Improver
EXPERTS ANSWER YOUR HOME QUERIES
Building a home that won’t break the bank pg5
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR I BECAME a DIYer during lockdown. Not knowing how to hang a painting or drill a hole in a wall, I took it into my own hands to make my home more “24/7 liveable”. Going into the office daily, I’d overlooked a lot around the house – but during the lockdown that wasn’t really an option when you have nowhere to escape to and your home has to serve all sorts of purposes from classroom to office space to family fun and entertainment, not to mention chill-out spots. Suddenly home was the focal point of everything. I think, like me, most people started off with a big declutter. Then it was easier to see how to improve on what I had. This month, we have sought practical advice on how to make the most of your space on a budget. We spoke to architects, interior designers and builders to give you the tricks of the trade. This is the first Home Improver digital magazine, having been a much-loved print product for decades. I hope we can be a practical and accessible resource for you on all things home related. Please send all your questions and comments to me at vivian.warby@inl. co.za We would love to help you make your house a home. Warm regards Vivian Warby
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Tefal Jamie Oliver – Hard anodised (5-piece set) R3 999
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Kitchen cool
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Artist Franci Henny only started painting professionally later in life. I love this truly South African-flavoured artwork for the kitchen. “Marmite XL” (Oil on canvas, 60 x 84 x 4cm) R3 300
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A Malawian glassworker and a wood carver teamed up to make these recycled storage jars. AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY
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See stockists page 15
A friend gave me this cookware as a gift a year ago and they have revolutionised my cooking experience and, dare I say, even helped improve my culinary skills.
Blantyre Jars From R490
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Capetonian Ina Baard’s Mothers Love range of cleaning products look good and are made with 100% natural ingredients. And they work like a charm. Mothers Love dishwashing gel 500ml R65
What’s cooking good looking?
Sprucing up your kitchen need not cost a fortune if you use these simple ideas
BE PATIENT: If you have the time, you will be able to source accessories and appliances at discounted prices. Look out for sales as you can get some bargains when shops are clearing their old stock. WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE: If your cupboards are in good condition, a coat of paint will make them look new. Or just by replacing cupboard doors, you can completely change the look of your kitchen. Replacing old cupboard handles with polished brass ones, for example, is also an easy way to update your kitchen. And replacing lighting can have a big impact.
A new-look kitchen doesn’t have to cost a fortune but you need to take it nice and slow.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH: Consider removing the doors from some of your existing eye-level cupboards to create open shelving. Open shelves are a cheaper storage solution than new fitted cupboards.
WORDS INA BAARD PICTURE FRAN HOGAN A U G U S T
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How to make your house look rich for cheap Think ahead when it comes to giving your home a make-over. Local experts offer some ideas and tips to make the process affordable and easy WORDS VIVIAN WARBY P I C T U R E R O S E LY N T I R A D O
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1 Have a clear plan: When you start decorating it is important to have clarity about what you want to change and achieve. This will ensure that you have a plan from the start and that there are no unnecessary buys. TIP: Use Pinterest for inspiration and study rooms by top designers to see what colours and fittings are being used. 2 You’ll need a colour scheme: If you don’t have this, you are just shooting in the dark. A colour scheme will save you money and guide your decorating project. It also prevents you from impulse buying and then having things that just don’t fit together. TIP: Paint your interior doors black to elevate the space and make it seem dressier. 3 Use the 60:30:10 rule: The main colour of the room should occupy 60%. This anchors your space and will serve as a backdrop for whatever else you are doing. Thirty percent is the secondary colour – this could be on things such as an accent wall, painted furniture, bed linen. The 10% is the accent colour and can be used on cushions, accessories, lamps, artwork or fabric. If these rules don’t work for you, go monochromatic. TIP: Use a geometric stencil to create your own customised “wallpaper” or use painter’s tape to create a wall effect. 4 If you can’t afford a lot of paint: Accent walls will always be stylish. Find one small wall that can be accented to pop out. In the kitchen use a sexy colour on countertops or cabinets. TIP: Mirrors as backsplashes are making a strong comeback. They are budget friendly and add a sense of space, light and style. 5 Flow colours from room to room: A colour palette that uses one or two basic wall colours that flow throughout is a money-saver. When you limit your paint choices to two colours, ensure they work together as you move through your house. TIP: Use a colour wheel to see which colours complement each other.
See stockists page 15
Cost-cutting
treasure
Architect Jonathan Stone shares with us how he used clever and affordable design to create this haven
The main house overlooks terraces in the sloping garden which runs down to a stream.
WORDS AND PICTURES J O N AT H A N S T O N E
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I
N THE making of one’s own home there is a lot more to think about than money. The family home is a special place that captures the essence of what a home and family are all about. The design begins with clear ideas of what kind of spaces and places the family wants. What are the core ingredients that make up this most special of buildings? How do they relate to one another? What significance is given to each of the parts? And, most importantly, how can the spaces of one’s imagination be translated into a coherent physical reality? As architects, working for ourselves as “clients”, so to speak, we did not have the usual difficulties of trying to persuade a sceptical patron with limited imagination or understanding of our imaginative design or customised construction solutions. This meant we were free to explore every element in the design process. Cost was perhaps the single most important constraint, although we have always believed that good design need not be expensive; that the quality of
TOP LEFT: Works of art cover the walls on the staircase which sweeps down to the living areas. FAR LEFT: A brick-lined fireplace adds cosiness on winter days. LEFT: A corner of the lounge with its tall, standard steel window. BELOW: Bricks were laid in a herringbone pattern on the ground floor.
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Some of the internal brickwork, such as that in the kitchen, had a bagged cement finish and was then painted.
the spaces and finishes lies more in intelligent and inventive choices than money. Our site had been inexpensive mainly due to space constraints which made it difficult for others to conceive of cost-effective design solutions. It was a pretty, but narrow, strip of land 13m wide by 78m long, falling steeply from the short street boundary down to a small stream and facing on to a suburban park beyond. Some key principles were adopted from the outset. Construct as much on the site as both permissible and possible – this being the cheapest way to build. We were building a main house and two cottages, of 110m² each, which could be let to help pay the bond. In order to solve the demands of the long narrow site we needed to bring vehicles as far down the site as possible. We created an entrance courtyard which gave access to a triple garage. The main house could then be placed away from the road as determined by the depth of the sewer in the road. The main house straddled virtually the full width of the site save for a metre-wide passage providing access to the back garden. All three dwellings face north/south, an optimal orientation. The boundary wall along the long west side was also the wall of the buildings, which saved the considerable cost of a separate boundary wall. Facebrick being too expensive, we opted for cement stocks and an unpainted pebble-dash finish left to weather naturally. The site itself was very complex below the ground surface with the bedrock at varying depths. It was important to invent a simple solution for the foundations as traditional strip footings were not the answer. The foundation design comprised A U G U S T
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a series of spaced excavations down to bedrock at whichever level it occurred and concrete poured to form a pad foundation. A brick pier was then constructed to finish at varying levels just below the natural ground level. The foundation piers were used to support precast concrete lintels which provided the ground beams on which the superstructure of the buildings were built. This technical solution has proved to be economical and effective. Each of the dwellings was to be a double storey. A beam and block system, exposed from below, was used instead of casting a reinforced concrete slab. Internal brickwork to the ground floor in all the buildings received a bagged cement finish and was painted, while the upstairs rooms were plastered and painted. The ground floors were made using solid clay engineering bricks laid to a herringbone pattern by a paving contractor directly on to waterproofed compacted ABOVE: All three dwellings on the property were double-storey. Generous windows flood the staircase with light. LEFT: The sloping terraced garden that runs down to a stream.
fill without the need for a concrete surface bed – again, a big cost saving. This finish was extended to outside terraces. Ordinary steel windows were used. Since standard steel windows are made up for each window order, the proportions could be changed by us to suit the design with no cost consequences. Upstairs ceilings were configured to use standard gypsum ceiling boards. Externally, the site required terracing due to the slope. I have tried to show that with a thorough understanding of construction industry processes, traditional approaches to finishes and the inventiveness of the architect, much can be made with limited means. 0 8
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A U G U S T
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Munich
Munich
Chrome Plated
Chrome Plated
Tumbler Holder
Soap Dish
(7331)
Spare Toilet Roll Holder
(7332)
Only
Chrome Plated (7516)
Only
75
Only
75
R
R
Munich Chrome Plated - 600mm -
75
R
Munich
Glass Shelf
Only
Munich
Munich
Double Towel Rail
Single Towel Rail
(7174)
100
R
Chrome Plated - 600mm -
Only
139
R
(7515)
Chrome Plated - 760mm -
Only
145
R
Munich
Munich
Munich
Chrome Plated
Chrome Plated
Chrome Plated
Towel Ring (7334)
Only
Toilet Brush Holder (7100)
Only
69
100
R
R
(7335)
Toilet Roll Holder (7333)
Only
55
R
Prices valid until 27th September 2020. E&OE • VAT Included • Whiles Stocks last • We reserve the right to limit quantities • Accessories are used for display only.
Gelmar is proud to announce the opening of our 35th store – Gelmar Willowbridge. Situated in Shop 12, Willowbridge Village, 39 Carl Cronje Dr, Tygervalley, Telephone 021 200 2460. Come celebrate with us at our Grand Opening Saturday 5th September from 9am – 1pm. The festivities will include: Coffee & In-store giveaways. 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 35 stores, nationwide.
Come celebrate with us! Saturday 5 September 2020, 9am - 1pm. Coffee & In-store giveaways. th
Willowbridge Shop 12 , Willowbridge Village 39 Carl Cronje Dr, Tygervalley 021 200 2460
THE MAKEOVER1
BEFORE This bedroom and hallway with its many walls created a cramped environment with little option to utilise the apartment to its full potential. When I walked in I knew immediately that we had to open it up to create space to breathe. The owner certainly did not need this spare bedroom.
WORDS VIVIAN WARBY PICTURES JULIETTE BISSET
Rebuilding a dream
AFTER The bedroom was transformed into this open-plan entertainer’s dream by knocking down a dividing wall and moving the kitchen. I used a glass dining table which gives an illusion of space. The locally sourced wallpaper adds texture and warmth to the room. The open-plan kitchen is perfect for the home chef to show off his cooking skills to guests.
Interior designer Will Engelbrecht of WillDesign walks us through his renovation of a Cape Town multi-roomed space into an airy and open-plan seaside apartment
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THE MAKEOVER 2
BEFORE The space was made up of many small rooms. The spectacular views were limited from some areas because enclosed walls made the space feel constricted. Some areas were dark and the dull cream walls did little to highlight the magnificent views. I decided to take out all the walls and start with a clean canvas.
From shell to chic
AFTER We didn’t want to go for all-white walls because of the sunset glare this would have created. I opted for colours on the accent walls that picked up the green and blue hues of the Atlantic Ocean. The mirrors capture transforming pictures of nature, reflecting the outside inside. I went for a textured decor look so as to create a contemporary beach house feel in a city setting.
Once some of the interior walls had been broken down, colour and mirrors were used to emphasise this seaside apartment’s great location Caption dgrojnrgojnvdfgoerjngvvogjnerwgojnvsdgojng nvwegojnvsdvojwngvwgjnvgojnwggonjwrg WORDS YDVHBDSV WSDVB PICTURE FFIHB BEIHB A U G U S T
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Get that look
See stockists page 15
We went in search of some locally sourced bargains to help you recreate the look of this beautiful room
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THE VASE
THE LAMP
THE CHAIR
It’s a yes from us for this natureinspired vase. While remaining chic it adds an unexpected splash of colour to the look of the room, and the green can be picked up in the cushions. Nature-inspired white porcelain green leaf vase from Loot, for R259
We love the hessian shade on this lamp for its elegant simplicity and its reasonable price tag. We opted for silver instead of gold as we like the contrast with the charcoal walls. Bright Star Lighting metal table lamp with hessian shade. From Loot, for R679
We fell in love with this retro chair with its varnished beechwood legs. While it’s not the same as the classic chair pictured in the room, we feel it makes up for it with its simplified detail. Addis shell chair with wood legs from Loot, for R980
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Painting a room is a cheapish way to create a new look but do the preparation first, so as not to waste time and money, and do use the right equipment
Painting budget busters
T I P 1 The biggest thing about painting is to get the preparation right – putting expensive paint on to a bad surface is a waste of time and money. For external walls, use a water jet to clean off any deposits, give them a good sanding and then clean well with a stiff brush. Check for cracks and fill any with an external sealer. Inside, fill any holes or gaps. Let dry. Sand walls and wash walls down with soapy water. Use a primer and undercoat. – Handy Mac Don MacAlister TIP2
Different tins of paint of the same colour can vary between cans and this discrepancy can be really obvious on your walls if you open a new can in the middle of a paint job. To ensure even colour throughout, experts suggest trying “boxing” – pouring your cans of paint into a big bucket. This will help with consistency. You can either paint directly from the big bucket or, for ease of movement, you could pour the mixed paint into a roller tray.
Different types of brushes are used for different paints, so ensure you have the right combination.
TIP3
As with brushes, there are cheap and expensive rollers, with different types for different paints and applications. Ensure you have the right combination and practise first before you start on a wall. Have a well-secured tray that does not hold too much paint, and never overload the roller. – Handy Mac Don MacAlister
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Over 50 Years’ Experience in Service Excellence… Check Out Our New Product Range Below.
COTTAGES
ROCKING CHAIRS
6 SEATER PICNIC SET
WENDY’S / WORKSHOPS / STORAGE SHEDS
LOG CABINS
BAR COUNTERS
STORAGE SHEDS
SWING BENCHES
ROOM DIVIDER
Improver
To advertise in our monthly digital magazine, contact: KZN anne.reddy@inl.co.za larissa.marks@inl.co.za CAPE TOWN maire.strydom@inl.co.za GAUTENG marla.perumal@inl.co.za
WOOD HAMMOCK
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM WE’LL SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE!! Corner Westmead and Circuit Roads, Westmead, Pinetown, Durban
031 700 8100 074 244 8443
https://www.facebook.com/GRCabins
sales@grcabins.co.za • www.grcabins.co.za Mon-Fri: 7am - 4pm / Sat: 9am-12pm
2019
Retail - Wholesale - Projects
Est.1985 "THE NAME YOU CAN TRUST"
WE WILL RE-GLAZE YOUR BATH & TILES, MAKING THEM LOOK LIKE NEW.
R NDE FOULIVE C NT TRE
• Cost Effective • Quick • Little mess • Wide choice of colours 16 Years
Tel: 031 301 4205 Cell: 084 606 3104 / 081 772 7609 Email: bathdoc@iafrica.com www.bathroomdoctorsa.co.za
info@electrad.co.za
Over 50 Years’ Experience in Service Excellence… Check Out Our New Product Range Below.
WENDY’S / WORKSHOPS / STORAGE SHEDS
LOG CABINS
BAR COUNTERS
STORAGE SHEDS
COTTAGES
ROCKING CHAIRS
6 SEATER PICNIC SET
SWING BENCHES
ROOM DIVIDER
STOCKISTS Click on the image to find it online
WOOD HAMMOCK
VISIT OUR SHOWROOM WE’LL SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE!! Corner Westmead and Circuit Roads, Westmead, Pinetown, Durban
031 700 8100 074 244 8443
https://www.facebook.com/GRCabins
sales@grcabins.co.za • www.grcabins.co.za Mon-Fri: 7am - 4pm / Sat: 9am-12pm
2019
Retail - Wholesale - Projects
GET THE LOOK PG12
info@electrad.co.za
Munich
Tumbler Holder
Chrome Plated
Munich Only
75
Spare Toilet Roll Holder
Chrome Plated (7332)
Only R
Munich
Soap Dish
(7331)
R
Chrome Plated (7516)
Only
75
75
R
Munich
Munich
Munich
Chrome Plated - 600mm - (7174)
Chrome Plated - 600mm - (7515)
Chrome Plated - 760mm - (7335)
Glass Shelf
Only
R
100
Single Towel Rail
Only
R
139
Double Towel Rail
R
Only
Munich
Munich
Chrome Plated
Chrome Plated
Chrome Plated
Only
Only
Only
(7334)
69
Toilet Brush Holder
(7333)
R
R
55
Prices valid until 27th September 2020. E&OE • VAT Included • Whiles Stocks last • We reserve the right to limit quantities • Accessories are used for display only.
Gelmar is proud to announce the opening of our 35 store – Gelmar Willowbridge. th
Situated in Shop 12, Willowbridge Village, 39 Carl Cronje Dr, Tygervalley, Telephone 021 200 2460. Come celebrate with us at our Grand Opening Saturday 5th September from 9am – 1pm. The festivities will include: Coffee & In-store giveaways. 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 35 stores, nationwide.
Come celebrate with us! Saturday 5th September 2020, 9am - 1pm. Coffee & In-store giveaways.
Contact: jonathanstone@mweb.co.za
Toilet Roll Holder
(7100)
100
R
EDITOR’S CHOICE PG2
Willowbridge Shop 12 , Willowbridge Village 39 Carl Cronje Dr, Tygervalley 021 200 2460
➟ Est.1985 "THE NAME YOU CAN TRUST"
WE WILL RE-GLAZE YOUR BATH & TILES, MAKING THEM LOOK LIKE NEW.
NDER FOU IVE CL T TREN
• Cost Effective • Quick • Little mess • Wide choice of colours 16 Years
MAKEOVER PG10
145
Munich Towel Ring
C O S T- C U T T I N G TREASURE PG5
Tel: 031 301 4205 Cell: 084 606 3104 / 081 772 7609 Email: bathdoc@iafrica.com www.bathroomdoctorsa.co.za
Contact: Hello@mothersloveproducts.com
