanuts but she says they are slow growers, so they will only be ready to harvest after about four months.

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2 VEGETABLE SELECTION If your garden is small, start with tomatoes, spinach, parsley, basil, carrots, lettuce and beetroot. Then expand later with potatoes, chillies, beans, peas and butternut or any small pumpkin such as ‘Jack Be Little’.

Be clever by utilising vertical space and train tomatoes, beans, peas, butternut and small pumpkins up a framework.

This will give you more space at surface level to grow root vegetables and herbs.

If you have plenty of space, sow mealies and plant baby marrows, sweet potatoes and spanspek.

A bed of thriving plants: unripe cherry tomatoes, nasturtiums, wild garlic, chives, pumpkin – and a cabbage underneath the foliage of a gooseberry.

3 SEEDS OR SEEDLINGS? You can sow seeds or plant seedlings.

Choose organic seeds and avoid genetically modified seeds. There are numerous distributors of organic seeds in South Africa who sell their products online, such as The Gravel Garden and African Marmalade (see stockists on page 107). Karen recommends that you also harvest your own seeds at the end of the season. “They will already be adapted to your local climate,” she explains.

“In addition, vegetables eventually build up immunity to the pests in your area.”

For the same reason, preferably buy seeds from local suppliers.

If you prefer to plant seedlings, make sure that what you buy suits your climate.

In the countryside, seedlings usually come from other regions and must first get accustomed to the climate.

“Keep the seedlings in the container in which you bought them for a few weeks before you transplant them,” Karen advises. “In the beginning, place the seedlings under the shelter of a tree or roof for a day or two. Then put them in the sun daily – initially for four hours, then for six hours, and every day for a little longer. The plants will adapt to the new environment within two weeks, more or less. Just be careful – if the nights are still chilly, they may get frost damage.”

If you want to transplant the seedlings immediately, it is advisable to first protect them with shade cloth or frost cover (depending on the season) or by inverting plastic bottles over them. >> For a complete list of what to plant

www. when, download our vegetable calendar at homemag.co.za.

If you have enough space, plant mealies!

Marigolds with their bright yellow flowers deter unwanted bugs.

food gardening 4 IRRIGATION Sufficient water is important – the right amount will depend on your climate. In certain parts of the country where it is more rainy and humid, irrigation is not necessary.

“Here in the Karoo, irrigation is essential,” says Karen. “I use drip irrigation because our borehole water has a high lime content and it is not ideal for the water to end up on the leaves and vegetables. With drip irrigation, very little water is lost because it is applied directly to the roots. There is no run-off and it doesn’t get blown away by the wind.” If your veggie garden is small and you have enough time, water it by hand.

Plan and lay out your irrigation system when you lay out your veggie garden. “If the bed is circular, lay the drip irrigation in a circle or spiral shape in the bed,” says Karen. “You don’t want any irrigation pipes over the pathway. The same applies to a rectangular or square bed.

“Overhead irrigation is an option but this does mean that water ends up on pathways, which is a waste.”

If you don’t have a borehole, preferably use rainwater that is collected in a tank.

5 PERFECT PARTNERS Plan wisely, especially in a small space, which plants you will grow alongside each other.

• Companion plants not only grow well together, their flavour and colour also complement each other perfectly – such as tomatoes and basil; runner beans and sweet potatoes; potatoes, parsley and thyme; and radishes and lettuce. Strawberries and beetroot do very well with tomatoes and can be planted underneath them if the tomatoes are trained up a structure.

• Edible flowers are a great addition to your veggie garden as well as your food! They are also nutritious. The other benefit of growing flowers between vegetables and herbs is that they attract pollinators such as butterflies, bees and insects. “I plant alyssum, sweet William, hollyhock, snapdragon, pansy, nasturtium, zinnia, marigold and roses in among or near the vegetables,” says Karen. “And even though they are not edible, I also plant cosmos, sweet peas and poppies; bees love them!

Sweet peas and poppies are the first to flower after winter and attract bees before the vegetables and fruit trees bloom.”

6 NUTRIENTS Karen recommends using only organic fertilisers in your vegetable garden. “There are many organic products available.

Vermicompost and worm tea, or guano that can be bought in a tea form, are popular.” She also makes her own potion from coffee beans and banana peels. “Use a 5L ice cream container and pour about 3.5L of water into it. Then add eight to 10 banana peels and coffee beans from four to six medium-sized plungers. Let it draw for 10 days, a little less in summer.”

Karen says that if it ferments properly, you’re on the right track.

Use this mixture as is, or make it go further by diluting with half as much water.

One spinach plant will yield fresh leaves for up to 18 months, provided it gets regular compost and water. – Karen

7 PESTS AND DISEASES Karen keeps unwelcome bugs out of her vegetable garden in a natural way; here’s how she does it: • Dry out eggshells, crush them and sprinkle in the veggie garden; snails and cutworms don’t like the texture.

• Sprinkle cinnamon in your seedling trays – this prevents fungal growth. Ants also don’t like cinnamon. (Cinnamon can also be used as a growth hormone for cuttings.)

• In a spray bottle, mix 15ml neem oil with 1L water and add 10ml eco dishwashing liquid. This can be used to control aphids, woolly aphids, thrips, pumpkin flies and fungi.

• Make a tea of 2L water, a handful of chillies, a handful of parsley, a handful of mint, 10 cloves of garlic and 20ml paprika. Pulp everything together and leave overnight; strain and spray on your plants every 10 days to deter aphids, red spider mites, cabbage moths and even mosquitoes – or spray every five days if you have already noticed an infestation.

• Plant wild garlic and marigolds in or near the vegetable garden – they deter unwanted insects. The flowers and thin strappy leaves of the wild garlic are also edible and look lovely in a salad.

• Rosemary and artichokes attract flies and blue bottle flies; plant them where they will lure these annoying pests away from the seating nooks in your garden.

I like to share, even if it’s just an armful of sunflowers! – Karen [ KAREN’S VEGGIE GARDEN TIPS ] • Decide how much time you have to spare for working in your food garden. If you don’t have much time, rather grow fewer vegetables that you can care for properly, and expand a little each year.

• Make a compost heap before you start. Good compost is the key to a successful organic vegetable garden.

• Wait until you’re sure there won’t be any more frost before planting or sowing out in the open. Start off your seedlings in July on a warm, sunny windowsill.

• Plant the vegetables from north to south – low-growing ones on the northerly side of the bed and taller ones or those on a framework on the southerly side. The taller plants then won’t block the sun from the lower growers. In summer, use the shady side for lettuce and rocket; in winter they need more sun.

• Once the seedlings have been transplanted, sprinkle a mulch of fine hay, wood chips or something similar around the plants. This protects them, restricts weed growth and prevents the soil from drying out.

• Root vegetables such as carrots and beetroot don’t need lots of compost; in poorer soil they produce fewer leaves but bigger tubers. Ensure the soil is friable and free of clods and stones.

• If you don’t have space for a separate food garden, sow or plant veggies and herbs in your flowerbeds.

• Experiment with a variety of veggies and herbs and take notes so that next season you’ll know what you did when.

• Don’t give up if your first harvest is not a success – try again! Choose plants that are easy to grow and more likely to succeed. And if you have an abundant harvest, preserve, dry, freeze or share! >>

Karen has hundreds of sunflowers in her garden every year.

Other than looking beautiful, they also provide a windscreen and shade. “The summer sun can be scorching and the sunflowers provide shade for edible flowers and some vegetables and herbs,” she explains. “I also grow runner beans and tomatoes up them.

After they’ve flowered and when the heads start to dry out, they provide food for the birds in the garden and this helps to keep them away from my vegetables! When the plants are completely dry, we cut off the stems just above the ground; these are then crushed and added to the compost heap.”

food gardening

[ CONTAINER GARDENS ] There are many vegetables that thrive in pots and containers: tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, carrots, radishes, beans and chillies.

Many herbs, such as parsley, basil, thyme, origanum, lavender and rosemary, also do well in pots.

“Place the containers in a sunny spot, preferably near your kitchen, where you can easily harvest the plants. Lavender and rosemary need

large pots; for other herbs small to medium-sized pots will work. Parsley or rocket can even be grown in a small pot on a windowsill.”

Karen says a lemon tree and several other fruit trees are also suitable for a large pot. “A tree will only grow as big as you allow it to,” she says. “Prune it so that it stays small enough for the pot and where the pot is situated.”

[ RAISED BEDS ] A raised bed is not only more convenient for gardening and harvesting, it is also beneficial if your soil is not very fertile. Wooden boxes are ideal, but Karen simply uses old tractor tyres.

• If your planter is directly on the ground and does not have a base, put a few layers of wet newspaper underneath and then a piece of

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cardboard. The paper and cardboard suppress weed growth and earthworms like to lay eggs in this layer of paper.

• Sprinkle a coarse layer of well-rotted leaves or hay on top of the cardboard.

Fill the box with rich compost.

• If your planter has a base, start with a layer of coarse dry bark, wood chips, sticks or manure. Follow the same method as above.

Even old tractor tyres can be used as raised beds.

EXPERT ADVICE Deon de Goede, Home’s DIY guru, tells you how to build a raised wooden bed: Use any sturdy leftover planks for your planter; pallets are ideal. Decide how deep you want to make the planter. If your soil is fertile enough, even just one plank about 10cm high will work.

1 Cut the planks to the desired length and treat them with Super Laykold or any other waterproof paint to protect them from moisture.

2 For the long sides, lay the number of planks you need for your desired height next to each other, then glue and screw a single vertical post to each end. For the short sides, glue and screw the planks at a right angle to the long sides to form a frame.

Tip To make pointed posts that can be pushed into the soil, cut the posts slightly longer and make sharp, angled ends before attaching the posts to the horizontal planks.

CONTACT Fairfield Foods fairfieldfoods@gmail.com STOCKISTS OF ORGANIC SEEDS African Marmalade facebook.com/African-Marmalade Living Seeds livingseeds.co.za Seeds for Africa seedsforafrica.co.za The Gravel Garden thegravelgarden.com The Heirloom Bean Company facebook.com/The-Heirloom-Bean-Seed-Co

Thai style With exotic flavours of chilli, coconut, fish sauce and mint, this is fresh spring fare at its best!

CHICKEN SATAY

Recipe on page 116.

By Johané Neilson • Photographs Francois Oberholster

Thai

food

TROUT WITH HERBS

Recipe on page 114.

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Thai

Rice paper rolls with sesame pork The pork in the filling bulks up the fresh ingredients so that two of these rolls will make a substantial starter.

Makes 12 rolls • Preparation time: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 15 minutes • • • • •

1 pork fillet (± 600g) 45ml sesame oil 30ml light soy sauce 5ml fish sauce 15ml sesame seeds

• 12 round rice paper sheets • 6 radishes, thinly sliced • a few edible flowers (optional) • 2 medium carrots, peeled and julienned

1 Make sure all the sinew has been removed from the fillet, then cut it into four equal pieces. Rub the meat all over with the oil. Heat a pan until hot and fry the meat until golden-brown. Don’t turn it too soon – let it develop a good crust; it must not steam.

2 Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame seeds and 60ml boiling water to the pan, put the lid on and steam until the meat is cooked (about 5 minutes).

Then remove from the heat and allow to cool until it is manageable.

3 Flake the meat. Taste a piece to see if it still needs a little soy sauce and sesame oil to make it juicy and fragrant. Get all the other filling ingredients ready.

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• 250ml coriander, stems removed • 125ml mint

4 To soften the rice paper, pour hot water 2cm deep in a shallow bowl that will fit the rice paper and soak one sheet at a time for 15–20 seconds. Carefully remove without crumpling and place on a clean work surface.

5 Arrange 3 slices of radish in the middle of the softened rice paper, with two edible flowers on top.

Add a heap of fragrant pork, a few carrot sticks and a sprinkling of herbs. Fold the rice paper over each end of the filling and then roll into a cigar shape.

Repeat with the rest of the rice paper and filling.

Serve the rolls with a tangy dipping sauce such as homemade chilli sauce (recipe opposite), soy sauce seasoned with chilli and ginger, or plum sauce.

Homemade sweet chilli sauce The beauty of a homemade chilli sauce is that you can control how hot it is with the amount of chillies you add. I use sweet peppers with the chillies to stretch the sauce and to keep it from being too hot for the kids to enjoy.

Makes about 350ml • Preparation time: 20 minutes • Cooking time: 10 minutes 1 If you don’t feel like the bother of dicing all the ingredients, use your food processor to pulse the sweet peppers, chillies and garlic, but don’t make it into a purée.

Spoon into a saucepan and add all the other ingredients, except the cornflour. Stir over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved; bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

2 Mix the cornflour in a bowl with enough water to form a smooth, runny paste and beat into the sauce. Cook for a few more

minutes until the sauce is thick and glossy.

Stir frequently – you don’t want it to catch.

Once the sauce is thick and glossy, remove from the heat and pour into a clean jar, then allow to cool and store in the fridge. It can be enjoyed immediately or kept in the fridge for a week. >>

Accessories mrphome.co.za

• 250ml sweet pepper chunks, very finely chopped • 2–6 chillies (remember: the smaller, the stronger), chopped with or without the seeds • 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 125ml boiling water • 125ml castor sugar • 60ml rice- or apple cider vinegar • a large pinch of salt • 30ml Thai fish sauce • 5ml cornflour

Yellow coconut milk curry with prawns Everyone is familiar with green curry paste. But did you know that there are also flavours such as lemongrass, garlic, tamarind, turmeric and coriander in a Thai yellow curry paste? Try it!

Serves 6 • Preparation time: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 20 minutes • 30ml oil • 70g Thai yellow curry paste • 1 tin (400ml) coconut milk • 1 white onion, thinly sliced • 1 large unpeeled potato, cut into 1cm cubes • 200g baby corn, chopped • 200g fine green beans, topped and tailed • 200g cherry tomatoes • 2 medium brinjals, cut into 1cm slices • 800g prawn tails (head, shell and intestine removed)

• • • • • •

30ml fish sauce 5ml brown sugar 125ml white bean sprouts 125ml coriander and basil lime juice and light soy sauce to taste steamed rice, to serve

1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan and stir-fry the curry paste for a minute until fragrant.

Stir in the coconut milk and bring to the boil.

2 Add the onion, potato, corn, beans and tomato and simmer until the potato is soft.

3 Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan and fry the brinjal slices until soft, with char lines on both sides; add to the curry. The smoky flavour adds an extra dimension to the dish.

4 When the vegetables are tender and the curry is almost ready to serve, stir in the prawns, fish sauce and brown sugar.

Stir through and simmer for a few minutes until the prawns are pink and cooked.

Sprinkle the bean sprouts and herbs over and serve on steamed rice with lime juice and light soy sauce to taste.

Thai

food

Chicken noodle salad This salad is full of texture!

Serves 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes • Cooking time: 10 minutes • 4 chicken breast fillets • 350ml chicken stock • 150g vermicelli (rice noodles) • 125ml large white bean sprouts • a small bunch fresh mint, stems removed • a small bunch coriander, stems removed • 200g snap peas, sliced • 3 pink spring onions, chopped • 30ml sesame seeds, toasted • crispy lettuce leaves as ‘bowls’ (optional) SALAD DRESSING • 1 garlic clove, chopped • 60ml rice vinegar • 45ml lemon juice • 15ml castor sugar • 2 mild red chillies, seeded and chopped

• • • •

3cm fresh ginger, peeled and grated 30ml sesame oil 30ml fish sauce 30ml light soy sauce

1 Put the whole chicken fillets in the stock, bring to the boil then simmer over low heat until the chicken is just cooked (about 10 minutes, depending on the size). Lift out the cooked chicken (keep the stock for soup), allow to cool slightly until manageable, then flake. You can use any cooked chicken for the salad or, if you’re short on time, cut the chicken into strips and stir-fry.

2 Mix all the salad dressing ingredients and stir through the warm cooked chicken.

Remember, the noodles will temper the strong

flavours, so check the flavour only once the noodles have been added.

3 Soak the noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain and mix through the chicken. Allow the noodle mixture to cool completely while you get the rest of the salad ingredients ready. Taste the chicken and season to taste with extra soy sauce, citrus and/or fish sauce.

4 Mix the fresh ingredients through the noodle mixture and sprinkle the sesame seeds over. Dish into bowls and place a bowl of lettuce leaves in the middle of the table so that everyone can help themselves – it’s fun to wrap a portion of noodles in a crispy leaf and eat them just like that, with or without an extra dash of soy sauce.

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Trout with herbs The combo of the pink flesh of the fish and green herb sauce is beautiful and delicious.

Serves 4–6 • Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes

Mock pineapple panna cotta This colourful, refreshing dessert is so easy to make!

Serves 6 Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus cooling time • 1 packet (80g) pineapple jelly • 220ml boiling water • 250ml cream or coconut cream • zest of 1 lemon • 2 tablespoons double-cream yoghurt GARNISH • a variety of brightly coloured fruit such as dragon fruit, kiwi, mango, strawberries and blueberries • a few edible flowers 1 Spray the cavities of a silicone muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray. Any shape will do, but the silicone makes it easier to turn them out. Otherwise, make the panna cotta in pretty glasses, teacups or bowls and serve them in that.

2 Stir the boiling water into the jelly until completely dissolved. Then stir in the cream and lemon zest and beat in the yoghurt until smooth. Pour into the prepared containers and refrigerate until set (preferably overnight).

3 To serve, turn out carefully and garnish with your choice of fresh fruit and edible flowers – this pudding looks like spring on your plate!

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• 1 whole trout (about 1kg) • 30ml olive oil • 5ml brown sugar • sea salt and pepper to taste • 250ml fresh coriander • 1 lemon and 1 lime, sliced • 2 lemon leaves HERB SAUCE • 30ml fresh mint • 3 spring onions • 125ml fresh lemon juice • 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped • 2 red chillies, seeded and chopped • 2cm fresh ginger, peeled and grated • 15ml each fish sauce and soy sauce • 5ml brown sugar 1 Butterfly the fish, but don’t remove the head, tail or skin.

Make sure all the scales have been scraped off, remove the insides, rinse the fish well and press dry with kitchen towel.

Using a sharp knife, score the fish on both sides. Rub the fish inside and out with the oil, sugar, salt and pepper.

2 Remove the coriander leaves from the stems and keep for the sauce; chop the stems coarsely and put them, together with the citrus slices and lemon leaves, inside the fish. Fold the fish closed.

3 Braai the fish whole over medium-hot coals until the flesh is just cooked and the skin is crispy (about 20–30 minutes, depending on the heat of the coals and the size of the fish; you can also bake the fish in a hot oven at 200°C until done).

4 Make the herb sauce Pulse all the ingredients in a food processor until well blended but still with some texture.

5 To serve, spoon some of the herb sauce generously over the fish and dish up with steamed rice and extra herb sauce. >>

Thai

MOCK PINEAPPLE PANNA COTTA

food

food

Thai

Chicken satay

Green papaya salad

This flame-grilled chicken is perfect for Braai Day. Make sure you prepare plenty because it’s going to be a firm favourite!

Try something new! This deliciously tangy Thai favourite goes well with braaied meat, especially chicken.

Serves 4 • Preparation time: 15 minutes

Serves 4 as a main course Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating time Cooking time: 15 minutes • 16 chicken thigh fillets • 60ml chopped peanuts • 30ml chopped fresh coriander • 2 red chillies, chopped (optional) MARINADE • 15ml red curry paste (or to taste) • 15ml kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) • 60ml coconut milk SATAY SAUCE • 125ml peanut butter • 15ml red curry paste • 15ml brown sugar • 15ml fish sauce • 30ml kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) • juice of 2 limes • 250ml coconut milk 1 Combine all the marinade ingredients, then mix through the chicken pieces and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Meanwhile, light the fire and make the sauce.

2 Place all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and stir over moderate heat until smooth. Simmer for a few minutes, tasting and adjusting the sweet-and-sour balance if needed.

3 Fold the chicken thighs open, one by one, and thread them onto a short skewer (soak the skewers in water beforehand to prevent them from catching alight).

4 Braai the chicken over hot coals until cooked through with lovely char lines.

Drizzle generously with the satay sauce just before the meat is done and braai the sosaties on each side for a final char. Serve with the extra dipping sauce and sprinkle with the peanuts, herbs and chilli for a fresh taste and extra bite.

Tip Any extra peanut sauce is heavenly with almost any roasted chicken or pork dish and is, of course, delicious with fried rice.

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• 1 medium green (unripe) papaya, peeled and seeded • 10 green beans, blanched and cut lengthwise (or chopped, as you prefer) • 2 plum- or 8 small tomatoes, cut into thin wedges • a small handful fresh coriander DRESSING • 30ml rice wine vinegar

• 15ml fish sauce • 10ml light brown sugar (or palm sugar) • 1 small garlic clove, finely chopped • 1–2 red chillies, seeded and finely chopped • 30ml lime juice • 125ml peanuts, chopped

1 Crush all the dressing ingredients in a mortar and pestle until well blended.

2 Thinly slice the papaya, then cut each slice into julienne strips (use a mandolin slicer or grate coarsely).

3 Using a wooden spoon, roughly mix the dressing through the papaya, beans and tomatoes – the idea is to bruise the ingredients ever so slightly. Spoon onto a serving platter, sprinkle the fresh coriander over and serve immediately before everything loses its crunch.

Did you know?

The firm white flesh of green papaya is prized for the crunch it adds to Thai salads.

If you can’t find green papaya, use peeled and seeded cucumber instead.

We’ve got supper sorted!

Four hearty meals your family will love!

By Johané Neilson • Photographs Francois Oberholster

Butternut salad with couscous

Chicken livers with bacon

Under R120 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • 8 rashers streaky bacon, chopped • 15ml olive oil • knob of butter • 500g chicken livers, in bite-sized blocks

• 250ml button mushrooms • 60ml white wine • 250ml fresh cream • a sprinkle of parsley • 8 slices fresh bread (or toast)

1 Fry the bacon in the oil and butter until crispy, scoop out and fry the livers in the reserved fat until golden-brown. Scoop out (even if the liver isn’t cooked through) and fry the mushrooms.

2 As soon as the mushrooms are nicely browned, pour in the wine to deglaze the pan.

3 Add the bacon, livers and cream to the pan and simmer gently until the cream has reduced by half and the livers are just cooked. Sprinkle with the parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot on slices of bread or toast.

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• 1 medium-sized butternut • 1 red onion, cut into wedges • 30ml olive oil • 10ml sumac or your favourite spice mix • 250ml couscous • 1 ripe avocado, cubed • a handful chopped spinach

• 1 Camembert, sliced or cubed DRESSING • 5ml honey • 5ml Dijon mustard • 30ml red wine vinegar • about 90ml quality olive oil

1 Preheat the oven. Peel the butternut, halve it and cut into thin wedges. If you’re short of time, buy sliced butternut and cut into smaller pieces to reduce the cooking time.

2 Mix the butternut and onion with the oil then season with sumac, salt and pepper and bake for 30 minutes. Turn the wedges over and roast for another 5–10 minutes; make sure they are caramelising and not burning.

3 Steam the couscous according to the instructions on the packet until done. Beat the salad dressing ingredients together.

4 Mix the hot vegetables with the couscous and half of the salad dressing. Arrange the rest of the salad ingredients on top and serve with the extra dressing. >>

Tablecloths from Schattig (083 384 0727, schattig.co.za)

Under R85 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C

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quick food

Lamb rib chops with balsamic vinegar Under R180 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes • Oven temperature: 220°C • 750g frozen potato wedges • 30ml olive oil • 5ml Cajun spices (optional) • 10 lamb rib chops (2–3 per person, depending on size) • 10ml Dijon mustard

• 10ml olive oil • 1 sprig rosemary or origanum, bruised • 5ml honey • 30ml balsamic vinegar

1 Preheat the oven. Mix the oil and spices through the frozen wedges, spread them in a single layer in a casserole dish or on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes; turn the wedges over and bake for another 10 minutes (or follow the instructions on the packaging) until lightly browned and crispy.

2 Pat the meat dry with a paper towel and rub all over with the mustard, olive oil, herbs and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for about 10 minutes.

3 Preheat a pan until hot and fry the chops, fat side first (hold a few together at a time with a pair of tongs), until well-browned, and then sear each side for 3 minutes. Continue frying the chops until they are done to your liking.

4 Beat together the honey and balsamic vinegar and pour into the pan to glaze the chops; fry for another minute or two until fragrant.

Place the chops on top of the potato wedges and drizzle any pan juices over. Serve immediately.

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Smoked haddock pasta Under R95 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C • 350g smoked haddock fillets • 500ml milk • 30ml butter • 1 onion, finely chopped • 15ml Dijon mustard

• • • • •

15ml flour nutmeg 4 eggs, beaten 300g shell pasta, parboiled 125ml grated Parmesan

1 Place the fish in the milk in a saucepan, bring to the boil, then simmer slowly for about 8–10 minutes with the lid on until the fish is just cooked. Lift the fish out of the milk and flake it. Remove any skin and bones and set the fish aside.

2 Melt the butter and sauté the onion until glossy. Stir in the mustard and flour and fry for another minute. Beat in the hot milk that the fish was cooked in to make a smooth sauce and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly. Season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

3 Preheat the oven. Mix the eggs and pasta into the sauce.

Finally, stir in the cooked fish and place in a greased ovenproof dish or individual bowls, sprinkle with the cheese and bake for about 20 minutes or until the egg is done.

food

step by step

Pap tart with corn and biltong

This side dish is the perfect accompaniment to braaied meat.

By Johané Neilson Photographs Francois Oberholster

T

he wonderful advantage of a pap tart is that you can adjust the ingredients and quantities to suit what you have in the pantry. Substitute the fried mushrooms with chunks of sweet pepper, leave out the corn or replace the biltong with crispy bacon...

The choice is yours! Here’s my interpretation of reader Monique Eksteen’s masterpiece.

PAP • 1L water • 5ml sea salt flakes • 500ml maize meal • 60ml soft butter • 1 tin (400g) corn kernels, drained

1

2

Bring the water and salt to the boil; whisk in the maize meal. Reduce the heat and simmer until the maize meal thickens. I like to keep on stirring so the maize meal doesn’t catch, but you can also steam it with the lid on for about 15 minutes and only stir occasionally. If you think the maize meal is too dry, add a little water. Once it’s nice and thick, stir the butter and the corn into the stiff maize meal, check the seasoning and remove from the heat.

3

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Mix the braai relish with the mushrooms and spoon over the pap balls in an even layer. Then pour enough cream over to cover the pap balls; bake for 45 minutes.

TOPPING • 1 tin (400g) braai relish or tomato and onion relish • 200g button mushrooms, chopped and fried • about 350–500ml cream • 250ml grated cheese • a handful wet biltong (optional) Divide the maize meal into portions while still hot by scooping large spoonfuls onto a big chopping board or clean work surface.

Allow to cool until manageable, then shape each portion into a neat pap ball and arrange snugly in a greased ovenproof casserole dish.

4

Sprinkle the cheese over the tart and bake for another 15 minutes.

You can also place the dish under the oven grill and melt the cheese until it bubbles.

Casserole dish Le Creuset (0800 014Â 886, lecreuset.co.za)

5

If your guests haven’t already snacked on all the biltong while the tart was in the oven, sprinkle it over the hot tart just before serving. I prefer not to bake the biltong with the tart to prevent the biltong from drying out and getting hard in the oven.

September 2020

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food & drinks

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By Johané Neilson • Photographs supplied

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124 home September 2020

Farm to table

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September 2020 FOOD

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Fly off into the light An old Beatles song about a blackbird using its broken wings to “fly off into the light of a deep dark night” has been churning in my head for days on end.

I live alone. I work alone too and have endured my second round of self-isolation – meaning solitary confinement. It took great effort to retain some grip on normality during those lonely weeks. I tried adhering to some sort of structured routine.

And mostly I managed, but there were days that sloppily slipped one into the other.

On the good days, I faithfully attend to the smaller rituals of life: rising with the dawn alarm, forcing myself to make the bed, shower, do my hair and put some colour on my lips. I stroke the dog’s ears and she faithfully wags her tail. It knocks a gentle rhythm against the cupboard door. “Shall we make a little music, the two of us?” I ask. “You do the drums; I’ll play the pennywhistle.”

Together we go down to the kitchen. While I fill the kettle, she waits in rapt attention until I fill her bowl. I drink my coffee in silence. Having rinsed the mug, I pick up her leash and smile at her performing pirouettes on her hind legs.

In the park behind my house the mist still lurks among the bare bones of the late winter trees. The dog runs off after elusive smells, disappears in the direction of the river. I walk underneath the drowsy limbs of large gum trees, brooding on the day ahead.

Back home, I brew some tea and switch on my computer.

The dog settles at my feet, drifts off to restless dreams with muffled barks. I try to write but fail to focus. The sentences keep on crumbling, the words absconding from the job at hand.

By midday I give it up and decide to pack a basket. It’s for my mother in the old age home: Lemon Creams, a banana and cheese spread wedges – Cheddar, her favourite.

I feel excited. Today will be the first time in weeks that I get to see her – even though from a distance and through the iron bars of a palisade fence. The dreaded virus has been active among the residents. Those who did not succumb were forced into

130 home September 2020

isolation in their rooms. It must have been unbearable, especially for those whose faculties have long gone – like Mom. The dog strains against her leash on our walk there. “Patience, silly,” I chide her. “Ouma’s not going anywhere.”

It’s a long wait at the gate. Then I see Mom emerging from the front. She looks smaller, more crooked, pushing her walker hesitantly towards me. It was her 95th birthday a few days ago, but she was blissfully unaware of it.

A carer halts her a few steps from the fence and puts a mask over her face. Old mother yanks at it. “What is this thing?” she asks, disoriented. “We must wear it, Ouma,” comes the gentle answer. “That’s just how things are now.”

I call out to her from the fence and she looks up. I wave eagerly.

She nods back politely.

“It’s me, Mom!” I shout. “It’s me!” She waves back uncertainly and looks at the carer who explains that it’s her daughter. My mom looks again.

“Hey you,” I call, “look what I brought for you.” I wave the Lemon Creams. “Hello, it’s me!” I call out my name and drop my mask so that she can see my face.

She looks from the carer to me. And looks again. Then there’s a flicker in her eyes. She strains towards the fence. The carer tries to contain her, but she rams her with the walker and shuffles lightning fast towards me. I need to step away to keep our distancing intact.

“Closer,” Mom calls and thrusts her arms through the bars, hands clutching helplessly at me. “Come,” she pleads.

“I’m not allowed, Mom,” I answer lamely. “But I’ll be back tomorrow. And the day after and every day after that.”

“Kissy!” she calls, “come!” The carer gently calms her down and, meekly, Mom allows herself to be led back inside.

We walk back home, the dog pulling at the leash again.

“Behave,” I scold.

“And quit the tears. Our little bird will take those broken wings and fly again. And whether to me, or straight up into heaven, she’ll do so blessedly.”

Illustrations Paula Dubois • Translation Hettie Scholtz

One day we will know freedom again, writes Karin Brynard. Just like the birds…