Wsdfgtf by megustamenearlo

your practical guide to beautiful living

9 771814 165001

No.1

home an dg magazinarden e

01178

SA’s

R52.00

(vat incl.) Namibia N$52.00

January 2020

SUMMER SU UMM MME FUN!

5 crosswords

Sumptuous

seafood

FIX IT WITH FLAIR

Yellowtail, prawn curry, crumbed mussels

makeovers

and much more…

DIY DI Y

Old steel shelf now a trolley

Dreamy hideaways 3 oliday homes Off-the-grid cottage in the Cederberg

Heritage barn conversion on the West Coast

EXCLUSIVE

Prin Alb t garden a feast for the senses

A-frame beach house gets a facelift

SA couple’s adventurous renovation on a Greek isle

IMAGINE A SUMMER WITH NO BOUNDARIES SHOP THE SUMMER TREND Open up your home to nature, allowing the beauty of the outdoors to flow untamed into all living spaces. This season, embrace the exotic and the wild with nature inspired textures and patterns. Shop the latest summer trends from @home and imagine more.

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

Reader home

Renovation

32 88

Reader home

Garden oasis

110

A seafood feast

106

décor 12 14

Retail therapy Go natural! Fresh ideas for colour-blocking

holiday homes 18

32 42

A getaway built beneath a rocky overhang north of the Cederberg An idyllic farmhouse in Greece A charming weekend escape in Hopeﬁeld on the West Coast

do it yourself 58

Make a kitchen trolley

Reader garden An abundant Karoo oasis Plant of the month Bougainvillea

regulars 8 10 66

in the kitchen 110 118

120 122

Serve up a seafood spread Prawn and chorizo rissoles, step by step Quick food We’ve got supper sorted! Food & drinks to feed your senses

competitions 6 52 62 80 124

Write in to Your Space and WIN Meet our Rookie Stylist of the Year Fix it with Flair Meet our Top 9 Send us your pet pics and WIN Complete our 5 bonus crosswords and WIN

130

Diary January highlights What’s new on the décor scene Advice Ask the experts 68 Décor dilemma 74 Renovation Improve, don’t move! 80 Pets and their peculiarities 82 Gardening notebook Last words from Karin Brynard

Cover photograph Amora Erasmus

in the garden

The other day, while in the company of three older women,

EDITOR CAPE TOWN OFFICE Cape Town postal address Office Manager JOHANNESBURG OFFICE

the topic of cell phones came up. It started with me complaining about poor reception because the signal was so bad and then, of course, you start feeling like you’ve lost a limb. Or, rather, several brain cells. Because you soon realise how dependent you’ve become on your smart phone when you can’t quickly Google something, right? I’m convinced that hell won’t have ﬂames but a weak signal. Or slow WiFi. What a painful thought. In the middle of the conversation, one woman said, emphatically, that she’d never have a smart phone because her ancient old Nokia “already had more than enough stations”. True story! Some people’s cell phones ping like slot machines. Unbearable – and in company too! Just over a year ago, I switched off the sound on my phone; it was during a wonderful trip to distant lands, the longest holiday of my life. And I’ve never turned the sound back on. Okay, probably about 10 times in moments of crisis but for the rest of the time: blissful silence. It was a conscious decision because I don’t want my concentration constantly interrupted by the beep of a message or the ringtone of a call. It was so liberating. And such a relief – like when a neighbour’s house alarm eventually stops wailing in the middle of the night. It’s worrying how much your cell phone can impact your life! Our creative editor Marian once scolded me in a meeting because I was simultaneously answering emails, looking at photos for future issues and responding to someone’s WhatsApp. “It’s bad for your memory; research has proved as much,” she admonished me. And she was right. It seems that multitasking by no means results in improved productivity. Actually you get less done... Google it (if you have signal). It’s the beginning of a new decade and although I don’t hold much store in New Year’s resolutions, every 10 years is probably okay. So here’s mine: forget about multitasking – in 2020 I plan to do one thing at a time; properly and with undivided attention. And my phone will remain on silent...

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, Karin Brynard, Lianne Burton, Elza Cooper, Greg Cox, Deon de Goede, Paula Dubois, Gerda Engelbrecht, Amora Erasmus, Marié Esterhuyse, ER Lombard, Christo Lötter, Marlene Malan, Kay Montgomery, Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel, Misi Overturf, Eleonora Pouwels, Karl Rogers, Ludwig Taschner, JJ van Rensburg, Henrique Wilding, Amanda van Wyngaardt, Annelize Visser 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

editor@homemag.co.za This year, we have something new for you – a diary ﬁlled with our most beautiful garden photos from over the years, complete with a pair of free gardening gloves. The diary includes a monthly calendar and plenty of pages for notetaking. It’s the perfect Christmas gift for Afrikaans-speaking friends and family, and it’s also available in store now.

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

2019 Fine finishes

Wiin a leath W h r 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

/Ĩ ǇŽƵ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƚǁŽ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ĞĚŝƟŽŶƐ͕ ƐĞŶĚ ĂŶ ĞŵĂŝů ƚŽ ĞĚŝƚŽƌΛŚŽŵĞŵĂŐ͘ĐŽ͘ǌĂ͘ EŽƚĞ͗ ƚŚĞ Home ŽĸĐĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ Ϯϯ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ďƵƚ ǁĞ͛ůů ďĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽŶ ϲ :ĂŶƵĂƌǇ͘

20012

IMPROVE! i i i g

R65 60 (vat included) Namibia N$65 60

Budget breakdowns

DON ON T MOVE,

All the best surfaces – even resin

9 772073 882005

YOUR MUSTHAVE VE GU GUIDE D

Stockists

Our annual Home R ovatiions is still on shelf; it’s packed with ma makeovers from our annual Fix it with Flair competition and other inspirational stories. Get it at your local retail store now.

TOP

INCANDA COMPETITION

Floor plans

With free gardening gloves!

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.

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 January 2020

home 5

your space Write to us at Home͕ ZĞĂĚĞƌƐ͛ >ĞƩĞƌƐ͕ WK Žǆ ϭϴϬϮ͕ ĂƉĞ dŽǁŶ ϴϬϬϬ͖ ĞŵĂŝů editor@homemag.co.za͕ ĨĂǆ ϬϮϭ ϰϬϴ ϯϬϰϲ͕ ĂŶĚ ũŽŝŶ ŽƵƌ &ĂĐĞďŽŽŬ ŐƌŽƵƉ (facebook.com/homemagͿ Žƌ ĨŽůůŽǁ ƵƐ ŽŶ /ŶƐƚĂŐƌĂŵ @TuisHomeMag.

Before

12 years since we moved into our home with just a bed, a couch and a few pots. We had our two darling kids in this space, and eventually I decided it was time to save up for my dream stove, fridge, dishwasher, microwave, etc. I purchased them and then they sat in my study while we tried to work out where to ﬁt them in... Not so easy! That’s when we got our trusted friend in Middelburg to create space to accommodate my new appliances. Here are a few of the other changes we made... I changed the colour scheme to ink-black and a green that blends with my indoor plants as I felt the old turquoise-green kept ‘competing’ with any greenery I had on display. I threw out my hoard of nonsense and only kept what I use daily. I also bought granite for all the counters and all my copies of Home have found a space next to my recipe books. I’ve never hosted and cooked such amazing meals – this new space has inspired my love for my home all over again!

/Ŷ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂůůǇ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ƟŵĞƐ͕ / ďĞŐĂŶ ƚŽ ǁŽŶĚĞƌ ŝĨ / ƐŚŽƵůĚ Žƌ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ďƵǇŝŶŐ Home ŵĂŐĂǌŝŶĞ ʹ / ŶĞǀĞƌ ŵŝƐƐ Ă ĐŽƉǇ͊ / ƌĞĂůŝƐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ŵǇ ƐĂŶŝƚǇ͕ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ǁŽƌƚŚ ĞǀĞƌǇ ƉĞŶŶǇ ĂŶĚ / ŚĂǀĞ ŶŽƚ ďĞĞŶ ĚŝƐĂƉƉŽŝŶƚĞĚ͘ ŵĂƌǀĞůůŽƵƐ ũŽď͕ ǁĞůů ĚŽŶĞ͘ dŽ ďĞ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ ŝƐ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ƚŚĞ ůŝŐŚƚ ůŝƚ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ ŵǇ ŚĞĂƌƚ͘ – Natalie Pritchard, Fourways, Johannesburg

dŚĞƌĞ ǇŽƵ ŐŽ ĂŐĂŝŶ͖ ϭϯϬ ƉĂŐĞƐ ŽĨ ŐŽŽĚŝĞƐ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ ŵĞ ƵƉ ƚŽ ŵǇ ĞůďŽǁƐ ŝŶ ƉĂŝŶƚ͕ ƉůĂŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŝŶĐƵƐŚŝŽŶƐ ʹ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ŵĞŶƟŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƌĞĐŝƉĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ůŽŽŬ ƐŽ ƚĞŵƉƟŶŐ ǇŽƵ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŬŶŽǁ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŽ ƐƚĂƌƚ͘ / ůŽǀĞ ƐĞĞŝŶŐ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͛Ɛ ŚŽŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŐĞƫŶŐ ŝĚĞĂƐ ƚŽ ƚƌǇ ŝŶ ŵǇ ŽǁŶ ŚŽŵĞ͘ ,Žǁ / ǁŝƐŚ / ĐŽƵůĚ ůŽŽŬ Ăƚ Ă ĚŝƐĐĂƌĚĞĚ ŝƚĞŵ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĐŝĚĞ ƚŽ ĚŽ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĂŵĂǌŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŝƚ͕ ďƵƚ / ŐĞƚ ƉůĞŶƚǇ ŽĨ ŚĞůƉ ĨƌŽŵ ǇŽƵƌ ŵĂŐ͘ tŚĞŶ ŵǇ ŽůĚ ƉŚŽƚŽ ĂůďƵŵƐ ĂƌĞ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƵƉ ŽŶ ĐŽůĚ ƌĂŝŶǇ ĚĂǇƐ͕ / ĐƌŝŶŐĞ ǁŚĞŶ / ƐĞĞ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ďƌŽǁŶ͕ ďĞŝŐĞ ĂŶĚ ďŽƌŝŶŐ ǁĂǇƐ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞ ĚĞĐŽƌĂƚĞĚ ŽƵƌ your practical guide to beautiful living No 1 ŚŽŵĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ĨƌŝůůǇ ƚŽŝůĞƚ ĐŽǀĞƌƐ ŽǀĞƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŝƐƚĞƌŶ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĂƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĚŽůůǇ Glazed gammon ůŽŽ ƌŽůů ŚŽůĚĞƌƐ ĂƌĞ Ă ŐŽŽĚ ůĂƵŐŚ͘ 'ŽŽĚ ŽŶ ǇŽƵ͕ ƚŚĞ Home ƚĞĂŵ͖ ŬĞĞƉ ƐŶŽŽƉŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͛Ɛ ŚŽŵĞƐ ĂŶĚ Let’s get ŐŝǀŝŶŐ ƵƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ stories too. – Alida van der Walt, Sell your home faster! Try home staging Cape Town SA’s

R52 00 (vat incl ) Namibia N$52 00

December 2019

ON THE MEN NU

ROSE EXPERTS

Gwen Fagan and her daughter Jessie’s gardening secrets

STEP BY STEP

Limoncello trout niso on fillet Ven

Pizza with fresh figs

OMES TO CELEBRATE SUMMER

fes

PROPERTY MARKET SLOW?

Noorieyah Fakier of Fish Hoek writes

6 home January 2020

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

A brand-new table

We bought a piece of wood that I found lying between some pots at a nursery for R60 and took it home. We sanded the wood for a smooth ﬁnish and after applying clear varnish, it turned dark brown – almost black. It wasn’t what we wanted. After a couple of weeks, I sanded the wood again. Then I applied natural spirits, linseed oil and clear vanish; I did this twice. I used an old chair that I sanded and sprayed black as the base. When I took the ﬁnished table outside, I was surprised to see that the wood had become lighter and now has different colour tones. I’m amazed with the results!

dŚĞ ĞĚŝƚŽƌ ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ĞĚŝƚ ůĞƩĞƌƐ Ăƚ ŚŝƐ ĚŝƐĐƌĞƟŽŶ͘

Hayley van der Ahee of Middelburg writes It’s been

IN SHORT

12177

Kitchen conﬁdential

9 771814 165001

WINNING LETTER

The writer of the winning ůĞƩĞƌ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞƐ Ă ŝĞůŽ ǀŽƵĐŚĞƌ worth R1 500! WĂƐƐŝŽŶĂƚĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƋƵĂůŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ ŝĞůŽ ŽīĞƌƐ Ă ǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ŚŽŵĞ͕ ĚĠĐŽƌ ĂŶĚ ůŝĨĞƐƚǇůĞ ŝƚĞŵƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ĨƵƌŶŝƚƵƌĞ ĨŽƌ ǇŽƵƌ ƉĂƟŽ͕ ŽĸĐĞ͕ ďĞĚƌŽŽŵ͕ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĚŝŶŝŶŐ ƌŽŽŵ͘ ǆƉůŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĨƵůů ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ƌĂŶŐĞ at cielo.co.za.

WIN!

diary

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

January flashes

ON THE BOX

Check out flamboyant home style consultant Laurence LlewelynBowen on Laurence of Suburbia (Season 1 starts 27 January on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv). The series sees this iconic designer visit a different suburban neighbourhood in each episode, where he will invite members of the local community to show him their inferior interiors and decorating disasters. One lucky resident, selected by Llewelyn-Bowen, will win a home makeover, incorporating design and architectural influences from their area. The transformation is then revealed to the owners, while being livestreamed to the community for all their neighbours to see.

Celebrate the New Year! 31 December: Visit the Bethesda Arts Centre in Nieu-Bethesda for a joyful festival of lights to ring in the New Year. Make your own lantern at the centre or purchase a ticket and get one when you arrive. Tickets cost R180 per adult and R90 per child and include your lantern, food and drinks, as well as performances; call 049 841 1731 to buy yours. 31 December: Celebrate in style at Spier’s New Year’s Eve Dinner in Stellenbosch. Indulge in a delicious farm-to-table feast while the kids enjoy their own buffet and supervised entertainment. You can also look forward to a live performance by the Rockets. Tickets cost R1 400 per adult and R300 per child. View the menu at spier.co.za and remember to pre-book your seat; call 021 809 1100 for details.

Newsflash!

19 January: Tune in to Kwela (kykNET, channel 144 on DStv) at 18:00 for a special insert on the ‘Tiny House Movement’ and our 2018 Fix it with Flair winner Janene Ehlers (right)! Read more about her journey on homemag.co.za. DELHEIM’S 2020 HARVEST FESTIVAL 25 January: Delheim Wine Estate, Stellenbosch Bring the whole family to the Delheim Harvest Festival for grape-picking and stomping as well as tractor rides, live music and various festival-style food stalls. Tickets cost R480 per adult and R280 for kids (3–18 years old) and include food, beverages, activities and even a take-home gift. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Pebbles Project; get yours on quicket.co.za.

1: Happy New Year! 1–31: Visit Stellenbosch Hills for a fun Polkadraai-&-Popcorn pairing in the Winelands. Try four Polkadraai wines, from a Sauvignon Blanc Brut to a Pinotage/Merlot blend, paired with gourmet popcorn from Guzzle & Wolf. Tickets cost R55; visit stellenbosch-hills.co.za or call 021 881 3828. 2: Enjoy a live performance by Watershed at the Music Kitchen in Port Elizabeth. Tickets cost R180 per person from quicket.co.za; call 041 364 1964 for details. 2–12: ABBA fans can look forward to a fullscale concert production by internationally acclaimed ABBA impersonators at the Sibaya Casino in Durban. Expect two hours of fun and dancing, along with a live backing band, replica costumes and theatrical lighting. Tickets at online.computicket.com cost R250 per person. 10–11: Dress up in an elegant blue-and-white ensemble for the annual L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival. You can expect two days of competitive racing, stylish attire and top entertainment at the Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town. For ticket options and costs, visit lqp.co.za. 13: February issue of Home on sale. 23–29: Visit the Brooklyn Theatre in Pretoria for a magical opera performance of Mozart’s timeless classic The Magic Flute by the Salon Music production company. Tickets are available on ticketspace.co.za from R230 per adult; students and children pay R170. 25: La Motte Wine Estate’s classical music concert programme kicks off with A Night in Vienna with Austrian pianist Cornelia Herrmann in the beautiful Historic Cellar in Franschhoek. Herrmann will present a programme of Viennese works by Mozart, Schubert and others. Tickets cost R230 per person; book online at la-motte.com or call 021 876 8000. 26: Join the Sani Pass Wild Flower Walk in KZN with special guest botanist Elsa Pooley. It costs R525 per person and includes 4x4 transport, expert guidance from volunteers and botanists as well as an additional walk around the Lesotho plateau. Funds raised will go towards sponsoring teachers in the area; call 033 702 0330 to book.

Marilyn Glass Pendants

Code: A-KLCH-900 Large and Small, Colour: Smoke, Cognac and Opal

DESIGN â&#x20AC;˘ SER VICE â&#x20AC;˘ QUALIT Y Viewing Showrooms Only, K. Light Import supplies only to Retailers and not to the public directly. Cape Town: 7 Kunene Circle, Omuramba Business Park, Milnerton, 021 552 4370 Johannesburg: Units 8 & 9, The Arena, Capital Hill Business Park, Halfway House, Midrand, 011 312 1247 info@klight.co.za I www.klight.co.za I Facebook.com/klightimport

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

MADE TO LAST Made with the ﬁnest wool, cotton and mohair, Coral & Hive’s handmade rugs and cushions will stand the test of time. Starting at R1 900/m2 for a custom-designed cotton rug, these are investment pieces that will become family heirlooms. Visit their Somerset West showroom or go to coralandhive.com to ﬁnd out more.

Compiled by Shané Barnard

We’re smitten with these new colours from local chalk paint supplier Tjhoko Paint! Dori’s Dance is a dreamy dirty-pink, Dani’s Dare is a deep midnight-blue and Da’vid is a beautiful antique white. The paint is available in 250ml, 500ml and 1L pots (from R140) or 28ml sample pots (R40). Visit tjhokopaint.co.za.

ROAD TRIPPIN’ About Us is a lifestyle and décor shop housed in a beautifully renovated school bus. If you’re heading over Sir Lowry’s Pass during the festive season, pop in to see their leather goods at the Peregrine Farm Stall outside Grabouw. Look for aboutus.bus on Instagram.

Fine fabrics Inspired by Holi (a Hindu festival celebrating colour and the arrival of spring), brightly coloured silk saris and roses in full bloom at The Viceroy Gardens in India, these cotton-printed fabrics from St Leger & Viney are a feast for the eyes! Visit stleger.co.za to view the full range. 1 Viceroy’s Garden (R688/m) 2 Grandiﬂora in Cobalt (R1 240/m) 3 Jaipur in Festival (R849/m)

1 2

We love this! This stylish and practical solid oak stool with its handmade Moroccan tile inlay (from R750, 45 x 30 x 30cm) from Izzy Sekkei Collective will make the perfect side table for your stoep. Go to Instagram.com/izzy_sekkei_collective or email izak_malherbe@yahoo.co.uk to order.

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Lesley Tuchten WHERE Woodstock, Cape Town BUSINESS Lesley Tuchten Ceramics HER WORK Lesley adores pets. “I have a rather unhealthy obsession with pets. All pets! My pets, other people’s pets, animals that aren’t pets… You get the idea.” So when a friend asked her to make a ring bowl with a miniature sculpture of her Boston Terrier in it, Lesley happily took on the challenge. The project was such a success that she has now added snack bowls, soap dishes, key bowls, dog water bowls, cookie jars and standalone sculptures to her fabulous furry friends range. Each item (starting at R300) is handcrafted in her converted garage studio, hand-painted and bisque-ﬁred in a kiln before glazing takes place. Visit Lesley Tuchten Ceramics on Facebook to view her products and email lesley@lesleytuchten.co.za for custom-design orders.

Go geometric with these 43 x 43cm chenille diamond scatter cushions (R99.99 each, crazystore.co.za).

Light up my life!

The new Monty desk lamp (R399, lightingwarehouse.co.za) is available in three fresh colours, including this gorgeous duck-egg blue.

Sofacompany South Africa has just launched a range of Danish, Nordic, and Scandi-inspired homeware including artworks, basketware, candles, scatter cushions, throws, lighting, mirrors, rugs, vases and glassware. The range features handmade items, natural ﬁbres and pops of vibrant summer colours. Visit their showrooms in Cape Town and Johannesburg or browse online at za.sofacompany.com. 1 Blue ceramic vase (R459) 2 Fringe basket (R899) 3 Throw in Amber (R999)

QUEENS OF CROCHET These gorgeous baskets from Ukuthunga, an Mpumalanga-based community project, are proof positive that crochet is cool again! Storage baskets, placemats and toys (from R60–R500) in neutral tones are made to order. Go to ukuthunga.com for more.

shopping

Rattan Lazy Chair R5 175, Eight Degrees South

Coconut bowls (set of 2; 12–15cm D) R239, Yuppiechef

Senegal Turmeric & Black on Linen scatter cover (50 x 50cm) R450, Knus

Au aturel Compiled by Shané Barnard

Add texture to your home with these natural ﬁbre products.

Drifter brushed alpaca and wool blankets (130 x 180cm) R2 898 each, Hinterveld

Motif cotton towel (92 x 170cm) R519, The Cotton Company

Natural round lantern R299.99, MRP Home

Natural two-tone basket with hemp handles (40 x 40cm) R330, Basketly

Rope wool pouffe R1 995, Weylandts

Rattan pendant husk (80cm H x 45cm W) R807, Pilgrimage Spaces

la nda a M

oo coasters (set of b am b 6; 1 0cm

African colourful cotton and wool basket (23cm D) 299, Superbalist

D) R

Linen napkins (set of four) R395, Sweet Peas Handmade

62 0, K nu s

Moroccan Kilim wool cushions (54 x 35cm) R1 240, Furbelow

Avalon cotton ottoman (45cm W x 45cm D x 45cm H) R999, Superbalist

Canola Saffron on Linen with h Charcoal Piping cotton scattter cover (60 x 40cm) R395, Knus

Sienna 100% cotton throw (double) R999, Beracah Linen

Charcoal and White Grid wool rug (160 x 230cm) R3 999, Poetry

STOCKISTS Basketly 087 012 5009, basketly.co.za Beracah Linen 078 388 3619, beracahlinen.com Eight Degrees South 076 766 9842, eightdegreessouth.com Furbelow 082 607 6825, furbelowshop.com Hinterveld 041 992 4880, hinterveld.com Knus 087 550 7600, knus.co MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Pilgrimage Spaces 082 566 5325, pilgrimagespaces.co.za Poetry 0860 555 529, poetrystores.co.za Superbalist 087 362 7300, superbalist.com Sweet Peas Handmade 083 355 1608, sweetpeas.co.za The Cotton Company 060 505 7894, thecottoncompany.co.za Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za Yuppiechef 0861 702 4969, yuppiechef.com

Dream

Make a splash with your favourite shades.

in colour! By Kim Arendse • Photographs Francois Oberholster, Karl Rogers, Greg Cox and Elza Cooper • Styling Marian van Wyk and Amanda van Wyngaardt

It’s in the detail

A large wall-hung mirror ƌĞŇĞĐƚƐ ƚŚĞ ŐĂƌĚĞŶ ŐƌĞĞŶĞƌǇ͘

Bright delight

Pendants from Eagle Lighting; red outdoor rug from Fibre Designs; yellow planters from Mavromac and The Gatehouse; dining table from Block & Chisel; dining chairs from Chair Crazy

Photograph Warren Heath/Bureaux

In the indoor-outdoor living space at this Bishopscourt, Cape Town home, interior designer Kim Stephen used furniture and accessories to add colour to an otherwise monochrome palette. These pops of colour add a fun touch and balance the strong architectural elements that Kim describes as “Georgian lines with modern edges”. The centre of attention is a collection of multicoloured dining chairs – Eames replicas that Kim bought at Chair Crazy. Stunning!

fresh ideas

A sofa puzzle Cheryl Herweg of interior design company Changing Spaces custom made this L-shaped sofa for a client’s home in Blouberg, Cape Town. It’s made up of five individual seats, which can be moved around as needed. Since the walls are neutral, Cheryl decided to brighten up the space by upholstering each section in a different colour. She finished off the look with patterned scatters that pick up on the sofa’s various hues. >>

It’s in the detail

The fireplace surround clad with quartz from Ceramica Cleopatra adds texture to the neutral walls.

Ottoman coffee table custom made by Changing Spaces

January 2020

home

The bee’s knees!

The children’s bathroom in the Boshoffs’ home in Somerset West was simple with white walls and tiles – but mom Kylie was keen to inject an element of playfulness. She introduced hexagonal hive-like mirrors and pops of yellow in the form of 12 x 12cm tiles sourced by Not Just Tiles, creating a subtle bee-inspired theme. “It adds happiness and an element of fun to the space,” Kylie says.

As a backdrop...

Stylist and Home contributor Amanda van Wyngaardt initially wanted a full grey focal wall in the double-volume dining room in her Randburg home. “But it ended up looking too gloomy, so I painted the wall white again and decided to paint just one grey stripe for interest and to serve as a backdrop for an art piece,” she says. Amanda used masking tape to demarcate the dimensions and diluted some paint with water to blend the grey from dark to light with a paint roller. She also painted the artwork on the canvas – a charcoal copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine.

Jungle fever

Belinda and Gareth Mountain tackled a quick, affordable makeover in the kids’ and guest bathroom in their Newlands, Cape Town home. The walls and ﬂoor were covered with dated grey-and-black tiles but Belinda was keen on a “jungle feel”. She was concerned that going all green might be too dark and after consulting with interior design company

Nowadays Interiors, she opted to colour-block the walls using green (Plascon Conifer) and white (Plascon Kitchens & Bathrooms). Belinda painted the lower tiles green after they’d been prepped with Plascon Tile & Melamine Primer and the ﬂoor tiles were simply covered with a black-and-white diamond vinyl print from Smart Art.

STOCKISTS AND CONTACTS Block & Chisel 021 691 0878, blockandchisel.co.za Ceramica Cleopatra 021 683 7140 Chair Crazy 021 552 2674, chaircrazy.co.za Changing Spaces 083 458 8877, changingspaces.co.za Eagle Lighting 021 424 4071, eaglelighting.co.za Fibre Designs 021 418 1054, ﬁbredesigns.co.za Not Just Tiles 083 297 3717 Nowadays Interiors 083 234 0765, nowadaysinteriors.co.za Smart Art 021 447 0872, smartart.co.za Mavromac and The Gatehouse 021 797 4739, mavromacandthegatehouse.co.za

Cape Town (Head Office) : 9 Racecourse Road, Milnerton, 7441 | Tel: +27 (0) 21 528 8400 | Email: info@eurolux.co.za Johannesburg: 72 5th Street, Wynberg, Sandton, 2090. | Tel: +27 (0) 11 608 2970 | Email: jhb@eurolux.co.za Durban: Talksure House 62 Umhlanga Ridge Boulevard, Umhlanga, Durban. | Tel: +27 (0) 13 263 0088

reader home

THE RESIDENTS Johan and Anette du Preez WHERE A farm north of the Cederberg, about a ﬁve-hour drive from Cape Town SIZE ± 100m²

Between

aandrock a hard place Undeterred by a remot l cation with rough terrain and no electricity, a couple built an eco home below an overhang in the Gifberg mountains where they can ‘unplug’ and unwind. By Marian van Wyk • Photographs Francois Oberholster

The entertainment area on the north-facing side of the house is where the Du Preezs usually end their day with something on the coals, from chops and braaibroodjies to lamb tails as a treat. During the hottest months of the year, they erect a tarpaulin over the outdoor table.

January 2020

home 19

reader home

Timber that previously demarcated the sand floor beneath the original structure was used for the rafters. But because every second beam is new wood, Anette whitewashed everything to create a uniform look. The old green cabinet was formerly their kitchen cupboard; the leather satchel was Anetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first handbag.

Tucked away in a remote location with pristine scenery, an enduring silence and no cell phone reception or electricity – this is what Johan and Anette du Preez envisioned when they started searching for a holiday home. The couple were lucky enough to find what they were looking for in the Gifberg mountains north of the Cederberg. But the roads in the area were terrible and one builder after another told them their project was “impossible” as the building site could only be reached by four-wheel drive vehicles. Six years later, their dream became a reality and their home now sits below a rocky overhang. Once you’ve turned off the N7 on the other side of Klawer, the last leg has to be driven in low range. Johan, a professor of electrical engineering at Stellenbosch University, collected the Home team from Klawer in his bakkie;

just when we began to wonder how the builders managed to transport materials, Johan pointed out a spot near a drift where everything was transferred to a tractor and trailer for the last leg. Johan and two friends purchased a 50% stake in this 2 700ha working rooibos farm in 2014. The spot in which he and Anette wanted to build their house had only a basic structure with a sand floor, an overhanging rock as the walls, a roof held up by treated poles and three rooms (see photos on page 29). The terrain was perfect for building something more permanent, but Johan first wanted to experience all the seasons and weather conditions. “For the first two years, we camped around and under that old structure,” he says. Only then did they start planning their weekend home. >>

Wooden workbenches from Timbercity; sink from Seconds Building Materials; shelf supports from Handles Inc.; table from Builders

Last year, the kitchen was equipped with freestanding workbenches due to the high cost of built-in cupboards and the remote location. The open shelves are recycled Oregon pine beams and Johan says Anette “anguished” the table, as he likes to call her vintage paint technique. The bentwood chairs are heirlooms from her late father.

January 2020

home 21

This vintage Spong London No 2 coffee grinder, a gift from Anette’s brother Tino Smith, is used on a daily basis.

The planning stages While they sat watching the light of their campfire dancing on the rocky overhang, Johan and Anette’s dreams of a weekend home began to take shape. One thing was non-negotiable: they didn’t want to disturb the environment by increasing their footprint. Whatever they built had to fit within the existing structure. Only about 5% of the farm is planted up with rooibos. The rest forms a critical biodiversity area and has been left undisturbed. Before they even laid a brick, the Du Preezs consulted the Department of Environmental and Nature Conservation. “They came out here specially to inspect and were satisfied that the existing, already disturbed area could be built on,” says Anette. Then Anette, who manages her own communications firm, immersed herself in researching a variety of environmentally friendly and passive building methods (see opposite). Early in 2016, armed with their newfound knowledge and plans drawn up by friend and architectural draughtsperson Irene le Roux, they started looking for a builder. But most of them got cold feet – until “Oom Daantjie of Vredendal” appeared on the scene... A man by the name of Blikkies at the Vredendal Boumark told Anette about Oom Daantjie – his full name is Danie Sloet.

22 home January 2020

“Apparently, he never shies away from a challenge,” says Anette. “He was the only builder brave enough to tackle a project without electricity. On top of that, he and his team had to camp out under one of the other rock overhangs near our house.” She says she will never forget Danie’s watchful eye and collection of riempie stools which were the hallmarks of the building project. When they were literally blocked by rocks and needed to deviate from Irene’s plans, he was able to come up with viable alternatives. “Danie moved from riempie stool to riempie stool through the house, keeping an eagle eye on proceedings. You could see the builders holding their breath, unsure whether he would tell them to ‘break down and start again’ or move on.” Transporting the large sliding doors for the living area was one of the biggest challenges, recalls Anette. “Go Green Design, the supplier, got as far as the farm – and in the process almost broke their trailer axle. My brother Tino had to drag them over the last stretch with his bakkie – thank goodness for diff lock and special tyres! Tino was our full-time project manager. Every weekend he had to show us what had been done during the week, and then convey our wishes to the builder after the weekend.”

The guest bedroom, where Anette and Johan like to sleep in summer because it’s the coolest space, has a view of the sandstone rock just outside.

/ƚ͛Ɛ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƚĂŝů

ŶĞƩĞ ƌĞƉůĂĐĞĚ ƚŚĞ ƉůǇǁŽŽĚ ŝŶ the doors of this old cupboard, a ĨĂǀŽƵƌŝƚĞ ƚŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ďĞĞŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŵ ĨŽƌ ŵĂŶǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŚŝĐŬĞŶ ǁŝƌĞ͘

[ A PASSIVE BUILDING METHOD THAT WORKS WITH NATURE ] ŶĞƩĞ ŝŶŝƟĂůůǇ ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ƵƐĞ ƐĂŶĚďĂŐƐ Žƌ ƐƚƌĂǁ ďĂůĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ͕ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚŝƐ as the climate extremes would necessitate lots of maintenance. :ŽŚĂŶ͛Ɛ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĞǆƉĞƌƟƐĞ ĂŶĚ ŶĞƩĞ͛Ɛ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ŽŶ ƉĂƐƐŝǀĞ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ŵĞƚŚŽĚƐ ʹ ǁŚĞƌĞ ǇŽƵ ǁŽƌŬ ǁŝƚŚ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ ʹ ƐƚŽŽĚ ƚŚĞŵ ŝŶ ŐŽŽĚ ƐƚĞĂĚ ŝŶ ŽǀĞƌĐŽŵŝŶŐ Ăůů ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ͘ ͞sŝƐŝƚŽƌƐ ĂƌĞ ĂůǁĂǇƐ ĂŵĂǌĞĚ Ăƚ ŚŽǁ ŵŝůĚ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ :ŽŚĂŶ͘ ͞/ƚ͛Ɛ ƌŝĚŝĐƵůŽƵƐůǇ ĐŽŵĨŽƌƚĂďůĞ͕͟ ƐĂǇƐ ŶĞƩĞ͘ ŶĚ ŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ ǁŚǇ͗ KƌŝĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ The house is located on top of a mountain, so it is exposed to extremes. The temperature can drop to ďĞůŽǁ ĨƌĞĞǌŝŶŐ ďƵƚ ŶĞƩĞ ƌĞĐĂůůƐ Ă ƟŵĞ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĞƌĐƵƌǇ ĐůŝŵďĞĚ to 47° ĨŽƌ ĮǀĞ ĚĂǇƐ ŝŶ Ă ƌŽǁ͘ tŝƚŚ ŶŽ ĞůĞĐƚƌŝĐŝƚǇ͕ Ăŝƌ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶŝŶŐ ŝƐŶ͛ƚ ĂŶ ŽƉƟŽŶ͘ ͞dŚĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌŽĐŬǇ ŽǀĞƌŚĂŶŐ͕ ŽƵƌ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĨĂĐĞƐ between north and north northeast. To the north, a roof ŽǀĞƌŚĂŶŐ ƐŚŝĞůĚƐ ƚŚĞ ďŝŐ ǁŝŶĚŽǁƐ from the summer sun but allows enough warmth in during winter.”

ƌŽƐƐͲǀĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ The house has ĂŶ ŽƉĞŶͲƉůĂŶ ůĂǇŽƵƚ͖ ŽŶůǇ ƚŚĞ guest bedroom and bathroom walls reach the ceiling. On the ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƌŽŽŵ ƐŝĚĞ͕ ƚŚĞƌĞ͛Ɛ Ă ŐĂƉ of about 120cm between the main bedroom wall and ceiling. “This as well as windows that draw air through the house ĨƌŽŵ ĞĂƐƚ ƚŽ ǁĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ ǀĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ ǁŝŶĚŽǁƐ ĂďŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ƐůŝĚŝŶŐ ĚŽŽƌƐ are some of the green principles we applied to create coolness. ǁŝŶĚŽǁ ĂďŽǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĨƌŽŶƚ ĚŽŽƌ ĐƌĞĂƚĞƐ ĐƌŽƐƐͲǀĞŶƟůĂƟŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ the passage.”

* Anette’s sources: susdesign.com/overhang/; yourhome.gov.au/passive-design

/ŶƐƵůĂƟŽŶ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů The concrete slab for the stoeps is separated ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŝŽƌ ŇŽŽƌ ǁŝƚŚ ϱĐŵͲǁŝĚĞ ƐƚƌŝƉƐ ŽĨ /ƐŽ ŽĂƌĚ that go right around the house. When the stoeps bake in summer, ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞĂƚ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ƉĞŶĞƚƌĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ interior, and in winter the stoeps ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ͚ƐƚĞĂů͛ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂƚ͖ ŝƚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ͘ ^ŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐĂǀŝƚǇ ǁĂůůƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĮůůĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ WƌĂƚůŝƉĞƌů ĨŽƌ ŝŶƐƵůĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐŽŵĞ ĞǆƚĞƌŝŽƌ walls were plastered with this ůŝŐŚƚǁĞŝŐŚƚ͕ ĮƌĞƉƌŽŽĨ ŚĞĂƚͲ ŝŶƐƵůĂƟŽŶ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ͘ dŚĞ ƌŽŽĨ ǁĂƐ ĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ WůĂƐĐŽŶ EƵƌŽŽĨ

ŽŽů͕ Ă hsͲƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ ƉĂŝŶƚ͘ tŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ϱϬŵŵ /ƐŽ ŽĂƌĚ ĐĞŝůŝŶŐƐ͕ ŝƚ ƌĂƌĞůǇ ŐĞƚƐ ŚŽƩĞƌ ƚŚĂŶ ϮϰΣ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ͕ ĞǀĞŶ ǁŚĞŶ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ϰϳΣ ŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ͘ dŚĞƌŵĂů ŵĂƐƐ ĞƩĞƌ ƚŚĞƌŵĂů mass than the rock along the ƐŽƵƚŚ ƐŝĚĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞ ʹ ĨƌŽŵ the main bedroom at the front ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĂƌĞĂ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ʹ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ͘ The winter sun bakes the cement ŇŽŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŝƐ ŚĞĂƚ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ĞƐĐĂƉĞ Ăƚ ŶŝŐŚƚ͘ /Ŷ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ƚŚĞ ŚŽƵƐĞ ŝƐ ĐŽŽů͕ ƚŚĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƌŽŽĨ ŽǀĞƌŚĂŶŐ and the mountain breeze that ĐĂƌƌŝĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂƚ ĂǁĂǇ Ăƚ ŶŝŐŚƚ͘

reader home Closed-combustion stove from GC Fires; Anette dyed the armchair upholstery with diluted Fired Earth chalk paint in the colour Raw Earth from Builders

The roof was bolted to the sandstone overhang that runs right through the house. The Du Preezs had to wrestle all 160kg of the fireplace into the house. The two teak windows were a Gumtree find; they come from the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town where they were replaced during a renovation project in the 1950s.

The sliding door behind the sofa is the only large ‘window’ on the west-facing side and it offers the best view. Johan and Josef, “a wonderful Rastafarian without whom we would not have managed”, installed the IsoBoard ceiling and Anette used a paint technique to give it a wood-look. The leather rug has a few bare spots after mice stole some of the strips for a nest in the main bedroom. The mice were caught in an ethical trap and released outside. >>

Cement floors finished with Coprox Waterproof Dualcoat in the colour Oat; sliding doors from Go Green Design; rug from Builders; leather furniture from a Panga Panga sale years ago January 2020

home 25

The main bedroom is the warmest space in winter, thanks to the sandstone rock. Anette decided on white linen as a muted contrast to the heavy stone. “Depending on the season and light, the rock changes colour. When the candlelight dances on it, I imagine I’m a cave dweller; albeit in a very comfy cave!”

Unplugged in paradise By April 2016, a cosy house had been built but not without a few hiccups along the way, including a number of punctures, the damaged axle, a written-off tyre rim, several venomous snakes, and Oom Danie’s heart attack (fortunately, he recovered well). The Du Preezs refer to their getaway house as their “cave home”. When you walk out the back, it’s as if the house opens its arms wide to encompass the incredible views over a valley to the west. And the décor has also been well thought out. “This special place required a specific approach and respect for the context – the rock, scenery and old-world farm feel,” explains Anette. With another new year beckoning, the couple agree that there’s little they’d have done differently. “We gave careful consideration to the smallest details and each other’s ideas before deciding on something,” says Johan. “This means that the entire house is ‘our’ home, rather than just one individual’s design and taste.” The best thing about being here? “Being unplugged,” says Johan without hesitation. And Anette goes on to wax lyrical about the golden afternoon light in winter: “While most parts of the farm are already in deep shade, the late afternoon sun slips in here, giving life to the rocky wall.” And that’s what this home is all about; soon you’re at peace with the world and your worries simply drift away.

26 home January 2020

[ EARTHY LIFESTYLE ] Water, electricity and drainage There is no electricity, water supply or sewerage system. “Fortunately, there’s always a little water in the stream. We have a 1 000L rainwater tank and we’re considering getting another one.” Hot water Johan and Tino built a cheap solar-powered hot water system. “The system is passive: there’s no pump, just a 300m-long black pipe on the roof and a 260L tank. The water in the pipe is heated by the sun. The hot water expands and moves upwards to the tank. The colder water in the tank flows back to the pipe, and so the process is repeated. A float valve closes the inflow off when the tank is full. In summer, the water

gets exceedingly hot and even in winter we have lovely hot water on sunny days. For cloudy days, there is a gas geyser.” Solar power, gas and lighting “We only have a freestanding 80W solar panel for recharging the batteries for certain items; we also connect the small Engel fridge to this. The bigger fridge works with gas. For lighting we make do with solar lamps, gas lamps, candles and paraffin lanterns. Drainage and sewerage “The basins and shower run out into the valley side of the property so we only use ecofriendly cleaning products and toiletries. The toilet water goes into a French drain that was built underground in front of the house.” >>

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The exterior wall of the bathroom had to be built over a rock. The pebbles on the floor came from some of the pools near the house; they have been washed out of the conglomerate rocks over thousands of years, says Johan. They give a good foot massage! Copper taps and showerhead from Brassique; plumbing by handyman Xander Darvall

This sheltered spot under a rock on the front door side gets the first rays of sun in winter; Anette and Johan like to sit here with coffee and watch the day dawning.

With its charming red front door and Burmese teak window frames, the cosy cottage (above) looks like it’s been around for decades. Anette’s stencilling on the glass acts as a ‘lace curtain’ that never gets dirty. “The morning sun creates the most beautiful patterns through the stencilling,” says Johan. Anette single-handedly built the fire pit using stones from their surroundings; the couple like to braai here when the wind on the other side becomes a problem. Front door from Builders Mart painted with Annie Sloan chalk paint in the colour Emperor’s Silk; windows from Seconds Building Materials

The outdoor bath (left) is a Gumtree find that Anette, Johan and their daughters literally had to drag to this spot. It’s a fantastic place to cool off during the sweltering summer months. Johan has big plans for a ‘rocket stove’ that will heat the bathwater in winter so they can admire the Milky Way from a hot bath. STOCKISTS AND CONTACTS Brassique 021 851 3812, brassique.co.za Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Builders Mart 021 853 6243 Danie Sloet (builder) 061 341 2822 GC Fires 021 851 3187, gcfires.co.za Go Green Design 021 945 1156, gogreendesign.co.za Irene le Roux (architectural draughtsperson) 083 658 4298 Handles Inc. 021 422 2322, handlesinc.co.za Panga Panga pangapanga.co.za Seconds Building Materials 028 313 2372, 076 810 1196 Timbercity 0861 174 273, timbercity.co.za Vredendal Boumark 027 213 2671 Xander Darvall (handyman) 072 260 3941

reader home

UNDER CONSTRUCTION… Before

The house was built beneath the roof of this existing structure (above), which had to be supported by temporary supports after the original poles were removed. New, larger rafters were installed. The gap between the roof sheeting and the rock was sealed with hand-cut polycarbon sheets and SikaLastic 560, a membranous paint. To prevent all the rainwater from the rock outcrop behind the house from running onto the roof, Johan and two workers packed about two tons of sand into sandbags and built a crescent-shaped ring wall on the rock shelf above the roof. Rocks Open-plan bedroom and study

The house lies snugly between two koppies and is almost invisible from any vantage point (above and far below).

Rock

Bedroom

Shower

Entrance

Living area Kitchen

N Rock Braai Rock overhang

A bird’seye view…

January 2020

home 29

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By Annelize Visser Photographs and styling Eleonora Pouwels

Living the dream An adventurous South African couple weathered rough seas, an earthquake and absent builders to turn an idyllic farmhouse in Greece into a â&#x20AC;&#x153;friend to strangersâ&#x20AC;?.

To create respite from the summer sun, Sally worked with a cool palette consisting mainly of blues and greens. When the couple bought the property, the floor was blue and they decided to simply update it with a fresh coat of paint. A guest makes the most of a comfy corner.

Much like you can’t control the wind, you can’t hurry a yacht – or a Greek builder… This is the lesson that intrepid South African couple Henry Paine and Sally Kennedy, both avid sailors, learnt when they purchased a small piece of land on the island of Lesbos in Greece two years ago, and decided to renovate. The property was surprisingly affordable at less than R1 million for a small doublestorey house on 1 700m2 of land. Although the dwelling was habitable, it was in poor condition, so the pair decided to renovate and rent it out as luxury accommodation when they aren’t enjoying the space themselves. But dreaming of a

“The garden is really a farm,” says Sally. “It’s very large by Greek standards and amazingly fertile.” Besides adding a rose garden on the upper terrace, the couple want to keep it as is: natural and uncultivated with lots of wildﬂowers and small creatures. Their only intervention has been to create spaces in which to eat and relax under the olive trees.

renovation in Greece and actually pulling it off… that’s a whole different bottle of ouzo. When Henry met Sally in 2002, she was building a holiday home in Ballots Bay on the Garden Route, but conﬂict between her and the architect at the time almost landed them in court. Enter Henry, an awardwinning heritage architect who won Sally over with his patience and willingness to listen. By then she’d run out of money, so she offered Henry unlimited use of the house in lieu of payment and he accepted. A few years later, while collaborating on her Saxonwold home, Henry discovered

Sally’s adventurous side. What tipped him off was a mad dash to Mumbai to buy miles of gold, emerald, red and lime silk for curtains. “I thought it would be cheaper and I’d have an adventure at the same time!” Sally recalls. As it turns out, Henry was on the same page. He’d long had a dream of buying a yacht and sailing around the Mediterranean, and by then their creative partnership had blossomed into romance. In 2011, they went to Greece to buy a boat and ever since, they’ve spent at least three months of every year sailing wherever the wind blows them. >>

THE HOMEOWNERS Henry Paine and Sally Kennedy WHERE Lesbos, Greece SIZE 95m2

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On the journey In 2016, Henry and Sally found themselves in the Aegean Sea, where they moored their yacht Pegasus in friendly harbours and were often struck by a rare generosity. This quality, particular to the Greek people, is known as philoxenia, which means ‘friend to the stranger’. After a long sail one day, they moored in Plomari village but within minutes a terrible surge created by a strong wind forced them to up-anchor and flee. However, when they sailed into Plomari the following year, the weather was good and the sea tranquil – until an earthquake struck. “Pegasus shook like a cork in boiling water,” Sally recalls. “The water rushed out of the harbour and then, like a tsunami, rushed back in again, almost depositing our boat on the quay. It was terrifying!” That evening, they went to a small taverna buzzing with locals. “We were all ‘high on the adrenalin’ and our narrow escape from the wrath of Poseidon,” adds Sally. “Shots of ouzo from people we’d never met before kept on appearing at our table. The atmosphere was amazing.” They were still in Plomari two weeks later...

The farmhouse is idyllic with its olive groves and plentiful trees bearing citrus, walnuts, almonds, pomegranates, plums, persimmons and figs.

Philoxenia

Giant terracotta urns (left) that were used for the storage of olive oil were dug out on the ground floor and are now dotted around the garden as a reminder of the rich history of the cottage.

Making a move Luckily, Henry has a UK passport and amid Brexit fears that could possibly complicate the purchase of a property in Greece, the couple decided to invest in a home in 2017. Non-EU residents have several bureaucratic hoops to jump through, although it’s not impossible. “An estate agent showed us a few houses in Plomari that weren’t quite right but then on one occasion pointed across the valley to a small farmhouse nestled in amongst olive trees and told us that it was coming on the market the following year,” explains Sally. “It was small enough to be manageable on a tiny budget, so we came back the following= year determined to buy it – but we were told that it had been sold. We were devastated! To our relief, the agent called us a few days later to let us know that it was available once again.” Inside, the house was “a higgledy-piggledy mess”, as Sally puts it. The upper floor consisted of a passage and four very small rooms – each painted a different and very bright colour. “The downstairs area had served as a barn for animals and storage for farming implements,” she says. “But Henry was inspired by the potential and over a glass of ouzo, or two, we decided we had to buy it.” Sally and Henry were thrilled with their purchase but there were a few more surprises in store… >>

34 home January 2020

The property is small enough to be manageable on a tiny budget. – Sally

An ugly concrete staircase (see inset) was added in the 1950s for access to the top ﬂoor. The staircase and a storeroom obstructed the existing windows. All of this was demolished and a wooden balcony was built.

Before

reader home The couple was sad to let go of the original kitchen with its green cupboards but by rehabilitating the dilapidated furniture the previous owner had left behind, they recaptured its simple Greek aesthetic. The original turquoise floor informed the colour scheme, which also incorporates a few neutral greys.

www. e m a g. c o

See more photos of Philoxenia at homemag.co.za or visit lesvosluxuryretreat.com to make a booking.

36 home January 2020

The farmhouse was built in 1876 by ancestors of the family that Henry and Sally bought it from. Upstairs was divided into a passage and four rooms, each painted a different colour â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including turquoise, green and pink! The couple demolished all the inner walls to create an open-plan kitchen and living room.Â The huge antique mirror was bought for a song at the famous Monastiraki flea market in Athens. >>

Before

Not for the faint-hearted

The couple met a local English-speaking architect whom they liked. “We decided to appoint him as we knew we’d never be able to manage this project from South Africa with contractors who didn’t speak English, use the internet or even read plans,” says Sally. “Construction began in October 2018 with the local architect hiring workmen on our behalf. But shortly after our arrival in April 2019, he fired the building team because they were so often absent from the site.” But this wasn’t the only curve ball… They would soon discover, for example, that the concrete roof of the annex on the south side of the house had been reinforced with parts of an old cast-iron bed and had to be rebuilt. They also found that the beams in the cottage ceiling that had been given the all clear by a local engineer were, in fact, rotten. They had to replace the entire roof. November to March, just before Henry and Sally’s arrival, also brought the highest rainfall in living memory, causing a large stone wall to collapse. On top of that, water leaked into the basement through the walls as the house was built right up against the hill. They had to dig out the hillside and install waterproofing with layers of rock fill. Henry and Sally learnt the hard way that when you’re told something will be done avrio (‘tomorrow’), it could actually be days or weeks later. “After the previous team had been fired, new workmen arrived and, as before, very few could speak English,” says Sally. “We also realised the architect wasn’t focused on the job and hadn’t looked at Henry’s plans; in fact, he hardly visited the site. During the four months we were there, there were periods of up to five weeks when nobody came to the site!” Henry decided he would have to be hands-on. In the end, they finished the job themselves with the help of their gardener and good friend Nikolaos Alatelis in the last three weeks of their stay. >>

38 home January 2020

The pure linen sheets in the main bedroom are from South African textile company Mungo. The pinstriped pillow slips and lightweight grey throw are from a shop called Natural Greek Fabrics that Sally and Henry discovered in Athens; they weave cotton and linen using traditional methods.

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“Our best creation was the spiral shower ﬂoor in the main bathroom downstairs,” Sally says. “We collected the stones on local beaches and even though the builder told us it was impossible, we persevered and stuck the stones to a mesh backing which was laid in the screed. It got a bit messed up in the process but it still looks great.” The ceiling of the lower ﬂoor has been painted white and the stone walls will be whitewashed as soon as they have dried completely after the rainy season.

reader home

Along with lace, embroidery is traditionally used to decorate Greek homes.

On the décor

HAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UYING FOREIGN PROPERTY Investing in property in Europe will not necessarily lead to citizenship and the criteria for citizenship differs from country to country. Residency programmes (also known colloquially as a golden visa) in countries such as Greece, Portugal and Spain do, however, make it possible to live in Europe, and in certain cases to work and study. A South African (with only a South African passport) can buy property in most European countries, says head of Pam Golding International Chris Immelman, with Portugal currently being the most popular. “In Portugal, foreign banks will even grant loans to South Africans – and loans can be secured at a 1.5% interest rate!” The process of buying property in Portugal is quite similar to South Africa, with ownership secured by a title deed. In Greece, for example, it’s quite different, say Henry and Sally. “In our case, the deal was basically secured by a handshake, with no official offer to purchase,” says Henry. Official contracts are only signed much later. The first step to purchasing property in Greece is to hire a real estate attorney and notary who will be responsible for performing due diligence and ensuring the protection of your interests in the transaction.

The traditional striped sheets in the second bedroom in the annex were woven by Natural Greek Fabrics.

[ RESIDENCY VS CITIZENSHIP ]

• Residency in the EU (a golden visa) can be obtained by investing in property in participating countries, with the size of the investment varying from country to country. The amount is €250 000 in Greece, €350 000 in Portugal and €500 000 in Spain. In Greece, a golden visa doesn’t allow you to work in the country or elsewhere in the EU, while a Portuguese golden visa allows you to work, but only in Portugal. Both allow free movement between all Schengen countries. Residency may be subject to renewal and laws could change. There is no guarantee of citizenship. Once you have decided on a country, consult a country specialist to avoid pitfalls. • Citizenship is equivalent to a passport issued by the country in which you have invested. It cannot be taken away from you (unless obtained fraudulently) and gives you the same rights, security and benefits as the country’s nationals. In Europe, you can obtain an EU passport in Malta and Cyprus, but the investments required are more complicated and significantly more expensive than the golden visa programme. In Malta, for example, citizenship will cost you €880 000. CONTACT AND STOCKIST Philoxenia Retreat Lesvos lesvosluxuryretreat.com Mungo 021 201 2374, mungo.co.za

January 2020

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Sources goldenvisas.com; globalpropertyguide.com

Sally had a clear idea of the look she was keen to create. “We wanted to achieve a simple Greek farmhouse aesthetic, but with a luxurious feel. Greece is so hot in summer and the house with its metre-thick walls is an oasis. We used mainly blues and greens to keep the space cool, fresh, light and airy. “The original turquoise wooden floor upstairs was a good starting point: we were keen to retain something from the original house and decided to keep the floor, dings and all, and repaint it in a similar colour,” says Sally. “We added neutral shades to this palette, including a light grey for the window seat cushions and a creamy-grey for the cupboards called Poseidon’s Beard. We’re still not sure if we chose it for the colour or the name!” Sally was also inspired by the kikois produced by South African textile company Mungo; she used them to recover an antique Greek bench, as cushion covers and as hand towels. “I wanted to add ‘zing’ and decided on touches of lemonyellow early on. We didn’t want our space to be glitzy in any way and only used linens and cottons, most of which we got from Natural Greek Fabrics.” Henry and Sally were also given many pieces of furniture and various items from the old house by the previous owner, including hand-woven rugs made by his mother about 80 years ago! “Incorporating these things helped to maintain the Greek feel and authenticity that we wanted,” says Sally. “We left the house as ‘untouched’ as possible but we did replace an aluminium door with a beautiful antique door we found at an old warehouse in the town of Mytilini. It was meticulously repaired by Plomari craftsmen. We agonised over this expensive purchase but now we regard it as an essential piece and a wonderful work of art.” The couple decided to call their beautiful home ‘Philoxenia’ – and the front door is indeed always open to friends and strangers alike.

of love

A Cape Town couple’s quirky weekend escape in the historic West Coast town of Hopefield has been 10 years in the making – and it’s still not ‘finished’. By Lianne Burton • Photographs Francois Oberholster Styling Marian van Wyk

reader home WHO LIVES HERE? Heino Reuling and Christo Koegelenberg WHERE Hopefield SIZE house: 121m²; erf: 2 700m²

The lounge provides a cosy corner in a large open-plan space that includes the dining area (opposite). Christo and Heino update the décor seasonally, and inexpensively, by changing the scatter cushions. Cushions from MRP Home

January 2020

home

Interior designer Christo Koegelenberg and hotelier Heino Reuling lead very busy lives. Their Sea Point, Cape Town home accommodates Christo’s office, the couple’s smart city bolt-hole, and a luxury Airbnb conversion that’s fully booked year-round. Weekdays are a blur of activity. In 2009, they decided to invest in a weekend home where they can decompress and relax with friends. They confined their search to properties no more than 140km from Cape Town. “Any further and the first part of the weekend away is just traffic and stress,” says Christo. The listing for an original farm barn – a heritage building about 140 years old on a

piece of land roughly the size of a rugby field – immediately caught their attention. Coincidentally, it was in a town Christo knew well. Growing up in nearby Vredenburg, he would often attend school sports events in Hopefield, the oldest West Coast town in the heart of the Sandveld. Christo’s parents have since moved to Velddrif, and both he and Heino have friends and family in Langebaan, Saldanha, Vredenburg and all over the West Coast. Positioned in a scenic valley alongside the Zoute River, with access to borehole water, the property had great potential.

The barn itself, however, was totally dilapidated and without water or electricity. The lower level was being used as a workshop where bricks were produced, two-by-two, in old-fashioned moulds. The top floor was an attic, with no staircase to access it. While the listing attracted plenty of attention, the run-down barn deterred buyers; also, the building was subject to strict heritage guidelines. “People were scared of the renovation,” says Christo. The couple, however, knew immediately: “This is it”. >>

reader home

Junk shop finds, gifts and items bought on auction or Facebook Marketplace create a characterful, layered look. The wooden cabinet behind the dining room table (above left) is from the original Hopefield pharmacy. “Everything has a story,” says Christo. “I’m not a minimalist.” He describes the yellow and blue accents as his “happy colours”.

Before

January 2020

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The barn loft has been transformed into a vast, open-plan main suite. Original sandstone and clay walls, weathered floorboards and exposed beams give the space a relaxed, rustic beauty, while tongue-and-groove ceilings provide insulation. Reclaimed building materials from Die Bou Smous in Hopefield

reader home

Renovating on a tight budget

It’s in the detail A whitewashed wooden screen provides space to hang bath towels and ‘hides’ other treasures waiting to be repurposed.

“We had no money for renovations, so we did everything ourselves,” says Christo. “It was a real labour of love.” Having been taught to work with his hands by his grandfather and father, both accomplished carpenters, Christo built a wooden staircase up to the attic. The massive loft was kept open and converted into a generous main bedroom and bathroom, while the ground floor was transformed into an open-plan space consisting of a living area, dining room and kitchen. Christo’s father was able to oversee building work during the week, with Christo and Heino checking progress on weekends. Christo’s brief was very clear: “Don’t try to make it perfect.” In keeping with the Cape Dutch vernacular, low whitewashed boundary walls were built and an idyllic outdoor entertainment and pool area was constructed in the shade of established date palms. Summer temperatures in Hopefield can reach 47˚C. “We like the heat,” says Christo. “But water is essential. We wouldn’t be able to survive here without a pool.” Most of the fixtures, fittings and furniture in the barn were bought second-hand or at auctions; other pieces were donated by friends. Christo found sash windows, including glass, for just R800 when new window frames alone would have cost about R4 500 each. An old wooden kitchen was transported from Newlands in Cape Town and repurposed, while an unwanted gazebo was retrieved from Onrus and installed as the roof of the outdoor area. Old shower panels have been upcycled into dividers that provide wind protection and an unused barn door became the outdoor dining table. “We got so many free things,” says Christo, who still makes regular trips in his trusty Ford Ranger with a hired trailer to “fetch this and that”. “I try to use reclaimed everything,” he explains. “My approach is just to have fun.” >> January 2020

home

Making room for friends and family With the barn converted into a one-bedroom space and Heino’s family scheduled to visit from Pretoria, the couple were faced with an accommodation shortage. The solution? Christo built an A-frame tent in four days; it is serviced by an ablution block at the back of the barn. As more friends and family wanted to visit, Christo and Heino came up with other novel ideas. “We decided to create a variety of spots for friends outside,” says Christo. They bought an old caravan from a school friend, which

Christo converted into the ‘Chanel’ suite, with Chanel handbag lining for the interior. The brass letters were recycled from a project Christo worked on at the Cape Law Society. “I was lucky to be able to spell out the word Chanel,” he says. A second caravan, bought in Moorreesburg and originally used by Transnet during the building of the railway line, initially served as Christo and Heino’s accommodation at AfrikaBurn in the Tankwa Karoo. It’s now called the ‘Trans-Karoo’ suite.

Landscaped pathways link the various outdoor accommodation options to this well-appointed shared bathroom. Landscaping by Herman Nel

48 home January 2020

The ‘Trans-Karoo’ suite is surprisingly spacious.

The stoep of the cottage built to accommodate Christo and Heino’s parents is framed by two wine barrels that have been upcycled as plant pots.

Home away from home A bricks-and-mortar cottage with an en-suite bathroom in an unusual chimney-like structure was built on original foundations to accommodate Christo and Heino’s parents when they come to visit. Christo also dreams of building a double-storey tree house accessed by a spiral staircase. “We can now sleep 14 people,” Christo says. “Our rule for friends and family is that you can visit anytime, but you have to pull your weight. That means in the kitchen or making cocktails at the bar. No-one visits empty-handed.” The couple has come to regard their weekend escape as home. “This place is really special to us. We’re the first people to live in the barn. We’re so happy here.” Most weekends are now spent buying fresh produce from the Hopefield Saturday morning farmer’s market and then whipping up delicious meals in the barn or on the braai. “We all love cooking,” says Christo. “Once we made pasta from scratch and had it hanging from the curtain rods!” Their advice on tackling an ambitious renovation? Don’t be daunted. Re-imagine. Take your time. “And know that it may never be finished,” says Christo. STOCKISTS AND CONTACTS Bartlett & Dunster 031 305 4944, bartlettanddunster.co.za Christo Koegelenberg Interiors 021 439 1580, christointeriors.co.za Die Bou Smous 082 304 0448 Facebook Marketplace facebook.com/marketplace Herman Nel 076 572 3800 Hertex 021 461 7420/3, hertex.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Tiletoria 021 202 0160, tiletoria.co.za

50 home January 2020

Blue-and-white Moroccan-style tiles have been used inside the pool for an exotic effect.

reader home

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the detail Seating has been designed with siestas in mind and weatherproof cushion covers offer comfort and practicality.

The outdoor space has been conceived as a series of semi-private zones for lounging, cooking, eating, reading, relaxing, swimming and napping. Outdoor fabrics from Hertex and Bartlett & Dunster; tiles from Tiletoria

rookie stylist

A ‘rookie’

Meet Nadine Theron, the winner of our ﬁrst-ever Rookie Stylist competition in partnership with MRP Home.

By Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel • Photographs Francois Oberholster • Styling Marian van Wyk

here’s nothing Nadine Theron likes better than escaping to her own dream world where she can play ‘house-house’ to her heart’s content. “Decorating relaxes me! If my house isn’t neat and pretty, I battle to be productive,” she said excitedly when she was named the winner of Tuis | Home’s Rookie Stylist competition in partnership with MRP Home on Instagram.

Nadine and her husband Philip have lived in their house, which was built in the 1930s, for four years. They fell in love with the Oregon pine floors and spacious rooms and slowly but surely got rid of the purple and yellow tiles; the dark blue bathtub, basin and toilet; the vinyl flooring and thick woollen carpets. They also demolished a few walls to improve the flow.

Follow @tuishomemag and @mrp_home on Instagram; to view all the entries, search for #rookiestylist2019.

The top nook MAIN BEDROOM A striking focal wall painted in Plascon Night Moss catches your eye when you enter the main bedroom. The headboard, a gift from Nadine’s brother, is made from oak planks discarded by a wine cellar; they were previously used for red wine ageing barrels. Nadine made the throw on the bed from a Hertex fabric swatch book; the rest of the bedding was bought with her winnings at MRP Home. Cement reindeer head from Bali Trading

GUEST ROOM This table has been every conceivable colour but currently boasts a coat of Dulux Pink Nevada; it’s beautifully offset by wallpaper from Hertex.

Decorating is in her blood With the renovations done and dusted, Nadine could give free rein to her eclectic décor style, which she describes as “a colourful concoction of old and new”. “I throw a lot of stuff together then stand back and if it looks good, I leave it as is!” Nadine says she inherited her love of decorating from her late mother, Marietha van Wyk. “As a child, money was in short supply but my mom always came up with clever ways to turn our house into a beautiful, sociable space,” she explains. “I remember how she borrowed and displayed portraits from the local library for three months and constantly moved the furniture around; the house looked different every time you walked in. I definitely got my love for rearranging furniture from her – much to my husband’s irritation!” Fortunately, Nadine and Philip share a passion for decorating. “He’s very handy and does such neat work. He has a good eye and I always know that if he helps, my project will turn out exactly the way I want it.” >>

KITCHEN Grandma’s shelf in the kitchen is used to display a variety of tins received from various aunts, grannies and moms.

Art Deco cabinet and bench from Odds & Ends Cottage Antiques

[ NADINE’S TIPS ]

• Sample pots of paint (250ml) are inexpensive and perfect for smaller pieces of furniture. • Look at what you have with fresh eyes: a hoop can be turned into a wreath for your front door and a tablecloth makes a striking wall hanging. • Use your best and most hard-wearing items to finish a room to your satisfaction; it’s no good having six beautiful pieces distributed between six different rooms and not making an impact anywhere. • Get rid of furniture that serves no purpose and rather invest in something that works.

GUEST BATHROOM The original floor was retained – Nadine and Philip like the retro feel. They decided on a black-and-white theme with accent colours. Philip made the towel ladder from copper pipes and two different shades of blue were mixed for the walls above the tiles.

STOCKISTS Bali Trading 028 713 2080, balitrading.co.za Hertex 021 914 3390, hertex.co.za; MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Odds & Ends Cottage Antiques 021 851 8267

January 2020

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Large Harris copper pendant R499.99

Printed Aloha rug (120 x 180cm) R599.99

Metal wire pendant R699.99 Cascade Mangowood mirror (60cm) R599.99

Grey chenille brush stroke rug (120 x 180cm) R1 500

Bandana paper-weave utility basket R139.99

Quilted velvet dining chair in ochre R999.99

Gold wire basket (medium) R299.99

Mini grey colour-block lamp R169.99

Maddox chair R3 700 Mini glass lantern R19.99

54 home January 2020

PROMOTION Flower jewellery holder R139.99 Polycotton mingle (140 x 180cm) R99.99

FAB FINDS AT

MRP HOME Unleash your inner stylist with these beautiful buys!

Yellow belly vase R19.99

Bucket with citronella candle R49.99

Copper wire diamond pendant R599.99

Industrial round nest table set R1 800

Lemon bergamot candle R29.99 Tweedle misted yellow scatter R99.99

Sienna ďŹ&#x201A;oral scatter R159.99

Cognac 3-seater velvet couch in emerald R9 000

Aloha leaf scatter R159.99

MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com

WE ARE IN AN ERA OF ESCAPISM

Let us bring your brand to life by creating emotional and memorable connections through shared experiences. Contact us on 011 713 9147 or live@media24.com

YOUR FULL SERVICE EVENTS AGENCY SIGNATURE SERIES EVENTS

BESPOKE EVENTS

DStv channel 147

From 15 January

Trap! Dis my huis A mad house VIA 50 strangers under one roof Wednesdays 20:30

Saturdays 22:00

By Deon de Goede • Photographs Francois Oberholster Styling Marian van Wyk

MAKE A KITCHEN

Deon de Goede

Ample free time on your hands this holiday? Do something creative!

For the handles, drill two holes about 5cm in from the corners of the top shelf. Push a length of rope through each set of holes ĂŶĚ ƟĞ Ă ŬŶŽƚ ŝŶ each end underneath the shelf.

58 home January 2020

do it yourself

You will need SHOPPING LIST • planed pine (32 x 220mm), cut into six lengths of 650mm • shelf supports and gussets • Alcolin Fast Set Wood Glue • one packet coach screws (6 x 40mm) • four castors • pine wood ﬁller • 220-grit sandpaper • 8mm dowel, cut into 40mm lengths • two 60cm lengths of 1cm-thick rope

TOOLS • cordless drill and 3mm and 8mm drill bit • jigsaw • hacksaw or angle grinder • pencil • tape measure • try square • wood clamps

PROJECT NOTES • We dismantled a second-hand steel shelf and re-used the steel uprights, but you can buy ordinary 50 x 3mm angle iron for the same purpose (R225 for 6m). • Our trolley’s three shelves (650 x 440mm each) consist of two 220mm-wide planks that were joined together with dowels. • We had the corner struts and gussets powder-coated.

Here’s how…

1 Measure and mark the four corner struts in the desired length for the height of your trolley and cut them with the hacksaw. Sand any rough edges smooth and have them and the gussets powder-coated if desired.

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 2 hours Do it yourself for ± R2 170: wood R1 000, coach screws R50, nuts and bolts R20, Alcolin Fast Set Wood Glue R30, sandpaper R10, wood ﬁller R30, old steel shelf R500, powder-coating R200, castors R330

2 2 Make the shelves by laying the two pine planks together on their edges. Measure, mark and drill 8mm perpendicular holes on each side for the dowels. Spread the long edges generously with wood glue, insert a dowel in each set of holes and clamp the two planks together.

Timber supplied by Timbercity

3 Use the nuts and bolts of the steel shelf and screw two gussets to the top and bottom of each angle iron. Position the upper and lower shelf between the angle iron, drill pilot holes where the shelves will be positioned in the angle iron and gussets, and screw the two shelves together with the coach screws. 4 Screw a castor to each corner of the trolley. Screw the third shelf in the middle and turn the trolley the right way up. Fill all visible screw holes with wood ﬁller and sand to a smooth ﬁnish.

CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS Deon de Goede 084 589 5026, deon@diydeon.co.za Timbercity 0861 174 273, timbercity.co.za

PROMOTION

SHOUT OPA!

(and break a few plates) with

TJHOKO PAINT Create a Greek isle vibe in your own home with touches of white and blue, earthy textures and chalk paint!

Here’s how...

1 1 Clean the cement surface thoroughly with mutton cloth dipped in lacquer thinners and allow 20–40 minutes for it to dry completely.

Paint colour

2 Position the stencil on the ﬂoor (it’s important to take the full size of the design into consideration); secure with masking tape.

3 3 Mix 10ml Tjhoko Paint in the colour Da’vid with a pot of Stencil of Paris.

Project notes • Use one pot of Stencil of Paris for each square metre you wish to stencil. • Adding chalk paint to Stencil of Paris not only ƟŶƚƐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƐƚĞ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ŵĂŬĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ƐƵƌĨĂĐĞ ŵŽƌĞ ǁĂƐŚĂďůĞ͘ • It takes 2 to 3 hours for Stencil of Paris to dry completely, depending on how thick you apply the paste. The paste must ďĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞůǇ ĚƌǇ ďĞĨŽƌĞ placing any furniture on the surface. • To clean the stencilled ŇŽŽƌ͕ ĂŶ ĂůůͲƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ cleaner is recommended.

4 4 Apply it evenly over the stencil with the paint scraper. Judge for yourself how thick you want the paste mixture to be.

CONTACT Tjhoko Paint 073 206 3104, tjhokopaint.co.za

60 home January 2020

Dani’s Dare

5 5 Remove the stencil carefully while the paste is still damp. Wash the stencil and scraper thoroughly in lukewarm water after stencilling each quarter of your mandala, and wait until the paste is completely dry before stencilling the next quarter. Repeat steps 2 to 5 to complete the design. To view the video, go to homemag.co.za.

Location Môredou Interiors (moredou.co.za) • Photographs ER Lombard

You will need • 750ml lacquer thinners • mutton cloth • masking tape • stencil (the mandala pattern was repeated four times to complete the design) • 4 x 290ml pots of Stencil of Paris • 40ml Tjhoko Paint in the colour Da’vid • 5cm paint scraper (or palette knife)

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

WITH FL AIR with a twist!

MEET OUR

TOP 9!

With two new categories and R100 000 in cash prizes up for grabs, this year’s Fix it with Flair competition generated a ﬂood of entries. 62 home January 2020

THE PRIZES R100 000 in cash will be won: The winner of each category will receive R25 000. The runner-up in each category will receive R5 000. The Top 9 contestants will each receive R1 000. One favourite, based on reader votes, will get R1 000. T&Cs apply – ﬁnd them online at tuis-ﬁxit.netwerk24.com.

COMPETITION

Here are our finalists in each category (in no particular order):

DIY

WHO SimonÃ© and Anwar Visagie-Davids WHERE Cape Town WHAT Entire home COST R85 000

Before

Before WHO Sarah and Richard Mattheyse WHERE Cape Town WHAT Kitchen COST R56 332

WHO Tammy Kruger and Simon Pringle WHERE Cape Town WHAT Outdoor area COST R24 900

Before

INNOVATION

WHO Christopher Smith and Hayley Harper WHERE Somerset West WHAT Outdoor area COST R360 000

Before

Destroyed in the Knysna fire! WHO Andrew Yates WHERE Sedgefield WHAT Cottage COST R141 039

Before WHO Christian Greyling WHERE Pretoria WHAT Entire home COST R121 150

64 home January 2020

COMPETITION

MOST BEAUTIFUL

Before WHO Eugene and Jenna Theron WHERE Stanford WHAT Entire home COST R484 732

Before

WHO Carel Pieter Hoffman WHERE Van Wyksvlei WHAT Entire home COST R455 672

WHO Sharon Rix and Rudolph Prinsloo WHERE Stellenbosch WHAT Kitchen COST R135 570

Before

advice

Email your queries to experts@homemag.co.za.

Ask the experts

[ASK US ON FACEBOOK]

Compiled by Shané Barnard

Do you have an urgent question that just can’t wait? Then join our Tuis|Home Experts group on Facebook and get help from the team, professionals and other readers.

Need help planning the layout of your lounge or wondering when to replace your wooden window frames? You ask – we find the answers. Timeless beauty Monika Bayer of Somerset West writes On page 59 of your August 2016 edition, you featured beautiful proteas dipped in Plaster of Paris. How do I recreate this look? Johan Coetzee of World of Decorative Concrete replies You can create this effect relatively simply with a Stucco Italiano White Dipping Kit. Start by mixing the dipping kit as per the package instructions. Dip the protea (it doesn’t have to be dry) in the mixture and ensure that all areas are covered. Then hang the flower upside down so the mixture can drip off. Avoid hanging it in direct sunlight and take care not to leave finger marks on wet areas. Allow the protea to dry completely before dipping a second time – this will only be necessary if the protea wasn’t coated all over the first time round. CONTACT wodc.co.za

For timber windows

Andrea Jamieson of Umhlanga writes We recently bought a home with lovely timber-frame windows; unfortunately, many of them are quite damaged. How do I care for and maintain the frames? Nerisa Joubert, marketing manager of Swartland, replies Wooden windows require periodic care to ensure that they maintain their good looks, durability and functionality. Most manufacturers recommend that you treat your wooden windows annually; however, in our harsh South African climate you should treat them just before the rainy season and again before the dry season. Before you begin,

determine the current finish on your windows as this will influence maintenance. Once you’ve done that, follow these tips: Varnish Removing and recoating wood that has been sealed with varnish is notoriously hard work. However, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to sand the entire window: simply close the window to see which parts are exposed to the outdoors and sand down the coating on these bits. You will find that in some sections sanding will not get rid of all the varnish; you will need to use sugar soap or paint stripper to remove it. Once all the varnish has been removed, wash off the residue with water and allow the wood to dry properly before recoating. Internal surfaces need not be sanded down; just roughen them slightly with sandpaper in order to create a key for the new coating.

Sealants These have a lifespan of up to ﬁve years; they’re also easier to apply and maintain. When the coating eventually dries out, all you need to do is give the wooden window a gentle sanding. In some cases, you can forego sanding altogether and simply give it a wipe down with a cloth soaked in mineral turpentine. Then allow the surface to dry thoroughly before recoating it with a fresh sealant. Oil has a very short lifespan and if it isn’t thinned out, build-up can occur which makes the surface tacky. To remove the oil and recoat the wood, all the tacky bits have to be scraped off. The timber must be washed down thoroughly with mineral turpentine and then allowed to dry before you reseal the wood. CONTACT swartland.co.za >> 2019

OP RENDS From wallpaper & vinyl to steel frames & exposed brick

Weekend projects with leftover building materials

Paint colours

homes

January 2020

kitchens, bathrooms & a retractable deck

home

R65 60

20012

IMPR OVE! i i i g

Budget breakdowns

DON DON’T ON T MOV MOVE OV ,

All the best surfaces even resin

Stockists

Fab ﬂoors

YOUR MUSTHAVE VE GUIDE GUIDE

9 772073 882005

See the entire house in Home Renovations 2019, on sale now.

INCANDA COMPET TION

Wi a leath l er couch worth R20 000!

Floor plans

Love this lounge?

Fine finishes

Water-based coatings such as Woodoc Water-Borne Marine Sealer are the easiest to maintain and apply and they boast a wide range of other beneﬁts, such as increased ﬂexibility, excellent durability and UV-protection. In addition to being stain- and water-repellent, Water-Borne Marine Sealer also offers protection against wind, pollution and salt spray.

Décor dilemma The challenge

MaryAnn Bekker of Calitzdorp writes We live in an old farmhouse with a large living room located next to the dining room; this space leads out to the porch through wooden sliding doors and there’s a ﬁreplace. How can we improve the layout? I would also like to strike a balance between modern and farm-style décor; which colours can I introduce with accessories that will complement the furniture?

The solution

Micke de Villiers of Welcome Home replies The size of your living room provides you with many different options for layouts and functionality but there are too many individual items in the space that don’t connect to the overall look and feel. Here are some suggestions:

LAYOUT Why not turn your fireplace into a focal point? You could remove the decorative mirror and clad the surround in a more modern finish – stained copper cladding, a screed finish or a timber mantelpiece would complement the design. You could also replace the fireplace with a closed-combustion unit with a glass door. We suggest adding a white marble foot to the base of the fireplace for practical and decorative reasons. This, in combination with your traditional furniture pieces, will create the modern farm-style look you want. To balance the large fireplace, position a big comfy sofa on the opposite side. Try a light grey to go with your duck-egg blue tub chairs. A large (3 x 4m) rug with a blue-grey tone in a Persian design would also anchor the seating area, provide warmth and add texture. Place the blue velvet chairs on either side of the sliding doors to create more symmetry.

The space now...

Sketches Eugene Human (humanarchitecture.co.za)

68 home January 2020

advice

YOUR DREAM HOME

STARTS HERE Struggling with a décor dilemma at home and in need of expert advice? Look no further than Home’s new one-stop professional design service called Welcome Home. Choose from three packages and we’ll provide you with design ideas for any space in need of a makeover, whether it be a bedroom or living room that requires a fresh look, or a kitchen or bathroom that needs a complete overhaul.

Duram Atlantic Drift

Dulux Venetian Crystal 2

Duram Greyton Snow

Dulux Dusted Moss 2

Go to welcomehome.co.za

PALETTE

Click on GET STARTED and choose the space that needs a makeover.

You already have a good neutral palette to work with. Add a splash of dark blue or a warm dark grey to the walls on either side of the ﬁreplace. The white skirting and cornices add interesting detail.

Fill out the questionnaire

DECORATIVE ELEMENTS These can be collected over time to make the space more homely. Scatter cushions and throws will add texture and pattern to the room but stick to whites, greys and blues when making your purchases. Use oversized rectangular scatters (these are very trendy now) with one in a bold pattern on the sofa to make a statement. Also consider adding artworks above the existing server. Last but not least, install a large modern pendant light in the centre of the room in place of your current light fitting. We suggest something with glass or gold touches to add a reflective element. A modern fitting will also complement the fireplace design and enhance a contemporary farm-style look. CONTACT welcomehome.co.za >>

Once the questionnaire is completed and you’ve selected your package, a professional interior designer will put together a bespoke box with custom ﬂoor plans and sketches, samples of items such as ﬂooring, countertops, curtains and upholstery, as well as paint swatches and a list of furniture suggestions to transform your space.

Your bespoke design box will be delivered!

You’ll get a 15% discount on everything you buy from the box – it pays for itself!

Quick questions

Q: What colour paint was used in the en suite on page 48 of your November 2019 issue? – Bronwyn Menne, Midstream, Gauteng A: The homeowner used Midas Earthcote’s Windswept in the colour Ja Boetie Johan and added extra white paint until it was a much softer grey.

Q: I love the rug on page 24 of the September 2019 issue; where can I buy it? – Anneli van Jaarsveld, Wellington A: The rug is from MRP Home (mrphome.com); you can ﬁnd similar ones at Hertex (hertex.co.za) and Sammy Sheppard (sammysheppard.co.za).

Q: Where can I find kataifi pastry to make the recipe on page 112 of your September 2019 issue? – Susan Hobson, Port Elizabeth A: We bought it from the Vineyard Deli in Kenridge, Cape Town (vineyarddeli.co.za) but Mediterranean Delicacies (bmfoods.co.za) also produces kataifi and it’s available in most supermarkets. Q: I love the artwork on page 27 of your August 2019 issue; who is the artist? – Andries Havenga, Somerset West A: The piece is by British artist W. Dobson. Many of his paintings depict Cape Town’s mountain landscapes. >>

PROMOTION

Holm 3-seater sofa (203cm W x 83cm D) R14 599

SET THE SCENE Known for their gorgeous furniture, Sofacompany now also offers a range of homeware to spruce up your space.

Emma stool (40cm H) R1 199

Comb rug (200cm W x 290cm L) R4 499 Alba scatter (30cm H x 50cm W) R399

Arctic bear R699 (25cm H)

Brick throw (125cm W x 150cm L) R999 Cross-stitch baskets (large) R1 099, (medium) R759 Ella table lamp (40cm H) R1 499

Hobro coffee table (44cm H x 120cm W x 60cm D) R8 999

Bobble planter (35cm H x 32cm W) R1 599

Keen to touch and feel the range? Visit Sofacompany’s showrooms. CAPE TOWN

JOHANNESBURG

179 Buitengracht Street Gardens 021 200 5904

8 Desmond Street Kramerville 010 590 6336

Or shop Sofacompany’s range of homeware online at za.sofacompany.com. The range includes mirrors, rugs, scatters, artworks, lighting and more.

January 2020

home

Quick questions

Q: Where did the homeowners buy the blue-and-white carpet featured on page 36 of your October 2019 issue? – Lynette Jacobson, St Francis Bay A: The rug is from Builders (builders.co.za); you can ﬁnd something similar at Hertex (hertex.co.za).

Q: Who installed the swimming pool on page 79 of your September 2019 issue? – Rietha Amos, Boksburg A: The owners bought the shell and pump from Pools for Africa (poolsforafrica.co.za) and a local builder built the walls around it. The owners then ﬁnished off the low walls with decking planks.

Colourful & Robust bust Garden Hose wi with Fittings 12mm x 20m Garden Hose available in three bright colours - ﬁttings included. Matching coloured Pyramid Sprayers are available. t Durable t Cost effective t Kink Free t 8 Year Warranty on Garden Hose

A Rain Gauge with a Difference! t Can be moved to any spot in the garden simply by replacing the mount bracket with a stick or rod. t The easy mount bracket with its clever groove design enables the gauge to slide on and off effortlessly. On a Post

On the Farm

In the Garden

t UV Resistance makes the WATEX Rain Gauge STRONGER and COST EFFECTIVE.

Available from Leading Hardware Stores and Nurseries.

t Accurate readings. t Locally manufactured. www.watex.co.za 5869 WATEX Home 1/2 pg Jan’20

PROMOTION

KEEP COOL

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

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

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.

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

advice

email your renovations to experts @homemag.co.za

THE HOMEOWNERS Wilma and Marius Louw WHERE Struisbaai, Western Cape SIZE 150m2

Don’t move, This A-frame holiday home was given a facelift – literally! By Shané Barnard • Photographs Francois Oberholster • Styling Misi Overturf

A popular choice A combination of relatively inexpensive building costs, internal flexibility without the need for load-bearing walls (all of the load is carried through the roof beams) and their novelty makes A-frame holiday homes popular. Brendan Hart of Mayat Hart Architects and Heritage Consultants says the current resurgence of popularity may have something to do with a sense of nostalgia as well as innovation. He explains the background of A-frame building typology: A-frame buildings have been around for thousands of years. They can be found in primitive architecture from Northern Europe and Scandinavia, areas of the South Pacific including New Zealand as well as parts of Asia such as China. Modern A-frame buildings first started to emerge in the late 1930s with early modernist architects experimenting with this unusual building style. It became very popular from the 1950s through to the 1970s. The appeal of A-frame construction is its cost-effectiveness, explains Leanie van Schalkwyk of KMMA Architects: The saving is achieved by the quick assembly on-site and the minimisation of conventional labour-intensive construction methods. Another advantage is the structural flexibility, which allows you to extend or alter an existing A-frame building within the modular framework. Internal walls are typically nonstructural, so alterations can easily be made to the floor layout. However, a professional should be consulted if walls that could affect the structural support of an existing loft are to be removed. To add light to internal spaces, skylights and dormer windows can be retrofitted to existing A-frame buildings. Consideration should be given to building orientation when doing window placement, as direct sunlight can contribute to heat gain inside the building. CONTACTS mayathart.com, kmma.co.za

74 home January 2020

ilma Louw had always dreamed of owning a piece of land in the Karoo with a cacophony of cicadas providing the background noise. Born in the Karoo town of Laingsburg and having experienced the catastrophic flood of 1981, Wilma is not a fan of water or the sea but when she came across this A-frame house in Struisbaai on Property24 during one of her online searches, she immediately started making plans to acquire her own holiday home – similar to the A-frame houses she’d seen on the TV show Great Canadian Cottages. And even though she’s not crazy about water, her husband Marius and son Jacques (17) both love the ocean... So, in June 2017 the Louws took a big chance and made a cheeky offer on a run-down A-frame house, without Wilma ever having set foot in the coastal town! And when the other offer-to-purchase fell through, the couple got the house – at a bargain price.

FAÇADE

Before Marius built a braai with recycled bricks on the 36m² deck. Decking from Envirodeck

The distinctive A-frame structure underwent a complete metamorphosis. “We basically took off the entire front of the house, rebuilt it and replaced it. It was literally a facelift,” explains Wilma. Wood panelling on the top floor was replaced by large windows to let in more natural light. Wilma initially wanted to install stacking doors that open out onto the new composite-wood deck (below left) on the lower level, but decided instead on sliding doors with aluminium frames that slide open on either side. The old brickwork next to the sliding doors was clad with aluminium, thus protecting the house against the elements. Glass, sliding doors and aluminium cladding from Suidpunt Glass and Aluminium

LIVING AREA

• The 90m² ground floor consists of a living area, kitchen and new guest loo. There were large cracks in the original cement floor, so the Louws chopped it up and cast a new screed layer, before installing laminated wooden floors on top. • The rickety wooden staircase that led to the top floor was removed and replaced with a new steel staircase; Marius shifted it to the opposite side of the living area and installed it next to the guest loo. Graphic wallpaper creates a striking focal point. Wilma bought the wine crates at the Stellenberg Market. • The interior walls of the A-frame were clad with IsoBoard panels, which keep the space cool during the hot summer holidays. >> KronoSwiss flooring from Flooring Solutions; wallpaper from La Perle

Before

DINING AREA

To support the upper floor, Marius installed two extra load-bearing beams across the length of the house. Dining table from Incanda; chairs from Coricraft; sideboard from Weylandts; pendants from Eagle Lighting; table runner and napkins from La Perle

76 home January 2020

Rug from Incanda; sofa from Sofaworx; scatters from La Perle

Before

KITCHEN

The original kitchen was just a single cupboard with a sink and a freestanding island. The new U-shaped kitchen cabinets, which Marius built himself, now provide sufficient workspace for Wilma to cook up a storm. The new stove was one of Wilma’s prerequisites when they decided on the house. “Marius connected the stove’s gas on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day I was able to prepare a feast for a whole bunch of guests,” she says, recalling their first holiday in the new house in December 2017.

advice

Bookshelf from MRP Home

Kelim from Persian Rug Store; tea towel from La Perle; Caesarstone countertops from FJ Snyders Built-in Cupboards

Marius designed the coffee station, which also serves as a partition to conceal the refrigerator, washing machine and tumble dryer from the rest of the open-plan living area. Wilma stores her pots and pans in the bottom drawer. Initially, Marius also designed doors for the top section, but Wilma realised they would not be necessary – she says they are forever making cups of coffee to enjoy while reading, so the doors would most likely have remained open! >>

January 2020

home

advice

Marius’s middle name is ‘Do-it-yourself’! – Wilma A formidable team

Total: R281 083

With the deal sealed, Wilma carefully studied all the photos of the house on Property24 and started making notes about everything that needed to be repaired. By the time they got the keys three months later, Marius had drawn up the plans and they could start the renovations. “Luckily, he is an old hand at building and renovating – when he was in matric, he and his dad built their family home in Kenridge,” says Wilma. “We are a formidable team. I show him the pictures and he makes it happen!” During the renovation, which took just less than two years, the main house was given an open-plan kitchen and living area on the ground floor, with a spacious bedroom and en-suite bathroom for Wilma and Marius upstairs. Jacques has an adjacent cottage with its own small kitchen, pool table and bedroom – perfect for hanging out with friends. And their house is far enough from the sea for the “restless roar” of the ocean not to bother her, says Wilma.

Flooring

21 500

Tiles

6 584

Building materials

41 551

Sliding doors, glass and cladding

43 650

Ceiling

25 754

Hiring of tools Kitchen

620 R17 613

Painting and tiling

63 200

Electrician

24 000

Lighting

11 963

Staircase

14 850

Paint

Ground floor

Bathroom Lounge

Bathroom

Kitchen

Bedroom

Elevation

Top floor

Wilma runs a fabric business in Paarl, where she had these Van Gogh cushion covers printed. “Since there are no walls for hanging artworks, I decided to print art on the scatter cushions instead.” Scatters from La Perle; ottomans reupholstered by Kingdom Upholsterers

BATHROOM

Marius transformed the original cramped bathroom on the ground floor into a guest loo. The en-suite bathroom on the top floor was built from scratch. Towels from Woolworths; wallpaper from La Perle

9 798

Before

What was the biggest challenge? Marius built and assembled the entire balcony on the ground, says Wilma. When one of the neighbours walked past and asked him what he was doing, he must have thought Marius had taken leave of his senses! But eventually he and Jacques lifted the balcony up to the top with a rope-and-pulley system and bolted it there. When the neighbour walked by the next morning, he could scarcely believe his eyes!

BEDROOM

The upper level of just 60m² was previously divided into three rooms with concertina doors and because the house had been unoccupied for quite a while, bats had taken up residence. This area now consists of a spacious open-plan bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Wilma had roller blinds installed to shield against the early morning sun. Rug from Rugs Original; duvet from Woolworths; cushions from La Perle CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS Coricraft 011 611 8700, coricraft.co.za Envirodeck 021 706 1099, envirodeck.co.za Eagle Lighting 021 914 2488, eaglelighting.co.za FJ Snyders Built-in Cupboards 028 425 1818 Flooring Solutions 021 982 8008, ﬂooringsolutions.co.za Incanda 021 914 5832, incanda.co.za IsoBoard 021 983 1140, isoboard.com Kingdom Upholsterers 021 872 8924 La Perle 021 871 1663, laperle.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Persian Rug Store 021 982 2570 Rugs Original 087 353 9785, rugsoriginal.co.za Sofaworx 021 418 0363, sofaworx.co.za Suidpunt Glass and Aluminium 028 435 6050 Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za

January 2020

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advice

Email your queries to pets@homemag.co.za

Animal antics

A sandy snack

Bailey, a Wheaten Scottish Terrier, enjoys a ‘sea lolly’ in Strand. – Chelsea Snyman, Durbanville

Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

From coast to coast…

What a catch!

Rambo doesn’t miss a single ball at Dias Beach in Mossel Bay. – Carla Erasmus, Alberton

On the bench

Asjas and Bessie captured in the moment by family member Ryno Fourie on the beach close to Gouritsmond. – Verona Claassen, Oudtshoorn

Diggin’ it

Having a blast in Yzerfontein is the highlight of Kingston’s holiday. – Lorette Slabber, Paarl

Let’s go!

Rocky lives for weekends in Yzerfontein on the West Coast. – Anél la Grange, Paarl

Q&A

Turn over a new leaf

Wilma Moodie of Johannesburg writes

Hot product The EazyDog Doggy Flotation Device (R550–R1 100, shingavet.co.za) boasts unique Ultra-Buoyancy Foam which is strategically positioned around the vest to keep your dog in a natural swimming position at all times. It won’t hinder movement and can be fastened or removed quickly and easily.

Beach babes

Nine-week-old English Pointer Coco catches some rays in Haga Haga in the Eastern Cape. – Annemi Jordaan, Aliwal North

Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a Car Seat Hammock from Wagworld (wagworld.co.za). Available from leading vet and pet shops, the hard-wearing Car Seat Hammock is ideal after a visit to the beach as it boasts waterproof canvas on top to protect your car seats from hair and scratches, while the rubberised, waterproof fabric at the bottom prevents sliding. One size ﬁts all cars, typically a sedan backseat or SUV ‘dog box’, and bungee cords hook over the front and backseat headrests or around the top corners of the backseat to keep it in position. The hammock is available in black and grey. Send your pics (at least 2MB each) and contact details to pets@homemag.co.za – you could be a winner too. See our competition rules on page 130.

WIN!

Proudly South African!

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions when it comes to caring for our beloved furry friends? Dr Michael Ferreira, veterinarian at Tygerberg Animal Hospital (TAH) replies It’s always a good idea to think about the things we can do to improve the livves of our pets – and a new year offerss the perfect opportunity to put new w plans in place. WEIGHT Many humans aim to lose a bit of weight as a New Year’s resolution, but pets can also benefit from shedding a few kilos. Many pets I see for examinations are overweight or obese. Being overweight leads to increased strain on joints, organs and the cardiovascular system and can even exacerbate allergies. A recent study has found that, on average, overweight pets live two years less than dogs that are at their ideal weight. If you’d like an honest opinion on your pet’s weight, make an appointment with your vet, have an assessment done and, if necessary, get a safe personalised diet plan. CHECK-UPS Bring your pets for regular check-ups – that means at least once a year. Often, medical conditions such as itchy skin and ears, lumps and lameness get left for far too long before a vet is consulted. We also strongly recommend annual vaccinations, which protect your pet against infectious diseases and will include a full medical examination to identify any underlying issues. Preventative care and early detection of medical conditions can save your pet a lot of suffering and you some money if managed early. HAVE FUN! Play with your four-legged friend. A bored pet is often a naughty pet, causing havoc in your home. Taking your dog for a walk in a new area, getting your cat new toys, or just playing with your pets helps reduce the risk of boredom. Furthermore, the benefit of being outside or just spending time with your beloved pets has been scientifically proven to improve your mood as well. If we have happy, healthy pets and create opportunities to spend quality time with them, it makes us happier, healthier human beings too. CONTACT tah.co.za January 2020

home

advice

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

Gardening notebook

Gillian Eva

HELP PLANTS COPE WITH HEAT To prevent the roots of your ŐƌĂƐƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŐĞƫŶŐ ƐĐŽƌĐŚĞĚ͕ set the lawnmower higher during hot weather and mow ŵŽƌĞ ŽŌĞŶ ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ Ă ĚĞŶƐĞƌ cover. Apply mulch around shrubs and perennials to retain water in the soil, and remember that hanging baskets and containers may need more water on hot days.

Gardening in 2020 is all about looking beyond the traditional, embracing local climate change and repurposing the garden. Compiled by Gillian Eva • Photographs Francois Oberholster and supplied

Gardening for the new decade

82 home January 2020

We eat the fruit Compost feeds new plant Nutrients returned to the soil

Fruit peel to compost heap

Kitchen scraps decompose

[ GREENING CITIES ]

Recycle pallets

dŚĞ ĨŽĐƵƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ǇĞĂƌ ĂŚĞĂĚ ŝƐ ŽŶ ĐŚĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĐŝƟĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŐƌĞǇ ƚŽ ŐƌĞĞŶ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ĐĞŶƚƌĂů ƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂů ĚŝƐƚƌŝĐƚƐ (CRD) replacing central business districts (CBD). The emphasis is on parks and introducing greener ŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͕ ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůǇ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ƚƌĞĞƐ that create a shade canopy which will reduce temperatures, improve air quality, lower stress levels and reduce noise. ͚ŐƌĞĞŶ͛ ĐŝƚǇ ŝƐ ŵŽƌĞ ĂƩƌĂĐƟǀĞ͕ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞƐ ŚĞĂůƚŚ and well-being and strengthens the economy. ^ƵŶŶǇ ŽƉĞŶ ƐƉĂĐĞƐ ŝŶ ĐŝƟĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĂƐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĂƐ ƚƌĞĞƐ͗ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽĸĐĞ ǁŽƌŬĞƌƐ ĐĂŶ ĞŶũŽǇ ƚŚĞ winter sunshine, plants can grow and pollinators can do their work. By Kay Montgomery

Sketch Jade Cupido

Gardening trends for 2020 see a continuation from previous years, reconnecting and strengthening our bond with nature, creating habitats for wildlife, and regenerating the soil. Circular economy, a major trend for 2020, refers to minimising waste and making the most of resources by re-using, reducing and recycling. How can you incorporate the circular economy in your home environment? Follow these tips: • Reduce the need for air-conditioning by planting deciduous trees to provide a shade canopy for buildings in summer, and to allow the sunlight in during winter. • Re-use household water from baths, showers, hand basins and washing machines that use biodegradable soap Catch that is phosphate- and boron-free by rainwater installing a grey-water system to irrigate gardens. • Reduce landﬁlls by making compost with garden waste and kitchen scraps layered with dry material (twigs, leaves, newspapers). Once this breaks down into compost, incorporate it into the soil to improve soil quality, or spread as mulch. • Recycle used pallets for raised beds. And a coat of paint will do wonders for tired-looking garden furniture. • Conserve water for use in dry times by installing tanks under downpipes to capture and store rainwater. • Capture rain run-off by directing and slowing the ﬂow of water from hard surfaces – such as driveways, paths and paved areas – to low-lying areas where water will slowly permeate into the soil.

Banana tree bears fruit

Composting ‘circular economy’

Colours of the Year International colour authorities see 2020 as a move away from the brighter hues of previous years to restful and calming shades, much like Dulux in South Africa did when they announced their Colour of the Year for 2020, Tranquil Dawn. It’s a delicate shade between green, blue and grey. One of Pantone’s colour choices for 2020 is Classic Blue, which is evocative of the vast and inﬁnite evening sky. With an eye on these colour trends, consider pale green and grey-foliaged plants

for your garden. These plants are usually used as background or unifying colours in a garden, but are often overlooked as subtle shades in their own right. Because they are easy on the eye, they are also important linking colours between brighter shades. Try lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), bedding helichrysum (Helichrysum petiolare) and dusty miller (Senecio cineraria). Blue in all its tints and tones is an equally desirable colour in the garden, creating

beautiful ﬂoral compositions throughout the seasons. And just as an artist uses these tones to add vibrancy or depth to a painting, so gardeners can use blue in a landscape to create different effects and moods. Irresistible blue ﬂowers include Plumbago auriculata, Felicia amelloides, Cape forget-me-not (Anchusa capensis), Lobelia erinus and, of course, agapanthus, which comes in so many beautiful shades of blue: azure, cobalt, denim, periwinkle, indigo and navy. >>

Felicia amelloides

Senecio cineraria

Stachys byzantina

Plumbago auriculata

Lobelia erinus

Agapanthus

Photograph Andy de Wet Photograph Gillian Eva

Water smart Patio plant of the month Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’

We love succulents!

This new introduction has set the horticultural world abuzz. It grows indoors as well as outdoors. It is showy, bold and contemporary, with huge wavy leaves that have a soft, velvety texture. Originally from Chile, it likes bright, indirect light and the soil can dry out moderately between watering. Overwatering may lead to root rot. As a garden plant, it is drought-tolerant and does best in shade. It grows up to 60cm tall and wide, and holds its shape, giving it a sculptural appearance. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za

Barberton senecio

Also known as succulent bush senecio, Senecio barbertonicus is a medium-high bushy shrub that is prized for its thin, finger-like leaf texture and, more importantly, its profusion of yellow flowers in winter that provide food for insects. It is endemic throughout the frost-free areas of the Highveld, and subtropical Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. How to grow It grows in dry, sandy areas as well as in ordinary garden soil that drains well. Plant in full sun to semi-shade, under trees or allow to spread over rocky outcrops. Plants can be trimmed to maintain a neat bushy shape. It will survive mild frost and is best planted in a sheltered area. It is drought-tolerant and can be watered once every two weeks in summer. Don’t water in winter to prevent the plant from rotting at the base. New plants can be made from cuttings in late spring or summer. Let the cutting dry out for two weeks before planting in the ground or in a pot. Garden uses Grow as a medium-high hedge that can be clipped or as shrubby plants towards the back of a succulent bed. It is an ideal plant for a wildlife-friendly garden as the flowers attract adult painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) that feed on nectar. It is also easy to grow indoors in bright, indirect light with minimal watering. Did you know? Although Senecio barbertonicus occurs widely, it got its name from the original specimen that was found near Barberton in Mpumalanga by keen collector (and banker) Ernest Edward Galpin between 1889 and 1892. Common problems Old stems tend to become woody and unattractive. Replace plants after five seasons. CONTACT Ngena Succulents; email john@ngena.africa.

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Waterwise plant of the month ZZ plant This year sees the increasing popularity of houseplants for greening homes and offices. The trendy and attractive ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) with glossy green leaves is an air purifier; it removes toxins. Indigenous to eastern Africa, this plant grows from thick rhizomes that store water, making it drought-tolerant. Insignificant spathe-type flowers may appear among the base of the leaves. It is suitable for medium- to low-light areas, but not direct sun. Less light means less water – more light means more water. Caution: toxic if eaten.

advice

Ludwig’s rose corner

Plagued by pests

Joey Smal of Bellville writes Even though I water every day, my potted ‘Bella Rosa’ roses have red spider. How do I prevent this?

Adri Roos of Evander, Mpumalanga writes My Sempervivum succulents seem

Ludwig replies Always make sure the water reaches the drainage holes. Harsh sun on the pots could be the cause too: when the soil heats up, this puts even more strain on the plant due to evaporation from the leaves which results in less sap ‘Bella Rosa’ going down to the roots. I suggest moving the plants to a position where the pot itself is in the shade and the foliage is in the sun. Repotting into a slightly bigger pot is another option. Drench the underside of the leaves with Ludwig’s Insect Spray and repeat a week later. ‘Irish Luck’

Alison Swart of Pretoria writes My ‘Irish Luck’ roses have grown very tall but I’m afraid of cutting them back too severely in this heat. What is your advice? Ludwig replies Normally, summer pruning is done in January but if it’s very hot and there is limited water available, rather wait until it gets cooler or there is a rainy spell. When conditions are more favourable, reduce the height of the rose over two or three weeks. The gentlest way to do this is by the gradual undercutting of two or three stems at a time: this means you cut below the last cut, making sure that there are still leaves below the cut. A week later, do another two stems and so on. This will keep the sap ﬂow in balance and spread out the subsequent ﬂowering. CONTACT ludwigsroses.co.za

Regional rose tasks for January Summer rainfall /Ĩ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĐŽŶĚƵĐŝǀĞ͕ give your roses a midsummer trim (ƐĞĞ ĂďŽǀĞ). /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĂďƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƌĂŝŶĨĂůů͕ ǁĂƚĞƌ ĚĞĞƉůǇ ƚǁŽ ƚŽ ƚŚƌĞĞ ƟŵĞƐ Ă ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƵƐŝŶŐ ŐƌĞǇ ǁĂƚĞƌ ŝĨ ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌǇ͘ ZĞŶĞǁ ŵƵůĐŚ͕ ďƵƚ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ƌĞŵŽǀĞ ĚĞĂĚ ďůŽŽŵƐ Žƌ ƚƌŝŵ͘ ZŽƐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌůǇ ǁĂƚĞƌĞĚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĨĞƌƟůŝƐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ sŝŐŽƌŽƐĂ͘ ^ƉƌĂǇ ǁŝƚŚ >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ /ŶƐĞĐƚ ^ƉƌĂǇ ŵŝǆĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŚƌŽŶŽƐ Žƌ ZŽƐĞ WƌŽƚĞĐƚŽƌ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƐƚƐ͘ Winter rainfall tĂƚĞƌ ĚĞĞƉůǇ ƚǁŽ ƚŽ ƚŚƌĞĞ ƟŵĞƐ Ă ǁĞĞŬ͕ ƵƐŝŶŐ ŐƌĞǇ ǁĂƚĞƌ ŝĨ ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌǇ͘ ^ƉƌĂǇ ǁŝƚŚ >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ /ŶƐĞĐƚ ^ƉƌĂǇ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ƉĞƐƚƐ͘ ZŽƐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ǁĞůů ĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ůĞĂǀĞƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ƚƌŝŵŵĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƟĚŝĞĚ ƵƉ ŝĨ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ǁĂƚĞƌ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ŝƌƌŝŐĂƟŽŶ͘ /Ĩ ǁĂƚĞƌ ŝƐ ƐŚŽƌƚ͕ ŬĞĞƉ grooming to a minimum. Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal coast Ɛ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƚǁŽ ƌĞŐŝŽŶƐ͕ ƌŽƐĞ ĐĂƌĞ ĚĞƉĞŶĚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌĂŝŶĨĂůů ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ͘ tŝƚŚ ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ǁĂƚĞƌ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͕ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ƌĞŵŽǀĞ ĚĞĂĚ ďůŽŽŵƐ Žƌ ƚƌŝŵ ƚŚĞ ƌŽƐĞƐ ĂƐ ƚŚŝƐ ǁŝůů ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ ƐƉƌŽƵƟŶŐ͘ ^ŚŽƵůĚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ďĞ ŐŽŽĚ ƌĂŝŶĨĂůů͕ ĚŽ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ƉƌƵŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ

Ask JJ

ĚĞĂĚŚĞĂĚŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ďŽŽƐƚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ǁŝƚŚ sŝŐŽƌŽƐĂ͘ ^ƉƌĂǇ ǁŝƚŚ ZŽƐĞ WƌŽƚĞĐƚŽƌ͕ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟŶŐ ĞǀĞƌǇ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ ǁĞĞŬ ǁŝƚŚ ŚƌŽŶŽƐ ;ŵŝǆĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ /ŶƐĞĐƚ ^ƉƌĂǇͿ͕ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ƉĞƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĨƵŶŐĂů ĚŝƐĞĂƐĞƐ͘

to be infected with a fungus – what can I do to control the problem? I also need advice for my agapanthus; the leaves seem to have a rust problem, and I’m no ot sure how to treat it. My main concern, however, is my m thorn trees. They are losing their leaves at an alarming rate and I don’t know what is causing this. What can I do to save them? JJ replies It looks like ordinary powdery mildew on the agapanthuss and Sempervivum. Spray your plants with Mycoguard and repeat after a week. The aphids on the thorn trees (Vachellia) need to be controlled with a systemic insecticide; spray as much of the tree as possible with something like Plant Care and drench with Complete around the trunk to get to the roots.

Shady characters

Cindy Hoffmann asks on Facebook What can I plant in tall, narrow cement pots against a shaded wall – I’d like to use plants indigenous to the Western Cape. JJ replies Forest bell bush (Mackaya bella), Sansevieria hyacinthoides, pistol bush (Duvernoia spp.) or clivias would work well. If you’d like a softer look, you could also consider arums, Plectranthus or p g densiﬂorus. Asparagus Plectranthus

Summer rose care Join Ludwig for a free rose care demo (no need to book): 11 January (10:30) >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ ZŽƐĞƐ ŐŽůŝ͕ 'ůĞŶĨĞƌŶĞƐƐ 12 January (10:30) >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ ZŽƐĞ &Ăƌŵ ŶŽƌƚŚ ŽĨ WƌĞƚŽƌŝĂ ĂŶĚ 14:00 Ăƚ >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ ZŽƐĞƐ WƌĞƚŽƌŝĂ ĂƐƚ 18 January (10:00) & 19 January (10:30) >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ ZŽƐĞƐ tŝŶĞůĂŶĚƐ 18 January (14:00) >ƵĚǁŝŐ͛Ɛ ZŽƐĞƐ ĂƉĞ dŽǁŶ͘ 25 January (10:00) ŝŐ ZĞĚ ĂƌŶ͕ /ƌĞŶĞͬ KůŝĨĂŶƚƐĨŽŶƚĞŝŶ͘ &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͕ ĐĂůů ϬϭϮ ϱϰϰ Ϭϭϰϰ͘

Arum

Mackaya bella

>ŝƐƚĞŶ ƚŽ ::͛Ɛ ŐĂƌĚĞŶŝŶŐ ƟƉƐ ĂŶĚ ƚƌŝĐŬƐ ŽŶ ĞƌƌŝĐŚ 'ĂƌĚŶĞƌ͛Ɛ ƐŚŽǁ ƌĞŬĮƐ ŵĞƚ ĞƌƌŝĐŚ at 07:40 every Saturday on RSG.

Garden goodies Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel

‘Cannova’

Brookwood low planter shelf R599.99, MRP Home Harlequin Pot Paint (1L) R218, Builders

New in nurseries Tropical beauties Canna ‘Cannova’ is a fast-growing but compact canna that is not invasive. It thrives in heat and humidity and is a low-maintenance plant for tropical landscapes and large mixed containers. Plants do best with full sun and moist soil but once established can withstand heat and drought. They are early ﬂowering and repeatedly produce new blooms from summer to autumn. Canna ‘Cannova’ can be used as an accent plant, in a border, as a low hedge or for a mass planting. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za

YOLO Double Compost Tumbler R2 995, takealot.com Eco Tanks Slimline 970L water tank (1 970 x 800mm) R2 800, Builders

Pokon Lavender & Herb Fertiliser (1kg) R160, Hadeco

Brookwood planter box R259.99, MRP Home

Probio Bokashi Indoor Composter (18L) R680, Builders

Pokon Vegetable Garden Fertiliser (1kg) R160, Hadeco

Michael steel bistro set R1 490, Patio Warehouse

The Gardena ecoPulse spray gun (R399) saves up to 40% water compared to conventional cleaning guns; it is equally suitable for irrigation. Available from garden centres.

STOCKISTS Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Gardena 010 591 3988, gardena.com/za/ Hadeco 010 140 1300, hadeco.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Patio Warehouse 087 825 1120, patiowarehouse.co.za

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the senses In just two years, a dedicated team at Mirtehof has created a breathtaking oasis in the Karoo. By Marlene Malan โ ข Photographs Francois Oberholster and Amora Erasmus

THE HOMEOWNERS Bets Janse van Rensburg and Stevan Mรถller WHERE Prince Albert in the Karoo SIZE 4.7 hectares TYPE OF SOIL Sandy, clay and rocky (with rocky layers in the subsoil)

reader garden he ﬁrst thing that catches your eye is the glorious view. Then the aromas hit you: star jasmine, gardenia, honeysuckle, alyssum, myrtle, mint and rosemary, followed by the sound of birds twittering, the wind stirring the leaves and water bubbling in the pond. And if you’re lucky enough to stay in the guesthouse, you also get to taste fresh veggies from the garden and fruit from the trees. A visit to the impressive gardens of the historic Mirtehof estate in Prince Albert is a ‘sensory’ experience in every sense of the word. The entire estate is a feast for the eyes but it’s the 2 500m² garden below the

manor house and surrounded by low white walls that is so breathtaking. This garden, where plantings began in 2017 once construction of the main house, guesthouse and outbuildings was completed, is a colourful conglomeration of roses, shrubs, ﬂowering plants and veggies, carefully arranged in avenues and on pergolas, between walkways and patios. Mirtehof, in all its glory, is a long-time dream for owners Dr Bets Janse van Rensburg and her husband Stevan Möller of Bloemfontein. With the help of landscaper Rentia Verster, building contractors Adan Liepner and Neels Swart

of Agri Eco Earth, and Karoo plant specialist Sue Dean of Renu-Karoo, they have transformed this 4.7ha smallholding from ordinary to extraordinary. Someday, Bets and Stevan plan to retire here. “I grew up in the Senekal area of the Free State on a farm full of roses and other ﬂowers,” says Bets. “We often visited Prince Albert as our bond with the town stretches way back to the early 1900s when my great-grandfather, Christiaan Jacobus Bam, was the magistrate here. “We own a house in Market Street, but Stevan and I had always wanted to open a guesthouse.” >>

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A water furrow runs through the property â&#x20AC;&#x201C; much to the delight of the resident frogs and birds. The wooden and metal structures are not only garden ornaments but also provide support for climbing plants such as roses.

A dream becomes reality The opportunity to open a guesthouse presented itself in January 2017 when Mirtehof came onto the market. Rentia clearly remembers the first day she came to view the property with Bets and Stevan. “The incredible location, with the Swartberg mountain as a backdrop, immediately caught our eye,” she says. However, the beautiful house, which had already been restored, only had two bedrooms so the couple had it redesigned and converted into three spacious suites: Prince Albert, Arcadia and The Orchard. They also built two separate cottages

(Bets and Stevan have dubbed them Bonnie and Clyde after their miniature horses) at the bottom of the property, the perfect place for a secluded stay. Once the construction work was completed, it was time for the garden. From the get-go, Rentia knew she had to incorporate strong design elements – with plenty of flowers for Bets. “I also realised I would have to break up the ornamental garden into smaller sections if we wanted to have a meaningful garden.” Every piece of ground was first measured and then photographed.

Stevan, who works in the agricultural and property industry and also has technical and practical knowledge of structural elements, wanted a garden that would be useful. Bets, a pathologist, wanted to recreate the farm garden of her youth, a place where friends and children love to visit and where everyone can enjoy good food and wine. She is very creative and loves to share with others, and wanted the garden to reflect this ‘abundance’ in her personality. It had to be an oasis, a place of healing and positivity for the owners, guests and workers alike. >>

The well-equipped garden cottage, with its living room and stoep overlooking a plunge pool, is perfect for guests in need of rest and relaxation. Bougainvillea and vygies (right), which do well in the Karoo, add colour and volume. The stonework throughout the garden was done by Rock of Ages. January 2020

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Bets’s beloved ‘Gold Bunny’ roses adorn the metal arches – each arch supports a single climbing rose, yet it looks like more than one plant on each, thanks to the abundance of blooms. Flowering plants and herbs in the raised beds brighten up the pathway leading to the lemon orchard.

The raised garden patio with its hanging chairs is one of Bets and Rentia’s favourites spots. It is situated right next to the pond (below right) and offers a wonderful view of the Swartberg mountain in the distance.

The centre of the garden – the secret garden – has a fig tree surrounded by herbs and artichokes as its focal point. A myrtle hedge frames this garden, a nod to the name of the estate. >>

It’s difficult to choose my favourite corner. The best thing about the garden is all the seating areas that allow you to experience nature. Nature makes me feel alive. – Bets January 2020

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Teamwork Right from the start, their motto was teamwork. “All of us – including the landscaper, architect and builders – had to work closely together,” says Bets. Rentia wanted to express her love of geometric lines, structure and dimension. She believes that softness and creativity in a garden only come to the fore if they have a good structural foundation. Elements from the surroundings – such as stone and wood – were on Bets’s wish list. Rentia asked Bets to research some ideas and put them together in a scrapbook. Eventually, they all had their own set of ideas – from the architect and building team to the stonemason. Bets, Stevan and Rentia all like order, so Rentia incorporated structures such as low whitewashed walls. “I was inspired by the

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Cape Dutch architecture of the main homestead,” she says. “I wanted to play textures off against each other. Height and balance were important. Both Bets and I don’t like a path that is too narrow or a roof that is too high. I would say that’s what took up most of our time – getting the dimensions of the garden and the balance just right. “It was important for the garden not to be dwarfed by the mountain behind it; at the same time, it shouldn’t look overdone or steal attention away from this beautiful natural wonder. “Bets, like me, has an eye for space. For example, I can see that a particular block is too small, or a path is too narrow, or a pergola is too high. Our planning took six months. We only started gardening seriously two years ago.” >>

reader garden Living walls demarcate the various garden rooms; the garden floor is covered with a 10cm layer of bark chips.

Hanging baskets of flowering plants add colour to the vegetable garden where Stevan grows red and green cabbages, among others, in raised wooden boxes. The chicken coop is visible in the background.

Loungers have been placed in various spots around the garden so that guests can relax and fully enjoy the sights and sounds.

Stevan and Betsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter Delene made the birdhouses, which add a playful element to the garden.

Stevan and Betsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two miniature horses, Bonnie and Clyde (left).

reader garden [ THE HISTORY OF MIRTEHOF ]

Karoo strategies While Bets’s desire was to have an inspirational garden filled with her favourite ornamental plants and an abundance of flowers, Stevan wanted an edible garden. “I had to create a space with a specific personality,” says Rentia. “It had to be a combination of abundance and usefulness. Our goal was to design the garden as ‘an experience’,” she says. But what would work in this Karoo environment? To create respite from the heat, and also to prevent the soil from drying out too quickly, structures such as pergolas and canopies were erected, and more than 40 different types of indigenous trees were planted – mostly already quite big. “The Karoo climate and fertile soil – thanks to an excessive amount of compost that we worked in – ensured rapid growth,” says Rentia. Every centimetre of open soil was covered with a 10cm mulch of bark chips to protect soil micro-organisms. This not only improves the health of the soil but also makes it much more water retentive. Since water is scarce and precious in the Karoo, waterwise plants were a priority for Rentia: these include spekboom, succulents, Felicia amelloides, wild dagga, Cape honeysuckle, plumbago, sour fig, bougainvillea and Karoo plants such as aloes. Plants with a dense, lush look that give the garden a fuller appearance were planted in small containers or brick and stone structures and only get water around the stems. And look carefully: the rose spectacle is thanks to just eight roses that have completely covered the pergolas. In the end, only 40m2 of the garden requires regular irrigation; the water comes from a pond on the property which is fed by three boreholes and leiwater from the Swartberg mountain. The roses, lemon trees, bay trees and artichokes receive most of this precious water. “In the future, we will reconsider seasonal plants such as petunias, arctotis, nasturtiums and pansies that need to be supplemented on a regular basis,” says Rentia. “They will be reduced and gradually replaced by perennial and more waterwise plants. “Splashes of colour are essential but we’ll use nasturtiums and pansies on a smaller scale.” >>

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As part of the planning process, Stevan did extensive research on the estate in the Frans Pienaar Museum in Prince Albert. He discovered that in the 1890s, Mirtehof (when the name was still Myrtle Grove) belonged to Abraham de Vries, whose daughter Helena was in love with poet and author CJ Langenhoven of Oudtshoorn. However, Abraham forced Helena to break off her engagement with the poet because of the “uncertainty” of his future and career. Among others, Stevan came across letters dating from 100 years ago in which Mirtehof was described as a paradise of roses, flowers, fruit trees and, in particular, fig trees. Then came the ostrich era and the garden all but disappeared. “We were unwittingly recreating a piece of history,” says Bets.

What would a Karoo garden be without a windmill? In this part of the garden, they plan to plant pumpkins and watermelons.

reader garden

When we realised it had taken two years to get everything the way we wanted it, it felt like we needed a three-year holiday. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Rentia

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Before

Work begins...

‘Coral Panarosa’ climbing roses add colour to the rose pergolas.

‘Langenhoven’ climbing roses were recently planted next to these wooden structures to eventually cover them. Waterwise creeping daisy (Chrysanthemum paludosum) and lavender soften the pathway. >>

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Purple ‘Vodacom’ standard roses contrast beautifully with orange-red miniature ‘Rainbow’s End’ roses.

‘Deloitte & Touche’ roses flower prolifically almost all year round beside a low white wall (left) that separates the lawn next to the main house from the garden.

No matter where you are in this garden, the Swartberg mountain is an ever-present backdrop to the spectacle below.

Stevanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite place, his vegetable garden, can be enjoyed from the stoep at the main house. The Wisteria sinensis on the pergola provides much-needed shade from the sweltering Karoo sun. >>

Throughout the process, we tried to ensure that it wouldn’t be obvious that the garden was newly designed. Good design can give a garden a lived-in look, despite the fact that it is still young. – Rentia

The gardening team including (from left) Nicolaas Hendriks, Gert Koera, Jonathan Prins and Thys Berdine receive training to ensure that they stay on top of the garden’s maintenance.

The Aptenia cordifolia in the foreground is a hardy groundcover that regularly bears pink flowers.

The dam wall was planted up with indigenous plants such as aloe, vygie, plumbago, Cape honeysuckle and felica, with a few mother-in-lawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tongue here and there â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the latter also thrives in the Karoo. >>

reader garden

GARDEN PLAN

A Guest cottage with stoep and braai area B Plunge pool C Raised garden patio with pergola overlooking pond and mountain D Garden boma with circular stone wall E Myrtle garden with myrtle hedge, veggies such as artichokes, herbs such as thyme, origanum and rosemary, and a fig tree as a focal point F Citrus tunnel (with raised beds) that provides shade for scented pelargoniums as well as herbs such as mint, basil and parsley G Greenhouse to protect young seedlings and to house frost-sensitive potted plants H Wooden planter boxes with canopy for mixed seasonal vegetables I Chicken coop J Raised veggie bed with lattice roof for crop rotation of vegetables K Granadilla pergola L Windmill and farm dam M Grapevine pergola that provides shade for barrels filled with mint and strawberries N Informal pond with cut flowers and bird area O Arched tunnel for broad beans and pumpkins P Vegetables such as sunflowers and sweet potatoes, as well as spanspek and guavas Q Veggie boxes for mixed seasonal plantings R Small grapevine pergola S Scented pergolas with fragrant plantings such as climbing roses and star jasmine T Waterwise area with succulents, aloes and vygies, plus bougainvilleas U Raised hedge with bay and artichokes V Pomegranate avenue surrounded by lavender W Rose garden with ‘Langenhoven’ climbing roses X Raised beds with scented plants such as star jasmine and roses, plus lime trees Y Formal water feature with bronze bird statues by Jacques Fuller Z Orchard

CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS Agri Eco Earth 083 922 3588 Jacques Fuller jacquesfuller.com Mirtehof Guest Farm Estate 023 541 1199, mirtehof.co.za Rentia Verster Landscaping 082 573 5536, versterrentia@gmail.com Rock of Ages 083 458 5467 Renu-Karoo 082 770 0206, renu-karoo.co.za

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www. ho

For more photographs of Mirtehof, go to homemag.co.za, or visit mirtehof.co.za to view their gallery or to book a stay.

e m a g. c o

Illustration Paula Dubois

gardens

plant of the month

A CLOUD of

colour

Few plants put on as magniﬁcent a display as bougainvilleas in summer. By Marié Esterhuyse Photographs Henrique Wilding and Christo Lötter

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Plant guide Bougainvillea cultivars Full sun Frost-sensitive to moderately frost-resistant Waterwise Wind-resistant Height and width varies â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Vera Blakemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

‘Ada’s Joy’

‘Lady Mary Baring’

‘Coconut Ice’ Pat yourself on the back if your Bougainvillea has more colourful bracts than foliage because then you know it’s in the perfect spot and you’re doing the right thing. This plant’s brightly coloured bracts that surround three small, inconspicuous ﬂowers provide an abundance of colour from early summer into autumn. And the hotter the plant gets, the more it shows off and the brighter the bracts will be. Bougainvilleas are available in a wide range of colours, including white, pink, purple, orange and cherry-red. Some cultivars have single bracts, while others bear double bracts or variegated foliage. Bougainvilleas are robust growers and can get very big. Trained as a climber, it will quickly cover a wall or trellis. Plant it where it has plenty of space to grow and install a sturdy framework on the wall to support the plant. Make sure your

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pergola is strong enough to bear the weight of the mature plant. Bougainvilleas will also scramble up a tree but be sure you really want it there because cutting it out afterwards is a massive (and painful) task. While bougainvilleas are mostly used as climbers, they can also (depending on the cultivar’s growth habit) be grown as a shrub, hedge or standard plant, as well as in pots and even as a sprawling groundcover. With their sturdy thorns and dense growth habit, bougainvilleas will form an impenetrable ﬂowering hedge – plant them about 2m apart all along your fence and constantly tie the branches to the structure, horizontally, until the hedge has reached the required height. Cut the hedge back hard after it has bloomed – on the top and sides – to keep it neat and under control.

‘Turkish Delight’

Growing conditions ‘Tropical Rainbow’

[ FROM BIG TO SMALL ]

Bougainvillea cultivars that grow into huge shrubs are ideal for large gardens and for hedges, walls and pergolas. Medium-sized growers do well in medium-sized to smaller gardens, while the compact dwarf varieties are perfect for pots and townhouse gardens. Ask your nursery which one will best suit your garden. Here are a few options: For small gardens and pots • Bougainvillea ‘Vera Purple’ (1m) • Bougainvillea ‘Smarty Pants’ (compact growth) • Bougainvillea ‘Fire Opal’ (1m) • Bougainvillea ‘Apple Blossom’ (1m) • Bougainvillea ‘Thai Delight’ (1.5m) • Bougainvillea ‘Rijnstar White’ (1m)

For medium-sized gardens • Bougainvillea ‘Rijnstar Pink’ (2m) • Bougainvillea ‘Sundown Orange’ (1.5m) For large gardens • Bougainvillea ‘Killie Campbell’ (5m and taller) • Bougainvillea ‘Coconut Ice’ (± 3m)

Bougainvilleas do best in hot and very sunny gardens and will grow well in poor, welldrained soil. They need little water and will even thrive in times of drought. Give a young plant water until it is established, after which it needs very little water. Bougainvilleas are frost-sensitive, yet can handle some frost once they are established. And although they prefer summer rain, they are highly adaptable and do just as well in winter rainfall areas. When your bougainvillea is a metre or two tall, it may be pruned for the first time; cut it back to neaten it up. Established plants must be cut back hard in winter and before new growth appears as they bloom on the new growth. If grown over a pergola or against a wall, they can be pruned back to the base. Bougainvilleas are not good cut flowers – rather enjoy them in your garden!

Sources Gardening with Keith Kirsten by Keith Kirsten; Reader’s Digest A South African Garden for All Seasons with chief contributor Jennifer Godbold-Simpson; My Favourite Plants by Una van der Spuy; Cape Garden (021 988 4137, capegardencentre.co.za)

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Yellowtail with fennel, orange and a classic butter sauce Recipe on page 115.

By Johané Neilson Photographs Francois Oberholster

A taste of the Even if you’re inland for the holidays, you can still savour those ocean ﬂavours!

sea

Crumbed sardines and half-shell mussels Recipe on page 115.

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Smoked salmon paté This deluxe starter is ready in a flash. I buy frozen smoked salmon offcuts at my supermarket – they’re much more economical than the ribbons and just as delicious. Serves 4 as a starter • Preparation time: 5 minutes • • • • • • •

200g smoked salmon or trout, finely chopped juice and zest of 1 small lemon 30ml small capers ½ small onion or shallot, very finely chopped 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill or fennel leaves 230ml (1 tub) medium-fat cream cheese pinch of salt and white pepper

Season the fish with the lemon juice and zest, then mix with the capers, onion, herbs and cream cheese, and season to taste with salt and white pepper. Spoon into a pretty bowl and serve with fresh bread, bruschetta or Melba toast.

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a taste of the sea

Laksa noodles For this super-quick stir-fry, you can use egg noodles or glass noodles. Serves 4 • Preparation time: 15 minutes • Cooking time: 10 minutes • 45ml sesame oil • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped • 2cm ginger, peeled and finely chopped • 1 chilli, seeded and finely chopped • 1 bunch coriander, leaves and stems chopped separately

• • • • • • • • •

30ml laksa or red curry paste (or to taste) 200g mini chicken breast fillets, each cut into three pieces 12 prawns, shelled and cleaned 200g snap peas, finely chopped about 250ml coconut milk 4 nests of egg noodles, cooked as directed on the packet 125ml peanuts, coarsely chopped 250ml white bean sprouts lime wedges, to serve

1 Heat the oil in a wok and sauté the garlic, ginger, most of the chilli and the coriander stalks. Add the curry paste and fry for a few minutes until fragrant. 2 Stir in the chicken and prawns and fry for about 3 minutes. Keep an eye on it and stir as necessary to ensure that the chicken browns while the prawns turn bright pink and curl up. 3 Add the peas and coconut milk and simmer for a few more minutes until you are sure the chicken is cooked. 4 Divide the noodles between four bowls and spoon the saucy stir-fry on top. Sprinkle the coriander leaves, remaining chilli, peanuts and bean sprouts on top. Serve with the lime wedges. >>

food

Tuna pasta with chilli Recipe on page 116.

Remember the golden rule: if you think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done, it probably is. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jan Braai on braaiing fish in his book Fireworks

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a taste of the sea

Yellowtail with fennel, orange and a classic butter sauce

Crumbed sardines

Ask your fishmonger to prepare the fish for you: it needs to be scaled and butterflied with the head removed to form a triangle – ready to be filled and cooked over the coals.

Serves 6 as a starter Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 6 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C

Serves 4 Preparation time: 40 minutes Cooking time (sauce): 10 minutes Braaiing time (fish): about 18 minutes

Accessories Le Creuset (lecreuset.com)

• 15ml olive oil • 1 small fennel bulb, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1.3kg yellowtail, butterflied • 1 naartjie, thinly sliced • about 60ml butter • yellow rice, to serve SAUCE • 1 small onion, finely chopped • 30ml lemon juice • 45ml white wine • 60ml cream • 250ml cold butter, cubed 1 Heat the oil and fry the fennel for a few minutes until it starts to soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute. Cool. 2 Place the fish on a chopping board, skin side down, and arrange the naartjie slices and fried fennel and garlic across the length of one half of the flesh then dot the fennel with half the butter and fold the fish over the filling. Using a sharp knife, score* both sides of the skin three times, then rub in the remaining butter. You can secure the fish with string but a sandwich braai grid or braai basket will also help to keep the fish together. 3 Braai the fish, skin side down, over medium to hot coals for about 5 minutes; repeat on the other side. Braai for about 5–10 minutes or until done (depending on your fire and the thickness of the fish); use your judgment with regards to turning the fish to ensure that the skin doesn’t char too much. If you’re unsure, test a piece – the meat should be white and flake easily when you stick a fork in it. 4 Make the sauce Place the onion, lemon juice and wine in a small saucepan and boil until reduced by half. Stir in the cream and cook for a minute or two. Now beat in the butter cubes, one by one. Allow enough time for the butter to melt properly between additions. Pour the sauce through a sieve to remove the onions then pour into a jug. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with the fish and yellow rice. * Scoring helps the butter to baste the flesh and you can check under the skin to see when the fish is cooked.

The combination of lemon, parsley and butter with fish is always a hit.

• • • • • • •

30ml butter, softened 125ml dried breadcrumbs (I use panko) 30ml almond flakes, toasted about 60ml flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped zest of a lemon 15ml olive oil 12 fresh sardines, butterflied

1 Preheat the oven. Mix the butter, breadcrumbs, almonds, parsley and lemon zest. 2 Line a baking tray with baking paper and grease with oil. Place 6 of the sardines on the tray, skin side down, and divide half of the crumb mixture between the fish. Spread evenly. Place another fish on top of each one, skin side down, and divide the rest of the crumb mixture between the top fish. Season with salt and pepper and bake for about 6 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges and a tomato salad. >> HOW TO BUTTERFLY A SARDINE A small knife and sharp kitchen scissors come in handy when preparing these tiny fish. Cut off the head. Using the scissors, cut the fish open from top to tail and remove the innards. I use my fingers to pull the backbone off from the head towards the tail. Cut off the backbone just above the tail fin with kitchen scissors and discard.

Crumbed half-shell mussels are just as tasty. Use the same ingredients as for the sardine stacks, but with equal quantities of butter and crumbs (125ml each). Place all the ingredients for the crumb mixture in a food processor and pulse until almost smooth. Coat 12 steamed halfshell mussels carefully with the crumbed butter and grill under a preheated element in the oven for about 5 minutes or until golden-brown.

food

Tuna pasta with chilli A mainstay recipe with tinned tuna for when you want to spoil your family or if friends pop over. The recipe can easily be doubled up. Serve with fresh baguettes and chilled white wine. Serves 6 • Preparation time: 20 minutes • Cooking time: 20 minutes • Oven temperature: grill • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

30ml quality olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 3 anchovies in oil, drained and chopped 100g black olives, pitted and halved 60ml fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped 1–2 red chillies, seeded and chopped 15ml small capers 60ml tomato purée 2 tins (400g) chopped tomatoes 30ml lemon juice, or to taste 3 x 170g tins tuna, drained about 125ml cream 400g penne grated Parmesan, to serve

1 Heat a large ovenproof pan and pour the oil into the hot pan. Sauté the onion, garlic and anchovies until the onion is glossy and soft. Stir in the olives, parsley and chilli. Stir-fry for a few minutes then stir in the capers; fry for another minute. 2 Add the tomato purée, tinned tomatoes and lemon juice. Rinse the tomato tin with about 125ml water and add this to the sauce. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, put salt water in a saucepan on the stove to cook the pasta. 3 Add the tuna and the cream to the sauce and heat over low heat without boiling. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

[ AIOLI, TWO WAYS ] • In an instant: mix the mustard and half a teaspoon of very finely chopped garlic with the mayonnaise. • The real McCoy: cut open a whole garlic bulb, drizzle with olive oil and wrap it in foil. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 30 minutes or until soft and cooked. Press the soft cooked garlic out of the skin and mix it with a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard into 250ml good quality French mayonnaise. Delicious!

4 Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet until almost al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain and mix with the sauce in the pan. Preheat the oven grill. 5 Sprinkle the cheese over the pasta and place the pan under the grill for a few minutes until the cheese melts (no more than 5 minutes, otherwise the pasta overcooks). Serve immediately.

Crispy fish fingers These flavoursome bites are equally delicious with chips and aioli (garlic mayonnaise) or in a taco or tortilla with diced avocado, fresh salad and a tangy sauce. It’s up to you. Serves 4 with chips Preparation time: 40 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes • 250ml buttermilk • pinch each of paprika and curry powder • 4 servings firm white fish, each cut into 4 blocks • 250ml self-raising flour • 3ml baking powder • oil for frying 1 Season the buttermilk with the spices and a generous pinch of salt, and leave the fish in the mixture for 15 minutes. 2 Mix the flour and baking powder and spoon two tablespoons of the buttermilk mixture into the flour; stir to make a coarse, crumbly flour. 3 Dip the fish fingers in the flour and make sure each one is well-coated. Set aside and repeat until all the fish is crumbed. 4 Heat about 2cm of oil in a saucepan until hot. Test the heat with a piece of bread; if it floats immediately and makes bubbles, the oil is ready. Fry the fish fingers, 4 at a time, until golden-brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels and repeat until all the fish is cooked.

a taste of the sea

Anchovy-and-cheese straws

food

These are a great addition to a savoury snack platter or a picnic basket. Makes about 12 • Preparation time: 10 minutes • Baking time: 20 minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C • • • • • • •

6 anchovy fillets in oil, finely chopped 60ml freshly grated Parmesan 5ml dried herbs 60ml black olives, pitted and chopped 1 round feta cheese, crumbled 1 roll (400g) puff pastry 1 egg, whisked

1 Preheat the oven and line a baking tray with baking paper. Mix the anchovies, Parmesan, herbs, olives and feta in a bowl. 2 Carefully roll the dough out into a rectangle on a clean work surface. Using a sharp knife, cut into two halves. Spread the filling on one half of the dough and press down lightly with your hands. Brush the second half of the dough with egg and place it on top of the filling, with the egg side down.

3 Cut the double layer of dough into 1cm-wide strips. Holding one end of two strips together at a time, twist into a long spiral; place on the prepared baking tray. Repeat until all the dough strips are finished. Brush the straws with egg and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden-brown and puffed up. You can turn the straws after 15 minutes to ensure that the top and bottom brown equally. If you’re not going to serve them immediately, allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

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food

step by step

Prawn and chorizo rissoles

This Portuguese delicacy is time-consuming to prepare but so delicious â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and perfect for a party! The recipe is adapted from My Portuguese Feast by Mimi Jardim.

Makes about 32 half-moons • Preparation time: 1 hour • Cooking time: 30 minutes WHITE SAUCE • 25ml butter • 25ml flour • 250ml chicken stock • 2 egg yolks FILLING • 10ml olive oil • 1 small onion, chopped • 1 large chorizo, chopped • 1 red chilli, seeded and chopped • 5ml tomato paste • 15ml chopped flat-leaf parsley

• 250g cooked prawn meat, chopped • about 10ml lemon juice DOUGH • 250ml water • pinch of salt • 25ml butter • 250ml flour, sifted TO FINISH • 2 egg whites, whisked • about 300ml fine breadcrumbs for coating • vegetable oil for deep-frying

WHITE SAUCE Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the stock. Put back on the heat and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the egg yolks; whisk on medium heat until the sauce thickens.

FILLING Fry the onion, chorizo and chilli in the oil until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste, parsley, prawn meat and lemon juice. Stir this fragrant mixture into the white sauce and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cool completely.

SHAPE Divide the dough in half (it’s easier to work with a smaller amount). Roll it out thinly and cut out circles with an 8cm cookie cutter. Add a teaspoon of filling to one half of each circle and fold. Pinch the edges with your fingertips to seal the filling. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

CRUMB Dip the half-moon rissoles in the egg first and then in the crumbs until well-coated. Repeat with all the rissoles and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to get firm.

DOUGH Put the water, salt and butter in a small saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Put back on the heat and stir until the dough pulls away from the sides. Turn the dough out and allow to cool.

FRY Deep-fry the rissoles in batches until golden-brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.

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We’ve got supper sorted! Set a table outdoors and enjoy the long summer evenings. By Johané Neilson • Photographs h h Francois Oberholster

Beef noodles with oyster sauce Under R140 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • 750g tenderised steak • 1 small egg white, whisked • 30ml Maizena • 60ml oil • 200g mushrooms, chopped • 12 green beans, cut into 2cm pieces

• • • • • •

1 clove garlic, chopped 1 red chilli, chopped 1 knob fresh ginger, chopped about 45ml oyster sauce 400g egg noodles, cooked 1 bunch spring onions

1 Cut the meat into 1cm-wide strips. Beat the egg white and Maizena together and mix with the meat. Season well with salt and pepper. 2 Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan and fry the beef over high heat until golden-brown. Remove and then fry the mushrooms and beans in the same pan until cooked. Add the garlic, chilli and ginger and stir-fry for a minute. 3 Stir the oyster sauce, cooked noodles and beef together until well blended. Sprinkle the spring onions over and serve with soy sauce.

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Pork neck steaks with creamy whiskey sauce Under R110 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes • 4 deboned pork neck steaks • a sprig of rosemary, leaves chopped • 15ml each butter and oil • 1 onion, chopped • 1 clove garlic, chopped

• 30ml whiskey • 125ml chicken stock • 250ml cream • 300g baby potatoes, cooked and drained

1 Season the pork with the rosemary, salt and pepper. Melt the butter and oil in a pan and fry the meat for about 3 minutes on each side until a lovely golden-brown crust forms. Also fry the edges to brown them. Remove the meat and fry the onion and garlic in the same pan until glossy (about 3 minutes). Top up the oil if necessary. 2 Add the whiskey and cook until it has almost all evaporated. Stir in the stock and cream and cook until reduced by half and slightly thickened. This will take about 10 minutes. 3 Spoon the meat back into the sauce and simmer gently until it’s cooked (about 5 minutes, depending on the thickness; test a steak if you’re unsure). 4 Mash the cooked potatoes to form a chunky mash, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve the meat on top of the potatoes with the sauce drizzled over or on the side. Sweet carrots and salad are delicious extras.

quick food

Tomato risotto Sriracha steak tortillas Under R160 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • 700g rump steak, at room temperature • 30ml sesame oil • 15ml sriracha sauce • 15ml soy sauce • 15ml Worcestershire sauce

• 4 tortillas, toasted • 1 large ripe avocado, peeled and sliced • 300g coleslaw (your favourite recipe) • roasted mealies, to serve

1 Trim off any excess fat from the steak and rub all over with the oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan until hot and fry the steaks for about 4 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness, or until a golden-brown crust forms. 2 Beat the sriracha, soy and Worcestershire sauces together and brush generously over the meat while frying. Fry for another 3–5 minutes or until the sauce has caramelised; turn the meat over so that the sauce browns the steaks all over. The cooking time will depend on how thick the steaks are and how well done you prefer them to be. Remove from the heat and rest for a few minutes. 3 Thinly slice the meat against the grain and mix with any pan juices. Spoon onto the tortillas with the avocado and salad, and fold over. Enjoy with the mealies. Tip Stretch the meat further by adding fried mushrooms.

Under R95 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 40 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • Oven temperature: 200˚C • 1 medium brinjal, sliced • 200g baby marrows, sliced • 200g cherry tomatoes with stems • 45ml olive oil • 15ml each olive oil and butter • 1 small white onion, chopped

• • • • • • •

2 cloves garlic, chopped 300ml risotto rice about 1L vegetable stock 15ml tomato paste 125ml grated Parmesan 60ml pine nuts (optional) a handful fresh basil

1 Preheat the oven. Arrange the brinjal, baby marrows and tomatoes on a baking tray and sprinkle with olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and roast for about 10 minutes. Turn the vegetables over with a spatula and roast for another 10–15 minutes or until cooked through and tender. Turn on the grill for the last 5 minutes to char the edges. 2 Add the olive oil and butter to a heavy-bottomed pan and sauté the onion and garlic until glossy. Stir in the rice and cook for a few minutes until the grains are well-coated with oil. Add 250ml of the stock and stir with a wooden spoon until it is absorbed. Repeat twice, simmering after each addition; 20–30 minutes in total until al dente (the duration depends on the brand). 3 Stir in the last cup of stock and the tomato paste once the rice is almost done and remove from heat. Stir in the cooked veggies, cheese and nuts and let it stand for 5 minutes. Serve with a sprinkling of quality olive oil and basil from your garden. January 2020

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food & drinks

Celebrate the start of a new year! By Johané Neilson • Photographs supplied

Champagne madame?

Ooh la la! Bobo’s Brasserie in Mouille Point, Cape Town has an eclectic interior that combines lush floral wallpaper and deep-buttoned leather banquettes with an avant-garde lounge lined with bookshelves, velvet upholstery and Mediterranean-style tiles. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a sea view with a cocktail in hand or sip French champagne and dine in style on classic French bistro favourites, with a twist of course. Visit bobosbrasserie.co.za.

Serve your bubbly in style with a gold rim coupe glass (R85 each, poetrystores.co.za).

DRAW THE LINE

Gonk Industries is a food emporium at 51 4th Avenue in Linden, Johannesburg (next to well-loved décor shop Gonk). Here, you’ll be spoiled for choice with hand-picked deli products including confectionary galore, preserves, freshbaked goods and more from local brands such as Sugar & Vice, Julia K Ceramics, Authentic Food, Romesco and the Cooksister. The products pop in the eye-catching all-white interior with drawn images; go to gonk.co.za.

Petal power FREEZE!

If you love seafood but can’t always buy fresh, check out Woolworths’ convenient and tasty frozen fish. Try the Norwegian salmon portions, everyday staples like fish fingers and lightly dusted hake, or the deboned and individually wrapped trout portions. The hake, kingklip and Cape whiting are all responsibly wild-caught, preserving ocean stocks for the future. Visit woolworths.co.za.

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Show off your baked goodies with the 42cm Maxwell Williams Contessa platter (R499, home.co.za).

DOOR-TO-DOOR DELIVERY

POP THAT CORK! The Le Creuset Champagne Star (R275, lecreuset.com) offers an innovative way to safely open sparkling wine: the sturdy, fourprong design loosens and captures pressurised corks.

Online grocery store buyfresh.co.za cuts out big retailers and connects customers with top quality, sustainably sourced fresh produce and food products. Order before 10am for same-day delivery in Cape Town and surrounds; it’s free for orders over R350. Best of all? Your order is packaged in ecofriendly cooler bags with ice packs.

IN THE MIX Cedarberg Aqua Tonic Water is made in Citrusdal with pure mineral water. The range of ﬂavours – Classic, Twist of Lemon, Buchu, Rose or Blueberry – is also available in a sugar-free version. Order online at cedarbergaqua.com.

The best of Affrica

Journey through Africa with chef and founder of The Africa Café Portia Mbau in The Africa Cookbook k (R390, a started Quivertree). In 1992, Portia the ﬁrst African restaurant in South Africa, serving food inspireed by her travels across the continen nt. This compilation of her trieed-andtested recipes is designed to bring the taste and cooking techniques of Africa into your home kitchen.

AFTE ER DARK By day, Tru uth Café is where Cape Town caffeine enthusiasts get their ﬁx but from 18:00 it’s all about cocktails and cuisine. The new Gastro-Kaaap experience at TRUTH. After Dark presents trrendy versions of drinks such as a refreshing Orosie (below). Enjoy it with comfort food such as pap and wors or Nie Jou Ma se Yellowtail Frikkadel Nie. Leave room for their version of traditional puddings! For more, go to za.tru uth.coffee.

Just look at this elegant bottle for the new Durbanville Hills Sparkling Rosé (R90, cellar door)! And it tastes as good as it looks with ripe fruit aromas of strawberries and citrus as well as Turkish delight, rose petals and candy ﬂoss on the nose. This wine is made for summer and pairs perfectly with mixed berries and cream, fresh oysters, smoked salmon, sushi or sticky barbeque ribs – and sunsets! Go to durbanvillehills.co.za for more.

Photograph Crave Photography

crossword #133 Compiled by Gerda Engelbrecht

One Italtile voucher worth R2 500 could be

WIN! yours. With a wide range of baths, taps, shower ďŹ ttings and

accessories, as well as an impressive selection of tiles, Italtile is the go-to destination for sanitaryware when you need to spruce up your bathroom or kitchen. With showrooms all over South Africa, you can easily view the available ranges, or simply shop online in the comfort of your home at italtile.co.za. Living beautifully has never been this easy. The ďŹ rst reader whose correctly completed crossword is drawn will win an Italtile voucher worth R2 500. Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home BONUS Crossword #133, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 31 January 2020. See our competition rules on page 130.

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

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crossword #134

WIN!

One of ﬁve Tjhoko Paint hampers worth R614 could be yours.

If you enjoy redoing old furniture pieces, or you’re planning a makeover of your tired melamine kitchen in the new year, look no further than Tjhoko Paint, the locally made chalk paint brand that can be used on furniture, walls and fabric – as well as for eye-catching stencilling techniques! With its built-in sealant, no waxing is necessary. And if sealed with UV- and water-resistant glaze, a painted item can be used outdoors, in bathrooms and in kitchens. Go to tjhokopaint.co.za. The ﬁrst ﬁve readers whose correctly completed crosswords are drawn will each win a Tjhoko hamper that includes 3 x 250ml paint, 1 x 290ml pot of Stencil of Paris and two stencils worth R614. Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home BONUS Crossword #134, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 31 January 2020. See our competition rules on page 130.

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Photograph Getty images

crossword #135

WIN!

One of ﬁve Petley’s hampers worth R500 could be yours.

Petley’s is no ordinary pet food. But then, your furry friend is no ordinary pet. Scientifically formulated by pet nutritionists and recommended by vets, Petley’s is protein-packed with real meat combined with carefully selected natural ingredients. It has no added colours or flavourants and provides your pets with all the goodness they need for optimum health. To find out more, visit promeal.co.za. The first five readers whose correctly completed crosswords are drawn will each win a Petley’s hamper worth R500.

Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home BONUS Crossword #135, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 31 January 2020. See our competition rules on page 130.

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crossword #136 One of seven Briza Publications books worth R350 could be

WIN! yours. Grow Your Own by JJ van Rensburg and Tinus Oberholzer provides practical

tips for making the most of your kitchen garden, whether big or small, using both traditional and alternative growing methods. Find out all about soil preparation, propagation, cultivation, harvesting and storage of your favourite veggies, fruit, nuts, herbs and spices. Other handy tips include cultivating in containers, choosing the most suitable plants for different spaces, deterring pests, companion planting, and combating diseases and other problems. Visit briza.co.za. The ďŹ rst seven readers whose correctly completed crosswords are drawn will each win a copy of Grow Your Own worth R350. Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home BONUS Crossword #136, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 31 January 2020. See our competition rules on page 130.

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crossword #137

One Le Creuset voucher worth R2 500 could

WIN! be yours. Just in time for the holiday season, Le Creuset now

also offers an elegant range of stemware that includes sparkling, white wine, red wine and water glasses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and decanters. The Le Creuset WA148 Wine Decanter & Funnel is the perfect gift for wine lovers. Find this stemware and other great products at Le Creuset boutiques or online at lecreuset.co.za. The ďŹ rst reader whose correctly completed crossword is drawn will win a Le Creuset voucher worth R2 500. Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home BONUS Crossword #137, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 31 January 2020. See our competition rules on page 130.

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The Aptenia cordifolia in the foreground is a hardy groundcover that regularly bears pink flowers.

The dam wall on the estate was planted up with indigenous plants such as aloes, with mother-in-lawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tongue here and there that do well in the Karoo.

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The new

cathedrals of Europe Going to a church is one of the first things you find yourself doing when you’re on holiday in Europe. After all, one goes to Europe for its history and culture. So, in Rome you head straight to the Vatican. With its more than 70 000 works of art, it’s the sacred heart of Christianity and the cradle of European history. In Paris, you obviously go to the Notre Dame – burnt down or not. In Barcelona it’s the Sagrada Familia and in Cologne, Germany it’s the Köllner Dom. And so you hop from church to church throughout Europe. You and millions of others. Tens of millions (five million per year in the Sistine Chapel alone). Yet the churches are standing empty. On an average Sunday, you’ll be lucky to find a single old biddy hunching in the front row, the voice of the priest a hollow echo through the godforsaken hallowed halls. Where have they gone, I wondered. They are somewhere, no doubt. Because such is the human condition – forever in search of an altar, perpetually bending the knee in prayer to someone or something. We’re wired that way. The answer came to me during a recent family visit to Belgium. It was Sunday and I’d tagged along on a trip to IKEA, the massive Swedish household store world-renowned for its vast variety of ready-to-assemble furniture and homeware. Instead of the early morning Mass, we partook in the famous IKEA breakfast. The cost of a big plate of food and drinks (€1.20 or about R200) was not much more than a penny for the collection plate. While gobbling down our breakfast, we could already start on a ‘menu’ of the entire store, conveniently placed on stands at each of the restaurant tables. A free measuring tape and pencil were included, of course. At your leisure you could begin ticking off items, serial numbers and price codes; filling in measurements; checking budgets. And then it all began. We entered the slipstream of fellow ‘seekers’. The aisles are comfortably wide with enough elbow room and breathing space so that entire intergenerational families can walk side by side, like at the carnival – babies in strollers, grannies with walkers and a gaggle of kids.

Like the pilgrims of Mecca, we followed a circular route past fully outfitted kitchens, bedrooms, playrooms, bathrooms, TV rooms, living rooms – any room you can name. Even those you can’t. Each one carefully customised and decorated; styled as in the pages of a magazine. And in every conceivable size, colour or style: modern, classic, eclectic, minimalist, romantic, playful... Whatever takes your fancy. Complete lounges with sofas, chairs, matching scatter cushions, curtains, rugs, laminated floors, tiles, wallpaper, coffee tables, side tables, objects d’art, sound systems, TVs, TV stands, bookshelves, standing lamps, dimmer lamps, table lamps, light switches, wall décor and more – so much more. Imagine: once an item has made its way into your home, you have 12 months to change your mind and get a full refund. But wait, there’s more: these days, you can buy the whole house – walls, floors, doors, the complete structure itself! I was gobsmacked by this new cultural experience. Onwards and upwards in circles we moved, heaven-bound. Images of Dante’s Inferno and the nine levels of hell came to mind. Yet it didn’t feel that way at all. Because the higher we spiralled, the stronger the pull towards the good life and heavenly homeliness. It was at this point that I had an epiphany. This, I knew, is what humanity has been fighting for since biblical times: this pleasant, safe, egalitarian, DIY life. Now I knew where all the churchgoers had gone. They had prayed and IKEA was given unto them. Every year, some 957 million visitors are blessed in these mega stores, which are, on average, as big as five rugby fields. Not to mention the 2.3 billion shoppers who visit the virtual stores. The IKEA catalogue has already outstripped Bible sales. There’s just no end to this retail rainbow where goods to the value of R800 billion plus are traded each year. Once back outside, my cellphone’s pedometer informed me that I had walked 4 436 steps, or 3.1km, on this pilgrimage of high capitalism. Mea culpa, I whispered guiltily. Ave Maria, ora pro nobis peccatoribus... Pray for us sinners, dear Mother of God. Amen.

Illustrations Paula Dubois • Translation Gillian Eva

Where does the modern European go to worship? Not to church, as Karin Brynard discovered on a recent visit.

Competition Rules 1 Home competitions are open to anyone in South Africa except the employees of Media24, the competition sponsors, their subsidiaries, promotional and advertising agencies and immediate family members. 2 Prizes will be awarded to the first correct entries drawn and winners will be notified telephonically or via email. 3 SMS competition winners will be chosen at random from the total SMS entries received. 4 The decision of the organisers is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 5 Prizes cannot be amended, transferred, extended or exchanged for cash. 6 The sponsors are responsible for fulfilment of the prizes and Home cannot be held responsible for problems or delays in delivery of prizes. 7 Prizes to be redeemed within 6 months of notification; extensions only accepted if agreed upon in writing with prize sponsors. NOTE Because of variations occurring in the printing process, paint colours shown in the magazine may not be 100% accurate.

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