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9 771814 165001

No.1

home an dg magazinarden e

12177

your practical guide to beautiful living

SA’s

R52.00

(vat incl.) Namibia N$52.00

December 2019 ROSE EXPERTS

Gwen Fagan and her daughter Jessie’s gardening secrets

ON THE MEN NU

Glazed gammon STEP BY STEP

Limoncello trout Venis nison fillett Pizza with P fresh figs

Let’s get

HOMES TO CELEBRATE SUMMER H

ﬁne balance of Pared-down cottage Bargain hunters’ artworks and colour with a Christmas twist down-to-earth space

PROPERTY MARKET SLOW?

Sell your home faster! Try home staging

I M A G I N E

GIVING A LITTLE MAGIC GIFTS THEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL LOVE This festive season, give a little magic with delicious gifts filled with their favourite things from @home. There is something for everyone, from the coffee lover to the home chef and baker. Explore our gifting selection in-store and online.

SHOP IN-STORE OR ONLINE WWW.HOME.CO.ZA

Reader home

14 décor 14 16 24 36 58

Festive menu

102

do it yourself

giveaways

82 88

8 92 101

Reader home

Retail therapy We love ceramics! Fresh ideas for personalised décor Old traditions, new memories and magical touches for the holidays Reader home A ﬁne balance of whimsical sculptures, paintings and bold colours A thanksgiving celebration in a down-to-earth family home

Make a drinks table Festive decorations you can use all year round

in the garden 102 114

Reader garden A mother and daughter’s recipes for success Plants of the month The perfect companions for roses

Reader garden

Stock up your cookie jar! Glazed gammon, step by step Quick food We’ve got supper sorted! Food & drinks to feed your senses

Write in to Your Space and WIN Send us your pet pics and WIN Complete Crossword #132 and win a book worth R290

regulars 10 12 68

in the kitchen 118 122 124 126

Reader home

130

Diary December highlights What’s new on the décor scene Advice Ask the experts 70 Décor dilemma 74 Trash or treasure? Lets ﬁnd out 76 Home staging Make a quick sale! 92 Pets and their peculiarities 96 Gardening notebook Last words from Karin Brynard

Cover photograph Francois Oberholster • Styling Marian van Wyk

Fresh ideas

One balmy summer evening an elderly man called for help at my front gate. Not a panicked cry, rather a worried call, like when you’ve made a careless blunder. Such as spilling coffee on your white shirt just before an important meeting. Or putting on one brown sock and one black sock. Or when you realise the kids are drinking the punch from the adults’ bowl with the vodka in it... I steel myself for a far-fetched ‘Christmas tale’. It’s the middle of December, after all. “I’m lost,” he began to explain, slightly embarrassed. “I was on a trip down memory lane but now it’s getting dark very quickly. I was wondering if you could tell me the shortest route to my guesthouse.” Because someone recently called me “unduly cynical” (I maintain that I’m not cynical but sceptical – there’s a difference) I put the leash on the dog and said, “I’ll walk with you. The shortcut to your accommodation is too complicated to explain, and the dog needs a walk anyway.” I can’t remember the man’s name anymore but with heartfelt gratitude for my compassion he started telling me his story. He was from Australia but had met his wife here in South Africa decades earlier. He loved her very much. So much so that words could not describe what he felt, the longing too overwhelming for full sentences. His wife had recently passed away – Down Under where they had eventually made a life for themselves after living in Cape Town for many years. His children also live there now. But he had wanted to come back to see their first home here in Tamboerskloof where it all began. He wanted to remember. But then he got lost. “I’ll try again tomorrow,” he said. “The name of the street escapes me but I can still see the house in front of me – on a corner, a wraparound stoep, a bougainvillea that sent swirls of pink flowers into the corners when the south-easter blew. My wife always...” It was hot, we were walking slowly. His guesthouse was at ‘the top’ of the neighbourhood; I live down near the Bo-Kaap. But I knew where he needed to go, so I took an old, familiar winding route where I knew my dog had no enemies. Except for one house where I tightened my grip on the leash because two unruly dogs lived there. They were usually kept indoors but sometimes they would jump out from behind the stoep wall with huge fanfare, their barking telegram carrying all the way to Devil’s Peak. I warned my new friend, saying we should move to the other side of the road – I wasn’t in the mood for the bedlam – and pointed to an old house where a candyfloss of pink flowers fluttered around a bougainvillea stem. “But that’s the house...” he said. “Look, there’s the stoep, although a section is now enclosed. And look how overgrown the garden is. I wonder if the sliding window still gets stuck? It was so warped when we sold the house. My wife always...” We stood outside that house for ages. The dogs eventually stopped barking and lay down. The man stopped talking; I refrained from asking. But in the silence of his unfinished sentence I heard the most beautiful Christmas tale. Simply because I was there and on a balmy evening I opened my gate – and my heart – to a stranger on my doorstep.

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 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 Suné Esterhuizen Francois Oberholster René Nortjé

CONTRIBUTORS Kim Arendse, Shelly Bergh, Karin Brynard, Elza Cooper, Greg Cox, Deon de Goede, Paula Dubois, Gerda Engelbrecht, Marié Esterhuyse, Desiree Hartney, Kosie Jansen van Rensburg, ER Lombard, Kay Montgomery, Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel, Ed O’Riley, Ludwig Taschner, JJ van Rensburg, Amanda van Wyngaardt Marketing & Events Coordinator Production Manager General Enquiries ADVERTISNG HEAD: Advertising Sales (Cape Town and KZN) Key Account Manager (CT) Sales Manager (JHB) Classified Sales LIFESTYLE CREATE Creative Director Commercial Manager: Monthlies Commercial Editor Commercial Head: Events CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Product Manager

Andile Nkosi 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

Michael de Beer Lise Coetsee Gerda Engelbrecht Francois Malan

Riaan Weyers 021 503 7179 Janine Snyman 011 713 9918

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 GM: Media24 Monthly Magazines 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.

2019 Fine finishes

editor@homemag.co.za W n a leath Wi ther couch worth R20 000!

From wallpaper & vinyl to steel frames & exposed brick

Weekend projects with leftover building materials

Paint colours

Fab ﬂoors

homes

kitchens, bathrooms & a retractable deck

20012

IMPROVE! i i i g

R65 60

Budget breakdowns

DON’T DON ON T M MOVE, OV

All the best surfaces even resin

9 772073 882005

YOUR MUSTHAVE GUIDE GUIDE

Stockists

This year’s issue of Home Renovations is on sale now. Find it at a store near you; if you struggle to ﬁnd a copy, send an email to editor@homemag.co.za.

Floor plans

TOP

NCANDA COMPETITION

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

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

“Raw becomes refined.”

Natalie Maier Style-a-Space

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

0860 CEMCRETE

enquiry@cemcrete.co.za

your space Write to us at Home, Readers’ Letters, PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000; email editor@homemag.co.za, and join our Facebook group (facebook.com/homemag) or follow us on Instagram @TuisHomeMag.

IN SHORT

WINNING LETTER

Around the table Jeanine Thomson of Durbanville writes We inherited my granny’s imbuia dining room table and six chairs. This piece of furniture is more than 60 years old; it was a wedding present from my greatgrandfather. Unfortunately, due to moving multiple times, the tabletop was damaged. My husband and I considered selling it but decided not to as it’s a family heirloom and many great memories were made sitting around that table. We decided to give it a makeover. We started by sanding down the tabletop, which revealed the natural beauty of the grain, and then sealed the wood with a matte timber sealant. The table legs were painted with Annie Sloan chalk paint and the chairs were painted in three different colours. The end result is gorgeous and I’m thrilled that we were able to give this family heirloom a bit of a modern twist that our children will be able to enjoy and where more wonderful memories can be made!

Hippeastrum reticulatum

Before

A job well done

inspired by one of our clients, Ollie Linde, who turned an old loft into a bathroom and guest room. His wife is an athlete and she is very focused on her marathon career at present, so Ollie took it upon himself to make this space beautiful for them. Take a look!

The writer of the winning letter gets a set of three Mervyn Gers serving bowls worth R2 245!

WIN!

I’m a fan! The editor reserves the right to edit letters at his discretion.

Heather Costaras of Karkloof, KZN writes I’ve recently become a huge fan

8 home December 2019

The lily on page 94 of the September 2019 issue was identified incorrectly. It is a Hippeastrum reticulatum var. striatifolium (exotic), not an Amaryllis belladonna (indigenous). – Gustav Nauhaus, Cullinan

In August, when the wind was howling, I became so tired of the doors banging all the time that I decided to make my own doorstops. I painted a few pebbles and soon friends and family were placing orders. Now slamming doors are a thing of the past – and everyone has a piece of unique decor in their homes! – Adèle Botes, Klerksdorp

Quinnzelle Engelbrecht of Old Time Bathrooms in Pretoria writes I was so

of Home and now I find myself obsessively searching magazine racks in shopping centres – trying to find your latest issue! You guys offer a down-to-earth mag full of inspiration, stories and practical advice and ideas, demonstrating to South Africans that lovely homes are within everyone’s grasp – not only those with the financial means to hire an interior decorator. Since I’ve only recently become an avid reader, I seem to have missed out on all sorts of wonderfulness... If there are some back issues, I‘m interested! Hi Heather, please email Amina.Essop@media24.com for back issues. Enjoy!

Amaryllis belladonna

Add rich texture and an earthy touch to your dinner table with hand-crafted decorative and functional crockery by ceramic artist Mervyn Gers! The winner will be able to choose their preferred glaze for the set of three serving bowls (small, medium and large): Harbour (bottom bowl in the picture) or Midnight Blue (top two). Go to mervyngers.com for more.

diary

Compiled by Suné Esterhuizen Send diary entries to diary@homemag.co.za at least three months before the event.

December flashes

ON THE BOX On Deadline Design (Season 1 starts 23 December on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv), Shaynna Blaze invites us into the complex, creative world of interior design. Each episode follows the journey of a homeowner who tasks Shaynna’s company with reinvigorating their home, and the trials and triumphs of Shaynna’s team as they tackle the renovation. The team has to adapt to vastly different characters, house types, tastes and budgets – and make sure they beat the deadline!

Time to shine!

JAKARANDA CHILDREN’S HOME LIGHT FESTIVAL 1–31 December: Pretoria Celebrate the festive season with a visit to the annual Jakaranda Children’s Home Light Festival where you can see the houses decorated with thousands of lights. Visitors can look forward to live performances, fun family activities, a Christmas market and much more. Visit jacarandachildren.co.za for ticket information or call 012 800 4700 for details.

SPIER LIGHT ART SHOW 8 December – 19 January: Stellenbosch Visit the historic Stellenbosch farm Spier for a dazzling display of light and sound artworks. Eighteen unique pieces will be scattered across the farm and you can explore them all at a leisurely pace. Entrance is free but book a dinner or picnic in advance. Visit spier.co.za or call 021 809 1100.

DURBAN BOTANIC GARDENS TRAIL OF LIGHTS 12–30 December: Durban Enjoy a magical night out with family or friends along the spectacularly lit pathways of the botanic gardens. There’ll be nightly entertainment, fun for the kids, food stalls and a chance to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. Tickets are available from R65 per person from webtickets.co.za. Visit trailoflights.co.za for more.

GAUTENG • 29 Nov – 1 Dec: Visit the Parkview Charity Christmas Market in Jo’burg for Christmas gifts, food stalls, a gin bar and beer tent. Proceeds to Nicarela charities (nicarela.org); call 082 445 3525. KZN • 7–16: Enjoy more than 100 tables of locally-crafted Christmas goodies at the Festive Market at Hillcrest High in Durban. For details, visit thefestivemarket.co.za or call 083 795 0105. GARDEN ROUTE • 10–21: Shop for beautiful gifts, décor and deli products at the annual Ekliefkrismis market at Eden Place in George. For more information, visit ekliefkrismis.co.za or call 072 331 4335. WESTERN CAPE • 13–15: Expect all things handmade, homemade and delicious from over 30 stalls at the Favourite Things Market at Gabriëlskloof Estate outside Bot River. Go to gabrielskloof.co.za. EASTERN CAPE • 14–17: The Locally Yours Market in Port Elizabeth is all about products that are handmade, homegrown, crafted, cooked and designed to showcase the entrepreneurs of the Eastern Cape. For more information, call 082 785 4118. FREE STATE • 14–23: Visit the 20th annual Parys Kers-Kunsmark for a wide variety of handmade gifts and décor items. Don’t forget to stop by the tea garden for refreshments. Call 082 958 6312 for more.

10 home December 2019

Photograph Grant Liebenberg

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

3–8: Visit Cornwall Hill College for the ever-popular KAMERS/Makers Irene. Expect a proudly South African celebration of artisanal craft, design, décor, fashion, food and so much more. Get tickets for R70 from plankton.mobi or R100 at the door; go to kamersvol.com. 5–7: Bring your kids for an evening of entertainment at the annual Noddy Party at Vergelegen in Somerset West. The young ones can enjoy a tractor ride through the enchanted forest before settling down for a picnic and a visit from Santa. Tickets are available from R30; a percentage of the proceeds will go to local charities. Visit noddyparty.co.za. 11 Dec – 31 Jan: Check out the curated collection of intricately handcrafted basketware, ceramics, furniture and other contemporary designs at the Discoveries from Africa exhibition in Plettenberg Bay this summer. A portion of the sales of these high-end design products from all across Africa will be donated to The Tikki Hywood Foundation, which works to conserve lesser-known rare and endangered species such as pangolins. Call 021 683 6464. 14: Enjoy a delicious five-course feast at Grub-’n-Vine in Cape Town. The exclusive menu is designed to highlight Bot River wines such as Genevieve MCC and the famous Luddite Shiraz. Book your seat for R750 by emailing info@mattmanningchef.com. 15: Swing by the annual Slipperfields Gin, Beer and Spirits Festival in Port Elizabeth where you can also look forward to artisanal foods and live entertainment. Call 071 856 5787 for more. 16: Fill your baskets with fresh hand-picked apricots at the annual Apricot Festival at Elandsrivier Farm just outside Prince Alfred’s Hamlet. A wide selection of delicious food and drinks will also be on offer. Proceeds will go towards Vyeboom Daycare. Get your ticket for R40 at quicket.co.za. Call 082 446 6329 for more. 16: Day of Reconciliation. 17: January issue of Home on sale. 25: The Galileo presents a relaxing evening at their open-air screening of the feel-good film How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. Tickets cost R190 per person; get yours at thegalileo.co.za. Call 021 510 0929 for more information. 25: Merry Christmas!

SaatchiCPT452125

PASTEURISED TO

PROTECT, NATURALLY Healthy family meals don’t have to be a prickly subject! Nulaid Safe Eggs are pasteurised to protect themselves – and your family – against bacteria. This added natural barrier helps them stand up to baddies, making them a safer, healthier choice for everyone – and it extends their shelf-life, too. Look out for us in the egg aisle. Naturally.

Please send décor and lifestyle news to news@homemag.co.za.

what’s new Compiled by Shané Barnard

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Bernard Swart WHERE Centurion, Pretoria BUSINESS Afrithorn HIS WORK Bernard Swart, a chartered accountant by day, was on a hike in the Waterberg when he stumbled upon a tree stump that had washed up in a ﬂood and inspiration struck. “I knew the stump had the potential to become a gorgeous piece of furniture – in fact, it could be transformed into a piece of art!” He was so inspired by this creative process that he decided to turn his woodworking hobby into a business, and in 2018 Afrithorn was born. Bernard creates various décor pieces, including lamps, chandeliers, side tables and dining tables. He uses the natural shape of the wood, as well as its imperfections, to create beautiful designs and textures in his furniture. The wood is treated with a pesticide followed by a water-based sealant to protect it against moisture. See Bernard’s range of products on afrithorn.com.

F I N E FA B R I C S The new Jan collection from Haus is a moody homeware range that includes tablecloths, tea towels and cutlery sets (from R220 to R1 200). All prints are styled and photographed by SA’s Michelin star chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen and his team; they’re printed in Europe and stitched locally. Get yours at Haus stores or online at hertexhaus.co.za.

INTO THE BLUE We’re smitten with this stunning new colour from chalk paint supplier Annie Sloan. Oxford Navy is a deep inky blue, taking its name from Oxford University’s sophisticated insignia. You can ﬁnd it at Annie Sloan stockists countrywide.

On the tiles In/Out Technology Tiles boast an innovative design that makes them matte when dry and non-slip when wet, thanks to a unique manufacturing process. The tiles are made with a special glaze which means the non-slip effect never wears off; there’s no chemical or add-on that needs to be replaced or reapplied after a period of time. This exclusive range from WOMAG includes beautiful wood-, stone- and marble-look options (from R380/m2) that marry gorgeous designs and practical functionality. Go to womag.co.za.

TOP SHOP

Local is lekker!

Mobelli Furniture + Living recently opened its ﬁrst ﬂagship concept store in Africa’s largest shopping centre – Fourways Mall in Johannesburg. Mobelli offers a huge selection of furniture for both indoor and outdoor living spaces. The concept store features inspirational room settings, an exhibition area showcasing the newest additions to the range. Check out mobelli.co.za.

Make a statement with this birch wood teardrop shade (80cm D; R8 775) from WERK_ – a “design and build incubator” working to develop design and skills training in Nelson Mandela Bay. Go to werkspace.co.za to view their bespoke range of lighting and home décor.

How pretty are these porcelain wall tiles from Italtile? A tribute to the light, landscape, greenery, scents and ﬂavours of the Mediterranean Sea, the Vita Sole Mix range (200 x 200mm; R890/m2) includes 37 vibrant designs. Go to italtile.co.za.

GO WILD! Kick back and relax in this stylish deck

St Leger & Viney in collaboration with Supreme Furniture Manufacturers have unveiled a bespoke slipcover sofa collection in their exclusive urban linen range. Available in either 2.1m or 2.6m and in gorgeous colours such as turmeric, navy and charcoal, the sofas are on sale at a special launch price starting at R9 990, which includes a selection of scatter cushions. Pop in at St Leger & Viney’s Woodstock showroom or at The Showroom at Supreme Furniture Manufacturers located at 1 Rand Road, Plankenbrug, Stellenbosch.

chair (R1 500) from Love Milo’s new Wildcat collection; it also includes storage baskets, napkins, picnic blankets, scatter cushions and tote bags. Visit lovemilo.com for more.

Hot product!

Hand-painted flower planter (14 x 13cm; R199) poetrystores.co.za.

December 2019

home 13

shopping

Wall plates (from 18cm D) R450, Clementina Ceramics

Monstera bowl (38cm D) R425, Create Ceramics

v e o l e W

Jewellery plate (17.5 x 12.3cm) R185, Sugar & Vice

14 home December 2019

Tapas bowl with gold fill (13.5 x 25cm) R257, WL bowl in cherry (19.8 x 6.8cm) R239.20, Oyster bowl in marula (23 x 6.5cm) R377.20, all Mervyn Gers

Unicorn jewellery plate (10cm D) R290, Melt Ceramics

Pig bowl (43 x 21 x 20cm) R1 199, Rialheim

Bowls (from 21cm D) R200, This & That Ceramics

Loaf platter (50cm L x 20cm W) R399, Urchin Art Clock (27 x 37cm) R300, This & That Ceramics

Soap dish ( 10c

m D)

R38 0, H a

ute Edi t

r a m i s! c Uni

que b

r uys to treasure foreve

By Kim Arendse

. Rose mugs (9cm H x 9cm D) R255 each, Elke Le Roux

STOCKISTS Clementina Ceramics 021 447 1398, clementina.co.za Create Ceramics 082 944 1083, @createceramicartist on Facebook Elke Le Roux 060 825 4632, elkeleroux.com Haute Edit 021 863 0596, hauteedit.com Melt Ceramics 072 3943 020, meltceramics.co.za Mervyn Gers 021 510 2385, mervyngers.com Rialheim 079 898 3120, rialheim.co.za Sugar & Vice 074 785 9525, sugarandvice.co.za This & That Ceramics 071 868 5169, @thisandthatceramics on Facebook Urchin Art 087 150 2829, urchinart.co.za

MAKE IT

personal Planning a project for the holidays? Play around with your own designs and create something unique. By Johané Neilson and Marian van Wyk Photographs Francois Oberholster and Greg Cox

Light fitting from Weylandts

The Midas touch When you’re tasked with the design and renovation of a chef’s kitchen, it better be as functional as it is beautiful. This was the nerve-wracking job that designer Kyle Coetzee of House2home took on when Ivor and Roxy Jones decided to revamp their home in Plumstead, Cape Town. Working with warm wood-look vinyl, a combination of greys and matte black touches to add a sleek modern look, Kyle nailed it!

Ivor, head chef at Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia, and Roxy already owned the bar stools that resemble the wire cages that encase champagne corks; they added brass touches in the customised cupboard handles, warm yellow light bulbs and a drinks trolley to enhance a glamorous look. “We wanted this space to be a showstopper; it’s small but the colours and design featuring lots of storage, open and hidden away, make it highly functional,” says Kyle.

Framed! When Helen and Franclo Henning built their Durbanville home in 2010, they came up with a unique design for their closed-combustion Godin fireplace that shows off the flue by framing it with exposed brick. “We loved the look of the flue so much that we didn’t want to hide it,” says Helen. They created this nifty recess, a popular talking point for guests. The gallery display next to the fireplace is a combination of new and sentimental pieces, including a mirror and two etchings of Utrecht in the Netherlands that the couple brought back from their travels. The picture rail was installed to avoid the struggle of precise measurements when drilling holes for odd-shaped art. “I thought the rail would solve this problem, but working out the details of how to hang the individual artworks from the rail proved trickier than anticipated!” says Helen with a laugh. “Originally, I hung every picture individually but the copper wires looked messy; to simplify the design, I doubled up and hung more than one piece from a wire. I don’t think I will ever move them again!” >> Square artworks by Nadine Marola of Pure Creation

December 2019

home 17

Poster from stickaroo.com; doorstop from MRP Home

Curtains from @home; chair from MRP Home; rug and pouffe from bellapoppelina.co.za

No mountain high enough When moving into their new home in Port Elizabeth, Annette Griesel of online shop littlehandmade.co.za wanted to do something extra special in her son Hugo’s room. Since he was three years old, he was ready to transition from a nursery to a little boy’s room. Annette painted a mural of triangular mountains, introducing colour in a playful way without committing to a strong theme that would date quickly. “I chose the geometric design so I could introduce black, grey, white and beige with just a splash of yellow. I also used blackboard paint so Hugo can draw on the mural,” says Annette. For little Hugo’s headboard (above), Annette simply revamped an old room divider with vinyl truck and tractor stickers to make it fun. A side panel can fold in flush with the side of the bed, so it doubles up as a protective barrier to keep Hugo from falling out in his sleep. Clever!

Splash out! Rozanne Taljaard loves vibrant colour and her old Victorian home in Port Elizabeth features elements of Moroccan style. When it was time to choose a splashback for her stove, she couldn’t resist this decorative glass panel with subtle touches of gold and rich blues. So striking! Glass panel from Sublime Glass

Paint colour

Plascon 37 Serious

A shower revamp Sarah and Richard Mattheyse turned their classic but rather dull bathroom into a quirky modern one full of eye-catching detail – no mean feat on a tight budget. The couple kept the original bath and toilet to save on costs; instead of replacing the bath with a shower, they opted for a bath-shower. They used the same tiles as those in the rest of their home on the floor and side of the bath but splurged on white textured tiles (a Sunday morning impulse buy) above the bath to finish the look. The storage units are wall-mounted to free up space and were painted in Plascon Caribbean Current for a splash of colour. The shower rail is actually a curtain rod that’s kept in place with adjustable Simplifit brackets that expand to lock the rail in place, so there’s no need to drill into the tiles.

Towel rail, shower rail and tap fixtures from Builders; basin and tiles from CTM; engineered stone countertop from Globel; hanging plant from Foxglove Studio; shower curtain from H&M Home

Before STOCKISTS @home 0860 576 576, home.co.za Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za CTM 010 003 9987, ctm.co.za Foxglove Studio 021 555 9584, foxglovestudio.net Globel 021 510 0800, globelstone.com H&M Home 0860 690 707, hm.com/za House2home 084 580 5158, kyle@house2homesa.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Pure Creation purecreation.co.za Sublime Glass 083 355 1688, sublimeglass.co.za Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za

December 2019

home 19

R Poly

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LEFT: Faux Palm R499.99* | Lampset R399.99* | Criss Cross Side Table R399.99* RIGHT: Medium Pillar Candle R49.99

Wooden Lantern R99.99* | Pack Décor Balls R199.99 Chenille Tides Scatter 55x55 R119.99

3Pk Silver Frames R99.99* | Clock R229.99 | Scratch Planter R99.99

Want a sneak peek at BLACK FRIDAY promos?

For more offers, pop into your favourite Sheet Street store or follow us on social media: sheetstreet.com | Toll Free Line: 0800 21 25 35 *Available at selected stores. Product available from 19 November 2019. While stocks last. Sheet Street is part of Mr Price Group Ltd, an authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. FSP31450 & NCRCP46. Account approval subject to an affordability check. T’s and C’s apply.

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Golden days Bring sunshine into your home with earthy tones and pops of ochre from our latest range. A living room is brought to life with modern décor updates, while your bedroom is transformed into a cosy oasis with loads of texture and interesting patterns. You can’t help but smile when you see it.

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R Line

99 18

Warm up to great value Décor really helps to add that homely touch to your space. Just a few key items and some greenery can liven up a dull room, and when the prices are as hot as this, you can’t help but love it all.

3331/791/HoTu

reader home WHO LIVES HERE? Lynda Burgess, Nic Real, Declan (18) and Shaelyn (16) WHERE West Beach, Cape Town SIZE 300m²

“We knew we wanted our kitchen to be light and airy,” Lynda says. “The look is based on a French farmhouse feel that’s expressed in elements such as the brick archway.” Kitchen cupboards made and installed by Johan Jooste; runner from Airloom; pendants from The Lighting Warehouse

24 home December 2019

It’s in the detail

Cottage-pane doors in the kitchen and nearby dining area open up onto the pool area; they were painted black for a striking effect.

A custom-made corner bench at the front door creates an inviting nook and wooden panels with hooks define the area. Bench made by French Style Furniture

Wish

upon a star...

For this family, the festive season is all about old traditions, new memories and magical décor! By Kim Arendse • Photographs Francois Oberholster • Production Marian van Wyk

reader home

Fond childhood memories of festive season celebrations she shared with her family inspire Lynda Burgess to this day! “Christmas was always so magical with all the love, excitement and anticipation of what was to come,” she says. “I’m really a child at heart and that has always stuck with me. I love to see Christmas through a child’s eyes and I still wish upon a star every Christmas Eve.” The Christmas tree usually goes up in early December and it’s filled with decorations collected over the years. “I love using creams and golds and frosted snowy items

with pops of red here and there. The basis of my Christmas décor is a lot of greenery paired with pretty frosted or white items. Reindeer and stockings hanging from the mantelpiece are also a must,” says Lynda, whose favourite places for festive shopping include amazon.com for wintry Christmas décor, Santa’s Warehouse for interesting and quirky items and Paradiso for flowers and greenery.

A hand-carved dark wood fireplace surround that the couple found on gumtree.co.za was given an antique effect with chalk paint and wax, and Lynda stuck log rounds on a wooden board to fill the ‘hearth’. Faux greenery and a glowing reindeer complete the cosy picture. Reindeer light from Starke Ayres Garden Centre; stockings from amazon.com; Sixth Floor rugs from superbalist.com

26 home December 2019

Neutral colours and soft fabrics are combined to create the cosy “modern American farmhouse” look Lynda wanted for the lounge. “It’s a quiet place in which to relax or read and we often have coffee here with guests,” Lynda says. The comfy sofas are covered in loose-fitting cotton slipcovers from Surefit, imported from the US. Lynda made the curtains from thick cotton lining. “It took a while to find material that worked well. The curtains are folded over on top and secured with metal clip hooks. It was fun hemming all the material; my mom and sister came over to help and we made a day of it,” she says. Sofas from Coricraft

Lynda made the large clock next to the French doors leading to the kitchen using a round wooden backing. She stencilled a clock face and ‘antiqued it’ with antique wax. It’s covered with faux vine leaves.

The TV lounge is open plan to the kitchen and dining area. The mantelpiece is one of Lynda’s favourite areas to ‘dress up’. “I like to incorporate greenery, wooden textures and candles in chunky candleholders. I also offset taller elements with smaller décor pieces,” she says. Rug from superbalist.com, large scatter cushion from Volpes; green reindeer from Super Floral

28 home December 2019

reader home

Long Christmas lunches are usually enjoyed around this dining table overlooking the pool. Chandelier from Glo Lighting

Nic, Lynda and Shaelyn relax around the kitchen island. Island built by Johan Jooste; blackwood island top made by French Style Furniture; pendants from Glo Lighting

Oh happy day! On Christmas Day, Lynda, Nic and the kids wake up early to open gifts. Then everyone gets involved in cooking a big family lunch – an extended version of a Sunday roast with lots more trimmings! “There’s always plenty of kitchen activity mixed with bouts of panic between morning and lunchtime,” Lynda says. “My mom and sister usually join us for lunch and last year my daughter Mycaila, her husband and their baby girl flew in from Scotland to spend the holidays with us. We had a full house! “I’ve always loved the way Christmas brings families and friends together. I want to create those special times and traditions in our home too and Christmas décor is the perfect backdrop!”

A much-needed makeover The family moved into their home in August 2018 and immediately began making plans to renovate. They loved its size, pitched roof with exposed beams in the upstairs rooms and the general country feel of the structure, but they wanted to turn the dated Cape vernacular-style house into a home with better flow for easy entertaining. “The living room in our previous house, for example, just wasn’t big enough for large family gatherings and the style didn’t work for us either. This house has great bones and we could see massive potential, even though it needed lots of maintenance and reimagining.” >>

Paint colour Dulux Grey Steel 1

Mirror from MRP Home; shutters from gumtree.co.za

reader home

Nic created an â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;exposed brickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wall using brick tiles. White grouting was smeared over the tiles and partly scraped off again to get the German Smear effect which mimics the look of irregular stones and heavy mortar joints, a style often found on centuries-old cottages and castles throughout northern Germany.

30 home December 2019

In this guest room, Lynda wanted a mix of farmhouse and coastal-style elements. >> Bed frame from Cielo (Lynda spray-painted it black); chandelier from Builders; Sixth Floor rug from superbalist.com

Paint colours Dulux Grey Steel 2 and Grey Steel 3

A neutral backdrop Lynda has always been passionate about décor. “I would redo my bedroom constantly as a young girl,” she says. Her style has changed over the years and this home is the first one in which she decided on a neutral theme. “Our previous home had lots of blues and greens with only a few neutrals. Here, we wanted to create a tranquil modern farmhouse where colour doesn’t jump out at you.” To create a cosy and inviting space, Lynda decorated her newly renovated home with comfortable furniture, handcrafted wooden cabinets and chunky wooden tables.

“I love refurbishing furniture with paint and we have quite a few items in our home that are either pieces I’ve made or revamped,” she says. “Fabrics and textures that are soft to the touch appeal to me. I steer away from animal-derived fabrics as much as possible and I’m not a fan of faux fur either. I have a soft spot for boho-style prints with raised patterns as well as macramé. This combined with touches of greenery throughout our home created the tranquil feeling we planned for from the beginning.”

STOCKISTS Airloom 021 932 6318, airloom.co.za Basketly 087 012 5009, basketly.co.za Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Cielo 0861 999 193, cielo.co.za Coricraft 021 508 5200, coricraft.co.za CreteAge 021 200 1743, @CreteAge - Cape Town on Facebook Eight Degrees South 076 766 9842, eightdegreessouth.com French Style Furniture 078 586 2970 Glo Lighting 011 440 1781, glolighting.co.za Johan Jooste 083 658 4215 Leroy Merlin 010 493 8000, leroymerlin.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Paradiso 021 852 9882, paradiso.co.za Santa’s Warehouse 086 999 0440, santaswarehouse.co.za Starke Ayres Garden Centre 021 685 4120, starkeayresgc.co.za Super Floral 021 510 7759, superfloral.co.za Surefit surefit.com The Lighting Warehouse 011 201 2600, lightingwarehouse.co.za Tjhoko Paint 073 206 3104, tjhokopaint.co.za Volpes 041 402 6834, volpes.co.za

We love this!

Lynda stencilled a pattern onto the white wall to add texture to the space.

This vanity was custom made by French Style Furniture for the main bedroom en suite. Lynda painted it with Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain Sunbleached. Mirrors from superbalist.com; rug from Leroy Merlin; towels and laundry basket from MRP Home

reader home

I always wanted a tropical-style bathroom that makes you feel like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on holiday. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lynda Candleholders that were originally on another wall in the bathroom were spray-painted black and mounted on either side of the freestanding ball-and-claw bath. The ceiling is clad with IsoBoard. Pendant lights from Eight Degrees South; baskets from Basketly; chandelier from Builders; stencil and Matt Black chalk paint from Tjhoko Paint; screed floors done by CreteAge in the colour Cream

December 2019

home 33

No.1

home an dg magazinarden e

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your practical guide to beautiful living

SA’s

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SPECIAL OFFER

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December 2019

ON THE MEN ENU U

Glazed gammon

ROSE EXPERTS

Gwen Fagan and her daughter Jessie’s gardening secrets

STEP BY STEP

Limoncello trout

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A time for giving

Looking for that special something for a loved one? Then look no further than this beautiful gift box – just in time for Christmas!

his gift box, put together by TO BE Gift Boxes specially for Home readers, couldn’t be more convenient. The goodies inside (see right) will be sent out beautifully packaged; all you have to do is click and pay.

How to order: 1 Go to www.tobegiftboxes.com 2 Select the SHOP button in the navigation bar and click on TUIS/HOME. 3 Enter your details and make the payment. At this point, you can even write a personal message. It’s as easy as that!

Home’s first ever gift box, which costs just R590 (incl. delivery), includes: • A 750ml bottle of Hermanuspietersfontein Bloos • A wine stopper-and-pourer • 2 ceramic bowls (12 x 12 x 6cm) • Bamboo chopping board (31.5 x 22cm) • 500ml TO BE hand soap • A copy of the Tuis Dagboek (192 pages), along with a pair of free gardening gloves. Value of box: R735

G I F T

B O X E S

WHO LIVES HERE? Hennie and Jolanda Aggenbach with their daughters Mila (18), Jana (15) and Yanke (8) WHERE Durbanville

Green Olives linen tablecloth from Tokara Deli

36 home December 2019

celebration!

The Aggenbachs share precious family time – and a Christmas feast – in their beautiful down-to-earth home. By Johané Neilson, Marian van Wyk and Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel Photographs Francois Oberholster

Christmas Day in the Aggenbach household is a time for reflection. There’s always a fire or two on the go and the festive meal consists of dishes that can easily be prepared in advance. “We’re not focused on gifts; our priority is the atmosphere and being together,” says Jolanda, the hostess and creative mind behind this Christmas gathering. “It is a thanksgiving celebration and there’s nothing out of the ordinary on the table. We simply make each member of the family’s favourite dish.” So it’s no surprise to find items such as ‘Jana’s salted potatoes’ and ‘Yanke’s carrot cake’ on the menu; not to mention ‘Jolanda’s wild coleslaw’! ‘Hennie’s venison fillet à la Wellington’ is also a traditional favourite.

Hennie is one of three partners in a game farm near Hopeﬁeld. He feels very strongly about conservation and is, of course, passionate about wildlife. “We appreciate the beauty of the animals and don’t just shoot indiscriminately,” explains Jolanda. Trophy heads as décor elements are, therefore, no surprise in this home and Jolanda takes inspiration from well-known French designer Philippe Starck, who ‘dressed’ trophy heads in the Vienna Hotel in Argentina. The ones in the Aggenbachs’ household are often adorned with a cute hat or a scarf – or even a wreath around the neck over the Christmas period.

When the kitchen and braai room were renovated, a pizza oven was a welcome addition – the Aggenbachs use it regularly and some of their favourite meals include pizza, beer-can chicken and roasted tomatoes with brinjals. Pizza oven from Italoven

38 home December 2019

festive celebrations Jolanda prefers to have furniture painted the same colour as the walls for visual uniformity. A friend from what was Contemporary Creations made the cupboard.

Décor style Hennie, owner of paving manufacturer Cemstone, and Jolanda, one of the organisers of the popular CY Market in Durbanville, are both creative spirits who regularly bring interesting pieces home. They love unique décor and avoid commercial items, unless they need to add a contemporary piece or two to achieve a balance between old and new. If they can’t find what they want, they make it themselves. Attention to detail is important and they describe their style as ‘hunter-gatherer’, which ties in with their farming roots. A touch of Moroccan influence is also evident – not your typical bright and bold aesthetic but, rather, earthy desert colours with a pared-down feel. “The colours echo the Skeleton Coast in Namibia where I grew up,” says Jolanda. “A friend once remarked that I seem to use mostly silkworm shades! These days, I find I do bring more colour – even red – into my décor. It’s probably inspired by all the beautiful sunsets in Namibia.” There’s nothing pretentious about this impressive home; besides being a feast for the eyes, it leaves visitors with a sense of peace and tranquillity. >>

In the entrance hall (left), an antique oak dresser provides storage for linen and other items, while black-andwhite photographs add interest above it. Hennie and Jolanda enjoy using photographs from their travels as artworks. Dresser from Steyn’s Antiques; jug and bowl from Plan B Vintage

December 2019

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A photo taken by Jolanda in the Recoleta Cemetery in Argentina, where Eva PerĂłn is buried, creates a striking artwork in the living room. The panel on the wall is from Cemstoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s factory where it was being used as a base board for cement casting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jolanda loves the patina and texture created by the old cement.

Jolanda likes to play around with her collections of ornaments, resulting in a house that seldom looks the same from one week to the next.

40 home December 2019

Earthy and green This year, green is Jolanda’s décor colour of choice for Christmas. “Green is my favourite colour – it is symbolic of growth and new beginnings.” Jolanda believes in using what is at her disposal and in October every year, the couple collect antlers that are shed by the deer on the farm and use them as Christmas wreaths. White cement is poured into plastic bottles to make unusual vases that contrast beautifully with the green and ochre glassware that the Aggenbachs have collected over the years from places like the Milnerton Market outside Cape Town. Jolanda is indeed very resourceful, as old white damask linen that has seen better days now looks brand-new after being dyed a dark green. And she believes there should always be a playful element in your décor, as is evident in her white painted toy animals which she uses as napkin rings. Chess pieces from Israel – all small olivewood pieces – also form part of the table décor. “We are not beholden to tradition and every Christmas is different,” says Jolanda. “I work with what I can find, even though the kids prefer a traditional tree full of shiny baubles like ‘normal’ people! Ultimately, visits from the cousins remain the highlight. Our youngest, Yanke, obviously enjoys her gifts the most and she feels extra special because her birthday falls so close to Jesus’s birthday. She was born on 20 December. >>

The Charnwood fireplace in the colour Almond complements the neutral décor, yet creates a striking and stylish focal point.

Tablecloth from Tokara Deli

This fabric stretched over a frame was used at the Bloemhof Girls’ High matric dance last year; Mila and Jana attend this Stellenbosch school. It now has pride of place next to the Aggenbachs’ front door. The chair was recovered with artificial grass after the upholstery was destroyed by Oupa’s cat.

Jolanda tries something new for Christmas every year; this year, she decided to use a Ficus pot plant as a Christmas tree.

[ JOLANDA’S CHRISTMAS DÉCOR TIPS ] • Use foliage and twigs from the garden – olive branches and bay leaves work especially well. • I collect pretty tins and boxes during the year and fill them with biscuits and little gifts. Stacked on top of each other, they look just like a Christmas tree and once the gifts have been handed out, it takes no time at all to pack the ‘tree’ away! • Light candles and switch on fairy lights – even during the day – as this creates a wonderful atmosphere. • Be adventurous with interesting, playful combinations. A garden gnome wearing a Christmas hat will get everyone smiling. • Take care with garnishes and how you serve dishes. Beautiful food tastes better, no matter how simple it is. >>

Christa Myburgh did the paintings of the kids (right). At the time, Mila was 14, Jana 11 and Yanke four. Jolanda likes to collect sea glass when she finds it and says she also can’t resist green glass (below). Albuca Seeds linen cushion from Tokara Deli

These wood-mounted staghorn ferns are Jolanda’s handiwork.

Several old tins are set on top of each other to create a Christmas ambience in the TV room. Jolanda fell in love with the red five-seater Winchester sofa; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long enough for both her and Hennie to stretch out on at the same time. >> Sofa from Nook Decor and Design; standing lamp from Weylandts; artwork from Plan B Vintage

I love hunting for treasures in unlikely places but I rarely buy anything and if I do, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something very special. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jolanda

White cement floors, a marble slab and moss-green tiles provide detail in the en-suite bathroom, while the cupboard, an heirloom, adds a touch of nostalgia.

In the children’s bathroom, a strip of glass mosaic tiles brightens up the cement basin, while a raw scaffolding plank shelf adds an earthy touch. Silver containers, another of Jolanda’s finds at Milnerton Market, add interest.

Towels from Mungo; tiles from Douglas Jones

Towels from Mungo

Yanke’s bedroom boasts a galaxy of stars. Jolanda applied matte black paint as a base coat then splattered pearl-coloured gloss paint on top, using an old toothbrush. Yanke glued on the gold stars.

The main bedroom has an Asian feel, thanks to the red bedside table and woven silk artwork above the bed that Jolanda bought for Hennie while on a visit to China. The dragon on the bedside table comes from Greece.

Sheep from Merlyn Toys

Rug from Pak Persian Carpets; throw from Hertex Haus

festive celebrations The braai room opens out onto the swimming pool in the courtyard. The braai chimney is clad with Cemstone for extra detail and texture.

December 2019

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The water feature is home to giant goldfish; blue tiles provide a surprise element.

Adora, from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;adorableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, is ready to greet guests.

Gravel adds texture to the garden floor; the lawn was lifted after it perished during the Cape drought. As in their home, the Aggenbachs like to use lowmaintenance elements in the garden. Hennie made the table, which is used to propagate cuttings for new plants such as spekboom. STOCKISTS Cemstone 021 905 9415, cemstone.co.za CY Market cymarket.co.za Douglas Jones 086 166 7242, douglasjones.co.za Hertex 021 914 3390, hertex.co.za Italoven 021 981 1372, italoven.co.za Merlyn Toys 021 703 2359, merlyntoys.yolasite.com Mungo 044 533 1395, mungo.co.za Nook Decor and Design 021 910 1164, facebook.com/nookdecor Pak Persian Carpets 011 880 2222, pakpersiancarpet.co.za Plan B Vintage 021 801 9642, planbvintage.co.za Steyn’s Antiques 044 691 3759, steynsantiques.co.za Tokara Deli 021 808 5950, sarah@tokara.com, tokara.com Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za

Enamel plates, a section of whale vertebra and drought-hardy spekboom and cactuses add interest to this wall.

Turn over for the Christmas menu...

Jolanda’s menu Starter Limoncello rainbow trout Mila’s Margherita pizza Main course Hennie’s venison ﬁllet à la Wellington Jana’s salted potatoes Jolanda’s wild coleslaw Dessert Yanke’s carrot cake

48 home December 2019

festive celebrations

Limoncello rainbow trout with crispy skin Recipe on page 52.

December 2019

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We buy fresh pizza bases at our local Italoven Pizzeria in Van Riebeeckshof. The bases are thin and taste homemade, without the hassle. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jolanda

Milaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Margherita pizza Recipe on page 57.

Tip

Add fresh fig quarters, homemade tomato sauce and feta to your pizza before placing it in the oven. When it comes out, garnish with pistachios, pomegranate rubies, fresh mint and a few drops of pomegranate concentrate for a Middle Eastern twist. Mozzarella also works well with the tomato sauce. >>

Olives linen apron from Tokara Deli

December 2019

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festive celebrations

Limoncello rainbow trout with crispy skin “My family likes simple food but I like to experiment. This is my version of a gin-cured salmon recipe that I found on taste.com.au. For a bit of crunch, I crisp the skin of the fish in an air fryer,” says Jolanda. Serves 6 as a starter Preparation time: about 6 hours Cooking time: 5 minutes • about 220g rainbow trout, deboned and skin on • 1 large cucumber, peeled • 12 radishes • a handful fresh mint leaves • olive oil • fresh lemon wedges (optional) CURING MIXTURE • 40ml Maldon sea salt flakes • 40ml castor sugar • 5ml rainbow peppercorns, crushed • 5ml fennel seeds, crushed • 80ml Limoncello • a few lemon leaves, crushed 1 Mix the curing ingredients together and pour half in the bottom of a shallow glass or ceramic dish into which the fish fits snugly. Place the fish in the dish, skin side down, then pour the remaining curing mixture over; make sure the fish is completely covered. Put a lid on or cover with cling film and refrigerate for 6 hours. Trout is thinner than salmon, so it needs less time to infuse the flavours and cure the meat. A thick cut may need up to 12 hours. 2 Remove the fish from the curing mixture, rinse quickly under cold water and pat dry. Now trim off the skin carefully with a sharp knife. Jolanda cuts the skin into 2cm strips and fries them in her air fryer for about 5 minutes to create a crispy garnish. You can also deep-fry it or discard the skin. Cut the fish into thin slices or portions. 3 Thinly slice the cucumber and radishes. 4 To serve, arrange the fish with the salad ingredients on a serving platter or garnish the portions of fish with the cucumber, radishes and mint (see photo) on individual plates and serve the rest of the ingredients separately so that each guest can make their own ‘salad’. Sprinkle olive oil over the fish and salad and garnish with the crispy skin and fresh lemon wedges.

Hennie’s venison fillet à la Wellington Many people hesitate to cook venison but the fillet is probably the easiest cut to work with; you can also use beef fillet. Serves 6 Preparation time: 1 hour Cooking time: 25 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 1 venison fillet, marinated overnight in buttermilk • 60ml garlic butter • 5ml red sweet chilli pesto • 15ml brandy • 150g bacon bits, fairly fatty • 1 small onion, finely chopped • 300g mixed mushrooms, finely chopped • 30ml fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped • about 350g all butter puff pastry, plus extra to decorate • 15 dried porcini mushrooms • whisked egg, for brushing 1 Remove the fillet from the buttermilk and wipe with a clean cloth. Heat the garlic butter and red pesto in a pan and sear the fillet quickly over fairly high heat until golden-brown. Remove from the heat and baste with the brandy. Cool quickly. 2 Fry the bacon until it starts to colour, add the onion and mushrooms and sauté

until cooked and fragrant. Mushrooms tend to create moisture in the pan while frying; take your time so the liquid in the pan evaporates, otherwise the crust will be soggy when it bakes. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper. Allow to cool. 3 Place the puff pastry on a floured surface and roll it out thinly into a rectangle large enough to enfold the meat and mushrooms. Spoon half of the mushroom mixture into the middle of the pastry, place the meat on top and spoon the rest of the mushrooms over. Roll the dough over the meat filling to form a neat roll. Pinch the ends closed, place on a greased baking tray and brush with the egg. Decorate the top with stars from the extra pastry and also brush these with egg. Then refrigerate while the oven gets hot. 4 Preheat the oven (or use a pizza oven) and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden-brown; the dough must be cooked (that’s why it’s better if it’s thin) but the meat must be pink. Rest for a few minutes before serving thick slices with gravy and a sweet accompaniment like preserved pears or quinces. >>

Jana’s salted potatoes Recipe on page 55.

Hennie’s venison fillet à la Wellington

The biggest sin when it comes to venison is overcooking the meat. – Hennie

Jolanda’s wild coleslaw Jolanda often adjusts the ingredients according to what is in her refrigerator. The crispy two-minute noodles add the most delicious crunch and are significantly cheaper than nuts. “I always keep a batch of baked noodles in my pantry,” she says. Serves 6 as a side dish • Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus overnight • half a red cabbage, finely shredded • a handful each raisins and dried cranberries • 60ml macadamia oil • 30ml balsamic vinegar • 1 knob fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated • 30ml sesame seeds, toasted • 1 packet two-minute noodles • a generous pinch of Himalayan salt • a pinch of cumin • 125ml mint leaves, stems removed • 60ml pomegranate rubies

1 Combine the cabbage, raisins, cranberries, oil, balsamic vinegar, ginger and sesame seeds; let the salad marinate in the fridge overnight. 2 Break the noodles up into small pieces and spread on a baking tray. Roast for a few minutes at 200°C until lightly browned and crispy. Cool and mix with the salt and cumin. You can add spice to taste, if desired. Keep in an airtight container. 3 To serve, arrange the coleslaw on a platter and sprinkle a thick layer of noodles over. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and pomegranate rubies.

Jana’s salted potatoes Just like her mom, Jana likes to try out new recipes; this is one of her current favourite dishes. Serves 6 • Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour • Oven temperature: 200°C • • • •

24 red baby potatoes about 80ml olive oil about 25ml sea salt ﬂakes 30ml creamed horseradish

• 10ml wholegrain mustard • 250ml sour cream • a few chives, chopped

1 Scrub the potatoes well and pat dry with a cloth; make sure they are completely dry. 2 Preheat the oven. Prick each of the dry potatoes twice with a fork, rub all over with oiled hands and dip the potatoes in the salt, one by one, to get a light coating of salt all over. 3 Arrange the salted potatoes snugly next to each other in an ovenproof dish and bake for about 1 hour or until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. 4 Mix the horseradish, mustard and sour cream. Cut a cross in each cooked potato and press at the bottom so that the soft ﬂesh is exposed. Arrange on a pretty platter and spoon a dollop of horseradish sauce on each. Sprinkle with chives. Serve the extra sauce in a bowl – it’s also delicious with the ﬁllet. >>

December 2019

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Yankeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carrot cake

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Yanke’s carrot cake “This carrot cake is based on a Jenny Morris recipe we regularly bake, with all sorts of variations,” says Jolanda. This one has sesame oil and black sesame seeds for a special Christmas twist. Makes one 23cm double-layer cake Preparation time: 30 minutes Baking time: about 1 hour Oven temperature: 180°C • 280g (500ml) cake flour • a pinch of salt • 10ml baking powder • 7ml bicarbonate of soda • 400g (500ml) sugar • 4 eggs, beaten • 250ml oil • 125ml sesame oil • 500ml finely grated carrot • 250ml tin crushed pineapple, drained • 250ml coarsely chopped mixed nuts • 250ml coconut • 125ml black sesame seeds FROSTING • 125ml butter at room temperature • 230g (1 tub) medium-fat cream cheese, softened • 5ml vanilla essence • about 750ml icing sugar 1 Preheat the oven. Mix the flour, salt, baking powder and bicarb in a mixing bowl. Add the sugar, egg and oils and mix well. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and divide between two greased 23cm cake tins lined with baking paper. Bake for about 50 minutes to 1 hour until cooked and risen. Use a skewer to make sure the cake is done. Invert the cake layers onto a wire rack and cool completely. 2 Make the frosting Beat the butter with an electric mixer until light. Add the cream cheese, vanilla and 500ml of the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Check whether more sugar is needed according to the sweetness and ‘spreadability’ of the frosting. 3 Place the first cake layer on a cake stand and spread a thick layer of frosting on top. Place the second cake layer on top and spread all over with frosting. Scrape the sides so that the cake shows through the frosting and sprinkle with your choice of extra nuts and seeds. A sprig or two of rosemary completes the picture.

Mila’s Margherita pizza Mila is a vegan, so she uses dairy-free white cheese for her pizza. Serves 6 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • 6 premade pizza bases • 200g Dairy Free Greek White Cheese (find it at woolworths.co.za) • fresh basil TOMATO SAUCE • 1kg cherry tomatoes • 60ml olive oil • 45ml balsamic vinegar • 2 sprigs origanum 1 Preheat the pizza oven by making a small fire at the back or on the side of the oven; add wood as needed to keep the fire on the go. Remember, it takes time to heat a pizza oven – about 2–3 hours, depending on the size. It should be between 300°C and 400°C to cook pizzas. An infrared thermometer (available at yuppiechef.com) will help to determine the correct oven temperature. 2 Make the sauce Place the tomatoes in a large flameproof roasting pan and drizzle with the olive oil and vinegar. Sprinkle with the herbs and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. When the pizza oven is ready, bake the tomatoes for about 30 minutes or until they burst and start to brown. If you’re using a regular oven, preheat it to 200°C. 3 Mash the tomatoes with a potato masher to form a chunky sauce. Spread a layer of tomato sauce on each pizza base, arrange blocks of cheese on top and place in the pizza oven using a pizza paddle. 4 Bake for a few minutes until golden-brown and bubbling – keep an eye on the pizza; it cooks quickly and you may have to turn it halfway through. Once it’s been removed from the oven, sprinkle with fresh basil and serve hot.

After dinner, we extend blessings to one another and relax with board games while the children play music. – Jolanda

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A sculpture by Louis Olivier creates an enchanting focal point and the boundary wall adjoining the neighbour on the left is defined by pruned conifers to create privacy.

A fine art Whimsical sculptures, paintings and bold colours strike the perfect balance in this home. By Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel • Photographs Elza Cooper • Styling Amanda van Wyngaardt

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A sculpture by Ruhan Janse van Vuuren is positioned in front of a painting of clouds by Esias Bosch. Elzabe taught Ruhan art at primary school and met him at one of Angus Taylor’s workshops years later; she is very sentimental about the piece. Ceramic artwork (inset) by Zimele Original Ceramics.

WHO LIVES HERE? Elzabe and Piet Malan WHERE Southdowns Estate, Centurion SIZE 700m²

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Loose white linen slipcovers, painted cement floors and neutral walls create a perfect backdrop for the bold artworks in the living room.

The espaliered fig tree at the entrance – the unofficial front door of the home – is Piet’s ‘experiment’. People often stop to ask him about it.

A sculpture by Wilma Cruise forms a feature above the fireplace. The kneeling woman sculpture is another example of the simple yet striking art pieces in this home; the artist is unknown.

The red brick wall at the entrance to the Malans’ home is bedecked with the grey branches of a fig tree, its canopy full of small purple-green fruits. And as you walk through the ornate rusty-brown garden gate, a feast for the eyes awaits: a large pond with giant koi, neatly manicured Buxus hedges and cement paths, a tickey creeper sprawling up the high walls, an imposing statue against the opposite wall... Elzabe Malan welcomes you at the front door. Warm and hospitable, she’s a dedicated artist: every corner of her garden and home creates a picture-perfect image. Elzabe and her husband Piet planned this house in Southdowns Estate in Centurion for two years before moving in in 2007. With their kids already out of the house – they have seven children and 16 grandchildren between them – a spacious open-plan living area on the ground floor was essential so that there is sufficient space for get-togethers. Each room opens out onto the garden, creating an uninterrupted flow between the indoors and outside. And when the whole family comes to visit, a festive atmosphere is guaranteed.

The artwork by Linda Rademan in the entrance hall (below) was done on used teabags.

Two statues by Angus Taylor ‘strike a pose’ in front of the window.

Architecture and flow The housing development is also known as Farm Village – occasionally, you might catch sight of a herd of cattle wandering through the streets! Together with architect Devilliers du Toit, the Malans carefully engaged with the prescribed architecture, the so-called “old Transvaal farmhouse style”. For the exterior, a combination of finishes was used – from plaster and red bricks to a red corrugated iron roof and red Irene stone. “We tried to think creatively and whitewashed some of the bricks with white cement to add interest,” says Elzabe. “For the interior, we opted for large windows that don’t need curtains and the gate by the fig tree serves as an ‘exterior front door’, affording us the necessary privacy.” The two bedrooms have shutters on the outside for privacy and security – they’re painted red to complement the roof. Timber lintels define the doorways in the house, while high ceilings emphasise the space. “The architecture creates an informal, tranquil feel but for us the flow of the house was first prize,” says Elzabe. “There are no corridors or wasted spaces on the lower level. One space flows seamlessly into the next, as well as from the inside out. We wanted a home in which every room is used every day.” >> December 2019

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The kitchen cupboards are modern, in line with Piet’s taste, while the dining room table and chairs create a more classic feel to balance the space.

Art and décor Elzabe’s love of art stems from her schooldays. She adores bright colours and has been working with renowned artist André Naude for 15 years. “Fortunately, Piet also loves art and we have collected several pieces over the years. Piet is particularly fond of sculpture,” says Elzabe. The home’s neutral base is the perfect backdrop for their colourful artworks but Elzabe says she doesn’t regard her home as an art gallery. “I’ve always loved being surrounded by beautiful things. Visitors are always positive about the feel of our home, even though it may not be to their taste,” she says. Décor specialist Ferdi Louw of Pulse helped with the choice of colours and finishes and Elzabe recently enlisted his help once again to update the look. Existing furniture was reupholstered or painted and moved around for a fresh effect. “It was a mind shift for me to work with so much colour but it was such a pleasure!” says Ferdi. “Elzabe and Piet are both young at heart and they love new experiences. A house should not stagnate – it must evolve with your inner growth and changes in taste. After all, Elzabe is an artist who loves change and renewal.” Ferdi’s advice to others is to always be yourself in your own space but to take a few risks and try new things. “Visit galleries and buy original works of art!” >>

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It was a priority for Piet and Elzabe to have a kitchen where everyone can socialise around the island and nearby braai area. A painting by André Naudé adds colour to the neutral palette, while a horse sculpture by Angus Taylor sits on the island.

I love colour and in a way it draws the furniture, dĂŠcor and artworks together so that everything works. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Elzabe

This iron bed from Garden Bleu on the stoep off the main bedroom is where Piet likes to lie and think! The big ceramic platter on the chest in the foreground was made by Esra Bosch.

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An unusually high bed in the main bedroom was custom made for Elzabe by Garden Bleu after she fell in love with a similar bed at Grand Africa Rooms in Plettenberg Bay. The paintings above the fireplace are by Nicolaas Maritz and the small painting above the hat rack (opposite) is by Ronel Kellerman.

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The main bedroomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s en suite overlooks a small back garden. The low wall with its mosaic tiles is the perfect display area for a few treasured items.

The painting above the chest of drawers is Elzabeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own handiwork.

Ferdi painted the vanity in this cheerful guest loo with Dulux Signal Red for a fresh look. >> Wallpaper from Eijffinger

STOCKISTS André Naudé art.co.za/andrenaude Angus Taylor 082 373 4456, angustaylor.co.za Devilliers Du Toit Architects 083 232 6554, devilliersdutoit.com Eijffinger dreamweaverstudios.co.za Elzabe Malan 082 466 3643 Esra Bosch Ceramic Studio 082 823 7591, esrabosch.co.za Esias Bosch Art 083 400 7062, esiasbosch.co.za Garden Bleu 082 416 1451, gardenbleu.co.za Linda Rademan 083 308 9219 Louis Olivier art.co.za/louisolivier Nicolaas Maritz artnet.com/artists/nicolaas-maritz Pulse 012 991 6162, pulse.co.za Ronel Kellerman 083 285 8509, ronelkellerman.co.za Ruhan Janse van Vuuren art.co.za/ ruhanjansevanvuuren Wilma Cruise wilmacruise.com Zimele Original Ceramics 063 274 4598, zimeleceramics.co.za

Elzabe’s studio is next to the living area so that she can enjoy Piet’s company while she works. A statue by Angus Taylor (right) creates an eye-catching focal point next to the pool.

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Piet loves the three monkeys by Wilma Cruise; he and his grandchildren love to chat about them when they braai.

A creative garden The garden is Piet and Elzabe’s own design but they had input from friends and family who are all avid gardeners. The couple are also assisted by Frans Mailla on a weekly basis. “I like an informal garden that still has a sense of order and rhythm,” says Elzabe. She has achieved this through the repetition of colour and a few formally pruned plants and trees. The showstoppers are the various statues dotted around the property. “The artworks help to create focal points in the garden,” explains Elzabe. It’s clear that artistic principles such as composition, colour, form and line have been applied here. “I also regard all of our garden statues as living creatures – even the baboons! They add a personal touch – and they chat together!” she says with a smile.

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Need help converting a home office into a guest room or wondering how best to care for your sofa? You ask – we find the answers. Take care of your sofa Melanie Slabbert of Paarl writes What are the basics of taking care of a sofa? I shake out the cushions once or twice a month; what else should I do? Amy Whittam of La-Z-Boy replies Not only does a sofa offer comfy support for you and your family, but it can also work as the centrepiece of your living room. There are a few tasks you need to do on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis to keep your sofa in tip-top condition:

WEEKLY TASKS If your sofa has loose cushions, make time to plump them: place a cushion on one of its sides then beat the opposite edge inwards with your hand. Repeat the process on all four sides, then shake it to redistribute the filling evenly and smooth out the cover. Make sure the sofa is standing on an even surface, smooth out the upholstery and remove any lint pilling. Also dust down any leather upholstery and gently brush your sofa. Weekly brushing with a soft brush is especially beneficial: it stimulates the pile and helps with pressure marks and shading. If you have a leather sofa, don’t brush it; rather dust with a clean duster weekly.

MONTHLY TASKS Vacuum your sofa thoroughly and rotate the cushions once a month. Use your vacuum cleaner on its lowest setting and use the brush attachment so you can get into all the nooks and crannies. Vacuum the cushions then remove them and vacuum well underneath too. Human and pet dander as well as hair and mites tend to gather on sofas, so if you don’t vacuum regularly it can be bad for your health – especially if you suffer from allergies.

YEARLY TASKS Employ a professional company to clean your sofa once a year. Never attempt to wash it yourself – this can cause colours to bleed and if the padding becomes damp, it can cause staining and interior damage. >> CONTACT la-z-boy.co.za

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Décor dilemma The problem Moira Strydom of Roodepoort writes We have a home office (it was a double garage in a previous life) but now it’s become a dumping ground for anything that won’t fit in the house. I’d like to repurpose it as a guest room; it has an attached bathroom and I was thinking of bringing in a bed with two bedside tables and a chair or two. I also want to change up the lighting and use blue as an accent colour. What do you think?

FURNITURE If you have the space, buy two threequarter beds that can be used separately or made up as a king-size bed. Use crisp white linen and introduce shades of soft blue and green in the form of scatter cushions and a textured throw at the foot of the bed. A deep-buttoned upholstered headboard in a light blue will add comfort and a touch of luxury. A pair of simple floating shelves or butler trays in white or a light wood will work well as bedside tables (MRP Home has affordable options).

The solution Jenny Collins of Red Cat Design replies Making the most of this space will definitely add value to your home. Here are some things to consider:

COLOUR I suggest a crisp white base with blue and green accents. This welcoming and tranquil palette is ideal for guests in need of a break. Create a blank canvas by painting the doors, cornices and ceilings white and the walls a warm off-white. Remove the bookshelves and low cupboard but keep the large cupboard and add a hanging rail. Guests can keep their clothes there and you can use it to store linen and towels. Paint it white and be sure to use the correct primer if it’s made of melamine; we suggest Plascon Tile & Melamine Primer or Dulux Supergrip. Alternatively, simply paint it with Tjhoko Paint. Then replace the handles; satin chrome knobs will work perfectly.

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DÉCOR Try a bedside lamp with a satin chrome or glass base and a patterned lampshade that incorporates shades of blue and green. Replace the curtain rod with one in satin chrome and hang new curtains in a textured white, blue or green fabric or a printed fabric that combines these shades. The light ﬁtting can easily be replaced with an attractive pendant or chandelier. If you prefer something simpler, downlights are unobtrusive but they have to be installed by an electrician. Add a large rug to ‘warm up’ the tiles and place a comfy chair in one of the corners. Finish off by hanging pretty pictures in light wooden frames, install a mirror (ideally full-length) and add a plant for a touch of greenery.

IN THE BATHROOM Paint the wooden vanity white and replace the dark wooden toilet seat with a white one to update and lighten the room. Also consider replacing the towel rails and toilet roll holder with satin chrome and the existing curtains with white slatted blinds or a fabric Roman blind to echo your palette. Add a soft bathmat and thick towels in blues and greens. Complete the look with prints in white frames, a large mirror behind the vanity, and a vase of fresh ﬂowers on the basin. >> CONTACT redcatdesign.co.za SKETCHES Eugene Human (humanarchitecture.co.za)

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Quick questions

Q: I love the dining chairs on page 60 of your April 2019 issue; where are they from? – Alana Niewoudt, Pretoria A: Those chairs are from Block & Chisel (blockandchisel.co.za) but you can ﬁnd similar ones at Cielo (cielo.co.za) and SHF (shf.co.za).

Q: I love the rug on page 25 of your June 2018 issue; where can I buy it? – Fiona Abbott, George A: The rug is from MRP Home; you can ﬁnd similar ones at Rugs & Such (rugsandsuch.co.za) and Airloom (airloom.co.za).

Q: Do you know where I can ﬁnd a pendant like the one on page 56 of your September 2018 issue? – Freda Coetzee, Garies A: Try Eagle Lighting (eaglelighting.co.za), The Lighting Warehouse (lightingwarehouse.co.za), Builders (builders.co.za) or K.Light (klight.co.za) for dome pendants.

Q: Where can I ﬁnd the rug on page 63 of your June 2019 issue? – Hannelie Schoonraad, Fochville A: The rug is from Arabesque (arabesque-shop.com); Oriental Carpet Gallery (orientalcarpetgallery.co.za) and Rugs Original (rugsoriginal.co.za) also sell beautiful kelims. >>

Quick questions

Q: What kind of floor covering did the homeowners use as featured on page 56 of the May 2018 issue? – Elsabe Coetzee, Ndogwana A: The cement floor has been painted with a two-step epoxy stoep paint in white, but the homeowner can’t remember the brand. Try Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint by Duram (duram.co.za) and Epoxy Floor Paint by Alcolin (alcolin.com) for a similar result.

Q: Where can I buy the lovely rug on page 66 of your June 2019 issue? – Kelly McKay, Johannesburg A: That rug is made of recycled plastic and it’s from Jambo Imports (jamboimports.co.za); superbalist.com and takealot.com also stock rugs made from recycled material.

Stash it or trash it? A beautiful angel Jolanda van Staden of Kempton Park writes I’d love to know more about this wooden angel. During WW2, my great-grandfather traded it for a pair of shoes in what was then Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). It is made of yellowwood, measures 600mm H x 750mm W x 15mm D, and has no stamps or markings. Anton Welz of Stephan Welz & Co. replies It looks very European and it’s well carved but the Sri Lankans are known to be very competent carvers, so it could be a locally-made piece. It’s a good size and has a lovely patina. CIRCA late 19th – early 20th century VALUE R5 000 – R7 000 at auction CONTACT ct@stephanwelzandco.co.za

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ALCOLIN PROMOTION

WEEKEND PROJECT Struggling with damp? Fix it in a jiffy with Alcolin’s Permo-Key Slurry Kit – an all-in-one cementitious-based waterprooﬁng system.

Did you know?

Basket and towel from Blink (021 434 0541, theblinkshop.co.za)

Alcolin Slurry Kit is ideal for waterprooﬁng any surface, including showers, balconies and walkways.

You will need SHOPPING LIST • Alcolin Permo-Key Slurry Kit (in a handy bucket for easy mixing) • Alcolin Z100 Floor Screed

Before

Get started TOOLS • drill • mixing paddle • splatter brush • trowel

3 2 Mix the Slurry Kit with the drill and mixing paddle attachment, according to the instructions on the bucket. First add Alcolin Latex-Key to the bucket then slowly add the powder component while stirring continuously. Allow to stand for approximately 5 minutes. Dampen the surface using water and a splatter brush before applying the slurry.

1 Prepare the floor Make sure your floor surface is in good nick. In this bathroom, a linoleum floor was removed when the owners realised there was a damp problem. You can lift a linoleum floor quite easily with a scraper.

3 Apply the slurry Remix the slurry just before use. If the mix is a little stiff, a small amount of water can be added. Use a splatter brush to apply a ±2mm-thick coating, working horizontally. Allow to dry for at least 2 hours. Follow with a second coat brushed in vertical strokes to ensure the entire surface is covered. Allow to dry for at least 12 hours before tiling, plastering or screeding.

4 Mix the Alcolin Z100 Floor Screed with water, according to the instructions on the packet. We added an oxide tint to get a darker colour; you can add the colour of your choice. Apply the screed with a trowel to get a smooth surface. Allow to dry for at least 12 hours. Note Drying takes longer at temperatures below 25°C.

Visit www.alcolin.com for product details or call the Sticky Questions Helpline toll-free on 0800 222 400 for expert advice.

Make that sale! Struggling to sell your house? Try home staging. With the right styling and a few quick fixes, your property wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be on the market for long.

BY Beatrice Moore-NĂśthnagel PHOTOGRAPHS Francois Oberholster STYLING Marian van Wyk

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The experts agree: first impressions count when you want to make a successful sale in a difficult market. Good flow from one room to another and unobstructed entrances and doorways are non-negotiable. And, of course, tidy up!

hen you sell your home, you want to do so quickly – and get the highest possible price. A house that sits on the market for too long is often subject to lower offers, something you definitely don’t want. And in the current South African economy and property market, the pressure is on. “Right now, the property market appears to be in favour of buyers,” says FNB property economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi. “Supply is greater than demand, which gives buyers a wide range of choices and enables them to shop around. They have the upper hand when negotiations begin and are often able to score attractive discounts. At the moment, 90% of transactions in the price segments over R2.3 million are concluded at below the initial asking price which means nine out of 10 times, sellers will have to slash their price to push the deal through.”

The good news is that the property market appears to be stabilising. “We continue to expect house price growth to average between 3.5% and 4% year on year for the remainder of this year and in 2020,”says Siphamandla. “In the near-term, we can expect market activity to keep the momentum going, supported by attractive pricing, more competition between lenders and lower interest rates. Nevertheless, price growth should remain relatively contained amid weak economic fundamentals as well as excess supply in the higher price end.” If you have a home in the higher price segment and buyers are scarce, why not consider ‘home staging’? It entails making a few small changes (in certain cases simple styling and tidying up, in other cases some maintenance such as painting) to your property in order to make it more attractive to potential buyers. It might require a small investment but chances are you’ll make that money back, thanks to a better offer.

[WHY HOME STAGING? ]

What does a home stager do?

“Home staging is growing in South Africa as more agents, developers and sellers are becoming aware of its benefits,” explains Liesa Jossel, founder of Home Stagers Cape Town and founding member of the South African chapter of International Home Staging Professionals. “We’ve found that properties that have been sitting on the market for three months take about three weeks to sell once they’ve been staged. If you follow the property market, you’ll see that most sellers drop their price by 10% after three months. On a R3 million property, that’s a R300 000 loss. Staging costs a fraction of that and brings in the buyers and offers!”

“Different stagers offer different services,” Liesa explains. “Some only do consultations for inhabited properties, others do empty homes for sale, some do offices and others only luxury homes. “When consulting with a seller living in the home, I would walk through the house with them, explaining how to present their space in order to get the best photos online. I will also point out what they need to do to highlight what buyers are looking for: space, light, traffic flow and purpose, to name a few things.” Liesa, who also runs training courses in home staging, says empty homes are notoriously difficult to sell, as buyers often complain that they are ‘cold’. And, of course, it’s much easier to see the faults. “Remember, your home becomes a house when you put it on the market and it’s competing with many others in the same price range and neighbourhood, so yours must stand out.” >>

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[MAKE IT WORK ] /Ĩ ǇŽƵƌ ŚŽƵƐĞ ŝƐ ĨƵƌŶŝƐŚĞĚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵ͛ƌĞ ŽŶ Ă ƟŐŚƚ ďƵĚŐĞƚ ĂŶĚ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƐƉĞŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ZϭϬ ϬϬϬ ƚŽ Zϭϱ ϬϬϬ͕ ĞƐƚĂƚĞ ĂŐĞŶƚ ^ƚĞƉŚĂŶŝĞ tŚŝƚĞ ŽĨ ,ĂƌĐŽƵƌƚƐ ƵŶŶ͕ ǁŚŽ ƐƚĂŐĞƐ ŚŽŵĞƐ ŚĞƌƐĞůĨ͕ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚƐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ͗ 1 Exterior WƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ƌƵŶͲĚŽǁŶ ǁŽŶ͛ƚ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƚ͘ Ž ƚƌǇ ƚŽ ŶĞĂƚĞŶ ĂŶĚ Įǆ ĂƐ ŵƵĐŚ ĂƐ ǇŽƵ ĐĂŶ͘ Ϯ ^ŵĂůů ĮǆĞƐ dŚĞƐĞ ǁŽŶ͛ƚ ĐŽƐƚ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ŵŽŶĞǇ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁŝůů ŵĂŬĞ Ă ŚƵŐĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ Ă ďƵǇĞƌ͛Ɛ ŝŵƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ͘ ZĞƉůĂĐĞ ďƌŽŬĞŶ ǁŝŶĚŽǁƉĂŶĞƐ͕ ŵŝƐƐŝŶŐ ĚŽŽƌ ĂŶĚ ĐƵƉďŽĂƌĚ ŚĂŶĚůĞƐ ĂŶĚ Įǆ ƐĂŐŐŝŶŐ ŚŝŶŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŐƵƩĞƌƐ͘ ϯ WĂƟŽ Žƌ ďƌĂĂŝ ĂƌĞĂ dŚĞƐĞ ƐƉĂĐĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ƚŽ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ĨŽůŬ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ ŽĨ Ă ŚŽŵĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ĂƌĞĂ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƐĞĞŶ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂĚĚͲŽŶ͕ ďƵƚ ƌĂƚŚĞƌ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĞǆƚĞŶƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƐƉĂĐĞƐ͖ ŝƚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĐůĞĂŶ͕ ƟĚǇ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĂďůĞ͘ 4 Kitchen ^ƉĞŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƚƌĂ ďƵĐŬ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ Ăůů ĂƉƉůŝĂŶĐĞƐ ŝŶ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ͕ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚůǇ͕ ƚŚĞ ŬŝƚĐŚĞŶ ŵƵƐƚ ůŽŽŬ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ͘ ,ĞƌďƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŝŶĚŽǁƐŝůů͕ ĨŽƌ ĞǆĂŵƉůĞ͕ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ǁĂƌŵ ŵǇ ŚĞĂƌƚ͘ 5 Bathroom dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ŶŽ ĞǆĐƵƐĞ ĨŽƌ ǀŝƐŝďůĞ ƐƚĂŝŶƐ͕ ŵŽƵůĚ Žƌ ŵŝůĚĞǁĞĚ ŐƌŽƵƚ͊ ůů ǇŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ƵƐĞ ŝƐ Ă ďŝƚ ŽĨ ĞůďŽǁ ŐƌĞĂƐĞ ĂŶĚ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ŵŽƵůĚ ƌĞŵŽǀĂů ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ͘ ϲ ĞĚƌŽŽŵƐ KŶĐĞ ĂŐĂŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ Ă ůŝĐŬ ŽĨ ƉĂŝŶƚ ĐĂŶ͛ƚ Įǆ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŝŵƉůĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ ŝŶĞǆƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ǁĂǇƐ ƚŽ ƐƉƌƵĐĞ ƵƉ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽŵƐ ŝŶ ǇŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ ʹ ďƵƚ ƚƌǇ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ƚŚĞ ƚŽŶĞƐ ŶĞƵƚƌĂů͘

NO-NO’S How much does it cost? While it differs from home stager to home stager, a consultation for an average, occupied three-bedroom home is about R1 000 per hour, which is usually how long it takes. “When it comes to staging empty homes, many factors need to be considered,” explains Liesa. “The size and style of the property as well as price range all matter. A small one to two-bedroom home will start at about R18 000 a month for the first month; this cost will decrease substantially for the second month, if the house hasn’t been sold and home staging is still required. The first month is when I do all the designing, planning, sourcing and installation and the cost includes delivery and the removal of the supplied items afterwards.” Liesa has her own inventory from which she sources and rents furniture and décor that will suit a specific house. “My ultimate goal is to create a beautiful and stylish home with great flow and a welcoming look and feel,” she explains.

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These factors will discourage any potential buyers, says Stephanie: • Dampness • Darkness • Lack of cleanliness • No maintenance • Visible structural damage

Professional photographs of your home make a huge difference in attracting potential buyers in the online market. Don’t settle for less. – Stephanie

advice

ON SHOW DAY

When showing your property, many estate agents have a few tricks up their sleeves to help create a pleasant home environment; here are Stephanie’s: • Scents Pleasant aromas evoke positive emotions, so it’s important to keep your home smelling nice. A spritz or room spray is sure to do the trick. My favourite scent is lemongrass. • Homeliness Bring nature into the home to create a sense of contentment. Fresh flowers and greenery from the garden work well for this. • Light and airy Open the windows to allow lots of natural light and fresh air into the house. • Garden Keep it neat and tidy and clean up after your pets before show day. There’s nothing worse than wanting to explore the garden while having to dodge the ‘landmines’. I highly recommend taking your four-legged friends off the premises during show days. • Personal belongings Remove all the creams, lotions and toothbrushes from the vanity. Also remove personal items, such as family photos, that will hinder the buyer’s ability to imagine themselves in the house. CONTACTS FNB 087 575 9404, fnb.co.za Stephanie White 021 821 2237, dunn.harcourts.co.za Home Stagers Cape Town 084 843 2426, homestagerstraining.co.za

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By Deon de Goede â&#x20AC;˘ Photographs Francois Oberholster Styling Marian van Wyk

Cheers!

Deon de Goede

Make an industrial-style drinks table for your entertainment area.

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 1 to 2 hours Do it yourself for less than R1 500: wood R450, screws R50, galvanised pipes R730, varnish R135, paint R90

Wall tiles from Union Tiles; interior design by Lara Myerson Designs

do it yourself

You will need

Get started…

SHOPPING LIST • 18mm plywood, cut to the following lengths: four 750 x 50mm (shelf supports) one 750 x 350mm (shelf) two 750 x 100mm (wine bottle rack) one 700 x 50mm (back of wineglass rack) two 132 x 50mm (sides of wineglass rack) one 700 x 150mm (wineglass rack) two 950 x 400mm (top) • galvanised pipes (15mm): six 750mm lengths four 150mm lengths four T-sockets eight ﬂanges

• one packet 6mm x 50mm chipboard screws • one packet 8mm x 30mm chipboard screws • one packet 8mm x 40mm coach screws • one packet washers • wood glue (Alcolin Fast Set Wood Glue) • wood ﬁller • sandpaper TOOLS • cordless drill and 3mm drill bit, plus a 25mm and 40mm spade bit • jigsaw • pencil • tape measure • try square • pipe wrench • 13mm ratchet and socket

Flange

1 1 Make a set of legs by connecting three 750mm pipes in a U-shape with two T-sockets; attach a 150mm pipe to the bottom of each T-socket and ﬁnish off with a ﬂange at the bottom of each 150mm pipe. Repeat for the other set of legs.

2 2 Wine bottle rack Screw the four 750 x 50mm shelf supports to the bottom of the 750 x 350mm shelf (see sketch 1). Mark one of the 750 x 100mm bottle rack planks according to the measurements in sketch 2 (below). Drill holes with the 40mm spade bit and, using the jigsaw, cut slots along the pencil lines (see sketch 2) on which the neck of the bottles will rest. Screw this cut-out piece and the other 750 x 100mm bottle rack plank into position (see sketch 2a) to complete the bottle rack. >>

Sketch 1

Sketch 2 325mm 225mm 125mm 750mm

50mm

750mm 40mm

750 mm

50mm 100mm 350mm 50mm

50mm

25mm

Project notes • Remember to drill pilot holes. • Sand the wood beforehand.

100mm

Sketch 2a December 2019

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do it yourself

Sketch 3 700mm

132mm

3 3 Wineglass rack Glue and screw the two 132 x 50mm sides at right angles to the ends of the 700 x 50mm back to form a frame (see sketch 3). Screw the wineglass holder to the top of this frame. Mark the plank for the wineglass rack according to the measurements in sketch 4 (below). Using the 25mm spade bit, drill holes and then cut out slots with the jigsaw along the pencil lines; these slots will hold the stems of the wineglasses. Glue and screw the wineglass rack to one of the 950 x 400mm planks for the top (see sketch 5).

Sketch 4

100mm 700mm

Sketch 5

700mm

100mm

100mm 100mm 100mm

100mm 100mm

100mm

DIA 25mm

100mm

70mm

100mm

950mm

150mm DIA 25mm

100mm 70mm

400mm

125mm

50mm

150mm

4 Top slab Turn over the wineglass rack and place it on top of the other 950 x 400mm top piece; screw them together to form a top slab about 36mm thick.

Timber supplied by Timbercity

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5 Position the legs on the underside of the top slab, screw a flange to the top of the four leg pipes, then screw the flange to the slab with the coach screws. Turn the drinks table upright and place the bottle rack in position on top of the cross pipes of the legs. Fill all visible screw holes with wood filler and sand thoroughly once everything is dry. Finish off with paint or varnish in the colour of your choice; we used Woodoc Water-Borne for the wood and Duram NS5 Metcote Etch Primer for the pipes. CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS Deon de Goede 084 589 5026, deon@diydeon.co.za Union Tiles uniontiles.co.za Lara Myerson Designs lara.myerson@hotmail.com Timbercity 021 927 5000, timbercity.co.za

ISOBOARD PROMOTION

KEEP COOL

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

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.

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

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

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 December 2019

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FESTIVE FUN WITH

TJHOKO PAINT

Add a creative touch to your celebrations with these three easy projects.

“Thanks for a colourful year! We wish everyone a safe and prosperous festive season.” – the Tjhoko Paint team

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TJHOKO PAINT PROMOTION

Make a chalkboard ‘runner’

Stencil your underplates

Add colour to your décor

Give guests a few playful ‘instructions’ for their meal with a chalkboard ‘runner’.

Personalise everybody’s place setting with a nifty underplate-and-placemat combo.

Recycle old glass jars and fill them with foliage and flowers to add atmosphere to your festivities.

YOU WILL NEED • MDF board in the required size • Tjhoko Paint in Matt Black • mohair roller and painter’s tray • chalk

YOU WILL NEED • wooden placemats • mandala and cutlery stencils from Tjhoko Paint • stencil brush • Tjhoko Paint in Lourain’s Cream • masking tape • mutton cloth

YOU WILL NEED • glass jars of your choice • lacquer thinners • mutton cloth • paintbrush • Tjhoko Paint in J’co, Karema, Simon Says and • rope

HERE’S HOW... Paint your MDF board with Tjhoko Paint in the colour Matt Black (you can, however, write on any Tjhoko Paint colour). Wait until the paint is dry, then write a few fun instructions on the board with chalk.

HERE’S HOW... Position your stencils on the boards and secure with masking tape. Dip the stencil brush in the paint and dab off any excess on a piece of mutton cloth before applying it on the stencil. The less paint on your brush, the better; this way you prevent paint from seeping under the stencil.

HERE’S HOW... Use the lacquer thinners to clean the jars. Wait 20 minutes for it to dry then paint the first coat. Wait another 20 minutes before applying the second coat of paint. Tie the rope around the mouth of the jars and hang them above your table.

Watch the video at homemag.co.za.

att lack

Visit tjhokopaint.co.za for more information and to find a stockist near you.

Photographs ER Lombard • Location Garden World (gardenworld.co.za)

Wreath Shelly Bergh

Christmas Bags

Make festive decorations you can use all year round â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or give them to loved ones as gifts. By Shelly Bergh Photographs Francois Oberholster

Boxes

Napkins Jar candle, vase, bowls and side plates from MRP Home; glasses from Woolworths

do it yourself

Out of the box Decorate wooden boxes in different sizes and position them on top of each other to form the shape of a Christmas tree – they will also make pretty gift boxes!

Box 5

You will need

Box 4

SHOPPING LIST • masking tape • leftover paint • markers • wine corks • potato

Box 3

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 1/10 Skill level 2/10 Time needed 2 hours Do it yourself for R340 (the price of 5 wooden boxes)

TOOLS • artist paintbrushes • knife • star cookie-cutter

Get started... Box 2

Box 1

1 Box 1 Mask out lines in various widths with masking tape and paint these in different colours. Remove the masking tape and repeat with more lines.

2 Box 2 Mask out triangles on the side of the box and paint them in different colours. Once the paint has dried, remove the masking tape and mask more triangles to overlap the ﬁrst ones. Paint them in various colours. Remove the masking tape.

4 Box 4 Use the markers to draw tree shapes on the box.

Box 3 Use a marker to draw a ‘string’ across the length of the box. Dip the corks in paint in different colours and stamp circles underneath the string you’ve drawn. When the paint has dried, draw more strings and hooks to connect the ‘baubles’.

5 Box 5 Use the cookie-cutter and knife to make a potato stamp of a star. Apply some paint to the potato stamp with a brush and stamp it on the side of the box. >>

Tip You can use the same techniques to decorate drawstring bags and use these to package gifts.

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QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 1/10 Skill level 2/10 Time needed 2 hours Do it yourself for R379: 6 napkins R150; fabric paint in 4 colours R65; 3 fabric markers R140; embroidery thread R24

Nifty napkins Here are a few different ways to decorate napkins; you can use all of the techniques to make an eclectic set or choose one technique to create a uniform look.

You will need SHOPPING LIST • markers • wine corks • fabric paint • embroidery thread • napkins • cross-stitch template • potato

TOOLS • embroidery ring • embroidery needle • iron • paintbrush

Get started...

1 Napkin 1 Draw simple step-and-repeat patterns on the entire napkin with fabric markers. Some fabric markers need to be ironed from the back to make it permanent.

2 Napkin 2 Download a cross-stitch template and print it. Position the embroidery ring on a corner of the napkin and pin the template in place. Embroider the cross-stitches through the paper, according to the pattern. When you’re done, remove the paper.

3 Napkin 3 Use the corks and fabric paint to print a polka dot pattern on the napkin. Once the paint has dried completely, iron on the back to make the paint permanent.

4 Napkin 4 Cut a potato in half, then cut a triangle into the potato to make your own stamps. Apply fabric paint in different colours to the stamps with a brush and stamp on the napkin. Once the paint has dried completely, iron from the back to make the paint permanent.

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do it yourself

A festive wreath Make a wreath that you can re-use for any occasion! QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 1/10 Skill level 1/10 Time needed 1 hour Do it yourself for R225: polystyrene ring R25; beads R200

You will need SHOPPING LIST • polystyrene wreath base • mixture of small wooden beads and colourful beads • ribbon for hanging TOOLS • hot glue gun

Get started...

Use the hot glue gun to stick the beads on the wreath; cover the entire wreath, except for the back. Tie a ribbon around it so you can hang it up.

STOCKISTS MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za

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advice

Email your queries to pets@homemag.co.za

Animal antics Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

Hooray for Christmas! Bling it on Rian is ready to trim the tree. – Chanel Jacobs, Vaalwater, Limpopo

Ho ho ho! Chopsticks the Pug gets her Christmas groove on. – Sally Barrett, Howick

Lit up like a Christmas tree! Khalisie and her human brother Euan are all smiles! – Lucinda van der Walt, Graskop, Mpumalanga

Bells ’n whistles Nyala looks festive in her red collar. – Nicolette van Wyk, Bloemfontein

Santa’s little helpers Christmas is Bello and Leah’s favourite time of the year! – Nicole Young, Kriel

WHAT A TREAT

Let’s go shopping! Spoil your furry friends with a festive gift. Your pooch will look fabulous in this Christmas Tree headgear (R49.99, mrphome.com).

Toffee-ﬂavoured Hunter Training Snacks R90/200g, select supermarkets and vet shops.

The gift that keeps on giving Little Benji the Bengal cat found the perfect present in Emmie the Frenchie. – Zanne Nel, Greyton

Splash out!

The leather Country Road Rupp dog lead (R699), collar (R499) and poop bag holder (R249) from woolworths.co.za will make a stylish addition to your pet’s ‘wardrobe’.

Treat Fido to a yummy Peanut Pup Cake (R50, fromthebarkery.com).

Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a medium Dream Pod for dogs or a Nap Sack for cats from Wagworld (wagworld.co.za). Available from leading vet and pet shops, the Dream Pod boasts a soft, water-resistant canvas with a linen look on the outside, while the inside is ﬁlled with shredded recycled fabric for extra comfort. The Nap Sack will be your cat’s favourite hiding spot with its luxurious coral ﬂeece on the inside and soft stylish canvas on the outside. You can even roll the sides over to suit your pet’s height preference. Send your pics (at least 2MB each) and details to pets@homemag.co.za – you could be a winner too! See competition rules on page 129.

WIN!

Proudly South African!

Stinkies Catnip Sardines (R59, shingavet.com) are ﬁlled to the gills with organically-grown catnip.

Ruffwear Gourdo rubber toys for dogs (R299 each, apetslife.co.za) will provide hours of fun!

December 2019

home

Anımal Antics ¨

ON SALE NOW With advice from experts (also Fido and Felix!) on pet care.

YOUR ULTIMA TE

things your dog

GUIDE TO PE TS

HOW CLEVER IS CHLOE?

WISHED YOU KNEW

Do the dog IQ test

‘I WON THE

H EA RT

MAKE IT AT HOME • Gour

OF A

met re

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THE DOS & DON’TS O

F CARING FOR YOUR NEW • KOI • PARROT • SNAKE • BUNNY • PIG • CHICKEN

OF THE BEST RUNNING BUDDIES (AND HOW TO T RAIN THEM)

6 009879 9643 25

19001

RSA R65 (VAT incl) Namibia N$65

CAN YOUR PET YES, ‘SPEAK HUMANS THEY ’?CAN!

#1 CAMPING WITH

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Animal Antics is a joint project of 11 magazines in the Media24 stable, including go!, and will melt your heart.

DStv channel 147

Mooi Breathtaking houses VIA Anetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A-listers Mondays 19:30 viatv.co.za

Sundays 19:00 VI ATV

viatv

advice

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

Gardening notebook

Sun and shade are important factors in any garden; in order to grow a greater variety of plants, make sure there is a balance of both.

Compiled by Gillian Eva • Photographs: Francois Oberholster and supplied

Celebrating sun time! Midsummer’s day is the longest day of summer and this year in the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice is on 21 December at 06:19. Before clocks, people relied on the passage of the sun through the sky to tell the time. The earliest sundials recorded are shadow clocks from ancient Egyptian and Babylonian astronomy, with the world’s oldest sundial in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings (circa 1500 BC). Armillary sundials were invented by the ancient Greeks with connecting circles and an arrow-shaped gnomon; horizontal sundials have a flat surface usually mounted on a plinth. A sundial must be positioned where it will receive full sun with the gnomon that casts the shadow set to the correct latitude. This has to point to true south in the Southern Hemisphere. While their original function was to tell the time by the sun, sundials add an elegant and decorative feature to present-day gardens as focal points in formal or herb gardens, and they are charming in cottage-style gardens. A sundial on a pedestal commands attention when placed where paths intersect. A FEW OF THE SUNDIALS IN PROMINENT GARDENS AROUND SOUTH AFRICA • The Dutch East India company sundial, dated 1781, in The Company’s Garden in Cape Town. • The sundial at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, which was constructed in 1920 by JR Miller at the Royal Observatory in Cape Town and presented to the gardens. • The most unusual sun clock at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria. • A large vertical sundial erected by Danie du Toit in Napier in 1965. • The sundial at the national monument home of South African poet CJ Langenhoven, Arbeidsgenot in Oudtshoorn. • A large sundial at Hankey, which was erected in 1989.

96 home December 2019

TREE SHADE TIP If plants under trees are showing stretched growth, or there is a yellowing of foliage, plants may not be getting sufficient light. Allow light to reach plants by removing one or two lower branches and thinning others, cutting back a little at a time on a sunny day, so that you can see the immediate effect and don’t remove too much.

Did you know?

advice

Plants with deep roots benefit from a deep, twice-a-week watering, rather than a daily sprinkling, which only encourages roots to stay near the surface and dry out.

Sun lovers Plant movement that occurs in response to the onset of darkness is known as nyctinasty. Some plants respond to weather, remaining closed on overcast days, or because they are protecting themselves from cold; others because they are keeping their pollen dry, or protecting their nectar from night-time pollinators. Daises are examples of wildflowers that respond to light, and if you have ever visited the spectacular show of spring flowers in the Western Cape you know that daisies do not open on overcast days. Other early-to-bed flowers include poppies, hibiscus, tulips, Magnolia grandiflora, Californian poppy and portulaca. Magnolia grandiflora

Poppy

Tulip

Summer shade

By Kay Montgomery

Crassula multicava

Photograph Getty Images

While many summer-flowering perennials and bulbs need sunshine, there are others that prefer woodland conditions. Astilbes have fern-like foliage and feathery white, pink or red plumes held above the foliage. Also with dainty foliage, Thalictrum has tall sprays of dainty mauve blooms. Hostas are dormant in winter. Their green, blue-green or variegated leaves appear in spring and mature in summer when mauve flowers appear. They need rich moist soil, shade and protection from snails. Fairy crassula (Crassula multicava) is a low-growing, matforming indigenous waterwise groundcover for shady places, with oval to round succulent leaves and dainty white-pink starry flowers in late winter and spring. Propagate by rooted leaf or stem cuttings, or from young plants that form around the mother plant.

Water smart Waterwise plant of the month Indian hawthorn

We love succulents! Kalanchoe thyrsiflora PADDLE PLANT, also known as bird’s brandy, flapjacks or white lady, is a striking feature plant with sculpted leaves that are silvery-turquoise green with red edges, changing to a deeper glowing red in full sun. As a water conservation strategy, its leaves are angled so that they don’t receive full sun and are covered with a whiteish powder that also reflects the sun away. Besides being drought-tolerant, it is frost-hardy and needs very little care to look magnificent. How to grow This perennial does best in dry sunny gardens and will cope with poor soil that drains well. The plant forms a basal rosette of leaves about 60cm wide and 30cm tall. After its second year, it produces a long stalk of golden-yellow flowers at the end of summer that are relished by sunbirds, bees and other insects. Being a monocarpic succulent, the mother plant dies after producing seed but produces plantlets around its base that can be transplanted. Garden uses Use it as a feature plant in a rocky outcrop, among a bed of annuals and other waterwise perennials. When planted en masse it creates a spectacular display. It is also very effective if planted as a swathe among low-growing succulent groundcovers like vygies, Sedum and Senecio. It makes an eye-catching container plant; use a pot that is only slightly larger than the root ball because they grow best when the roots are tightly packed. Different types This plant is often confused with Kalanchoe luciae which looks almost identical but has yellow-green flowers. Did you know? New plants can be made from leaf cuttings. Pick off a leaf in spring or summer and put the base in river sand in a lightly shaded place. Roots develop within days and should be kept moist until they are large enough to be planted out. Common problems Don’t overwater potted plants as the roots will rot, and avoid wetting the leaves. Let the soil dry out before watering. Use a cycad potting mix and make sure the container has good drainage holes. CONTACT Ngena Succulents; email john@ngena.africa.

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Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis spp.) is a lovely evergreen, cold-hardy shrub from Asia with a neat growth habit and glossy leathery foliage. Its new leaves are often red/bronze in colour. It bears small flower clusters in white or shades of pink: Rhaphiolepis x delacourii has fragrant pink-tinged-white flowers, and the variety ‘Kruschenia’ has pink flowers. Grow species and cultivars as background shrubs or clipped as hedges or screens in sun or in semi-shade in very hot regions.

Indoor plant of the month

Ficus microcarpa ‘Ginseng’ This plant makes a lovely ornamental bonsai that can be cared for indoors. It is popular with bonsai novices because of its interesting surface roots and aerial banyan roots that hang from its lower branches. It only needs occasional snipping to keep it in shape and is happy with moderate watering that keeps the soil moist but not wet, which rots the roots. Make sure the container drains well. Ficus microcarpa ‘Ginseng’ tolerates low light but does best with bright, indirect light. The more light the plant receives, the smaller its leaves, which is ideal for bonsai. Like all Ficus, it should not be moved around and exposed to draughts; ﬁnd the right position and leave it there. CONTACT plantimex.co.za

advice

Ludwig’s

rose corner Sharon O’Connor of Alberton writes A few days after planting my ‘Mushe Kirsch’ roses, they seemed to be quite droopy. What could be the problem? Ludwig replies It could be that the rootball or the original soil in the black bag was dry at planting time. Putting a dry rootball into wet soil sets up a negative reaction, whereby the dry soil resists the absorption of water. In the meantime, the leaves are sucking up every last bit of ‘Mushe Kirsch’ water from the original rootball and this worsens the situation. In that case, it is best to make holes in the rootball fairly close to the stem with a fork and pour water into the holes. If it takes time for the water to drain, wait and fill again and again. This only needs to be done once. It could also be that too much soil fell off the rootball during planting, leaving many roots exposed. Lightly trim off the wilting parts and blooms. Once you’ve finished planting, make a saucer-like ring around the rose and fill with water. After planting, the soil is loose with many air holes so it’ll dry out quickly; it needs to be saturated with water.

Jolene van Schalkwyk of Cape Town writes I will be away for two weeks over

‘Dancing Ayoba’

the festive season; how do I keep my potted ‘Dancing Ayoba’ roses moist? Ludwig replies If possible, move the pots into the shade or under a tree. Place the pots on deep saucers, which will provide a water reserve for a few extra days. Add a waterretaining gel to the soil to retain moisture in the potting soil for much longer. If you have an automatic irrigation system, link your pots to them by putting in an extra line. CONTACT ludwigsroses.co.za

Regional rose tasks for December Summer rainfall Insect activity is at its peak; spray every two weeks with Ludwig’s Insect Spray mixed with Chronos, which will also control black spot. Control large beetles by spraying with Plant Care or pick off by hand and drop into a bucket of water. In the absence of rain, water deeply twice a week. Fertilise with Vigorosa. If you are going on holiday, pinch off all the buds that are likely to flower while you are away; this reduces the uptake of water by the rose. Also, do not fertilise as new growth draws up more water. Winter rainfall Keep rose beds cool with a light mulch and water twice a week early in the morning. To save water, alternate grey water with municipal water or borehole

water. Control pests by spraying with Ludwig’s Insect Spray and Chronos; and alternate with Rose Protector every other week. This also prevents black spot. Eradicate red spider by drenching the underside of leaves with a double dose of Ludwig’s Insect Spray. Fertilise with Vigorosa towards the end of December and water well afterwards. Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal coast Water at least twice a week and fertilise towards the end of December. Keep on cutting off dead blooms to encourage new stems to sprout. Spray with a cocktail of Ludwig’s Insect Spray, Chronos and a sticker (Picanta) to prevent diseases and pests. Eradicate large beetles by spraying with Plant Care.

Ask JJ Nikki Holmes of Durban writes I want to make my front entrance more welcoming. I don’t have a huge budget and can’t change the colour scheme, so I’d like to liven up the space with plants. I’d like something indigenous to my area, and waterwise would be the cherry on top! JJ replies Firstly, I would replace the white pots with terracotta ones. To create visual impact, group pots together. Long, rectangular planters on either side of the steps will also look good. Make sure you have a good soil mixture in the pots – it should contain enough palm peat to retain moisture. Pelargoniums or Osteospermums will look lovely in the rectangular pots. For the round pots, consider protea, Tecoma, Plumbago, Anisodontea, pincushion and Freylinia. A few yellowwood trees in containers against the wall would also look great.

Frans de Kock of Centurion writes I have a ‘Fuerte’ avocado tree which is a little over two years old. I covered it during winter to protect against frost but the top of the tree did get frost and died back a bit. Now there’s a lot of new growth but I have the following questions: • Must I cut out the new growth (I don’t want five new stems) or should I rather leave it? • There are quite a few flowers on the tree – must I allow the fruit to develop or should I pick it for the first season? • What is the best plant food for the tree? JJ replies The new growth looks fantastic! I would prune off most of the lower branches, leaving just a few higher up. You can allow the tree to bear fruit; if it forms flowers and fruit, let it be. The best fertiliser is 7:1:3 every eight weeks, with an application of iron chelate twice a year. >> Listen to JJ’s gardening tips and tricks on Derrich Gardner’s show Brekfis met Derrich at 07:40 every Saturday on RSG.

Garden goodies Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

Salvia ‘Salmia’

New in nurseries Top performer Salvia ‘Salmia’ is a shrubby perennial that blooms non-stop, attracts bees and performs well in a waterwise garden. A strong, upright grower, 60–80cm tall and wide, it puts on an amazing display in the garden, blooming from spring onwards and even in winter in warmer areas or sheltered gardens. It also makes an impact as a feature plant in a large container. The large blooms come in dark purple, pink and orange-red. It performs best when planted in full sun in fertile soil that drains well. Allow the soil to moderately dry out between watering. This plant is frost-hardy. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za Traditional front-ﬁxing rust hook R166.75, Handles Inc

The evolution of gardening In this revised edition of The Story of Gardening (R490, Jonathan Ball Publishers), designer Penelope Hobhouse, along with garden historian Ambra Edwards, delves into the rich history of gardening through three millennia up to the 21st century. The hefty tome (over 500 pages’ worth!) explores how plants have been used in the past and might be used in the future as we become increasingly conscious of their ecological and sustainable role. The author says this book is intended for the enjoyment of all gardeners, not just those interested in history. Chapters highlighting gardens from around the world – from Ancient Greece and Rome to Japan and China – provide plenty of food for thought.

Homegrown goodness Grow Your Own by JJ van Rensburg and Tinus Oberholzer (R350, Briza Publications) provides practical tips for making the most of your kitchen garden, whether big or small, using both traditional and alternative growing methods. Find out how to prepare soil, propagate plants, harvest your crops and the best way to store your favourite veggies, fruit, nuts, herbs and spices. You’ll also ﬁnd information on how to grow veggies and herbs in containers, tips for choosing the most suitable plants for different spaces, pest control methods, companion planting and ways to combat diseases and other problems. ‘Xanadu’ kokedama R149.99, Woolworths

Sagaform Birdy ceramic bird feeder (18cm) R399, @home Happy Home door mat (75 x 26cm) R299, superbalist.com

Medium Towa Rose garden gloves R110, Builders

Gardena City Gardening Balcony Box R760, nurseries and hardware stores

Concrete sundial (38cm) R205, GC Conrete

Jane’s Delicious Gardener’s Hand Scrub (200g) R150, Jane’s Delicious Garden

STOCKISTS @home 0860 834 834, home.co.za Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za GC Concrete 044 695 0708, gcconcrete.co.za Handles Inc 021 422 2322, handlesinc.co.za Jane’s Delicious Garden 011 482 2052, janesdeliciousgarden.com Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za

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Compiled by Gerda Engelbrecht

WIN!

crossword #132

One of eight NB Publishers books worth R290 could be yours

In his latest book Will South Africa be Okay? political journalist and writer Jan-Jan Joubert poses 17 key questions relevant to the current political landscape in South Africa since the ANCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory in the 2019 elections. Among them: with President Cyril Ramaphosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate stronger than ever, can he make good on his promises to deal with the corruption that has tainted the ANC during the previous nine years, and will South Africa survive and thrive amidst the turmoil of challenges such as the land debate, racial tension and a dire economy? The first eight readers whose correctly completed crosswords are drawn will each win a copy of Will South Africa Be Okay? worth R290. Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home Crossword #132, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 31 December 2019. See our competition rules on page 129.

Name ............................................................................. Address .......................................................................................................................... Postal code .................. Cell .............................................. Tel. (w) ............................................. Email ......................................................... December 2019

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WHO LIVES HERE? Ian and Jessie Walton, their daughter Katie, son-in-law Matt Lotz and grandson Benjamin (18 months) WHERE Restanwold Farm, Grabouw SIZE OF GARDEN AND NURSERY About 1ha TYPE OF SOIL Clay with a little ferricrete* * Ferricrete is a layer of sedimentary rock cemented by iron oxides

IT’S IN

the genes! For this mother and daughter, a shared love of gardening is a sure-fire recipe for success. By Marié Esterhuyse • Photographs Kosie Jansen van Rensburg and Francois Oberholster

reader garden

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Elmshornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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reader garden

If your mother is rose guru Gwen Fagan, you can’t help but be passionate about old-fashioned roses. “Although I have many roses in my garden these days, they weren’t always my first love,” says Jessie Walton on her farm outside Grabouw. “My mother is the one who has always had a love affair with oldfashioned roses but her enthusiasm eventually rubbed off on me and now I adore the masses of roses that bloom in my garden each spring!” “My husband Ian and I moved to the farm 37 years ago. Back then, there was only a small garden with a few cut roses and some ground around the house that was overgrown with kikuyu. I encouraged our two daughters to each create a small veggie garden and later my father-inlaw agreed to clear an area for a proper garden. That was 25 years ago. “I turned to my mom for advice. She told me: ‘Create garden rooms with paths leading up to them; you should always be able to see the next room but there must be another pathway winding away from that to arouse your curiosity’. It was such good advice. My garden now has the most wonderful sense of continuity.” Jessie initially grew only indigenous plants, mostly propagated from seeds and cuttings. “But the magnificent Rhododendrons and roses at Fresh Woods, a nearby farm garden, inspired me to also create an exotic plant section. That’s when my love for Rhododendrons, azaleas and Japanese maples took root. About 10 years ago, I got the opportunity to buy well-known breeder Jan van Bergen’s collection of camellias and Japanese maples. I was thrilled as I already had plants that thrive in acidic soil. Our climate here in Grabouw is cooler than surrounding areas, so we are able to grow these plants very successfully,” she says.

‘Graham Thomas’

Ronel Ahrens (left) and Ashdeane de Bruin take care of the cuttings in the nursery; Ashdeane also looks after the camellias and Rhododendrons.

Rosa ‘Veilchenblau’

Japanese maples, camellias, azaleas and Rhododendrons are grown under shade cloth. All the plants thrive in Grabouw’s cooler climate.

Jessie often turns to her mother, rose expert Gwen Fagan, for gardening advice.

From orchard to nursery Of course, Jessie had to make space for the Japanese maples and camellias. “By this time, my garden was becoming quite cramped. Fortunately, there was an old apple orchard which we decided to remove. I installed a large piece of shade cloth there and made a new bed in the middle with Japanese maples; the goal was to get good quality grafting material for new trees. Around the sides of the structure we have mother plants of the specimens I sell in Keurbos Nursery so that customers can see their growth habits. These include roses, salvias, irises and snapdragons.” Jessie also cultivates indigenous plants specifically designed for landscaping. The idea is to offer a wide variety of indigenous plants at reasonable prices. These are mostly grown from cuttings, divisions and rooted cuttings that she has purchased and then multiplied herself. Jessie says her garden and nursery are her pride and joy. “Time is my biggest obstacle. I always have more ideas than I have time to execute them. I do most of the planting myself but for the tougher jobs such as adding mulches and making compost, I have Rodger Africa, Elroy van Wyk and Michael Thembisile, who help me during the seven months when they’re not harvesting apples and pears on the farm. Ronel Ahrens is my right-hand lady; she and Ashdeane de Bruin assist in the nursery. “My mom also likes to lend a hand. It’s always so wonderful to share my love of gardening with her.” >>

Japanese maples are one of Jessie’s favourite plants.

reader garden Jessie propagates a wide variety of plants in her nursery Keurbos, which forms part of her garden.

Roses, roses everywhere Jessie has about 80 roses in her garden; they are mostly old-fashioned roses but there are a few modern favourites such as ‘Scented Dawn’, ‘South Africa’, ‘Deloitte & Touche’ and the roses that were already there, namely ‘Papa Meilland’, ‘Just Joey’, ‘Ace of Hearts’, ‘Duftwolke’, ‘Elegant Beauty’ and ‘Mister Lincoln’. She propagates many of her old-fashioned roses from cuttings. “Some of these cuttings come from old plants still growing in gardens. By making cuttings of these roses, we’re ensuring their survival. Peter and Barbara Knox-Shaw of Fresh Woods have a fantastic collection of old-fashioned roses, while heritage roses are also available at Ludwig’s Roses and the SA Rosarium in Bedford,” she says. “I love scented roses, which is why ‘Louis-Philippe’, ‘Archduke Charles’, ‘Archduke Joseph’ and ‘Ma Tulipe’

are high on my list of favourites. All these roses are old tea roses, so they bloom throughout summer. The ‘Gwen Fagan’ rose, which was named after my mom, is also a favourite with its glorious sweet fragrance.” Jessie also adores the large shrub rose ‘Mutabilis’, even though it has no fragrance. “I love it because it flowers continuously,” she explains. The single blooms are a light apricot colour when they open, changing to a dark pink as the flowers mature, which makes for an amazing spectacle. ‘Mutabilis’ has few thorns and can handle some shade without getting diseased. “My favourite climbers are the apricot-coloured ‘Alchymist’ and the sweet-smelling ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’, although the old stalwarts ‘Crépuscule’ and ‘Mme Léonie Viennot’ are also fantastic fast-growing climbers. >>

[ JESSIE’S ROSE-GROWING TIPS ] • Water Jessie’s roses are watered via drip irrigation. “We turn the system on once or twice a week in summer. In winter we get sufficient rain. The benefit of drip irrigation is that the roses get a good watering but it uses less water than overhead irrigation. Our water comes from a borehole and an irrigation system on the farm.” • Mulch To prevent the soil from drying out and to suppress weed growth, Jessie adds a thick layer of wood chips or old straw to the beds in winter. “I simply let the leaves of the deciduous trees remain where they fall in the beds. The leaves that land outside the beds are also raked onto the soil to decompose and form a natural mulch.” • Pest control Jessie never sprays her roses. “The birds play their part in controlling pests. Luckily, old-fashioned roses are fairly disease-resistant. I feel that people worry too much about a few diseased leaves; as long as my roses are growing well, I’m happy.” • Pruning Jessie prunes her roses at the end of July and in early August. “I prune the old-fashioned roses very lightly – just with a hedge trimmer – to neaten their shape. The tea roses are cut back harder. Thin twigs and old wood are removed to encourage renewal.” • Feeding Once a year, Jessie gives her roses a little compressed chicken manure and Seagro as a foliar feed. “But once the wood chips have decomposed and the earthworms have started to do their work, this is hardly necessary!”

‘Ma Tulipe’

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reader garden

Roses and their ideal companion plants ensure a colourful spectacle.

Pathways entice you to explore each subsequent garden room.

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‘Deloitte & Touche’

I adore fragrant roses! – Jessie

Rosa roxburghii

seasoned gardener

‘Francois Juranville’

Jessie’s mother, Gwen Fagan, has acquired a wealth of gardening knowledge over her lifetime. She shares a few of her secrets with our gardening editor, Marié Esterhuyse.

hen I phoned to chat to Gwen, she was at the office – at the age of 95 she still works at her husband Gawie’s architectural firm, as she has done for more than 50 years. Gwen qualified as a medical doctor in 1949, but her love of landscaping and plants became her profession and passion over the years. She tells us more about herself and her journey with roses...

Where did you grow up? Marié Esterhuyse

As a little girl, I lived with my Uncle Gielie and his family on the farm Klipvlei in the Moorreesburg district. My mother gave singing lessons in Stellenbosch. My uncle’s farm wasn’t just my playground, it was my entire life; the children on the farm were my friends and they instilled in me a love for the earth. Together we played games such as klip-klip (five-stone), bok-bok staan styf (buck-buck or high cockalorum) and hasie (catch the hare). They showed me where to find kukumakranka plants for stomach ache and taught me to chew Pelargonium leaves and stuff them in my ears when I had earache. At the age of seven, I went to live with my mom in Stellenbosch where I had to be content with playing in the hallway or on the pavement because she was using our rooms to give singing lessons. I longed for my friends on Klipvlei farm. >>

Gawie and I have been married for 70 years. There is no end to our love for one another. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gwen December 2019

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seasoned gardener

Tell us about your first garden? As a youngster I had so much fun playing in the mill stream and Eerste River, but I missed working with my hands in soil and watching plants grow and flower. My mother had rented us a room above a shop and I asked the owner, Koos du Toit, if he would clear a section of soil in his backyard just below my mother’s bedroom window so I could make a garden. He was such a good man, he made a plan for me the very same day. I immediately started loosening the soil with a stick. As there was no water nearby, I had to fetch some with a mug from our bathroom on the top floor in order to wet the soil. My mother’s good friends, the Potgieters, heard what was going on and gave me a packet of nasturtium seeds and sweet-pea seeds. But they weren’t the ordinary nasturtiums that seed themselves all over the show, they were ‘Golden Gleam’ seeds, a new, bright orange double nasturtium. They germinated quickly and thrived. One day when I came home from school, there was a pot of these flowers on our dining room table. I was enthralled!

One of the many fragrant pink roses in Jessie’s garden.

When was your passion for roses born? It was only as a student that I really became enamoured with roses. After matric I had to focus on my medical studies and then I worked in the hospital. Over the holidays, I would visit my Aunty Helie (Uncle Gielie’s sister) in Moorreesburg. The two of us spent hours poring over catalogues, choosing roses for what was still a rarity back then – a dedicated rose garden! We were drawn to roses with exotic names like ‘Frau Karl Druschki’, ‘Tausendschön’, ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’, ‘Général Galliéni’ and ‘Maréchal Niel’. I couldn’t wait for the next holidays to see what the flowers looked like. My journey with roses continued later in life. In 1963, we moved back to Cape Town after 13 years in Pretoria and I became a permanent staff member at Gawie’s architectural firm. While Gawie renovated old buildings, I did the landscaping for these restoration projects – including De Oude Drostdy in Tulbagh, Boschendal in Franschhoek and Tuynhuys in Cape Town. In my research on Tuynhuys I discovered that there had been roses in this garden back in the 17th century. I immediately began researching what grew well there and eventually asked the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew in London for their assistance. They sent cuttings of the Tuynhuys roses to our own botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch, where they were propagated. But when I wanted to transplant them into the Tuynhuys garden, the head gardener refused! The roses were sent back to Kirstenbosch, where they stood in plastic bags for two years. Eventually, the roses were planted at De Oude Drostdy in Tulbagh, only to be removed again later. At the time, we were busy doing a renovation at Boschendal wine estate and the roses finally found a permanent home there in 1976. Unfortunately, no one could remember the correct name for each rose and I had to do extensive research to identify them. This research led me to write the book Roses at the Cape of Good Hope, which highlighted the heritage roses of the Cape. Laying out rose gardens then became my passion and I planted several gardens full of old heritage roses in Cape Town and surroundings areas.

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Rosa brunonii x ‘Welvanpas Musk’

For me, the biggest attraction of any rose is its fragrance. There are few roses that can compete with old-fashioned roses when it comes to their divine fragrance! – Gwen

Do you still garden? These days, I seldom garden. We still live in Camps Bay but because roses don’t do well here, I’ve only planted indigenous plants. Back in the day, I so badly wanted my own rose garden that I bought a property in Grabouw where I could plant roses. Every Saturday, I would drive out there to work in my rose garden. I learnt how to supplement the colour provided by my roses with plants such as Penstemons, irises in various hues, Felicias, salvias, golden privet and Berberis. But, eventually, my kids convinced me to sell the property because they were worried about me driving alone on the N2 and maybe getting a puncture. I shouldn’t have listened to them! Fortunately, my daughter Jessie inherited my love of gardening and her beautiful garden on their apple farm near Grabouw is filled with roses. I often go and visit her.

GWEN’S FAVOURITE ROSES ‘Parsons’ Pink China’, ‘Crèpuscule’, ‘Mutabilis’, ‘Gwen Fagan’ and ‘Archimedes’

OTHER FAVOURITE PLANTS The entire Pelargonium family because they flower for such a long period and the plants are so hardy; also clivias, buchu, Felicia amelloides and Felicia filifolia.

TOP ROSE TIP Plant roses in the sun with plenty of compost and grow them with other flowering plants so that the bed looks good year-round. Too many rose gardens look naked in winter – not even the most beautiful spring spectacle can compensate for this dismal scene in winter!

ADVICE FOR YOUNGSTERS Make sure there’s a garden where you live – you should always be able to dig your fingers in some soil.

FAVOURITE GARDENS The garden at the kramat (shrine) of Sayed Mahmud, a Muslim cleric, in Groot Constantia is a favourite. In 2013, Gawie helped with the restoration of the old kramat, which was designed by architect Franklin Kaye Kendall in 1920. The area around it had become dilapidated, so I assisted with the design of this Islamic garden. I have seen so many beautiful gardens in Australia, Europe and America – it’s difficult to choose the best ones. But those that had the biggest impact on me were the ancient gardens in Portugal with their formal layout and colourful mosaic panels.

Rosa ‘Raubritter’

CONTACTS Keurbos Nursery 083 458 3790, keurbos.co.za Fresh Woods elginopengardens.co.za/fresh-woods Ludwig’s Roses ludwigsroses.co.za The South African Rosarium rosariumsouthafrica.com

BEAUTIFUL

bedfellows Add impact to your rose garden with colourful companion plants.

By Marié Esterhuyse • Photographs Kosie Jansen van Rensburg

plants of the month

In Jessie Walton’s garden (see page 102), her prized roses share their beds with plants that make the perfect partners. “It is so easy to enhance a rose bed with the right companion plants,” says Jessie. “In my more formal rose bed where the cut roses grow, I grow plants that form a living groundcover and don’t grow too tall and compete with the roses. They are almost like a blanket in-between the roses, keeping the soil cool in summer and providing additional colour and fragrance.” For this purpose, Jessie chooses annuals such as love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena), the smaller stocks (Matthiola incana), sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) and poppies. The perennials in the bed, such as Lychnis

coronaria, garden verbena (Verbena hybrids) and bearded irises provide colour for much longer than the annuals and once they have bloomed, she simply trims off the spent ﬂowers to neaten up the plants. Jessie plants bearded irises in groups for greater impact. “I grow annuals from seed,” she says. “It’s really so easy. We turn over the soil between the roses very lightly and add a mulch of compost. The annuals are then sown in autumn. Many of them self-seed and come up year after year. To prevent the annuals from crowding out the roses, we apply a thick mulch of wood chips or straw around the rose stems – but not ﬂush against them – then no seedlings can germinate too close to the roses.

gardens

“I also have mixed borders where my roses grow. Those are slightly different – I have lots of annuals, perennials and small shrubs such as salvias, garden heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens), tobacco flower (Nicotiana alata), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and Japanese meadowsweet (Spiraea japonica) which are taller-growing plants.” Jessie explains: “In that bed, the roses are not the focal point as in the formal rose garden but just another flowering shrub that forms part of the bed. The mixed border consists mostly of old-fashioned roses and roses that are not grown as cut flowers. I allow the companion plants there to grow taller and wilder since I don’t have to climb into the bed to pick roses.” >>

By using colourful companion plants in her rose beds, Jessie ensures a magniﬁcent display for long periods of the year. Here, she has evening primrose, love-in-a-mist, Lychnis coronaria and snapdragons growing with yellow ‘South Africa’ roses.

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Plant guide Full sun Average water needs Frost-hardy Deciduous Grows 50cm to 1m tall and 0.7m wide

Plant guide Sun to semi-shade Fairly drought-tolerant Frost-hardy Grows about 75cm tall and 45cm wide

Spiraea japonica

Lychnis coronaria

Japanese meadowsweet (Spiraea japonica) makes the perfect companion shrub for roses in a mixed bed. It doesn’t grow so tall that it dominates other plants in the bed and its dainty light green foliage and bright pink flowers complement any shade of rose. This small shrub flowers from midsummer until late in the season. The flowerheads are actually a cluster of small blooms that form one larger bloom. In autumn the shrub’s foliage changes to a deep red which adds to its appeal in the garden. It grows well in compost-rich soil; make sure it is watered sufficiently until it is well established. Spiraea japonica does not need much pruning – simply trim off the spent flower clusters and prune out any dead wood in winter. This plant does especially well in cold climates and is frost-hardy. It is also a good cut flower and looks great with roses in a vase. The more familiar Cape may (Spiraea cantoniensis) bears a mass of dainty white flowers in spring. If you would like to have Cape may in a mixed border, plant it at the back of the bed as a hedge plant where it will grow up to 2m tall and wide.

For a perennial in a rose bed, rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) with purple-pink flowers and Lychnis coronaria ‘Alba’ with white blooms are good options. These plants are clump-forming with flowers borne on long stalks above the silver-grey leaves. Plant or sow Lychnis coronaria in well-drained soil – it grows easily in almost any soil type and does not need much attention. Lychnis coronaria blooms for months on end in summer and self-seeds abundantly. Once you have it in your garden, it will come up again year after year. Leave the plants where they germinate, as a large group of them growing together makes a striking display. Alternatively, transplant them elsewhere in the garden. Rose campion also makes an excellent cut flower.

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plants of the month

Plant guide Full sun Average water needs Frost-hardy Grows up to 30cm tall

Oenothera berlandieri Evening primrose (Oenothera berlandieri) grows quickly and does not need much attention. This perennial bears the most beautiful pale pink bell-shaped ﬂowers from spring to autumn. A large group of them planted together as a groundcover makes a lovely statement in the garden. Trim back lightly after ﬂowering to tidy them up. Lift and transplant Oenothera berlandieri if it becomes too invasive and starts to crowd other plants in the bed.

These plants are the ideal companions for roses – they don’t grow too tall and bear flowers that complement the roses beautifully. – Jessie

gardens

Plant guide Full sun Average water needs Frost-hardy Grows 50cm tall

Nigella damascena Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) with blue, white or pink ﬂowers blooms in spring and early summer. This annual grows easily from seed that can be sown directly into the bed. It is quite hardy and doesn’t need much water once established. The plant seeds itself abundantly; transplant seedlings to another spot if they germinate too close to one another. Nigella damascena makes a good cut ﬂower and is also edible.

Sources Gardening with Keith Kirsten by Keith Kirsten; gardenia.net; gardenersworld.com

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By JohanÃ© Neilson Photographs Francois Oberholster

STOCK UP THE

COOKIE JAR! Five easy recipes for an ample supply of holiday treats. VANILLA BISCUITS

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holiday treats

VANILLA BISCUITS This crispy biscuit is everyone’s favourite and if you don’t feel like rolling out the dough and making shapes, simply roll it into walnut-sized balls, flatten with a fork and bake them like the peanut butter biscuits on page 120. Makes about 30 biscuits, depending on the size Preparation time: 1 hour (resting time included) Baking time: 8–10 minutes per baking tray Oven temperature: 180°C • • • • •

180g butter 80g (160ml) icing sugar 1 large egg 5ml vanilla essence 280g (500ml) flour

1 Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy (an electric beater makes it easier). Beat in the egg and vanilla essence. Mix in the flour by hand until the dough comes together. Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead until just smooth. Form the dough into two flat discs, cover with cling film and rest for 30 minutes in the fridge. (A cold, flat dough disc is easier to roll out.) 2 Preheat the oven. Sprinkle a little extra flour on the work surface, remove the cling film from the first dough disc and roll out with a rolling pin to about 5mm thick. Use a palette knife to lift the rolled-out dough to make sure it’s not sticking to the surface.

Cut into shapes with cookie cutters and arrange on baking trays lined with baking paper. Bring any remaining dough together again, roll out and cut more shapes. Repeat until all the dough is finished. 3 Bake for about 8–10 minutes per baking tray until the biscuits are done. It helps if all the cookies on the baking tray are the same size and thickness so that they bake evenly. Cool on a wire rack and decorate to your heart’s content – or enjoy as is. Store in an airtight container. Tip Instead of vanilla essence, you can also flavour the dough with citrus zest, a few lavender blooms or thyme leaves. Play around with different options.

[ ROYAL ICING ] Decorating cookies with a piping bag is lots of fun. If you want your frosting to be glossy and hard, this icing is the way to go. Here’s how... In a large mixing bowl, whisk 2 egg whites with an electric beater until soft peaks form. Gradually whisk in about 2–3 cups of sifted icing sugar until the mixture is thick and smooth. Stir in 5ml fresh lemon juice. The mixture must be runny enough to make lines with a piping bag, but stiff enough so that your design keeps its shape. Use your judgment when adding the icing sugar. Place the white icing in a piping bag with a small nozzle and decorate your biscuits. Coloured frosting If you’d like different colours, divide the white frosting between different bowls and tint each batch individually with food colouring. If the food colouring makes the frosting too runny, add a little icing sugar again until you get the right consistency.

food

TAINED-GLASS INDOW BISCUITS ained-glass window biscuits are the fancy version of ordinary vanilla cookies and look lovely on a Christmas tree. You use the same vanilla biscuit dough (left) with a selection of fruit-flavoured Sparkles sweets. Here’s how... Cut out star-shaped biscuits and place on a baking tray. Then cut out a ‘window’ in each biscuit with a smaller cookie cutter (star- or circle-shaped). Crush the Sparkles (a plastic bag and a meat mallet work well) and carefully place the chips in the ‘window’ between the uncooked dough. Bake until the dough is cooked and the sweet chips have completely melted – no longer than 8 minutes. If the filled biscuits bake for too long, the sugar ‘windows’ start to caramelise and lose their original colour. Cool on baking paper. The sugar windows harden as they cool. Lift carefully with a palette knife and store in an airtight container. Remember If you want to hang up the cookies, you must make a hole in the raw dough before baking so that you can thread a string through each cookie. >>

No baking needed!

PEANUT BUTTER BISCUITS WITH THREE INGREDIENTS This easy recipe from Errieda du Toit’s book Tuistafel seems at first glance to be a mistake because how can only three ingredients make biscuits? Seeing is believing! I simply had to share… Makes about 24 biscuits • Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 260g peanut butter • 200g sugar

• 1 egg, beaten

1 Preheat the oven. Using your kitchen scale, weigh the peanut butter in a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and egg and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth. Roll teaspoonfuls of the dough into balls and arrange on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Flatten each ball gently with a fork to form lines on top. 2 Bake for 10–12 minutes. These biscuits will still feel a bit soft. Allow to cool slightly, then carefully place on a wire rack to cool completely. Yum!

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COCONUT ICE WITH LEMON, GLACÉ CHERRIES AND ROSE SYRUP These squares may seem a bit over-indulgent as they are very sweet – just keep them small! Enough for one 23 x 23cm pan • Preparation time: 25 minutes • 1 tin (385g) condensed milk • 500g (4 x 250ml) icing sugar, sifted • 400g desiccated coconut • pinch of salt • 5ml each lemon juice and zest

• 10ml pink rose syrup (or use rosewater and pink food colouring, to taste) • 100g red glacé cherries, chopped

1 Mix the condensed milk, icing sugar, coconut and salt in a large mixing bowl. It will feel as if there is too much coconut and sugar – just keep on mixing. 2 Once the mixture is smooth, divide it into two bowls. Season one half with the citrus and the other half with the rose syrup and cherries. The juice and syrup will help with the mixing. 3 Press the white citrus-flavoured layer firmly in the bottom of a 23 x 23cm pan to form an even layer. Spoon the pink rose-scented layer on top, press flat and even it out. Cool in the refrigerator. Cut the coconut ice into squares and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

holiday treats

CHOCOLATE CHIP TOFFEE COOKIES I baked giant cookies; feel free to make smaller biscuits if you need to feed more people. Makes 16 large cookies • Preparation time: 20 minutes Baking time: 15 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • • • • • •

225g butter, at room temperature 200g (250ml) light brown sugar 100g (125ml) dark brown sugar 2 eggs 315g (560ml) flour 30ml cocoa

• 3ml baking powder • 3ml bicarbonate of soda • a pinch of salt • 150g dark chocolate, chopped into chips • 12 soft toffees, chopped

1 Beat the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg until well mixed. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt together; mix this, plus the chocolate and toffee, into the egg mixture to form a soft biscuit dough. 2 Preheat the oven. Divide the dough in half and divide each half into eight equal-sized cookies. Flatten each one and arrange eight on a baking tray with enough space in-between so that the biscuits can spread while baking. 3 Bake for about 15 minutes per baking tray or until golden-brown and cooked through. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.

food

SPICE BISCUITS I use mixed spices in the dough because it makes the process easy. Alternatively, season the dough with whatever takes your fancy: ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves... Makes about 30 biscuits • Preparation time: 20 minutes Baking time: about 10 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 250g butter, at room temperature • 250g (300ml) light brown sugar

• • • •

60ml golden syrup 490g (875ml) flour 30ml mixed spice 5ml bicarbonate of soda

1 Preheat the oven. Beat the butter, sugar and syrup until light and fluffy. Stir in the flour and spices. Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in 30ml hot water, stir into the dough and mix until smooth. Knead the dough until elastic and smooth. 2 Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes. Place the biscuits on baking trays lined with baking paper and bake for about 10 minutes, depending on the size, until cooked and risen. Allow to cool. The biscuits are delicious just as they are – or place two on top of each other with melted chocolate in-between, or decorate them individually with royal icing for a playful teatime snack. December 2019

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step by step

Ph ot og

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’Ri ley

food

gammon

n so

•

GLAZED

an oh J y

ei l N é

Smoked ham, dressed with a shiny glaze, is the star of the Christmas table.

Accessories @home (home.co.za) and La Motte (la-motte.com)

BOIL Place a boneless gammon (about 2 kg), 2 chopped carrots, 2 coarsely chopped celery stalks and 1 onion, peeled and quartered, with 3 bay leaves in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for about 2 hours. Let the gammon cool in the cooking liquid for another hour. Remove the meat from the liquid (set aside about 125ml) and cool so you can work with it.

GLAZE Place 300g small cherry tomatoes, 1 whole chilli and 250ml boiling water in a small saucepan on the stove and boil for about 15 minutes until the tomatoes and peppers start to soften. Add 250ml sugar and a sprig of thyme or origanum and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Cook until syrupy, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in a shot of whisky (optional) and 30ml honey. Set aside.

SCORE Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the meat on a wire rack in an ovenproof dish. Score the fat layer in a 2cm diamond pattern without cutting through the fat into the meat. If you prefer, press a clove into each diamond as a fragrant garnish. Tip Feel free to use the oven’s heat to cook a side dish with the gammon; we added sweet potato slices. Pour the reserved cooking liquid into the bottom of the dish; this helps to prevent the glaze that drips off the meat from burning.

BAKE AND BASTE Pour or spread half of the tomato glaze over the meat and bake for about 30–45 minutes or until the glaze is golden-brown and caramelised. Baste regularly with extra glaze and make sure the glaze does not brown too quickly before the fat renders properly.

SKIN Using a sharp knife, trim off the hard skin on top of the fat layer of the gammon. Try to do this in long strips, which makes it easier not to accidentally leave a few pieces of skin behind. Also try not to remove too much of the fat with the skin – the goal is to have an even layer of fat across the top of the pork.

SET THE GLAZE Remove the glazed gammon from the oven and sprinkle a thin layer of castor sugar over the glaze. Bake again for about 15 minutes – this makes the coating shiny and crispy.

Feast!

Carve the meat beforehand – or at the table – and serve with all the extras you love! The gammon can be served hot or at room temperature. December 2019

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By Johané Neilson • Photographs Ed O’Riley

We’ve got supper sorted! Four festive snacks – all made with a muffin pan. Macaroni cheese muffins with ham Under R110 • Makes 12 muffins • Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • • • • • • •

12 large round pieces gypsy ham 30ml butter 1 leek, chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 30ml ﬂour 300ml milk, hot pinch of nutmeg

• 250ml corn kernels • 250ml grated cheese • 2 eggs • about 250g macaroni, cooked al dente • 125ml panko crumbs • 30ml butter

1 Preheat the oven. Grease the cavities of an ordinary mufﬁn pan with non-stick cooking spray and place a slice of ham in each cavity. 2 Melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the leeks and garlic for a minute or two. Whisk in the ﬂour with a balloon whisk and fry the mixture for another minute. Gradually beat in the milk until smooth. Cook for about 5 minutes until thick and smooth, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg and pour into a cold mixing bowl so that the sauce can cool quickly. 3 Once the sauce is no longer boiling hot, beat in the corn, cheese and eggs. Stir in the pasta and divide up the mixture, spooning an equal portion on top of each ham slice. Sprinkle with the crumbs, dot with butter and bake for about 15 minutes until golden-brown on top. Cool slightly.

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Pizza spirals Under R120 • Makes 12 spirals • Preparation time: 10 minutes, plus resting time • Cooking time: about 20 minutes • • • • •

600g store-bought bread dough, cold 125ml sun-dried tomato pesto 200g chopped mushrooms, fried 12 basil leaves, torn a handful of grated mozzarella

1 Roll out the cold dough into a large rectangle. Spread the pesto over the dough, sprinkle the mushrooms, basil and mozzarella evenly on top and roll up the dough into a tight roll. Using a sharp knife, cut the rolled-up dough into 12 portions. 2 Grease the cavities of a mufﬁn pan with non-stick cooking spray and place a dough spiral with the cut side up in each cavity. Cover with a tea towel and allow to rise in the pan until they double in volume. If you use ice-cold dough, it will take slightly longer to reach room temperature and to rise. 3 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Bake the spirals for 20 minutes or until done and the cheese has melted. Serve hot or at room temperature.

quick food

Chicken salad in cheese bowls Cheese bowls are quick to make and look very impressive. Under R125 • Serves 6 as a starter • Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: a few minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C

Mince muffins Under R105 • Makes 6 giant muffins Preparation time: 15 minutes • Cooking time: 30 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 500g mince • 1 medium baby marrow, coarsely grated • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped • 5ml Worcestershire sauce

• • • • • •

5ml Dijon mustard 60ml panko crumbs meat spice, to taste 200g ricotta 60ml grated Cheddar 1 egg

1 Preheat the oven. Spray the cavities of a giant muffin pan. Use two forks to lightly mix the mince with the baby marrow, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and crumbs; season to taste with the spices. Divide the mixture between the cavities of the muffin pan. 2 Mix the ricotta, Cheddar and egg; spoon on top of the meat and press down firmly. Bake for about 30 minutes until the meat is cooked and the topping is golden-brown. Cool slightly in the pan before turning out. Serve with nachos, guacamole and salsa.

• 6 x 60ml grated hard cheese such as Parmesan, pecorino or Gruyère • 1 cooked chicken breast, cubed • 12 croutons, coarsely broken into pieces • 35g micro leaf salad

• 1 small ripe avocado, diced • 6 cherry tomatoes, quartered DRESSING • 60ml olive oil • 15ml red wine vinegar • 3ml mustard • 3ml honey • 5ml fresh lemon juice

1 Preheat the oven and line a baking tray with baking paper. Spoon three heaps of 60ml cheese onto the paper and flatten each one into a circle about 15cm in diameter. 2 Bake for 3–5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and formed a lacy pattern. Don’t let the circles brown as the cheese will taste burnt. 3 Remove the lacy cheese circles from the oven and use a palette knife to carefully place them on the back of a muffin pan, one by one; press down lightly to form a bowl. Work quickly before the cheese cools and becomes too hard to shape. Repeat with the remaining cheese. 4 Mix the salad dressing ingredients. Fill the cheese bowls with the chicken, croutons, salad leaves, avocado and tomato and serve with the salad dressing. December 2019

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food & drinks

Celebrate the silly season!

By Johané Neilson • Photographs: supplied

For a very special occasion Lourensford Estate in Somerset West has unveiled its Limited Release Cuveé 108, produced from grapes harvested more than a decade ago before spending 108 months maturing on the lees. Just 419 bottles of this complex yet elegant sparkling wine have been released after the first degorging. Available at the Lourensford tasting room from Monday to Sunday (9:00 – 17:00), it retails for R660; go to lourensford.co.za.

IN PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT COFFEE

NEXT GENERATION Drawing inspiration from Soweto, Mama D and her granny’s cooking, Chef Nti (real name Nthabiseng Ramaboa) realised that in order to talk to a new generation of food lovers she had to reinvent popular flavours in a fresh, innovative way. Her first cookbook, My Modern African Kitchen (R350, Quivertree), embraces exactly this concept, celebrating food that is proudly South African. With recipes that range from quick and easy to heritage favourites inspired by growing up in Soweto, this cookbook will be a welcome addition to your collection.

To a tea

Spoil yourself with a stunning enamel cast-iron teapot (R699, poetrystores.co.za) from Poetry. 126 home December 2019

Legado Coffee Roasters started as a roastery on Rosenview farm just outside Stellenbosch. These days, you can also visit their flagship store at 19 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch and sample the full flavour and craftsmanship for yourself. The coffee shop is open Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 17:00 and on Saturdays from 08:00 to 14:00. Treat the coffee aficionado in your life to a bag of their beans! To order online, go to legadocoffee.com.

Ginger up The Ginger Bread Biscuit House tin (220g, R99.99) from Woolworths will make a cute Christmas gift; check out woolworths.co.za for more.

Stir it up

Step up your tea party with a set of four Luna Enamel Print teaspoons (R280, poetrystores.co.za) with pretty patterned handles.

p ogra hot

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS… Available at outlets nationwide, the Limited Edition Musgrave Minibar packs a punch! Try their Original and Pink gin as well as the new Copper Vanilla and Copper Black Honey brandies – all for R250. Go to musgravespirits.com.

alize Nel h A nn

Award-winning bubbly Steenberg Wine Estate in Constantia triumphed at the 2019 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge as the victorious producer of SA’s Best Rosé MCC with the Steenberg 1682 Pinot Noir MCC (R235, steenbergfarm.com). This delightful Brut MCC strikes an elegant pose with its pale pink hue and beguiling scents of raspberry jelly, wild strawberry sorbet, red apple skin and toasted brioche. Its ultra-fine mousse lifts the raspberry-like aromas and creamy texture in perfect balance with a bright acidity.

BASALT

FROM HOB TO OVEN The Cocotte Every (R2 999, lecreuset.co.za) is a versatile addition to Le Creuset’s sought-after cast-iron range. Suitable for all stovetops and for use in the oven, the compact 18cm casserole won’t take up much space but still offers substantial depth for different purposes – whether you’re cooking rice, making pot bread, or simmering a delicious broth.

WHAT A PEECH!

Photograph Dook

The Peech Boutique Hotel in Melrose Jo’burg has opened its doors to stylish new restaurant Basalt headed up by Frederico Dias, former head chef at the Pot Luck Club in Cape Town. Dias brings global inspiration to the menu, having spent time cooking in some of the world’s finest restaurants, while his Portuguese roots and current love of Asian and Mexican flavours also filter through. Situated in the original heritage house overlooking the hotel’s main entrance, this sophisticated space is warm and intimate with capacity for 40 patrons. It’s open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday; to book, call 011 537 9797 or visit thepeech.co.za.

SHOP WINDOW To advertise here, contact Evonne Mehl on 021 461 2396 or evonne.mehl@media24.com

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December 2019

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THE GIFT OF

kindness At my advanced age I suddenly find myself back in toy stores at Christmas time. Not shopping for a grandchild as you would expect but for someone even more advanced in age. My mother. With time ticking her closer to a hundred each year, she’s been robbed of a lifetime of skills and capabilities. Even most of her memories have gone. Time is a sly old thing, moving with stealth. All of a sudden she’s not sure how the telephone works. Or how to knit. Even the simplest of hobbies, like stringing beads, have absconded with time. So, I’m in the toddler section of the toy store in town, searching for a Christmas present for Oumoeder. The other oumas are looking at all the newfangled gadgets for little girls, like pink smart watches. And slime. Apparently that’s what little girls love, these days. Heaven forbid. I think back to the first time I had to buy a Christmas gift for a parent, and how I betrayed her then. It was in the year of the Great Disillusionment, when one of my older sisters went around with the story that Father Christmas wasn’t real. I was enraged by this hideous heresy and revolted with such rowdy passion that my poor little brother inevitably lost his innocence about the jolly Saint Nick too. But our mother wisely diffused the crisis with some pocket money and a very important new assignment: the two of us were to go Christmas shopping. Our very first time. Such excitement. Where to begin with such a mighty errand? And worse, what to buy? For our Mamma it obviously had to be a gold watch, my brother declared gravely. And for Dad a new Jeep, of course. But the moment we set foot in the general dealer, our childhood innocence was dealt the next heavy blow. The tannie behind the counter explained that our R2.50 wasn’t going to cover either Jeeps or gold watches. Drat! I was only eight years old and Boeta just five. Christmases past of bells and ribbons and candles and cake had just turned a bit dimmer, more Scrooge-like. My brother promptly started crying. And the tannie of course felt terrible.

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She suggested that Boeta should choose something for Pappa since he was also a man. I would choose for Mamma. In that moment I betrayed her. I bossily declared that since I was the eldest, I got to choose the gift for the Head of the House. Boeta tried to argue, but I had the weight advantage. Inspired, I toured the aisles of the large department store, the one and only in the small Karoo town where we lived. Every few minutes I ran back to the tannie to check the prices. Sometimes I ran into Boeta. In the washing powder section I found him with a box of Omo in his hand and scolded him for even thinking of buying that (I was actually afraid his present would be bigger in size than mine). In the hardware section I caught him with a hammer – and told him off sharply (I should have thought of it ﬁrst, of course). While the tannie was wrapping our gifts, she struck me as a little nervous. It was as if something was tugging at the corners of her mouth. But Pappa was uproariously happy with his gift. He laughed with sheer delight at the “back scrubber” in his parcel. Of course one of my older sisters tried to spoil the fun. “Wha-haha, it’s a toilet brush!” she crowed. A murderous glance from our mum shut her up – but only until Boeta’s parcel revealed a tube of tooth paste. Then she ran from the room snorting. “Top and bottom,” Mamma pronounced wisely, “Pappa and I will from now on be the cleanest in town!” These days Oumoeder’s Christmas is once again all bells and ribbons. From me she is getting a princess colouring-in book. She’ll be happy enough, but her real delight will be in the shiny wrapping paper. And before the evening is over, she’ll be plundering the tree, literally plucking the little angels and baubles and hiding them in the basket of her walker. I let her be. And I kiss her. And silently I thank her for teaching me anew about the true value of Christmas, the simple pleasures, the wisdom of love. And the gift of kindness.

Illustrations Paula Dubois • Translation Annelize Visser

Festive cheer can easily slide into a Christmas challenge, says Karin Brynard. But then there’s the redeeming wisdom of a second childhood.