12 minute read
finds and paint A DIY transformation
WITH FLAIR DIY Winner!
The leather loops on the curtain rod are belts purchased from Woodheads; Simoné punched holes in them and attached them to hooks bolted into the ceiling. Curtain rod and throw from MRP Home; glass vessels and copper planter from La Grange Interiors; basket from Weylandts
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WHO LIVES HERE? Anwar Davids and Simoné Visagie-Davids with their kids Noah (3) and Isah (eight months old) WHERE Zeekoevlei, Cape Town SIZE 174m 2
A dynamic duo took a DIY approach to their renovation, knocking down walls, laying their own floors, doing their own plumbing – and, of course, decorating their new space to perfection.
By Ina Baard • Photographs Karl Rogers • Styling Marian van Wyk
Simoné Visagie-Davids always knew that she and her husband Anwar Davids would one day either build their own place or take on a full renovation project to create their perfect family home. She is no stranger to creative expression, being an interior designer who specialises in retail spaces.
So when the opportunity arose, she and Anwar – who co-owns chemicals company Demron Chemicals – took on a sorely neglected house in the charming suburb of Zeekoevlei in Cape Town. Here, finally, they could create a haven for their two boys, Noah and Isah. “It’s a quiet neighbourhood quite close to a bird sanctuary – we have beautiful wild pets of our own all year round! ” says Simoné.
fix it with flair
Raw grey cement plaster was used on the walls and white selflevelling screed was applied to the floors and sealed with a.b.e Construction Chemicals water-based epoxy paint. The clock (right) was painted black and the couple will add important markers such as bedtime so Noah can learn to tell time.
Pendant lights from Weylandts
“A grid of artificial plants previously used for a retail store display was about to be discarded, so we bought it and created a green wall for our home. It adds colour and character,” says Simoné. The couple also rescued a grid from an office space and upcycled it, creating a unique photo wall.
Design and layout Listening to their story, and how the house became theirs, it seems that it was destined to be. “My brother-in-law lives across the road from the house,” explains Simoné. “We’ve always loved the close community vibe of the suburb and whenever we were in the area, we loved that there was laughter and a happy buzz coming from this house that we now own. We grew very fond of it, but back then it was just a dream.”
When the house changed owners and tenants moved in temporarily, it fell into disrepair – so Simoné and Anwar decided to take a chance and make an offer, even though it wasn’t for sale. The owner gave them permission to view the property and upon doing so, they found that while
it had lots of small rooms, overall it was a big space and they knew they could turn it into something special. The rest, as they say, is history. The couple love the raw texture of concrete and wood and wanted to create a tranquil monotone palette. This, together with their love of open spaces, set the tone for the design and layout of their new home.
With a boisterous three-year-old boy in the mix, clutter is kept to a minimum and the space is largely open plan to allow for freedom of movement. “Noah loves running around and making the house his racetrack, while we relax with a movie or enjoy a cup of coffee on the couch,” says Simoné.
A corner of the sitting room serves as Simoné’s study and a vintage typewriter from a family friend who passed away is proudly displayed on the desk. Simoné has started typing letters for her children; she plans to give them to them on their 21 st birthdays.
Studio W cushion from Woolworths
It’s in the detail The floating shelf is all about proportion and clean lines. It lines up with the top of the window, which draws the eye down to the countertop below and the pretty décor items displayed on it.
Countertops from Yammie and Sons
[Q&A WITH SIMONÉ ] What is your design philosophy? A monochrome palette is timeless and minimalist with strong clean lines, which makes it easy to mix and match décor. I love open spaces that flow easily as well as a soft layered look and warm textures. You love buying at auctions. How do you negotiate them? Go to an auction house with a budget and stick to it. Check out the website before the time and identify the pieces you want –don’t get distracted by other items on offer. And don’t get emotional in the bidding process; my strategy is to go with my husband and work as a tag team. Know your limit when bidding; the purpose of an auction is to get a bargain, not spend all your money.
Simoné requested that her dad André Visagie use C-grade kiaat for the kitchen cabinets to show off its natural grain, which beautifully complements the monotone palette throughout the house. The countertops are made of hard-wearing I-stone which is a lot like Caesarstone. “We play with clay, cook, bake and make chocolate treats here,” says Simoné.
A juggling act At the heart of this warm and inviting home is the kitchen, Simoné’s favourite area. Finishing this space was the biggest expense with its high-end appliances and cabinets made with kiaat doors and stone tops. “Luckily, my dad is the best carpenter around,” says Simoné. “He does the most amazing work; I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to build us this masterpiece.” Although the house is a work in progress, the bulk of the renovation is done. But it wasn’t without its challenges; both Simoné and Anwar juggled the project and their demanding day jobs. “We managed the project after hours and over weekends,” says Simoné. “I used to write chalk notes on the walls with instructions for the builders on work that needed to be done. When they completed a job, they would draw a line through the note and I would then wipe it off before writing new instructions. This method of communication worked really well.” But don’t think this means that the innovative pair only gave orders! “To stretch our budget and save as much money as we could, we got our hands dirty and did a significant amount of the work ourselves,” says Anwar. This included knocking down walls and laying their own floors –with help from Simoné’s uncle Isgak Kamaldien, a qualified plumber, they even did their own plumbing. “In the end, it made our home that much more special.” Simoné says their proudest DIY job was the bedroom floors. The parquet flooring was repurposed from another part of the house and more was sourced on Gumtree. Anwar refurbished the parquet blocks and Simoné laid them –while five-months pregnant! The warm tones of the wooden floor play a big part in creating a cosy look for both bedrooms. Simoné offers the following advice: “When renovating an entire house, install your security system first to protect any work done; thieves may come looking for plumbing parts, electrical cabling or pool pumps.” Standing in their kitchen, enjoying the homely aroma of freshly baked scones, Simoné and Anwar agree: “The best part of our home is that we made it ours – a lot of love and hard work went into making it special. Not all the renovations are complete, but we’ve made it comfortable and cosy. It’s our happy place.” >>
On the job...
fix it with flair
It took six strong men to install a concrete supporting beam which allowed for an opening of 6m in what is now the open-plan kitchen and living area.
Anwar used a jackhammer to knock down the wall; this opened up the space between the lounge and bedroom and created a lounge/study area.
… and you can insure the structure of your home, fixtures and fittings and…
Simoné drew a mural with an animal theme to help teach Noah the alphabet, with names like Lana Llama and Hilary Hedgehog; she enhanced the edges with blackboard paint. Blanket from Weylandts
[BEST BUYS AND TOP TIPS ] Simoné and Anwar share their advice: • Hofmeyr-Mills Auctioneers in Wynberg has a good selection of antique/second-hand furniture that Simoné buys at a fraction of the price; she then puts her own stamp on it so it fits in with their monochrome palette. The couple bought a sideboard for R600 and spruced it up with a coat of paint. • Another winner is Facebook group Moving On; Simoné describes it as a “treasure hunt for adults”. For example, their TV cabinet was once a shoe rack that they bought for R20. • Parisienne Interiors is Simoné’s preferred supplier for soft furnishings and timberwork. They custom made the coffee table; the store will deliver furniture to your house. • The bathroom fittings were bought at Natural Stone Warehouse; they have a massive sale in October/November. • The kitchen appliances were bought at Tafelberg Furnishers. Anwar and Simoné negotiated a discounted price and Tafelberg Furnishers was willing to keep the appliances until the couple was ready to install them. • Declutter every six months! • The most basic item can be used to create a deluxe look: for example, put fresh flowers from the garden in an old bottle. This simple personal touch has a unique charm.
The walls in Noah’s room were painted to hip height with chalkboard paint so he can unleash his creative side.
Old bins from Anwar’s work were cleverly repurposed to store toys. Noah’s ashwood bed frame was made by Simoné’s dad and then grey-washed to match the monotone palette. The end result is a child-friendly, playful room in an otherwise very adult house.
Three old lockers bought on a sale at a local school were spray-painted to match the existing furniture and are now used to store Noah’s clothes. >>
fix it with flair
En-suite Main
bedroom
Bathroom
Pantry Closet
Noah’s bedroom
Kitchen
Double garage Storage Lounge & dining room
Study
The wardrobe, a family heirloom, was stained black for fresh appeal. “It was a weird red, which did not match our décor,” says Simoné. Parquet flooring salvaged from the kitchen was reused in the main bedroom. It was laid at an angle where it meets the screed floor of the bathroom to add visual appeal.
Felt autumn scatter cushion from Weylandts; Rust blanket from Woolworths; vase from La Grange Interiors
Total: R150 000 Structural work (demolishing walls, chopping up and screeding floors, replacing all windows, fixing pool, bathroom fittings etc) 80 000 Kitchen (stone tops, kiaat doors) 30 000 Miscellaneous (vanity, towel rail, aircon, etc) 40 000
STOCKISTS AND CONTACTS a.b.e. Construction Chemicals 0860 223 773, abe.co.za Gumtree gumtree.co.za Hofmeyr-Mills Auctioneers 021 761 1803 La Grange Interiors 021 447 3508, lagrangeinteriors.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Natural Stone Warehouse 021 556 0202 Parisienne Interiors 021 692 2575 Tafelberg Furnishers 021 944 3330, tafelberg.co.za Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za Woodheads 021 461 7185, woodheads.co.za Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za Yammie and Sons 083 357 9359
In the main en-suite bathroom, the walls were finished with waterproof roof paint. Not only does it make for a contemporary look, but it’s also a budget-savvy alternative to tiles. Simoné tapped into her connections made through work to acquire unique and modern brackets and light fittings.
The stylish guest bathroom (above) echoes the palette in the rest of the home.
With help from Simoné’s uncle, Anwar tackled the plumbing himself (left), saving them lots of cash in the process!
Jute mat from MRP Home; towel from Weylandts
… and cover the contents inside your home against theft and damage and…
ENTER & WIN If you’re an avid renovator, this competition is for you! W hether you are a seasoned renovator or a novice who has never held a trowel, now is your chance to enter our popular Fix it with Flair competition in partnership with Paint Master! A highlight on the Home calender, this contest offers readers the opportunity to share and showcase their projects.
Last year, the competition was given a new twist when we announced three different categories – you can check out the winning entries in this issue. If you think you can match – or even improve on – these entries, enter now! We eagerly await your contribution.
Take a look at the criteria for each category, decide which one you want to enter and then submit your pics – you could be crowned one of the Renovators of the Year! WITH FLAIR
1 2 3 THE CATEGORIES*
DIY This one is for avid DIYers who take on 50% of the work themselves. So if knocking down walls, retiling or laying a screed floor doesn’t scare you, go for it! You’ll have to submit a budget breakdown and show what you did with your own two hands. This category celebrates hard work and true grit!
INNOVATION If you fancy yourself an out-of-the-box thinker with a knack for the extraordinary, this category is for you. It could be an eco house, a mobile home, an outdoor kitchen – you name it! Whether you did the work yourself or simply planned and managed the project, feel free to enter your makeover here.
MOST BEAUTIFUL
If you’re all thumbs and have a fear of power tools but you oversaw a gorgeous renovation, consider this option. Even if a contractor completed 100% of the physical work, as long as you were responsible for the planning, project management and costs, you are eligible for this prize.
Before Before
COMPETITION
Having trouble? Email Amy.Johnson@media24.com or call 021 406 3825 for assistance. HOW TO ENTER • Visit fixit.tuis.co.za to enter online and follow the prompts. • Be sure to submit photographs of your project taken in natural light. CLOSING DATE Midday on Tuesday, 30 June 2020.
With Paint Master – the creators of the popular Tjhoko Paint range – as our competition partners, the first 150 entries in this year’s competition will receive a free paint-and-colour consultation, compliments of Paint Master! Whether it’s a focal wall or roof, the experts at Paint Master will be able to help. For inspiration, visit paint-master.co.za. NEW IN 2020!
THE PRIZES
R100 000 in cash is up for grabs: The winner in each category will receive R25 000 . The runner-up in each category will receive R5 000 . The Top 9 contestants each get R1 000 . One favourite , based on reader votes, will get R1 000 cash . T’s & C’s apply; find them online at fixit.tuis.co.za.
