Home Improver - Our Sensible Celebration Guide December 2020 by Independent Media Digital Magazines

Improver

Our Sensible Celebration Guide

PICTURE: TARYN-ELLIOTT

All you need to know about safe home entertaining... Cheers!

AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY

PUBLISHER: Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR PROPERTY: Vivian Warby EDITOR HOME IMPROVER: Vivian Warby vivian.warby@inl.co.za DESIGN: Kim Stone kim.stone@inl.co.za PRODUCTION: Renata Ford Renata.ford@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Keshni Odayan Keshni.odayan@inl.co.za SALES: Charl Reineke charl@africannewsagency.com PICTURE: MICHAEL BLOCK

Kyle Villet kyle.villet@africannewsagency.com GENERAL INQUIRIES info@anapublishing.com

DO JOIN US ON: @homeimproverZA

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR SUMMER and the holidays are upon us in the southern hemisphere and that means long, lazy days and extra fun and relaxation. This month, we wanted to spoil you with ideas on how to safely celebrate at home during a pandemic and to give you tips on how to turn your space into the best holiday rest spot. We hope you gather inspiration and excitement from our pages as

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we wind down from a challenging year. And for those of you who are able to, do reach out to others who may be going through tough times. Indeed, there has never been a better time to share, to give and to care than right now. May this be a merry, safe and happy end of the year and start of a new one for you and your loved ones.

Thanks for your wonderful support of this product over the year! Please do keep in touch and let us know what you’d like to see on our pages next year. Warm regards

by Vivian War If you’d like to subscribe please email vivian.warby@inl.co.za

contents

DECEMBER 2020

31 2 Letter

3 Contents 4 How to be the best host

traditions

5 Being a gracious guest 6 Guest bedrooms

Reinvent Jazz up your party Zoom room

7 Guest bathrooms

Host the perfect party

8 Christmas declutter

Prep your outdoors

9 Holiday DIY

December

14 Security 16 Home of the Month 20 Staycationing at home

gardening

Multi-generational holidays D E C E M B E R

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HOME ADVICE #1

Be the best host Having people to stay can cause tensions... here are tips to ensure you and your guests have a happy holiday together

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PICTURE: HENRY CO

EMILY Post was a famous American etiquette guide – and her great-great granddaughter Lizzie Post is also in the etiquette advice game. (She blogs on EtiquetteDaily.com). If you’re planning to invite friends and family to stay over the holidays, here are some of her ideas on how to be a perfect host or hostess. • Be clear when you expect your guests to arrive and to leave. Your definition of a long weekend might be different from theirs. • Make the house rules known – if you don’t want them smoking in your house, tell them. If they’re bringing small children, it might be a good idea to put precious things away. • Offer your guests food and drinks often or suggest they help themselves. • Discuss activities with them. • Show them how to use to the TV remotes and give them the wi-fi password. • Give them a set of spare keys so they can come and go. • Give them a guide to your neighbourhood. Direct them on local walks or the way to the nearest shops. • Tell your guests your schedule – let them know when you’re going to the gym or to work and when you expect to be home. • Build in time alone to give everyone a break. It’s fine to tell your guests: “I’m going to be in the garden for an hour or so, give me a shout if you need anything.”

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HOME ADVICE #2

Be the best guest

and you’re still in bed, they might feel they have to tiptoe around to avoid waking you. At night, don’t stay up playing music when your hosts have gone to bed. But it’s fine to excuse yourself for an early night if your hosts are night owls. If it feels appropriate, give your hosts a break. A bright-eyed guest who is always there can be a strain. Go for a walk, have a nap or sit in the garden with a book. Make it clear you don’t expect to be entertained all the time. Be particularly watchful if you’re visiting with your children. Make sure they are polite, take care of your host’s belongings and don’t rampage around the house. If your hosts have a housekeeper who might have done a couple of chores for you, such as some washing or ironing, do leave a tip. You being there has made more work for them. People invite you to stay because they enjoy your company and expect having you there will be fun. It’s your job to fit in, to make your hosts feel comfortable and to be cheerful.

PICTURE: DARIA SHEVTSOVA

When staying with family or friends, be cheerful, be polite, and help with the chores so that everyone has a break

MANY of us will be staying over with friends and family for some time in the holidays. Assuming you like these people, you’ll want to be invited again, so here are some hints for being the perfect guest. If you’re going to stay with your significant other’s family for the first time, find out about the house rules and stick to them. Don’t arrive empty handed. Bring flowers, a pot plant, a bottle of wine or chocolate. Be polite. Make your bed. Pick your towel and wet bathing costume off the floor. Offer to wash dishes, pack or unpack the dishwasher, lay or clear the table. Pitch in with groceries. If you have food allergies, bring the food you can eat. If you like something special for breakfast, bring it with you. Offer to help with cooking or make a salad to go with the meal. Offer to cook a meal, perhaps by saying: “I’d like to do dinner for us all tomorrow night.” Then buy the ingredients. Adjust your schedule to that of your hosts. If they all get up early

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HOME ADVICE #3

The best bedroom

IF YOU’RE expecting guests over the holidays, it’s time to sort out where they’re going to sleep. Whether you have a dedicated guest room or you’re putting your guests up on an inflatable mattress behind the sofa, you’ll need to make the space comfortable. If you’re like most people, various items, such as the clothes horse and other odds and sods, tend to be dumped in the spare room. Put them away. Have you ever slept on the spare room bed? I had a futon in the spare room and I slept on 0 6

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it one night. It was horrendously uncomfortable and it was soon replaced with a proper mattress. Jessica Ann McCarthy, creative director of Decorist, has some advice for preparing your guests’ space. • Give them somewhere to put their clothes. Clear a drawer or shelf and provide some hanging room for suits or dresses. Clear surfaces so they have somewhere to put their stuff. • Make up the bed with your best linen. Provide a top sheet under the duvet so they can lie under that 2 0 2 0

if the nights are warm. • Don’t forget to put out bath towels, and, if necessary, swimming towels. • Put a posy in a vase on the bedside table to add a welcoming touch, as well as a book or some magazines. Make sure there is a decent reading light and somewhere to plug in a phone charger and a hair dryer. • If you’re putting your guests into your home office, tidy up your desk and remove your laptop. A decorative screen could divide a sleeping area from a work area.

PICTURE: SWAB DESIGN

Welcome your guests by making their sleeping space as nice as you can – even if it’s only a mattress behind the sofa

The best bathroom

Introduce a touch of luxury to the bathroom your guests will use, such as flowers and candles

PICTURE: COTTONBRO

HOME ADVICE #4

SOME people are lucky enough to have en suite guest rooms, where visitors can luxuriate in private, but keen hosts can do their best to make even the shared family bathroom welcoming. A private bathroom or that shared with the family can be spruced up. Obviously, you have provided towels for your guests but they will need a place to hang them when damp. If they’re going into the family bathroom, tell your children they’re not to use them. Provide some welcoming touches such as

special soaps, shampoos and conditioners. It’s also kind to put out some sort of mosquito repellent. (I once found a guest standing on the bed, hoovering mosquitoes off the ceiling.) Have spare toilet rolls handy. Make sure the bathroom is scrupulously clean, including the mirrors and loos. Put a vase of flowers on a shelf and a scented candle beside the bath.

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Keep it tidy this festive season Finding some peace and calm by creating order will make life easier as people come and go over the holidays ARE YOU feeling frazzled because your home isn’t organised in time for the holidays? Here are some tips.

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PICTURE SVEN-BRANDSMA

Keep it simple Find places for things and put them there. Have, for example, one place for your keys, another for the kids’ toys, and a specific place for clothes as they get changed (such as the cupboard and not the chair). Keep your dishes and plates in specific places so when they have been cleaned everyone knows where they go. If they don’t fit, perhaps you have too many. Same goes for mugs or pots and pans. And, of course, your clothes. Be kind to yourself. You don’t have to be perfect. Do what works. Don’t buy too much The chances are the shops are not going to run out of loo paper again. Buy what you need and what you have space for. As a rough guideline, if you buy something new, something old has to get donated. Accept that it’ll never all be done Organising a home is a bit like having a lawn – it will always need cutting. So factor that into your schedule. Clear out and clean the fridge once a fortnight or so; see what is accumulating in the garage. Like life, organising a home is an ongoing task. However, doing the work from time to time means you (more or less) keep on top of things. Which makes it all easier.

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DIY TIME

Restore that roof PICTURE: IRAJ BEHESHTI

Water is essential but it doesn’t do buildings any good. Water will always try to seep in and cause damage, so check your tiles and gutters HAVING a roof over your head is a wonderful thing but are you keeping an eye on it? Water is essential for life, but it is terrible for buildings. Ignore a cracked roof tile and the next thing could be a stained, or even a collapsed, ceiling. The other things you need

to check for are damage to your ridge tiles, gaps in your flashing and damage around chimneys. If you have a solar hot-water panel, inspect the places where the pipes go through the tiles and make sure they’re sealed tight. Then there are the gutters. They can fill with dust,

tennis balls, dead birds and – remarkably – small plants. Then the next time it rains they overflow, damaging plaster and brickwork. And if they are totally blocked, they could collapse – not a pretty sight. It is essential to clear out your gutters at least four times a year.

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DIY TIME

Wall & window wellness

PICTURE: LA MIKO

One of the cheapest ways to give a room some vooma is with a bright new paint job. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not difficult for DIYers W O R D S V I V I E N H O R L E R

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IT IS astonishing what a difference a bit of paint can make to a house â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or a room. Pealing fascia boards, faded paint and dry timber window frames make a house look tired. But a bit of TLC can make your home come alive. Admittedly, repainting the entire exterior can be costly, but simply cleaning up and then painting the window frames and adding bright paint to the front door can make a home look very spruce. Indoors, a couple of coats of paint are among the cheapest ways to give a room a whole new look, and this is relatively simple DIY job. Make sure your walls are dust free and clean, and go ahead. Use good quality brushes and rollers for a professional look. Matt paint tends to be more elegant than eggshell, which is slightly shinier. Matt and flat paints hide wall imperfections, while shinier paints, such as satin, are more impervious to stains and marks. Semi-gloss is shinier still, can be easily cleaned, and is good for kitchens and bathrooms. Any mould found behind a cupboard or on the walls can be washed off with a sponge dipped in vinegar.

DIY TIME

Drill into those defects PICTURE: BIDVINE

Put some of your spare time to good use by getting down to those small fix-it and maintenance jobs around the house

WE ALL LIVE with small defects in our homes: a sticking cupboard door, a loose drawer handle, a gate that doesn’t close properly. But with the holidays almost upon us, now is a good time to get out the toolbox and do something about the problems. After all, the damage will just get worse and eventually cost more to fix. If you have a flexible outdoor gas

connection, check it carefully. Perhaps it’s time to call in an expert to ensure it is sound. Hairline cracks in the plaster, inside or out, should be fixed with the appropriate epoxy sealant (water will seep into outdoor cracks causing damp). Bigger cracks could signal a bigger problem. Ensure you don’t have coils of

electrical wires anywhere – in the worstcase scenario these could start a fire. Avoid too many plugs in a multi-plug – another potential fire hazard. Dripping taps – a no-no in this waterscarce country – can easily be fixed with new washers. Make sure you know where your water main is. And, if in doubt, call in the experts.

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PICTURE: JOSH HILD

THE PERFECT TIME TO GIVE YOUR HOME A FA C E L I F T ! AS WE head towards the year-end break, it’s the perfect time to catch up on those household tasks and home upgrades that you’ve been meaning to do all year but haven’t got around to – maybe you didn’t have the right tools. With the STIHL Summer Promo on until December 31, this is the ideal time to add to your collection of quality DIY cleaning and gardening power tools. There’s a wide choice of models in the three STIHL power sources: high-performance petrol; quiet, emission-free electrical and totally convenient, low-noise cordless. Everything you’ll need around the home, from cordless blowers, mowers and chainsaws to electric trimmers, high-pressure cleaning equipment and more; plus accessories and batteries. All this is supported by STIHL’s global reputation for robust, innovative tools and backed by a nationwide network of over 200 expert STIHL dealers to offer guidance and after-sales support. Summertime is so much better with STIHL.

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SAFETY

All down to lock up

Celebrating the festive season in peace – and with peace of mind – means ensuring your security systems are in good working order W O R D S B O N N Y F O U R I E because while professional companies can supply and equip security systems, there are also a number of simple DIY systems available. Early detection of criminal activity is key, so your security systems should be in place beyond your property’s perimeter. Security cameras,

PICTURE: IRAJ BEHESHTI

HOME security might be the last thing on many people’s minds ahead of the festive season but to ensure the holidays proceed peacefully, it is important to take stock of how secure your home is. Installing or upgrading home security systems need not be a big runaround

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electric fences and beams will help detect and deter criminal activity while anti-gate crashing kits linked to home alarm systems will alert you to gate tampering and will help to prevent home invasions. Good lighting – including motion sensor lights, both outside your property and

within its boundaries – are also important. As a final layer of protection, make sure all your windows and doors can lock. While entertaining family and friends or relaxing at home these holidays, ensure these early detection systems are armed so you can enjoy your social gatherings in peace.

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Prices valid 1 st December - 15 th December 2020. E&OE • VAT Included • Whiles Stocks last • We reserve the right to limit quantities • Many more in-store specials exclusive to Arbour.

Gelmar is proud to announce the opening of our 37th store – Gelmar Arbour Situated in Shop 47, Arbour Crossing Retail Centre, Cnr Oppenheimer and Arbour Roads, Umbogintwini. Telephone 031 944 0088.

Come celebrate with us!

at our Grand Opening Saturday 5th December from 9am – 1pm. The festivities will include: Coffee, Popcorn, Kiddies Entertainment & Specials. Whether you are a contractor or a home owner, we have everything you need for those major renovations or weekend DIY projects. We cater for every room in your house, no matter how great or small. At Gelmar we actively drive down our prices to give our customers best value for money, making home maintenance less costly. We have our own competitive product range of high quality products at low prices. Gelmar has over 300 handles to choose from as well as door sets, kitchenware, bathroomware, bedroomware, hinges, drawer systems, connecting fittings, fasteners, office fittings, locking systems, upholstery consumables, legs & castors, tools and many more. Shop at our stores or visit www.gelmar.co.za, where you can shop online for collection in any one of our 37 stores, nation-wide.

Arbour

Arbour Crossing Retail Centre, Shop 47, Cnr Oppenheimer and Arbour Roads, Umbogintwini

Scaling new & luxurious heights

PICTURE: ?????????

Once a private home, 21 Nettleton Road in Clifton is a magnificent boutique hotel adorned by magnificent artworks collected over a lifetime by its owner

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The works of renowned South African artist Franรงois Krige accompany guests up the grand stairway of this elegant Clifton boutique hotel. The Krige collection is a glimpse through time, a snapshot of the era when Krige lived in the Klein Karoo town of Montagu.

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OWNER Hugo Thomas Jankowitz built 21 Nettleton Road as his private residence and he enjoyed it for 10 years before opening it to guests as a unique, unpretentious and bespoke five-star boutique hotel. Set in the famously beautiful and most expensive street in South Africa – Nettleton Road in Clifton – backed by Lion’s Head with endless views of the Atlantic Ocean, the house is charming and unique. The seven-storey castle-like house towers above the street and a steep driveway takes you to the front door, situated mid-way up. If you enter from street level you’ll ascend several staircases to reach the entrance. Hotelier Dirk Jacobs, who’s been in the business for over a decade with roots in five-star boutique

The castle-like boutique hotel 21 Nettleton Road in Clifton overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. BELOW: The grand stairway features a collection of François Krige’s art, characterised by vivid colours, simple carved or gilded frames and mystically beautiful palettes. The landing at the top of the stairway marks a sharp contrast, as it is filled with bronze statues of dancers and travellers.

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The Wim Botha bust, far right and also on the main page, is made not from marble but from from mieliepap, that staple of the South African diet. Here Botha subverts the authority traditional to Western marble busts by instead using a cheaper, more accessible medium.

The lounge opens out onto the terrace which overlooks the ocean.

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properties with emphasis on art and design, runs the space with an unpretentious flair. Jacobs says Jankowitz didn’t want an overly contemporary design, like most other homes in Clifton and Camps Bay. Instead he chose a timeless, unique European style. The home‘s exterior is meant to blend with the mountain. Inside Chinese vases, Rococo clocks, figurine candelabras, grand pianos, baroque gold-framed mirrors and artworks dot the home. Even the pool – shaped like a musical note and set among granite boulders – is an artwork. The interiors are built

This photograph of a heavily tattooed young man was taken by Germanborn Armin Pflanz, who lives in South Africa. The portrait is part of a series on former gangsters from Pollsmoor Prison, titled ‘Who Are You?’

around Jankowitz’s art collection, says Jacobs. Every piece has a story and memory attached to it and the spaces were built around the art instead of the more conventional method of curating art for a space. The large mirror in the lounge is an example. Jankowitz had it in storage for many years because he had nowhere to hang it. When building 21 Nettleton he made sure there was a large enough wall for it. The art at 21 Nettleton reflects the owner’s thirst for travel. It is private and personal. Walking through the magnificent home with its many surprise nooks, creates the feeling you are in someone’s home, instead of a hotel – and

Jankowitz does stay in his private quarters for part of the year. The six bedrooms each have their own butler and are uniquely curated with bespoke art, antique furniture and luxurious soft furnishings. There is a lounge and breakfast nook that overlook the icy Atlantic. Outdoors, the rolling lawns lead to nature walks to a pergola, overlooked always by the brooding mountains. The owner’s advice to homeowners who want to create a similar sense of old-world grandeur and beauty? “Glass and concrete will go out of style. Create instead spaces that are meaningful to you, tell a story. “Life is really too short to live a minimalist life.”

This en suite bathroom, with its hardwood floors and deep bath from another era, is dominated by the portrait of a woman, and also features a striking giraffe in drag. D E C E M B E R

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PICTURE: MARISSA PRICE

Your very own staycation

Chances are you’re not going anywhere exotic these holidays, so here are a few tips on how to have a proper holiday amid the comfort and convenience of your own home WORDS VIVIEN HORLER

O THIS is the year you’re not going skiing in Austria or seeing the lights in London’s Regent Street. You’re not even going to be at the switch-on concert of the festive lights in Cape Town’s Adderley Street, as the city has cancelled the ceremony this year. Plus, many families are finding money a bit tight after the roller-coaster of Covid-19 and the effects of the lockdown, so that even though we’re now officially allowed to travel, we don’t have the means. This calls for a staycation. “The idea of a staycation is to

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do all the things you would do if you were to travel somewhere, but finding ways to incorporate those experiences within your own home,” says Catherine Sanderson, author of The Positive Shift and chair of the psychology department at Amherst College in Massachusetts. So, imagine you’re on holiday in your home town. Decide on how long your staycation is going to be and make different plans for different days. Remember, this is a holiday – so no working and as few chores as possible.

Some of the things you can do might cost a bit of money but seeing you’re saving on the flights, petrol and accommodation you’d be paying for on a real holiday, there may be a bit extra for treats at home. • You could start with a virtual holiday somewhere you’ve always wanted to go. Get the family’s buy-in and persuade everyone to do some research about the place. Watch a film about it, get members of the family to choose which sights they would like to see, and cook food for which the country is famous.

• On a beautiful day, have a picnic in the garden. Put a rug down, put up a sun brolly, scatter some pretty cushions and buy in some delectable food: think pates, French loaves, special cheeses, a chicken salad, strawberries and even a bottle of sparkling wine. • A summer holiday calls for watery fun, a day or two at the beach, or beside a river or a dam. If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, organise a swimming gala for the family. Who can swim furthest under water? Can you cross the pool swimming with only your arms or just by kicking? Fill balloons with water and have a (gentle) balloon fight. If you don’t have a pool, buy a (cheapish) plastic children’s pool to splash about in. Or splurge on an inflatable Jacuzzi for lazy evenings in the water. • You might not be able to go to the theatre, but you could organise a themed movie night. Choose a film everyone is likely to enjoy, and then go all out with decor, food and even costumes. Don’t forget the popcorn.

• There are sporty things you can do at home. A table tennis tournament can be lots of fun, and while a proper table is best – you can buy folding ones – you can play around an ordinary dining table. Get bats, balls and a net and you’re good to go. • And, finally, holidays are about spending time with your loved ones and you can certainly do that at home.

PICTURE: MATHEUS BERTELLI

• Go camping in the garden. Put up your tent, get out the sleeping bags, light a fire for a braai, and then hold a family sleepover as the stars come out. Or you could make it glamping, with a rug on the floor, drapes and throws on the campbeds, and fairy lights for a romantic night.

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Reinvent traditions Far-flung families can still spend time together this festive season with some planning and help from technology

WORDS VIVIEN HORLER AND THE WASHINGTON POST PICTURE COTTONBRO 2 2

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THIS Christmas my son, daughter-in-law and toddler Eric were supposed to be flying from Sydney to Cape Town to introduce Eric to his extended family. That is, of course, no longer going to happen. There’s no question things will be different this festive season. But with a bit of imagination, and lots of technology, far-flung families can get together and celebrate. Being in the same room might not be possible but, thanks to zoom, Skype, WhatsApp and other platforms, families can spend time together if they plan in advance. Get buy-in from everyone, set a time and find out what they’d like to do. It helps to have a moderator who will ensure everyone is engaged and having fun, says Taryn Williford, lifestyle director at Apartment Therapy. She suggests a shared ritual such as emailing recipes for a virtual cocktail get-together or a meal. “Anything you can do to make a memory; this is the year to re-invent traditions.” Esther Yoon, group manager of product marketing at Zoom, has family around the world. Naturally, they’ll use Zoom to get together. “You have a window into each other’s kitchens and can have conversations while you are cooking,” Yoon says. “You can still see people smiling when you say what you are thankful for. You will see grandchildren, nieces and nephews and how much they have grown.” It’s still, she says, “bonding with your family”. It will have to do. And hopefully the wait to meet Eric will make the eventual reunion n-e-x-t summer that much sweeter.

Jazz up your Zoom room for a party

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS • Choose a theme for every home participating in the Zoom party, such as tropical island, Harry Potter or winter wonderland. The residents have to decorate a section of their home, and also dress up, for the call. This will get people connecting to each other before they meet up virtually and will add fun to the mix.

Get rid of the boring work-meeting backgrounds and bring festive cheer and creativity to your virtual get-together

• Place some of your new favourite decor items or photos in view. You can do a walk through of your house to show the other people how you have decorated it. Or you can find the best spot in your home to turn into a special Zoom room. It could be fun to decorate an area just for virtual calls – get rid of the boring work-backgrounds and bring in festive cheer and personality. • Make your own screen – get the kids to draw on a sheet or on paper and design it with fun and love in mind. Hang it up behind you. Aunts and grandparents can then ooh and ah at the creativity.

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Party protocol PICTURE: PINEAPPLE SUPPLY CO

Keep it simple and safe and, in these difficult times, encourage your guests to pitch in and help with everything from the food and drinks to the decor

THROWING a party during a pandemic has its limitations. Even though it is the season to be merry Covid doesn’t stop for the holidays, so this year it’s all about being mindful and keeping it small. Offer sanitiser at the door and do temperature checks. An outdoor dinner is probably safer. Remember social distancing. We don’t want to be party poopers, and heavens knows we all need some thing to celebrate, but it’s not worth the anxiety that would follow. Because times are tough no one expects the host to do everything. Make it more about a shared experience where everyone can do a special 2 4

something. This can be an item to add to the menu or maybe some flowers. And because budgets are tight get people to bring their own drinks. Genevieve Farry of international company Vicky Crease Catering + Events and International party planner Francois van Tonder have some advice for parties. First figure out your budget. Tot up everything, then decide what has to go and where you can ask for assistance. GUESTS: Remember it’s not what’s on the plate, but who’s in the chair that counts. Keep it small and invite only those you absolutely treasure.

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DECOR: Your decor should never fight with nor obstruct what is on the menu. Scented candles and heavily scented flowers on the table, for instance, influence how you taste your food and are a no-no. Try this: Get children to make the crackers for the table – it could be a fun thing them to do leading up to the evening or to do pre-dinner with some adults joining in. Never have a seating plan. Let people decide where and with whom they want to sit. People eat with their eyes, so set the table beautifully and use the best of what you have – this is the special occasion you’ve saved things for. Use a tablecloth unless you

have a great marble or wooden table. Van Tonder likes beautiful linen napkins and cutlery and items from all over the world. COOK LOCAL: Ingredients should be local, seasonal and organic. This year, more than ever, it’s about old traditions mixing with new ways. Celebrate heritage with the food you make and the little extras you add – make it an event full of honouring, love and celebration. Try this Cook according to a family favourite recipe passed down through the generations, or make a modern twist on an old favourite. This is also a wonderful time to get the family involved in making treats and food together.

PICTURE: COTTONBRO

Introduce your culture and traditions on to the plate so people taste something different.

Always have a good bread on the table and the highest quality olive oil, and nothing with preservatives. Introduce your culture and traditions on to the plate so people taste something different. Find out about your guests’ food preferences and dietary requests and ask whether anyone is kosher or halaal. Try some vegan or vegetarian dishes. Try this: Flowers in jelly: Every child from six to 60 loves jelly, so this summer we’re wobbling it in feminine fashion. How about cranberry and champagneflavoured jelly made in cute jars with edible flowers lurking in the sublime surprise?

• Pineapples as vases: Elegantly hollowed pineapples bursting with bright summer blooms are a perfect and fun spin on a vase. • Paw-paw boats We are seriously crushing over our pawpaw boats packed with fresh summer fruit, says Farry. Good fun – and healthy. Did I mention they are totally Instagram-worthy? • Dress code: Always indicate the dress code upfront. There can be nothing worse for a guest than to arrive dressed casually while everyone else is dolled-up. • How the night can progress: It is all about prep, so do most of it the night before. Always ensure you have enough ice and ice buckets and lots of mixers and

non-alcoholic drinks. • Play background music to help put people in the mood. It’s been a tough year and the more cheer you can bring in, the better. • Allow an hour for pre-drinks – it might help accommodate late arrivals. And then ensure if anyone has been drinking they get a ride home. Don’t forget, as it stands now, midnight is pumpkin time. • But, most of all, don’t stress. It’s been a difficult time and if you’re lucky enough to be able to get together with loved ones, mismatched crockery and not-perfect food, will easily be overlooked because, ultimately, we have discovered it’s all about love.

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Get your outdoor party on

Festive times over the summer cry out for a pleasant outdoor space where you can celebrate and entertain

PICTURE: JONATHAN BORBA

RE-CREATE your family room outside with creative flair. The following tips should help you design a beautiful outdoor space in which to spend your long, lazy summer days relaxing, entertaining and having fun. B A S I C S What you need is some comfortable seating; a table to put a cold drink down on; some shelter from the sun and wind; plants; pretty lights â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and preferably a source of fire such as a braai or fire pit.

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WORDS VIVIEN HORLER AND THE WASHINGTON POST |

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overall look of your space or limit your ability to easily refresh your space. F U R N I T U R E These are your foundation pieces. Outdoor furniture ranges in price from the sky’s the limit to relatively inexpensive chairs. You don’t want to be breaking down furniture and want to

ensure what lives outside doesn’t need constant moving inside, so opt for hardy material and always go for comfort above looks. ACCESSORISE You could try accent pillows, hurricane lanterns and throw blankets and use woven baskets to store blankets

and pillows or decorative accessories. These small items give the space personality and make it comfortable and familiar. Let your style shine through and play with texture and coordinating colour palettes. It’s all about layering and adding visual interest and contrast. Drape an outdoor throw on your chair.

PICTURE PIXABAY

S H E LT E R Can range from a pergola, which can be pricey to have installed, or which the handy among us can build themselves. But much cheaper alternatives are generous sun brollies which keep the sun off and can be folded up at night. Floor: Find a synthetic outdoor rug with a simple, understated design so it doesn’t drive the

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F I R E This can be a purpose-built braai (which will need some functional lighting so that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t burn the chops), a gas braai, a portable braai like a Weber which works well on a small patio or balcony, or even a fire pit which people can sit around, watch the flames, and see where the conversation takes them.

PICTURE TARYN ELLIOTT

L I G H T I N G Many outdoor spaces have glaring electric lights which are not particularly inviting. But there is a range of softer lighting available, from chains of fairy lights to cheap, glowing solar lights to give a sense of mystery. Bistro string-lights hung across your space will make it feel magical and extend your time outside.

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S U M M E RT I M E A N D THE GROWING IS EASY

O GET vermicompost, you usually need a worm farm and to start the process with special worms – and have the time to make sure the worms are fed and watered. For the easier route, Wonder has done all the work for you and you can now buy Wonder Organic Vermicompost in bags. For indoor use, add Vermicompost to potting soil before potting up, or mix into the soil of established house plants. In the garden, incorporate it into the surface soil around plants and add to planting holes when transplanting and adding new plants. When sowing seeds in seedling mix or in prepared beds, they will benefit greatly if you add Vermicompost to the mix and it will improve the growth of seedlings. An added benefit of Vermicompost is that it can be used to make worm tea by soaking it a few tablespoons of water overnight. Strain and dilute for use as a general liquid fertiliser for plants. For more on this and other Wonder products visit www.wonder.co.za.

Wonder™ Vita-Boost Vermicompost Reg No B5695, NF1705 contains N 42.8g/kg, Ca 88.6g/kg, S 76.5g/ kg, Fe 9 784 mg/kg, Mn 1 190mg/kg, Zn 5 059 mg/kg, B 394 mg/kg. Product is registered under Act No 36 of 1947. Customer Service: Tel 086 133 3586 info@wonder.co.za I www.wonder.co.za PICTURE: AKIL MAZUMDER

A garden holiday

Hydrangeas in full bloom are a delight of the shady, summer garden.

Create an outdoor haven that you and your family can enjoy during the holidays with these time-saving tips for your garden W O R D S K A Y M O N T G O M E R Y AS WE gravitate towards the outdoors, these handy gardening techniques will ensure your garden is ready for festive fun. Begin by creating a favourable first impression with a mown lawn and neatened edges. Remove flowers which have faded and obvious weeds. Lay mulch around plants, which means less need to water.

H O L I D AY C O L O U R

Where time is limited, focus on the entrance to your home and place a front door wreath. Reinforce that welcome with symmetrical oversized pots on either side of the front door, planted with evergreen shrubs or colourful flowers. If the entrance is sunny, fill pots with water-wise marigold, salvia, petunia and vinca.

Tubs of flowering hydrangeas with a compact growth habit and smaller pots of fuchsias or bedding begonia will give instant colour. Try Beacon impatiens for a pretty welcome at shady entrances and on patios. Visit your garden centre and buy colourful bags and pots in flower and plant them in the gaps in the borders. Water them regularly in dry weather.

Begonias in a hanging basket brighten the patio. PICTURE: WARREN SCHMIDT

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Regularly mow the lawn and trim edges around the pool and patio to keep everything neat and tidy. PICTURE: LOREN SHIRLEY-CARR.

A potted anthurium is a great gift for a Christmas party host. PICTURE: LUKAS OTTO

Amaryllis in red and white create a fun, festive look. PICTURE: KAY MONTGOMERY

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T AREAS

December is the time of year when we entertain outdoors. Create a holiday mood on the patio in traditional red and green with gerberas, poinsettias, begonias, amaryllis, anthuriums and potted greenery. Or consider breaking with tradition and plant local fynbos. Light the evening patio with solar products, low-energy bulbs and candles. Pots of scented dwarf gardenia, liliums and nicotiana will add to the enjoyment. Hydrangea blooms, called Christmas roses, can be cut and placed in a vase for soft colour on the patio table. Place pots of herbs, such as basil, sage, thyme and mint near the braai. 2 0 2 0

Pools are in the spotlight during the holidays. Plant the burn jelly plant (Bulbine frutescens) with yellow and orange flowers and succulent leaves around the pool. They give long-lasting colour and the juice of the leaves gives relief from insect bites. H O L I D AY T R A D I T I O N S

There are certain plants we associate with this season, by name or by legend. In medieval times, holly was hung around doors and windows to keep away witches, evil spirits, goblins and lightning, and provide a hiding place for good elves and fairies. Today, holly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sadly without its red berries in this hemisphere now â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and ivy are popular for decorating mantelpieces, holiday table settings and gifts. The tra-

dition of the Christmas tree can be traced back to the 16th century in Germany. NEW FESTIVE TRENDS

Instead of choosing a conventional fir tree, consider an indigenous tree such as a yellowwood (Podocarpus henkelii) with glossy drooping foliage, a forest shrub (Gardenia thunbergia) with rigid branches and glossy green leaves, or a wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana) with silver-grey foliage. Decorate with sprayed seed pods, pine cones and African beadwork. Sprayed silver or gold, dried agapanthus make pretty mobiles. The dry stem of an aloe, left natural or sprayed, would suit a contemporary Christmas theme.

Mulch around plants to retain water in the heat and prevent weeds. PICTURE: LUKAS OTTO

Bright red Beacon impatiens, highly resistance to downy mildew, add instant colour in shady spots and on patios. PICTURE: BALL STRAATHOF

For ease of maintenance, group containers with similar water requirements. PICTURE: LUKAS OTTO

MULCH, MULCH, MULCH

Conserve moisture, prevent wind blowing away topsoil and suppress weeds by spreading a thick (8 to 10cm) layer of mulch around plants. Before applying, make sure soil is damp. Organic mulches such as coarse compost, shredded bark, peach pips or pine needles will break down and return nutrients to the soil. Bark chips or nuggets are decorative and long lasting. GIFT IDEAS FOR GARDENS

Fuchsia ‘Red Jacket’ trails beautifully and is a good candidate for a hanging basket or raised bed. PICTURE: LUKAS OTTO

Shop for gifts at your garden centre. Pot plants make great gifts for your hosts; succulents with low water needs for the flat dweller; a moth orchid (Phalaenopsis), anthurium or peace lily (Spathiphyllum) would be

perfect for a shady patio. Herbs will please a cook. For the bird enthusiast, grinding stones make attractive birdbaths. A birdbath on a pedestal is the answer where there are cats.

T I M E - S AV I N G T I P S F O R M I D S U M M E R CONSIDER a new year’s resolution to reduce large areas of labour-intensive, thirsty lawn by planting ground covers, or replace the lawn with permeable gravel or a waterharvesting wetland. • Reduce time spent on fertilising the garden by using slow-release fertilisers that release nutrients throughout the season. • Instead of spending valuable time looking for a missing spade or trowel, paint tool handles in bright colours so they are easily seen when left lying in the garden. Invest in a storage shed so that all your tools are instantly available. • Group potted plants with similar water and shade requirements. Choose large containers rather than small ones. They hold more soil than small pots and dry out more slowly, with less watering required.

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PICTURE: SWAB DESIGN

A celebration for everyone WORDS BONNY FOURIE

Multi-generational celebrations can work well with a bit of consideration and enthusiasm HOLIDAY celebrations are all about family and this means making everyone – from the youngest to the oldest – feel festive and at home. The key to accommodating everyone is simply to include them. Older adults especially – even those with physical or cognitive limitations – just want to join in. And if you need to decorate your home for the holidays, there is no better way than to use their skills to do so. Home decor that family 3 4

of all ages can help create include merry holiday wreaths, ornaments and stockings, while everyone can also bake and decorate holiday treats together. If family is to stay for more than just a few days, make sure there are spaces within the home to accommodate their different ideas of relaxation. Children adore outdoor spaces to run around in, or areas where they can play freely and noisily, or watch TV, while older loved ones will require an area or room where they can

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simply chat with each other away from the chaos or watch the festivities around them in relative peace. If you have the room, you could set up a dedicated area where loved ones of all ages can interact by chatting and playing games. This area should preferably be free of kids’ toys and television. Music is great to create a festive atmosphere but be sure to include songs and music that appeal to all your guests. Younger and middle-aged family may enjoy more modern

tracks and songs, for example, while the older generations may prefer to hear the muchloved tunes of their youth. The holidays can often be busy and exhausting, but amid all the chaos, life-long memories are made and relationships are strengthened. So, if you are able to consider, and meet, at least most people’s needs in your home these holidays it will undoubtedly become – and be remembered as – a place of love and happiness for all who gather there.

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Home Improver - Our Sensible Celebration Guide December 2020

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