LABOUR OF LOVE

BEFORE & AFTER WHOLE HOME MAKEOVER

Labour OF LOVE

Trisha Harinath takes you behind the scenes of a whole home makeover

his couple’s end goal for their renovation was a home with a clean design that comprised a lot of straight lines and a limited colour palette. They were responsible for the interior design and project management for this revamp. Opting to manage the project themselves meant they had total control of everything, but it also meant they were living on the property while the renovation was taking place. “The biggest challenge of all had to be the fact that we together with our two dogs and two cats all lived on the property throughout the entire process. Though a massive money saver, it is not something we would rush into doing again, nor would we recommend it to anyone,” she says.

She does explain though that fortunately for them, due to the way the house was built, it was possible for them to live in the existing T

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house while the builders went about converting the photo studio into a bedroom wing.

“The bedroom wing took about four months to complete, before we did the big swap over where we moved our whole house into the bedroom wing so that the builders could proceed with Phase 2 of the renovation.” From beginning to end, this project taught them many character-building lessons, the owner says. One was the importance of getting an engineer involved. “An engineer is crucial, especially when looking at knocking down nearly all the internal walls of the original house to create a massive open-plan space. Our engineer also advised us to replace the entire structure of the internal roofing as the original roof was not meant to last as long as it had, which was a large expense we weren’t expecting.”

However through it all, there is nothing that can compare to coming home to a house that was born out of a labour of love. As much as there were challenges, the >

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highlights overshadowed them and according to the owner, one such highlight was the day the living area of the home was completed, and they were able to move out of the bedroom wing. “Having so much space after living in a cramped situation really helped with sanity levels,” she recalls. “Having all the light fittings in was so wonderful to see, especially the bell lights above the kitchen island. And who could forget the feeling of being able to cook in our kitchen for the first time. The first swim in our pool, even though we were still surrounded by a construction site. The first time we lit a fire in our brand new wood fireplace. There’s too many to mention.

“But over and above was probably the camaraderie between BEFORE

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all the tradesmen. We became a great little team,” she says.

Asked about what her favourite space is now after the revamp, she says it has to be the main bedroom with its double-height ceilings, and the walk-through wardrobe that leads to their dream bathroom. “That vista still takes our breath away to this day. The fact that it opens out onto a jetted spa bath and an outdoor tree shower is probably my favourite feature in the house.” Q

BEFORE EXPERT INDUSTRY ADVICE

HLP Construction’s director and project manager Louis de Bruyn shares the following advice for a smooth renovation process. A checklist for a successful renovation: • Establish the scope of works (with an architect). • Establish a budget. • Find a competent contractor, preferably with contactable references. • Establish realistic timelines with the builder. • Ensure good communication between all parties involved. • Any variations to the original

scope of work should be clearly communicated in writing. • Regular site meetings should be held to track the progress and plan.

TOP THREE TIPS: 1. Move out of the property for the duration of the project. Remove all valuable items and place them in storage. 2. Choose a contractor you feel comfortable with. A good relationship is vital for a project to be successful and enjoyable. 3. Be informed about the cost of

the renovation and be prepared for possible unforeseen costs associated with it. Unlike new builds where costs can be accurately calculated, renovations can have a lot of unforeseen costs. Images courtesy of BevDud Photography

GARDENS

Make every

New-generation irrigation and sprinkler systems are a savvy way to conserve water, writes Karien Slabbert COUNT DROP

AUTOMATED CONVENIENCE From basic designs to ultramodern software, automated sprinkler and irrigation systems are a must-have in modern gardens. Practical add-ins: “A useful addition to irrigation and sprinkler systems, rain sensors can be fitted to most modern controllers. Seasonal-adjust settings (on the controller) can also be used to automatically reduce watering frequency during colder months when plants may become dormant,” says Ryan Ebedes of Grounded Landscapes.

According to Tone Alexander of Tone Alexander Landscape and Design Studio, water node systems that use solenoid valves are another viable option. “These designs are battery-operated, instead of using a computer system,” he explains. Going online: According to Alexander, investing in high-quality computerised irrigation and sprinkler systems presents a techsavvy solution to becoming a water-saving advocate. Ebedes agrees. “New high-end controllers with Wi-Fi connectivity give home owners total control of their water usage,” he explains. SAGE ADVICE While there’s a range of sprinkler and irrigation options on the market – from cone sprayers, rotary nozzles, rotor (gear-drive) and impact sprayers, to micros and drip irrigation – water saving should be top of mind.

“With water restrictions in place, drip irrigations systems are the best option. They are more effective and focus on watering the roots of the plants,” says Alexander. “As emitters are designed to apply water directly to the rootzone of each plant, it reduces the risk of evaporation and the effects of wind,” explains Ebedes.

While drip irrigation is the most efficient watering solution, it’s usually not practical for large spaces. “Instead, use rotary nozzles to cover larger areas. Due to their lower precipitation rates, they help avoid saturation and run-off,” advises Ebedes. Q With thanks to Grounded Landscapes, Hunter Industries, Lasher and Tone Alexander Landscape and Design Studio “The recent spate of water restrictions across South Africa is a stern reminder that water is a scarce and finite commodity.”

SMART IRRIGATION Now irrigation controllers can be managed from anywhere in the world using smart devices or product-specific cloud software. To maximise water savings, predictive watering adjusts schedules based on temperature forecasts, rainfall probability, wind speed and humidity. Also simple-to-install flow meters, featuring automatic notifications, alert users to broken pipes or sprinklers. Source: Hunter IndustriesSource: Hunter Industries

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Water wisely: Auto-time your irrigation system according to level-one water restrictions. These stipulate that you can’t water your garden between 6am and 6pm. Designer insight : Before installing a new irrigation system, first test your home’s pressure and flow. Select your sprinklers/ irrigation and zone layouts accordingly. Using head-to-head principles helps to avoid dry spots or over-watering certain areas. Don’t overwater: In terms of frequency, established gardens should be watered every second day, unless the situation warrants a different schedule. Source: Lasher, Grounded Landscapes Pictures (this page): Hunter Industries

The GREEN SP Revive your living spaces with eco-focused tip reboots and unexpected patio transformation

PATIO TRENDS

Add a touch of high drama to your patio with the Bite threeseater sofa, available www.patiowarehou

Introduce a splash of ethnic appeal with this monochrome hanging planter, available from www.shf.co.za

INSTANT REBOO

Give a set of dated outdoor chairs a new lease of life with a fresh lick of paint and these Chambray seat pads in Thanks to the Eva Solo birdbath, you’ll always have feathered friends to keep you company. www.yuppiechef.com

Round off the look with a shell-patterned rug, available from www.firstdutchbrands.co.za

INSIDE OUT

GREEN FINGERS

Mulch improves the structure of your soil and helps retain water. Use this heavy-duty rake from Lasher to distribute the mulch evenly. www.lasher.co.za ter on the horizon, it’s time to invite the in with indoor plants such as fiddle-leaf plement lush layers of verdant foliage with spired accessories from www.kare.com