GBR/24229/H
BLACK MUSSEL 50 |
ACACIA HONEY 69 |
GREY LOURIE 32 |
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February 2020 NEW COMPETITION
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IMAGINE A STYLE FOR ALL SEASONS CLASSIC LOOKS THAT LAST Create a look of timeless grandeur with minimal effort with a few contemporary yet classic furniture pieces. Make the look your own with carpets, accessories and dĂŠcor that speak your style. Find your inspiration in-store and online.
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Reader home
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Reader home
Small garden
114 58
décor 12 14
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Retail therapy Pretty in pastels Fresh ideas for kids’ bedrooms
small spaces 18
28 36 44 50
A dilapidated farmhouse gets a new lease on life Clever changes and décor choices for an inner-city apartment A townhouse and garden that form a cohesive living space. From an empty shell to a cosy industrial-style abode Heaps of personality for a formerly bland spec house
Simple lines and light-filled open spaces for a family home
do it yourself 68
Revamp a flat pack unit.
in the garden 92 100 106 108 113
Top trends for gorgeous gardens A tiny masterpiece inspired by mosaics Plant of the month Salt bush Think big in a small space Plant of the month Dune crowberry
in the kitchen
114 122 124 126
Freeze now, make a meal later Yorkshire pudding, step by step Quick food We’ve got supper sorted! Food & drinks to feed your senses
Freeze it!
competitions 6 72 79
82 84 91
Write in to Your Space and WIN Meet our 2019 Tjhoko Champs winner Are you a hoarder? Enter our 2020 Declutter Queen/King competition! Send us your pet pics and WIN Win a copy of The Tait Florilegium worth R1 850 Complete Crossword #138 and WIN a book worth R360
regulars 8 10 74
130
Diary February highlights What’s new on the décor scene Advice Ask the experts 79 Trash or treasure? Let’s find out 82 Pets and their peculiarities 86 Gardening notebook Last words from Karin Brynard
Cover photograph Henrique Wilding • Styling Marian van Wyk
36
I cannot for the life of me play rugby.
EDITOR CAPE TOWN OFFICE Cape Town postal address Office Manager JOHANNESBURG OFFICE
But if freezing foodstuffs was a national sport, I’d be the captain. The Siya Kolisi of the freezer team, so to speak. And here’s why: the half an onion that was just too much for Friday night’s braaibroodjies? Into the freezer for the next stew. The tomatoes that have started to go mushy? Into the freezer for chilled tomato soup for the next Sunday lunch. Old bread? Breadcrumbs of course! Because who on earth wants to pay – with hard-earned cash – for breadcrumbs? My freezing list knows no bounds: lemons for grating over oven-roasted potatoes; berries; bananas (for baking, of course); waterblommetjies; koeksisters... all stuffed in-between the lamb chops and pork belly. Of course, it’s no coincidence that I’m a freezer fanatic – it’s a talent I inherited from my mother. She often had to make a plan for my father’s bulk purchases, which he would buy from local farms and markets out of sheer boredom after retirement. Like the time he arrived home with crates of plum tomatoes “because it was a bargain, Alida; just make jam”. In the end, my mother made the most delicious tomato chutney with them, using a recipe that I will publish in Home someday. Because it’s a winner. The hot-blooded lover of freezing is surely preserving. The other day, my mom and I were driving somewhere and, as usual, she was searching for her sunglasses. I eventually found them, but one lens had a scratch like a snowflake smack in the middle of it. “Mom,” I asked. “Can you even see through these glasses?” “Yes,” she said. “Those are the glasses that went missing; the other day, when I was unpacking the chest freezer, I found them in-between Grieta’s dried peaches and a turkey that your late father bought.” Sunglasses with frostbite, nogal. When our food editor Johané said she was preparing dishes for this issue using items from the freezer, I was thrilled. And her recipes on page 114 don’t disappoint. Now I have a few new tricks up my sleeve! • Our February issue goes on sale in the middle of Janu-worry, so we decided to include a free gift – beautiful botanical prints by artist Lady Cynthia Tait. This coincides with an exhibition of her work at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town. Find out more on page 84. • We’re also collaborating with lifestyle channel VIA (147 on DStv) once again. If you’re a hoarder, we’ll come and declutter your home with help from Gumtree. Go to page 79 for details.
EDITORIAL Features Editor Creative Editor Food Editor Art Director Designer Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Multimedia Journalist Photographer Retoucher
Wicus Pretorius • editor@homemag.co.za 20th Floor, Media24 Building, 40 Heerengracht, Cape Town PO Box 1802, Cape Town, 8000 Amina Essop 021 406 2401 Media Park Building, 69 Kingsway Road, Auckland Park
Shané Barnard • shane.barnard@media24.com Marian van Wyk Johané Neilson • johane.neilson@tuis.co.za Andrew Maritz Jade Cupido Tessa Jean-Jacques Gillian Eva Suné Esterhuizen Francois Oberholster René Nortjé
CONTRIBUTORS Kim Arendse, Shelly Bergh, Karin Brynard, Elza Cooper, Greg Cox, Paula Dubois, Gerda Engelbrecht, Marié Esterhuyse, René Esterhuyse, Magriet Jansen van Rensburg, Kay Montgomery, Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel, Misi Overturf, Karl Rogers, Ludwig Taschner, JJ van Rensburg, Elna van der Merwe, Amanda van Wyngaardt, Dina Venter, Henrique Wilding, Annelize Visser Production Manager General Enquiries ADVERTISNG HEAD: Advertising Sales (Cape Town and KZN) Key Account Manager (CT) Sales Manager (JHB) Classified Sales MEDIA24 LIVE Head of Events Head of Sponsorship Marketing Manager LIFESTYLE CREATE STUDIO Creative Director Commercial Manager: Monthlies Commercial Editor CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Product Manager
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It’s your last chance to get a copy of our annual Home Renovations guide – it’s full of ideas and solutions for your own renovation projects. Jampacked with clever makeovers from our annual Fix it with Flair competition, it’s an indispensable guide for anyone who wants to start building or revamping in the new year. Get a copy at a store near you or send an email to editor@homemag.co.za if you can’t find it.
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 CMO Media24 Lifestyle Nerisa Coetzee Copyright Media24. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of the publisher. While reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of advice and information given to readers, the editor, proprietors and publishers cannot accept responsibility for any damages or inconvenience that may arise therefrom. Home has the right to make alterations to any material submitted, and cannot be held responsible for the loss of or damage to any material submitted for publication. All prices stated are subject to change and may vary from store to store; retail prices in-store should be considered the final confirmed amount.
February 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 &ĂĐĞŬ ŐƌŽƵƉ (facebook.com/homemagͿ Žƌ ĨŽůůŽǁ ƵƐ ŽŶ /ŶƐƚĂŐƌĂŵ @TuisHomeMag.
Barbara Marais of Pretoria writes
Before
We had an old Jacuzzi in our braai area but it didn’t look very inviting. We decided to revamp the space and create an outdoor chess area. Our guests can now enjoy playing chess while braaiing, swimming and relaxing!
IN SHORT dŚĂŶŬ LJŽƵ ƐŽ ŵƵĐŚ ĨŽƌ LJŽƵƌ ǁŽŶĚĞƌĨƵů ŵĂŐĂnjŝŶĞ͊ /ƚ͛Ɛ ƚŚĞ ŽŶůLJ ŽŶĞ / ďƵLJ ĞǀĞƌLJ ŵŽŶƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĂƐ ƐŽŽŶ ĂƐ /͛ǀĞ ĮŶŝƐŚĞĚ ŝƚ͕ / ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ǁĂŝƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ŝƐƐƵĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ŵĞ ƐƵĐŬŝŶŐ ƵƉ ʹ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ũƵƐƚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵƚŚ͊ ŶLJǁĂLJ͕ / ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ĂīŽƌĚ ƚŽ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ŶĞǁ ĐƵƌƚĂŝŶƐ͕ ƉĂŝŶƚ͕ ĨƵƌŶŝƚƵƌĞ Žƌ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞƐ ďƵƚ / ŽŌĞŶ ŐĞƚ ŝĚĞĂƐ ĨƌŽŵ LJŽƵƌ ŵĂŐ ĨŽƌ ŝƚĞŵƐ / ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ / ĐĂŶ ŵŽǀĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ͕ ďƌŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ƐƚŽƌĂŐĞ Žƌ ͚ƵƉŐƌĂĚĞ͛ ŝŶ ƐŽŵĞ ǁĂLJ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ŵLJ ŚŽŵĞ ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĨƌĞƐŚ ŶĞǁ ůŽŽŬ͊ ^Ž͕ ƚŚĂŶŬƐ ĂŐĂŝŶ͘ – Carmen Bouwer, Pietermaritzburg dŚĞ ĞĚŝƚŽƌ ƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ ƚŚĞ ƌŝŐŚƚ ƚŽ ĞĚŝƚ ůĞƩĞƌƐ Ăƚ ŚŝƐ ĚŝƐĐƌĞƟŽŶ͘
Anyone A y for chess?
WINNING LETTER
A match for Marie Kondo Nicky Webb of East London writes
I have recently discovered the konmari method of decluttering. Basically (in a nutshell), the mantra is “if it doesn’t spark joy then get rid of it.” I first unleashed konmari on my clothes cupboard. I was so successful that my daughter said: “Shame, mom. You don’t have any clothes.” It was in this spirit that I decided to attack the pile of magazines in our bathroom. I spent hours paging through magazines, trying to decide which ones sparked joy and which ones did not. Eventually, I stared happily at two piles of magazines: keep and throw away. Sadly, I don’t think Marie Kondo, the author of the konmari approach, would be pleased. In my ‘keep’ pile were 40 Home magazines. My ‘throw away’ pile held two: my husband’s fitness magazine and a boring business mag (also his).
I don’t think that Ms. Kondo has ever read a Home magazine. If she had, I think that she would find that she had met her match. You see, there is something in each one of these issues that sparks joy – the kitchen that I would love to have one day, the log cabin with its beautiful natural décor, a pork recipe that I will definitely try and Karin Brynard’s nostalgic back page stories. How could I throw even one of these away? Obviously, I could not. So I dragged them upstairs to the linen cupboard and stashed them with all my other Home magazines on a sagging shelf. What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over. This brings me around to my reason for writing this letter: how about instructions for some kind of magazine storage unit/ bookshelf, DIY Deon?
DLJ ĚĂƵŐŚƚĞƌ ƚŽůĚ ŵĞ ŵLJ ďĂĐŬ ƐƚŽĞƉ ůŽŽŬĞĚ ƚŽŽ ͞ŽůĚͲĨĂƐŚŝŽŶĞĚ͟ ƐŽ ƐŚĞ ŐĂǀĞ ŝƚ Ă ŵĂŬĞŽǀĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŶĞǁ ĐůĂLJ ƉŽƚ Žƌ ƚǁŽ͕ Ă ĨĞǁ ŚĞƌďƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉŽƩĞĚ ƉůĂŶƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ ŵLJ ŐĂƌĚĞŶ͘ / ůŽǀĞ ŝƚ͊ – Estelle van der Merwe, Sandbaai
The writer of the winning ůĞƩĞƌ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞƐ Ă ZŽŬƵ 'ŝŶ ŚĂŵƉĞƌ ǁŽƌƚŚ ZϲϬϬ͊ ZŽŬƵ 'ŝŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ůĂƚĞƐƚ :ĂƉĂŶĞƐĞ ŐŝŶ ƚŽ Śŝƚ ŽƵƌ ƐŚŽƌĞƐ͕ ĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐ ŝƚƐ ƐƵďƚůĞ LJĞƚ ĐŽŵƉůĞdž ŇĂǀŽƵƌ ƉƌŽĮůĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĂƐŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƌǀĞƐƟŶŐ ďŽƚĂŶŝĐĂůƐ ĂƐ ƚŚĞLJ ďůŽƐƐŽŵ ĂŶĚ ďůŽŽŵ͘ dŚŝƐ ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ĞĚŝƟŽŶ ŚĂŵƉĞƌ ĐŽŵĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ďŽƩůĞ ŽĨ ZŽŬƵ 'ŝŶ ĂŶĚ ƚǁŽ ĐĞƌĂŵŝĐ ĐƵƉƐ͕ ŝŶǀŝƟŶŐ LJŽƵ ƚŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐƉŝƌŝƚ ŽĨ :ĂƉĂŶĞƐĞ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂůŝƚLJ͕ omotenashi͕ ŝŶ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂƌĞ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ ƚŽ ƉŽƵƌ ĞĂĐŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĚƌŝŶŬƐ ĂƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ Ă ƌĞĨƌĞƐŚŝŶŐ ƌŝƚƵĂů LJŽƵ ĐĂŶ ĞŶũŽLJ ǁŝƚŚ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͘ &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͕ ǀŝƐŝƚ suntory.co.jp/wnb/rokugin/.
WIN!
A festive tree
Hanina Loubser of Stilbaai writes My father was an avid collector – and I have clearly inherited that gene! I thought I would share with you our unique Christmas tree, which we created this past festive season. Inspired by the ‘tree’ made up of stacked t k d wooden d b boxes in your December 2019 issue, I used terracotta pipes that I found in my dad’s house years ago and have lugged around with me for years – they bring back such fond memories.
6 home February 2020
diary
Compiled by René Esterhuyse Send diary entries to diary@homemag.co.za at least three months before the event.
February flashes
ON THE BOX
Scott McGillivray takes his passion for real estate to the next level in Buyers Bootcamp (Season 1 starts 10 February on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv). With years of experience under his belt, Scott knows all about flipping properties for profit. Two amateurs pitch their own properties and Scott picks the one he thinks has the most potential. He then puts up his own cash to pay for the renovation and teaches the rookies how to maximise value. The team works day and night to get the flip completed on time and within budget. If they succeed, they split the profits; if they fail, they fail together.
INVESTEC CAPE TOWN ART FAIR 14–16 February: Cape Town The annual Investec Cape Town Art Fair at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) promises to once again be a spectacle of diverse contemporary art from across the continent. Look out for Tomorrows/Today, a striking collection of art by young emerging artists; Past/ Modern, where modern works give historical context; and Cultural Platforms, featuring work from non-profit art organisations in the area. For details, visit investeccapetownartfair.co.za, or call 021 702 2280.
DESIGN INDABA 2020 26–28 February: Cape Town Design Indaba is celebrating its 25th anniversary and this year the focus is on innovation, creative thinking and building networks among all who attend the design show. As before, the Indaba will be simulcast to other venues across the country – including in Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth – at a reduced price. Buy tickets at webtickets.co.za or call 021 465 9966 for more.
HOMEMAKERS EXPO 27 February – 1 March: Johannesburg If you’re looking for fresh ideas to spice up your décor, the annual Johannesburg Homemakers Expo at the Ticketpro Dome is the place to be! This year’s theme, InHabit, aims to help you improve your quality of life, touching on issues such as environmentally-friendly, sustainable décor, how you can support local businesses and become more aware of the origin of the products you buy. Tickets cost R100 for adults, R50 for pensioners and R20 for scholars. For more info, call 086 111 4663 or visit homemakersonline.co.za.
8 home February 2020
1: Spend a relaxing day at the Franschhoek Summer Wines garden party at Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards, where winemakers will be showcasing their favourite wines. Tickets at webtickets.co.za cost R295 and include entrance, a free glass and wine-tastings. Call 021 876 2861. 1: Enjoy a glass of wine outdoors while music legend Theuns Jordaan entertains you at the annual Summer Picnic Concerts at Overhex Winery near Worcester. Tickets cost R250 per person and include a picnic. Book at webtickets.co.za. 1–2: Pick your own berries at the Berry Festival in Magoebaskloof, browse the homemade products at the market or participate in a fun walk on the beautiful Blueberry Heights Farm. Tickets cost R60 for adults and R40 for kids. Book at quicket.co.za. 11 Feb – 30 Apr: The debut Stellenbosch Triennale exhibition by the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust promises a collection of diverse contemporary art from all over Africa. Admission is free. For more information, go to stellenboschtriennale.com. 13–16: Ardmore will be launching their latest fabric and ceramic collection at The Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia, Cape Town with a range that highlights the flora and fauna of the Bushveld. For more information, call 033 940 0034. 14: March issue of Home on sale! 14: Happy Valentine’s Day! 14–16: Enjoy rural charm, good food and great company with the local folk of Rhodes in the Eastern Cape at the town’s annual Stoepsitfees. Call 082 773 8576 for further details. 16: Pack a picnic basket and head out to the Cape Town Folk ’n Acoustic Music Festival at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Tickets start at R170; get them at webtickets.co.za. 28: Visit the monthly Locally Yours market in Port Elizabeth for arts, crafts and fresh produce supplied by local entrepreneurs of the Friendly City. Call 082 785 4118 for more information. 29: Savour SA wines and fresh farm food at Spier wine estate’s pop-up market at Casalinga in Muldersdrift. Tickets cost R200 and include five tastings, a complimentary wine glass and Spier’s Signature Chardonnay/Pinot Noir. Visit spier.co.za for more.
MUSIC IN YOUR EARS
Please send décor and lifestyle news to news@homemag.co.za.
what’s new
Too beautiful! International colour authority Pantone has chosen Classic Blue as their Colour of the Year for 2020. The shade is elegant and timeless and will suit any décor style.
Compiled by Shané Barnard
Hot product! Brighten up your space with this braided cotton and jute rug (R1 495; 1 500cm D) from Block & Chisel. Browse online at blockandchisel.co.za.
DON’T LET THE BED BUGS BITE! Granny Goose is the first company in South Africa with a certified dust miteproof pillow! The Allergy Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) has given its seal of approval to the Granny Goose Snow White Duck Down pillow, which ensures that you and your children get a good night’s sleep – free from the worry of allergies. Find out more at grannygoose.com.
Soft touch
The Aegean Towel from Mungo is woven with 100% organic cotton, making it not only super soft but a more ethical choice, too. It features a combination of honeycomb and diamond weaves and is available as a hand towel (R270) and bath sheet (R705). Check out mungo.co.za.
New!
The Office in a Cupboard from Milestone Kitchens allows you to ‘close up’ your workspace, so that it’s out of sight and mind until you need it again. It’s perfect for small spaces that don’t have a separate study. Go to milestonekitchens.co.za.
Fine fabrics Add a quirky touch to your home décor with these cute designs from Stuart Graham’s The Sketch Collection; they’re G printed on 100% cotton and available in a variety of summer colours (R575/m). Visit stuartgraham.co.za for more. 1 Betty Melba 2 Whirl Melba 3 Woof Butterscotch
Photograph Robyn Davie Photography
Design your own lighting with Creative Cables! Choose from hundreds of different coloured cables then select a bulb, lampshade and fitting – and voila! You can design anything from floor lamps and string lights to pendants and wall-mounted bulbs. Cable prices start at R58/m; visit the store in Dorp Street, Stellenbosch or browse online at creative-cables.co.za.
CREATE, INNOVATE!
TOP SHOP VYx44 is the latest addition to the stylish Hyde Park Corner shopping centre. Housed in a trendy warehouse-like space, VYx44 brings together local artisans from Victoria Yards and 44 on Stanley and offers furniture, décor, craft and design with a focus on sustainable practices. Visit hydeparkcorner.co.za.
VINYL CLASSIC How beautiful are these new vinyl wall stickers from local chalk paint supplier Tjhoko Paint? They’re available in small (R495) and large (R725) sets in various floral designs and colours. Go to tjhokopaint.co.za.
WHO Charl and Jean Marx-Ubbink WHERE Pretoria BUSINESS Vinostein THEIR WORK During a visit to the Cape Winelands in 2015, Charl and Jean MarxUbbink discovered that just as the oak used in winemaking improves the wine, so the wine improves the oak. They saw the potential for creating extraordinary oak furniture and products from used wine barrels. After months of testing, they perfected the process for returning the wood to its raw form, and in 2018 Vinostein was born. The pair started out manufacturing custom designs for a handful of clients, slowly building their range which now includes lights, tables, cheeseboards and décor accessories – all of which are a far cry from their original form with no bends, kinks or any of the physical characteristics of a barrel. Visit vinostein.co.za.
Duram’s new Habitat Collection of 90 stunning paint colours has been carefully curated to offer you a sophisticated and contemporary palette, featuring beautifully balanced and harmonious tones. Each colour is available for purchase in convenient 90ml low-sheen samples (R20) at select stores. Visit duram.co.za for more. February 2020
home 11
shoppin
, Decofurn ofa R4 299 s r te a e -s 3 Emma
Green glass cluster pendant R4 425, K.Light
Compiled by Bea trice M oore-N Ăśthna g
Ic
el Keep your cool w it h delectable dĂŠcor m these ust-h av e s .
ea
Andaman Cote Noire hy angea scented perfume and gea in a crystal v se R1 499, @hom
The Lighting Warehouse Monica side table R1 355, Knus
Sunset wall hanging R1 350, Knus
Moresby pa atio cushion (60 x 60cm) R299, Coricraft
Novi r (2 300 x 1 600mm) R3 495, Block & Chisel Tai table lamp R895, Eurolux
12 home February 2020
Yay Sassy stool R599.99, MRP
Hom e
Stanley stormy weather pendant R1 499, The Lighting Warehouse
Jenny crossback dining chair R1 495, Block & Chisel Morrocotto ceramic brick tiles (60 x 240mm; available in a variety of colours) R35 each, Italtile
Plastic lace storage basket R29.99, Sheet Street
Fabhabitat Seville outdoor rug (1 800 x 2 750mm) R1 499, @home
Nassau outdoor bistro set R4 990, MON Exteriors
Resort notebook R110, Poetry
Ceramic vase R99.99, Sheet Street
Diya 10-seater tablecloth R550, Poetry STOCKISTS @home 0860 834 834, home.co.za Block & Chisel 087 015 0181, blockandchisel.co.za Coricraft 011 611 8700, coricraft.co.za Decofurn 087 740 1800, decofurnsa.co.za Eurolux 021 528 8400, eurolux.co.za Italtile 010 271 2272, italtile.co.za K.Light 021 552 4370, klight.co.za Knus knus.co MON Exteriors 0861 866 766, monexteriors.com MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Poetry 0860 665 533, poetrystores.co.za Sheet Street 0800 212 535, sheetstreet.com The Lighting Warehouse 011 201 2600, lightingwarehouse.co.za
fresh ideas
Child’s play Take inspiration from these playful and practical design ideas to create a fun bedroom for your kids.
By Kim Arendse • Photographs Francois Oberholster, Karl Rogers and Elza Cooper Styling Marian van Wyk and Amanda van Wyngaardt
14 home February 2020
See double Cara (12) and Lisa (10) Senekal share a bedroom in their colourful home in Paarl (featured in Home November 2019). Decorating a space for two can be challenging but here a balance has been created in that the girls’ beds and workspaces are a mirror image of each other. It’s a simple and fun solution that allows for a cohesive look that works for both girls. The desks were made by a friend of the family and decorator mom Lindie of Pizzazz Interiors chose contemporary chairs, geometric print bedding and soft furnishings to complete the picture. She made the yellow bed frills herself! >> Chairs from Decofurn; bedding and soft furnishings from MRP Home
fresh ideas
Dulux Niagara Blues 2
Photograph Celine (073 135 0333)
Cushion covers from Superbalist; cot and rocking chair from Baby Belle
Paint colour
Baby blue Kyla Barnard of Benoni in Gauteng entered little Grayson’s beautiful nursery in our 2019 Fix it with Flair competition. We love the ‘shiplap’ effect she created on the feature wall behind the cot using fascia boards as innovative cladding. Kyla chose the paint colour to match a shade of blue inspired by a cushion cover from Superbalist. “I’ve always preferred a room without a theme, and this is reflected in my son’s nursery,” says Kyla. “My method when it comes to designing a space consists of finding inspirational pictures and using these to create a moodboard. I love a farm-style aesthetic and that’s what I’ve gone for in this room.
We love this!
Toys can be stashed out of sight in these ‘secret’ drawers.
Up, up and away Stacy and Jacques van Zyl maximised space in their son James’s small bedroom with a loft bed raised above a play area and hidde storage in the stairs leading up to his bed (a feature he loves!). After careful planning and costing, the creative pair found it would be more cost-effective to order a bed, instead of building it themselves, and to then add personal touches after installation. Jacques reinforced the standard side rails with thicker pieces of wood and added a funky jute rope barrier in a climbing net pattern for safety, bolting it to the ceiling beams to make sure it can withstand even energetic jumping! Stacy used a wood stain (Novadye in Antique Oak) on the raw wood and other finishing touches include a focal wall in chalkboard paint, a swing and an artificial grass offcut as a mat. Read more about the family’s projects on sawdustandhighheels.com.
16 home February 2020
Bed from Bed and Pine Furniture
STOCKISTS Baby Belle 065 998 3777, babybelle.co.za Bed and Pine Furniture 073 808 0298, Facebook @bedandpinefurniturebargains Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Decofurn 087 740 1800, decofurnsa.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Pizzazz Interiors 082 873 3533, lindiesenekal@gmail.com Superbalist superbalist.com Modernist 011 447 0016, modernist.biz Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za
Red pendant cord from Modernist; light fittings from Builders; bedding from MRP Home; yellow throw and rug from Woolworths; guitar scatter from Ikea; standing lamp from Weylandts
A black canvas
There’s a painted accent wall in almost every room in stylist Amanda van Wyngaardt’s Randburg home. In her 10-year-old son Angus’s bedroom she opted for black chalkboard paint (Plascon School Board Paint). “I love drawing and try to instil that passion in my son, too. The wall has kept him busy longer than most toys!” she says. “And as the drawings change, so does the theme of the room; this month it’s vintage space comics.” Amanda says the water-based paint dries quickly once applied and is easy to clean; she simply wipes it with a wet cloth.
small spaces 120m²
A French connection Two Bolanders and a pair of Frenchmen turned a dilapidated farmhouse into a charming home.
THE HOMEOWNERS Benoit Thomas and Louis Orlianges WHERE Banhoek Valley, Stellenbosch By Elna van der Merwe • Photographs Francois Oberholster and Henrique Wilding • Styling Marian van Wyk
Benoit designed the bookshelf in the dining room; it was welded together and bolted to the wall. The homeowners love the contrast between the contemporary fridge and the old cupboard next to it in the kitchen (left).
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Open shelving in the kitchen provides storage and display space. “It’s not practical, as the crockery gets dusty. But nothing in our lives is practical – it’s all about aesthetics!” says Chris.
The clinker brick floor in the kitchen is practical and striking.
The kitchen leads through to the living room. Dané built the new fireplace in this open-plan space.
“We had the curtains in the living room made after stonewashing and dyeing the fabric (inexpensive canvas). We then added velveteen at the bottom. The furniture consists of old items we reupholstered or painted,” says Chris.
The story of this home began six years ago when four sunseekers met on a Cape Town beach. Chris Willemse and Dané Erwee, owners of floral business Okasie in Stellenbosch, struck up a conversation with Benoit Thomas and Louis Orlianges, two Parisians who have spent holidays in South Africa for the past 20 years. Chris remembers how a compact house that stands on the property next to his and Dané’s ended up becoming home to these new friends – a home that most people would give their eyeteeth for as it’s surrounded by such incredible beauty. “About six years ago, Dané and I were sitting on Llandudno beach when we started chatting to two Parisians; we clicked with them immediately. At that stage we’d never been to Paris but when we attended the Maison&Objet design fair nine months later, we ended up staying with them,” he explains. Benoit, a veterinarian, and Louis, a publisher at, among others, Condé Nast and GQ, had never been to Stellenbosch during their holidays here, so the two South Africans invited them over.
But not before the four newfound friends tackled the Stevenson Hiking Trail in the Cevennes region about 600km from Paris. This trail follows the footsteps of the Scot Robert Louis Stevenson who wrote Treasure Island. It was on this hike that the two Frenchmen indicated that they were keen to buy property in South Africa. “To cut a long story short: we told them about the piece of land next to ours that had been on the market for eight years. I approached the agent via WhatsApp, only to be told that there was already a prospective buyer,” says Chris. “At that stage, we were en route to a Greek island where we only had an internet connection at the ferry office. Within 24 hours we had to complete loads of paperwork. In addition, our French friends wanted to put in a much lower offer. But all’s well that ends well. That very same night, Benoit and Louis became the owners of a piece of South African paradise – 1.7 hectares that they hadn’t yet set foot on.” >> February 2020
home 21
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Carte blanche The property was overgrown and dilapidated, and the house that stood there was in such poor condition that an architect suggested it be demolished. Benoit and Louis had given their South African friends carte blanche to renovate and furnish the house as they saw fit and they decided to work with what they had, instead of tearing the building down. “Dané and I felt it was a project just right for us,” Chris explains. Benoit and Louis were in the best possible hands as the Stellenbosch pair are decorators par excellence. Their own home and garden are gorgeous; this is also where they cultivate plants and flowers for their business. The renovation began in December 2017. In March, the French owners came to view their property for the first time and by August everything was complete. “They had absolute trust in us but we consulted them throughout by sending photographs of, for example, finishes that we wanted to use. When they finally saw the end product, only the outside braai was a surprise as we hadn’t said a word about it to them.” In exchange for their hard work, Chris and Dané have lived in the house for the past three years while renting out their own place next door.
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The old stoeps were converted into two bathrooms without losing the veranda feel. All the aluminium frames were made by Klapmuts Windows. Vanity from Onsite Gallery; Tintin figurines from Milnerton Market; fish from Ceramic Matters; lamp from a brocante (flea market) in France
Dining room
Guest bedroom
Lounge
Outdoor dining area
En-suite bath
Main bedroom
Entrance hall En-suite shower
Garden
Stoep
Braai
Kitchen
Steps defined by potted succulents lead from the en-suite guest bathroom down to the garden.
Beautiful wooden ceilings that were covered with gypsum board were revealed during the renovation. They were simply re-oiled.
The framed tapestries were discovered at a brocante; the couple spray-painted the glass and frames black. Dané scraped off some of the paint with a teaspoon to reveal the best part of each tapestry. Chris and Dané made the headboard.
The project A big plus was that the two renovators were given free rein by the French couple – Benoit and Louis left the entire project in Chris and Dané’s capable hands. “We didn’t bring in an architect,” says Chris. “We just asked one for advice, since the changes were merely cosmetic. We believe the house was built in the early 1900s and we didn’t alter the footprint of any of the buildings. The roof structure was also retained, although we replaced all of the windows.” To best utilise the space, the pair cleverly incorporated outwardopening steel-and-glass French doors wherever possible; these facilitate a seamless flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces. In the kitchen, Dané laid the clinker brick floor interspersed with pieces of Delft porcelain himself. “We had the bricks cut to the right shape and he spent about seven or eight nights arranging them under floodlights,” says Chris. “We transported truckloads of rubbish off the property – that’s when we picked up the pieces of blue Delft.” They mixed the interior paint colours themselves. “We sometimes mix up to 10 colours in the same shade until we’re satisfied. Colour is one of the most difficult things to get right.” Two unforeseen expenses – both to do with temperature control, namely ceiling fans and underfloor heating – cropped up. And to counteract the Boland summer heat, the French pair later built a plunge pool. After the renovations, Benoit and Louis moved to the Boland and the house has since had four residents, with nary a cross word spoken between them. “We don’t have any house rules,” says Chris. “We make sure we take each other into consideration.” However, in May 2020 the floral artists will return to their own home with their dogs and cats. >>
The bedroom walls were painted in two different colours and framed pictures were suspended from string for an eclectic look.
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A serving alcove decorated with small mosaic tiles provides eye-catching detail in the modern ‘outdoor braai kitchen’ with its built-in braai. Two potted indigenous blue squill (Merwilla plumbea syn. Scilla natalensis) add greenery to the table. Mosaic tiles from Pudlo
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Benoit (left) and Chris chat while Lucky the dog and Oscar the cat (on the table) keep them company.
The morning sun highlights plants displayed on the table at the front door.
[ Q&A WITH CHRIS ]
How did you decide on the spot for the braai area? It was the most obvious choice for an outdoor room as there is lots of privacy. But the most important factor was to have it under the big old oak tree because it provides natural shade in summer and sun in winter when the leaves have fallen. What were your requirements for the space? Other than a braai fireplace, I wanted a practical outdoor kitchen with light and water, as well as a serving area. What did the construction work entail? The braai – the fireplace itself and serving alcove next to it – was built first. The kitchen section is right around the corner behind the fireplace. The floor was then laid with second-grade pavers
turned on their sides so that they look more like clinkers. For additional shade, we built a galvanised steel pergola over the entertainment area. We plan to add a long built-in table later. Why did you decide on a pergola? It is the perfect roof for an outdoor room. We didn’t want to block the view of the mountains with a more solid structure. Which climber have you planted here? We chose a wisteria because it is covered with the most gorgeous flowers in spring. What informed your choice of outdoor furniture? Nothing; we buy what we like and make it work. Do you have a Plan B for when it rains? No, we simply don’t braai!
STOCKISTS Ceramic Matters 021 864 1722, @CeramicM on Facebook Klapmuts Windows 021 875 5885, klapmutswindows.co.za Milnerton Market 021 551 7879 Onsite Gallery 021 462 1357, onsitegallery.co.za Pudlo pudlo.co.za
Clever changes and décor choices have transformed a run-down flat into a chic apartment.
City slicker By Shané Barnard • Photographs Greg Cox Styling Marian van Wyk
It’s in the detail Classic hexagonal marble tiles were used for the splashback behind the sink. Open shelving serves as storage for crockery and glasses and a two-plate induction stove saves precious workspace.
Ina’s kitchen proves that you can use dark colours in a small space. She chose an integrated fridge that blends seamlessly with the other cupboards.
28 home February 2020
small spaces 50m²
WHO LIVES HERE? Ina Baard WHERE Cape Town CBD
Ina says she’s still searching for the “perfect” coffee table: “I’d rather live without something for months or even years than buy an item I don’t love.” The coffee table is a simple wooden slab resting on legs (leftovers from a previous project). The bougainvillea artwork was painted by a friend from Slovakia. The built-in shelves provide a display area for treasured items, including a grandfather clock that Ina’s brother-in-law made from driftwood. Rug and wooden lantern from Weylandts; sofa from @home; curtains from Gordijn Studio
It’s in the detail Instead of a traditional curtain rail, Ina installed a thin steel cable just below the ceiling, enhancing a sense of space in the living room.
Ina wanted double-glazed windows to block out the city noise. She had to get special permission from the body corporate and the new windows had to look exactly like the old ones. The apartment originally had parquet flooring but Ina prefers tiles as she has lots of plants that could damage the wood. The elongated tiles in a herringbone pattern add a contemporary feel. Double-glazed windows from ASAP uPVC
I did a huge spring-clean to get rid of everything that wouldn’t fit into the new kitchen! – Ina
Gold artwork by Ferdi B Dick; skulls from Rialheim
30 home February 2020
Ina called on Picture Hanging Pros to help with her gallery wall.
The front door opens onto the spacious living area and open-plan kitchen. This was previously a cramped passage. Large tote bag from Skinny laMinx; towel from Weylandts
When Ina Baard first set foot in her one-bedroom apartment in Cape Town in June 2015, she realised what she’d let herself in for... The place was very neglected, but by then it was too late. She spotted the apartment on Property24 on a Thursday and immediately knew it was a bargain. “I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I knew that if I waited until Tuesday when it would be on show, someone else would snap it up before me,” she explains. At eight o’clock on the Friday morning, she put in an offer. Friends of Ina’s had previously lived in the same block of flats, so she was familiar with the building and its central location on Church Square. “Although the flat was dark and dingy, I could see its potential,” she says. First, Ina paid attention to making the kitchen and bathroom liveable and she demolished unnecessary internal walls that divided the flat into poky little rooms. She lived like that for four years to get a feel for the space and to save cash before starting any major renovations. The kitchen, in particular, was a challenge. “I wanted something that didn’t scream ‘tiny kitchen’ and would offer me maximum storage space.” Ina enlisted the help of a designer to draw up plans; she stuck them up in the kitchen and studied them for a few weeks to get an idea of the flow. But something didn’t feel right. At first, she toyed with the idea of an L-shaped layout with a freestanding table and two chairs. But when she saw another kitchen with an island, she knew that was what she wanted.
“I consider the money I spent on consulting a designer to be a good investment. Without her plans I would not have realised that the layout wouldn’t work for me, and I might have spent my entire budget on cupboards I hated!” she explains. Finally, the major renovations could begin. In July 2019, the last tile was laid and everything was done and dusted. Ina had planned to use the apartment as an investment property rented out on Airbnb. But now she’s so happy living there that she has no intention of moving anytime soon. Having grown up on a farm, Ina enjoys the freedom of walking everywhere. “I walk to work and on my way home I buy the ingredients for dinner. Everything is on my doorstep – even my hairdresser!” The atmosphere in the city centre excites her. “There are so many tourists in this part of the city. I love hearing all the different languages and accents; it makes me feel as if I’m part of a bigger picture and not just focused on my own daily existence. And one of the most beautiful city sounds is the church bells of St. George’s Cathedral just around the corner.” Ina can also appreciate greenery and the stunning city architecture from her apartment – luckily, she doesn’t look out onto the back of another building. “Even though it’s such a small space, it still feels very luxurious,” she says. All that it lacks is a balcony where she can watch the hustle and bustle of the city from above. >> February 2020
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It was wonderful to transform such an unloved place into something special. – Ina The spacious bedroom feels luxurious. The built-in melamine cupboards have custom-made wooden handles and the desk (far right) is from Ina’s student days. It has since been given a fresh coat of paint and new handles. Here, Ina also used open shelves for storage, with yellow boxes as a playful element. Cushions from Skinny laMinx; hide rug and grey throw from Weylandts; wooden handles by Basically Wood; yellow storage boxes from MRP Home
Paint colour
Duram Sweet Water
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The monochrome theme is continued in the bathroom. Ina chose a floating vanity to gain floor space. >> Soap from Scent Skincare; tiles from Union Tiles
Ina discovered the stool on Freecycle, an online marketplace where people give things away for free. It was simply given a new leather seat.
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Before
Structural changes Ina called in the help of Tony Curtis for the construction and demolition work. With only 50m2 at her disposal, the biggest challenge was to make the apartment feel as spacious as possible. Originally, the bedroom was located in the middle of the flat, with the kitchen and bathroom to the right and the living room to the left. A dark passageway led from the front door to these three rooms. By demolishing one wall, Ina gained additional space and more natural light throughout the apartment. Once the wall between the kitchen and original bedroom had been removed, she was able to convert the narrow entrance to the old kitchen into a laundry; this is where the geyser and washing machine are located. Clever!
Kitchen Before the renovations, the long passageway took up too much space.
Before Bedroom
Kitchen
Living room Entrance
Bathroom
The blue lines indicate where walls were demolished .
After Living room
Kitchen
Entrance
Laundryy
Bedroom Bathroom
City cool
[ INA’S TIPS FOR SMALL SPACES ] ͻ <ĞĞƉ ŝƚ ƐŝŵƉůĞ͘ / ĐŚŽƐĞ Ă ŵŽŶŽĐŚƌŽŵĂƟĐ ƉĂůĞƩĞ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƉůĂƐŚĞƐ ŽĨ ĐŽůŽƵƌ ŚĞƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ƚŽ ĂĚĚ ǁĂƌŵƚŚ͘ ͻ dŚĞ ďĂĚ ŶĞǁƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŵĂůů ƐƉĂĐĞƐ ĐĂŶ ƋƵŝĐŬůLJ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ĐůƵƩĞƌĞĚ͘ Ƶƚ ƚŚĞ ŐŽŽĚ ŶĞǁƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ĞĂƐLJ ƚŽ ƟĚLJ ƚŚĞŵ ƵƉ͊ Ɛ LJŽƵ ŵŽǀĞ ĨƌŽŵ ŽŶĞ ƌŽŽŵ ƚŽ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ͕ ůŽŽŬ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌŝŐŚƞƵů ƉůĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƚ ƚŚĞŵ ďĂĐŬ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞLJ ďĞůŽŶŐ͘ ͻ ĞĐůƵƩĞƌ ĞdžƉĞƌƚ DĂƌŝĞ <ŽŶĚŽ ŬŶŽǁƐ ǁŚĂƚ ƐŚĞ͛Ɛ ƚĂůŬŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ͗ ŝĨ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ďƌŝŶŐ LJŽƵ ũŽLJ͕ ƚŚƌŽǁ ŝƚ ŽƵƚ͘ ͻ ŽŶ͛ƚ ĨĞĞů ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ďLJ Ă ƐŵĂůůĞƌ ƐƉĂĐĞ ʹ ŝƚ ŝƐ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ ƚŽ ĂƉƉůLJ ͚ďŝŐ ŚŽƵƐĞ ŝĚĞĂƐ͛ ŝŶ Ă ƐŵĂůů ŚŽŵĞ͘ ͻ zŽƵ ĐĂŶ ŚŝĚĞ Ă ůŽƚ ŽĨ ƐŝŶƐ ďLJ ƵƐŝŶŐ ĚƌĂǁĞƌƐ ĨŽƌ ƐƚŽƌĂŐĞ͊
The inner city has become an increasingly popular residential choice among various groups, including young families, creative professionals, and entrepreneurs, says Carel Kleynhans, director at Ithemba Property Development: • For many, moving to the city means a shorter commute or eliminating it completely, which frees up a lot of precious time. • An inner-city apartment could actually be a more affordable option than renting further away and paying for transport. • Newly developed buildings in the city often incorporate the latest technologies to help residents save hundreds of rands per month on water and electricity. • Reputable property and building managers employ state-of-the-art security measures and regular maintenance crews to ensure that their properties are clean and safe. • A city residence is generally located in close proximity to major attractions, transport routes, schools and shopping outlets, making it easy to access everything you need without having to travel too far. • Inspired by a general increase in environmental awareness and a desire to combine conscious living and convenience, the tiny home movement has become a major trend. A compact home in the heart of the city is easy to clean and maintain, and allows you to lock up and go as it suits you.
STOCKISTS @home 0860 834 834, home.co.za ASAP uPVC 021 551 9470, asap-pvc.co.za Basically Wood 082 894 1148, basicallywood.co.za Duram 0800 500 222, duram.co.za Ferdi B Dick 083 398 3239 Gordijn Studio 072 434 5662, Instagram.com/gordijnstudio Ithemba Property ithembaproperty.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Picture Hanging Pros 078 087 1506, picturehangingpros.co.za Rialheim 079 898 3120, rialheim.co.za Scent Skincare 079 363 9268 Skinny laMinx 021 424 6290, shop.skinnylaminx.com Tony Curtis (builder) 081 271 2792 Union Tiles 0860 084 537, uniontiles.co.za Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za
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Boho chic FOR TW0
A romantic garden integral to this ‘old-world’ home creates a natural transition between the interior and exterior. By Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel • Photographs Elza Cooper Styling Amanda van Wyngaardt
The sunroom is pure old-world Italy and France. It was formerly an open patio but the Windells decided to enclose it, which increased the floor space of the small townhouse substantially. The contemporary rug and new dining chairs create a balance between old and new.
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small spaces 130m² WHO LIVES HERE? Dinki and Henry Windell WHERE Faerie Glen, Pretoria
The kitchen cupboards are a combination of built-in units and antique finds.
Dinki and Henry Windell describe their home as “small but big enough”. When they moved into the tranquil Vineyard Village in Faerie Glen, Pretoria about 12 years ago, they set about changing their home to suit their lifestyle. “Henry and I no longer have guests sleeping over regularly, so having three bedrooms was unnecessary,” says Dinki. “From the get-go, we regarded the house as our retirement home – and we don’t plan on moving, so it has to work for us.” With this goal in mind, they converted the smaller third bedroom into a study with built-in shelves and cupboards and made the second bedroom part of the main bedroom to create a spacious, elegant sanctuary. “We wanted a large dressing room that provides extra living space,” adds Dinki. In addition to the changes to the bedrooms, two stoeps were enclosed so that they now form part of the interior living areas. “When I first came to view the house, the rain fell right against the sliding doors,” explains Dinki. “I realised that if we wanted these stoeps to work, they would have to be enclosed.” This change meant the house gained an extra 20m² living space. The large 16m² stoep next to the living room flows seamlessly into the garden and serves as a sunroom. The small stoep on the south side is now a private reading room. Unlike most owners in the development who have used stacking doors to close up their stoeps, Dinki and Henry installed windows and French doors that better suit the style of their house. “I didn’t want the stoeps to look ‘added on’, but rather as if they were part of the design from the start.” >>
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The small stoep on the south-eastern side of the house creates an extra room, now that it has been enclosed. The wooden sliding door opens onto a Zen garden.
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The garden and sunroom flow into one another seamlessly with creepers hanging down in front of the doors, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;blurringâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the lines between the interior and exterior.
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Interior designer Ferdi Louw of Pulse designed the colourful kitchen island with its Moroccan motif.
We live in a one-bedroom-two-bathroom house with a study. The rest – the lounge and dining room next to the kitchen, two sunrooms and a 100m² garden – are all sociable living areas. – Dinki More colour and texture Dinki, a former landscape designer, drew inspiration for the sunroom and garden from their trips to Italy and France. “The heritage of these two countries plays a huge role in our sunroom and the garden is an extension of this,” she says. “It feels like a pristine 17th or 18th century garden in which the plants grew right up against the buildings. The creepers hang down from the pergolas and you brush against them when you walk in and out. In autumn, they are a spectacle of red tendrils. “Living in this house is a real treat. The garden and living room form a living entity together. When you’re indoors, you can hear the birdsong and take in the different textures, colours, heights and shapes of the outdoors.” Dinki says the house has had a classic French look for the past five years, with almost everything in white. But typical of her eccentric nature she was ready for something new; this time a richer look with more colour and texture. Ferdi Louw of Pulse, who did the décor, describes the new style as bohemian. He says the sunroom was the ideal space in which to create a relaxed feel reminiscent of an Italian tearoom.
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“It feels like you’re sitting in the garden, watching the birds as they splash in the fountain next to you,” he explains. “In the late afternoon, Dinki and Henry also enjoy cocktails in the sunroom; here, they can just kick back and relax in each other’s company. When designing the space I had to take all these functions into consideration.” Ferdi is a man of many talents – he also did the paint techniques in the sunroom. “I used photographs of Dinki and Henry’s annual trip to Italy, specifically San Gimignano in Tuscany, as inspiration for the walls and ceiling,” he explains. “I also painted the trompe l’oeil to reflect the Tuscan countryside; it is painted on canvas.” The existing floor tiles were painted grey to create a more modern feel throughout the house. Several paint techniques were used on old pieces of furniture and other items were reupholstered to complement the new theme. “Ferdi has transformed some of my oldest pieces of furniture into the most beautiful bohemian artworks,” says Dinki with a satisfied smile.
[ FROM NEUTRAL TO COLOURFUL: A FIVE-POINT PLAN ] Follow Ferdi’s tips for introducing rich colours and textures into your décor: • Use a focal colour such as bright pink on one or more walls and combine it with muted green, blue and turquoise for balance. Grey on the floor ties it all together and creates a contemporary feel. If you’re unsure about colour choices, get an interior designer to help. • Paint old furniture to match your new palette and reupholster sofas and chairs to match – either in plain colours or in patterns and motifs.
Dinki loves the bright pink! It adds oomph to the living room and dining area, which form part of an open-plan design with the kitchen.
The table, an heirloom, has a white top to tie in with the new more contemporary palette. The legs were sanded and whitewashed. Chandelier from Travel & Décor
• Feel free to combine different looks: you don’t have to stick to just one style; put things that you love together to create a fresh look. • Your personal stamp is important. Collect artworks and beautiful keepsakes when you travel; these are the things that make your home unique and allow every nook and cranny to tell a story. • Buy a few updated pieces, such as a black-and-white rug or modern dining chairs, to keep the look contemporary. >>
Paint colour
Dulux Blush Rambler 1
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Botanical prints in the guest bathroom echo the garden theme.
The pergola, with all the detail around it, is our favourite spot in the garden, but we also enjoy all the other nooks. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dinki
[ FERDI’S ADVICE FOR SMALL SPACES ] • Don’t shy away from oversized artworks, mirrors or furniture in a smaller house. Often, this creates depth and a sense of space instead of a cramped feel. • Use light colours, but also use darker and brighter hues on focal walls to create depth. • Create uniformity and flow by using the same floor finish throughout. If this is not possible, paint the floor; just make sure you use the correct undercoat. Grey is still very popular and creates a contemporary feel.
• Declutter every six months! • Even the smallest house can feel like a palace if you give it the necessary attention. Transform your home into your own personal haven. It’s all about making the ordinary extraordinary. • The most basic item can be used to create a deluxe look: for example, put fresh flowers from the garden in an old bottle. This simple, personal touch has a unique charm.
The focal wall in the bedroom was painted the same dark grey as the floors in the rest of the house. The headboard and base were reupholstered in a blue-green velvet to repeat the colours in the open-plan room; a botanical throw echoes the garden theme in the house.
Bath
Bedroom
Bath
Lounge
Dining
Study Kitchen Patio
CONTACT AND STOCKIST Ferdi Louw 083 726 5946, pulse.co.za Travel & Décor 012 991 6162
Sunroom
Main bedroom
Bath
Bath
Dining
Kitchen
Bedroom
After
Patio
Scullery
Before
TV room
Study Reading room
February 2020
home 43
An innovative designer turned an ‘empty shell’ into a cosy apartment.
URBAN
living By Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel Photographs Karl Rogers Styling Marian van Wyk
WHO LIVES HERE? Ricardo Mock (Richi) and Emma Penfold WHERE Observatory, Cape Town
Thanks to large aluminium-framed windows, the open-plan lounge is bathed in sunlight. Since they don’t have access to a garden, the couple used plants to bring the outdoors inside. Emma shot the image of the trees printed on canvas in Newlands Forest.
44 home February 2020
small spaces 95m²
The coffee table consists of two pallets on top of each other; Emma says she picked them up at a tile shop in Salt River before pallet furniture was ‘a thing’ and they were still given away for free! Shelf custom made by Eco Furniture Design; French Bulldog lamp from Rialheim
When Emma Penfold and her husband Richi bought a small flat in Observatory, Cape Town It’s in the detail The pages of a book on interiors that Emma’s dog chewed when she was a puppy have been used to create art.
Drinks trolley from Stokperd
A ‘dead space’ underneath the staircase has been turned into a focal point and bar area, thanks to a stylish drinks trolley. The ceramic mouth, nose and eye are from a store in Kalk Bay; Emma loves ceramics and has gone to pottery classes for years.
Before
The empty shell as it was purchased.
The wall behind the TV (right) was turned into a gallery space for photographs Emma has taken around the world, including in Cuba, Paris, Kommetjie and New York. There is also a poster for a photographic exhibition of images of Nelson Mandela from 2001.
46 home February 2020
in November 2017, it was essentially an empty shell. The unit is in the redeveloped Lion Match Factory located on Lower Main Road and it was up to the new owners to design the interior as they saw fit – either as a cosy home or functional office space. Emma was up for the challenge; after all, she is an interior designer and SketchUp artist with her own business, The Engine Room. “We loved the open feel and high ceilings of this industrial-style building,” says Emma. “We were also drawn to the suburb as it has an interesting mix of people, restaurants, bookshops, coffee shops and more.” For the interior, Emma designed what she wanted done in SketchUp and had her architect cousin draw up the plans. “We pretty much bought an empty shell and created what you see today!” In April 2019, Emma and Richi moved into their new home. The loft style of the unit was retained, but they built two mezzanine levels, adding 16m² and 12m² respectively. Downstairs there’s a spacious open-plan kitchen and lounge area and a separate bathroom. >>
Richi loves to cook and the couple regularly host dinner parties, so they wanted a â&#x20AC;&#x153;big feelingâ&#x20AC;? kitchen. All the units, including the kitchen table and benches, were designed by Emma and made by Eco Furniture Design. Metro tiles from Tiletoria
small spaces
Industrial style Even though the apartment is small, Emma is not afraid to be bold with her décor. She describes her style as “eclectic with a pull to vintage, but always open to new trends”. “I’ve always loved playing with interiors and in my own apartment I had the freedom to be as bold as I wanted,” explains Emma. “It was a chance to push all boundaries without worrying about making a mistake. It was also an opportunity for me to show off my photography on the walls.” In keeping with the industrial aesthetic of the building, Emma opted for dark greys, beiges and whites with pops of red and blue. Large black-and-white floor tiles separate the kitchen area from the lounge and make a statement. “The look and feel I was going for is New York loft-style vibes, thus the use of the metro tiles against the walls,” she explains. “The kitchen has a good size table and benches where we host many dinner parties.” The furniture consists of a lovely collection of old and new pieces. “Some items are from my childhood, such as the chest of drawers in the lounge that my mother used for changing my nappies!” says Emma with a laugh. “Others I designed and had custom made. Some of the smaller side tables were from my grandparents and I designed the bedside table and storage unit in the bedroom – and my dad made them for me. He and I used to spend a lot of time in his shed (we call it Dad’s den), making furniture that I designed.”
The exposed brick walls were ‘bagged’ with cement and painted white. The wallpaper against the focal wall is a photograph of a New York fire escape taken by Emma.
The chest of drawers (right) belonged to Emma’s mother and was used as a compactum when Emma was a baby.
Chairs from MRP Home
small spaces
Office vs residential units Emma and Richi’s insights…
What the experts say…
MIXED Nowadays, it has become the norm in bigger cities to accommodate both office space and residential units in redeveloped buildings. While some have different floors for residential units and offices respectively, in Emma and Richi’s building, they are mixed. They see this as an advantage: “We love the fact that there is a photographic studio on the same floor as us and an architectural firm a couple of doors down.” SECURITY Because it’s a mixed block, the couple feels that there’s better security than in a standard residential block of flats as there’s a guard on duty day and night. LEVIES Just like other developments, a body corporate is in charge of management and both offices and apartments pay levies. BUILDING PLANS Both the body corporate and Council had to approve the plans for the interior of the flat.
According to Denise Dogon, CEO of Dogon Group Properties, affordability is a huge factor behind the growing popularity of mixed-use developments, which are putting apartments on the market at very reasonable prices. Another driver is growing demand from millennials. “They are looking for location over square footage,” says Denise. “They want to ditch their cars and travel on foot, bicycle, Uber or public transport. Older professionals who want to escape the daily commute to the office as well as the elderly who are downscaling and looking for convenience and safety are all turning their attention to mixed-use developments.”
[ EMMA’S TIPS FOR SMALL SPACES ] • Keep the walls white and introduce colour with artworks and furnishings. • Avoid using curtains for a greater sense of space and a light and airy feel. ͻ ƌĞĂƚĞ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞ ǁĂůůƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŽŶĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ĮƌĞ escape (see opposite). ͻ 'Ž ďŝŐ ĂŶĚ ďŽůĚ ĂŶĚ ƵƐĞ ďůĂĐŬͲĂŶĚͲǁŚŝƚĞ ŇŽŽƌ ƟůĞƐ͘ • Fill a bookshelf with pieces you love, not just books.
THE RIGHT MIX Rob Stefanutto, who heads up developments for Dogon Group Properties, cautions that in order for mixed-use developments to be a success, getting the right combination of retail, office and accommodation is crucial. “For example, if there are retail units in the form of shops, cafés and bars, there needs to be the right combination of accommodation and office space for these businesses to benefit from foot traffic and patronage. Developers also have to consider the needs of each business and ensure that these needs are not to the detriment of other units in the development, such as noise disturbance from a restaurant that could potentially affect apartments above it.” THE FUTURE “Gone are the days of inner city living being a novelty; enter the days of ‘Great City Addresses’ offered by mixed-use developments,” says Rob. “We’re looking forward to working with developers on more mixed-use developments and seeing the impact these buildings have on our urban spaces in years to come.”
Emma’s SketchUp images of what she had in mind for the interior.
CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS Dogon Group Properties 021 434 1223, dogongroup.com Eco Furniture Design 021 827 7701, ecofurnituredesign.com The Engine Room theengineroomsa.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Rialheim 082 926 5171, rialheim.co.za Stokperd 082 3722 111, stokperd.com Tiletoria 021 202 0160, tiletoria.co.za
February 2020
home 49
WHO LIVES HERE? Willow Tucker and Jean de Lauwere with their dogs Adix, Malachite and Bullet WHERE Port Elizabeth
FROM A HOUSE
With a few simple adjustments to the original plan, a couple transformed a bland spec house into a home with heaps of personality.
to a home By Dina Venter â&#x20AC;˘ Photographs Francois Oberholster Styling Marian van Wyk
50 home February 2020
small spaces 80m² The sofa (opposite) was the first key piece the couple bought. The bench belonged to Willow’s grandmother; her own mother upcycled it with Annie Sloan chalk paint and gave it to her to use as a side table.
hat the changed The kitchen cabinetry was custom made and although floating shelves are not the norm in spec builds, these were on Willow’s wish list. The open trusses were an option they could select at no extra cost. Willow also had a broom cupboard installed in the garage for odds and ends that don’t fit in the house.
Scatter cushions from MRP Home and Woven Green
Willow and Jean were keen on a neat Scandinavian design for the kitchen; they achieved the look with open shelving, Supawood cabinetry and muted Caesarstone countertops. “We were in luck when we found out we could choose metro tiles as part of the kitchen spec, so this wasn’t an added expense,” says Willow. >>
small spaces
Jean de Lauwere and Willow Tucker chose their off-plan property for its ideal location and proximity to their favourite shops and restaurants in the friendly city of Port Elizabeth. But instead of letting the contractors build it according to pre-existing specifications, they decided to make some changes. “The existing house plan didn’t quite match what we had in mind, so we set about amending the layout,” Jean and Willow explain. An adventurous couple, they are often outdoors, hiking and exploring with their beloved dogs, and they wanted their home to reflect their personalities and accommodate their relaxed lifestyle. “We spend most of our time in nature but there are those slow Sundays when we like to be at home, cooking or socialising with friends,” says Willow. Jean is a project manager in construction and Willow works in marketing, specialising in graphic design and photography. With their professional backgrounds, they had a clear vision of what they wanted from their space. It had to be robust, spacious and light – a home that would weather well, along with its intrepid inhabitants. Willow wanted a practical space that would also nurture her creative side but their top priority was that it had to be timeless. “I didn’t want a home that would constantly have to play ‘catch up’. I wanted it to be able to adapt and change with the trends,” she explains.
52 home February 2020
hat the changed
Willow’s parents have passed their love of gardening on to her. She cooks with the veggies and herbs grown in her small garden. “We have an array of veggies such as lettuce, pak choi, kale, leeks, parsley, origanum and rosemary but this changes with the seasons so there is always something fresh to eat.”
he couple added the treated Balau wraparound deck to the original plans.
Better-laid plans With Jean’s background in construction and cabinetry and Willow’s in retail, creative yet simple solutions soon came to fruition. “We used all the resources available to us – and we made a great team,” they say. Three-bedroom homes are fairly standard in new developments, but the couple only needed two – one to function as the main bedroom and the other as a home office. Willow is also a keen cook and Jean an entertainer, so the kitchen had to be the hero of their home. At the time, Willow worked with interior designers who helped to draw up the new plans. The original layout was adjusted to leave more space for the main bedroom and an enlarged openplan kitchen and living room with stacking doors that lead onto a wraparound deck. Both the deck and living room flow onto an entertainment area with a braai and bar as well as an adjoining vegetable garden and separate patio. Because the adjusted plans mainly involved interior changes, the developer approved them and building could commence. “Unfortunately, all successes have setbacks and our newbuild was no exception,” adds Willow. “Because our house was different to the other building projects in the estate, the construction team didn’t always understand what was required. On one particular site visit, the couple arrived to find their bathroom tiled white on the floors and black on the walls – the exact opposite of what they wanted! At this stage, Willow’s mother stepped in and started monitoring the process closely, solving problems and correcting mistakes until completion.
hat the hanged Willow and Jean selected wood-look tiles to replace the standard off-plan white ones as a nod to the wooden home Willow grew up in.
Chair from MRP Home
Personal touches Intent on not just settling for the standard finishes, Willow and Jean took their time planning their kitchen, bathroom and details such as lighting, paint and flooring. They settled on a Scandinavian-style kitchen design with open shelving, a white palette and wooden accents. The island counter is in the centre of the living room, creating the perfect environment for interactive cooking. When it came to the bathroom, the couple opted for a neutral palette. “I loved the idea of a monochrome yet neutral space that would allow for a blend of masculine and feminine touches,” says Willow. A walk-in shower strikes a good balance between space and privacy, while lots of plants pop against the matte black floor tiles and white walls. Wood-look tiles and white walls throughout the rest of the home create a classic canvas the couple could personalise with furniture and accessories.
Furnishing the space became a family affair; after moving in, it took ‘the team’ just two weeks to fully decorate the house. They focused on buying key items during the building process. “We had very little furniture but for the better part of a year we knew that we were moving into our new home and that gave us time to collect pieces we loved,” says Willow. For example, Willow’s mom found their living room couch on sale. This was a starting point for matching side tables, art, rugs and cushions. As building progressed, Willow studied their home creatively and spatially to see what would suit each area best. “With help from Pinterest, I slowly started to envision the end result.” Overall, Willow went with natural and muted pieces interspersed with pops of colour. “I chose pieces that, along with our family, could change and adapt over time.” >>
Instead of opting for white curtains, as in the rest of the house, Willow chose grey for the main bedroom – which is a spacious haven, thanks to the new floor plan. “I felt we needed more contrast, otherwise the bed and dressing table would disappear against the white walls.” The dressing table was Willow’s when she was a child; Jean fixed it up so she has a space in which to get ready in the mornings.
54 home February 2020
hat the hanged he bathroom was custom built, says Willow, who wanted a floating vanity and a walk-in shower. The black and white tiles were also special additions.
Tiles and sanitary ware from CTM; bathroom mirror from MRP Home
The study (below) is full of feminine touches. The dogs also sleep in this room and a large rug provides warmth underfoot. Willowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad built the shelving and her mom made the pouffe as a birthday present.
Rug from MRP Home
small spaces
Building ‘off spec’ Willow and Jean’s tips : • Don’t hesitate to ask the developer if the plans can be adapted – it is often possible. • Take the time to envision what you really want from your home and see how you can make it more personal. • Plans have to be submitted to developers for approval. Make sure you’re aware of any restrictions before this step. • The builders are not building to their usual plans, so expect setbacks. Visit the site every day to keep a close eye on progress. • Find out which finishes fall within spec – you may like some of the options and this will save you money.
I was in charge of the décor with the support of my mom, while Jean and my dad were the designated DIY guys. – Willow The new floor plan, with only two bedrooms Garage
Kitchen
The original plan included three bedrooms; the homeowners went with two to create more ‘elbow room’.
Bedroom
Bathroom Lounge area
W What they cchanged d Bedroom
Stoep with wraparound deck
The couple decided to add a wraparound deck and stacking doors on both sides of the lounge.
STOCKISTS Caesarstone 083 608 5810, caesarstone.co.za CTM 0800 010 810, ctm.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com Woven Green woven-green.com, info@woven-green.com
56 home February 2020
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Front door
Since the drought had just begun when the De Jagers moved in, they set about planting waterwise plants that can easily be multiplied. The edging around the beds consists mostly of building rubble found on the property.
58 home February 2020
small spaces 214m²
Built for the future This young family’s home was designed to accommodate every stage of their lives, so they won’t have to make additions in the future. By Elna van der Merwe • Photographs Francois Oberholster Styling Misi Overturf
WHO LIVES HERE? Michaal and Annemie de Jager with their kids Michaal Jnr (6) and Anouk (4) WHERE Kuils River, Western Cape
For the De Jagers of Kuils River, family comes first. So it’s no surprise that they chose to build their first house opposite a primary school; in the future, the children will just have to cross the road in the morning. Annemie also left her job as a marketer in Cape Town because the commute – about 40km every morning and every afternoon – kept her away from her family for too long. Now she and Michaal work shoulder to shoulder in their home office where she manages his architectural practice. The couple’s house is full of items from their parents’ or grandparents’ homes, adding a touch of nostalgia to this modern space. “I told Michaal he had total freedom with the design of the house, since he is the one with all the ideas. And I was 100 percent happy with his plan,” says Annemie.
“We had a limited budget, so there are no built-in cupboards and very few finishes. Those will come in time. What we did do, with a view to the future, was make the rooms as big as possible.” Due to problems with the subdivision of their property, construction was delayed by almost a year – Anouk was a newborn and Michaal Jnr a toddler when the family eventually moved in. But because there were so few time-consuming finishes to contend with, construction was completed within five months. “We always tell clients that it’s a good idea to live in a house for a while before making any decisions,” says Annemie. “With time, ideas on how to make better use of certain spaces start to take shape. It’s an organic process; we have lots of projects we still want to do but because we work for ourselves, things don’t always happen as quickly as we’d like.” >>
A steel canteen table was painted with black epoxy by M&S Epoxy. Table from Makro; replica Panton chairs from Chair Crazy; placemats from MRP Home; jug from Le Creuset; red velvet cushion covers from H&M Home; lighting from Glo Lighting Paint colour
Plascon Monsoon Lagoon
In the days before flat screens, Annemie’s parents kept their TV in this oak dresser.
60 home February 2020
small spaces Annemie’s grandfather won the trophy on the top floating shelf (made from scaffolding planks found on the property) at the Caledon Agricultural Society’s expo in 1929; it was for “the best team of mules, 14.2 hands and under”. Next to it, Michaal Jnr and Anouk’s school art is displayed with an original Walter Battiss oil painting. The countertop on the built-in island is concrete finished with a clear sealant.
Red glass jug from H&M Home; casserole dish and mugs from Le Creuset (Caribbean Blue); cupboard handles from Handles Inc.; replica Tolix counter stools from Decofurn
Paint colour
Plascon Splinter
small spaces The white ottoman was one of the De Jagers’ first DIY projects (it was a DIY project in a Home issue about 10 years ago). The black-and-white artwork is by Michaal, who paints these to order in black, dark blue or dark green ink. Leather sofa and round pouffe from Coricraft; rug from Hertex; yellow throw from Woolworths; pendant from Weylandts; scatter cushion on sofa, basket and yellow velvet cushion from MRP Home; cane chair was inherited
Duplo is a permanent fixture in our décor! – Annemie
The stoep door is the only one the De Jagers had to get custom made to fit their second-hand doorframes and window frames.
Striped rug stylist’s own
The noticeboard (left), cut by Builders, is mostly filled with the kids’ art and family photos. When the couple got married, the tiny mannequins were spray-painted white and used on the main table at the wedding reception. Annemie’s desk was once her grandparents’ kitchen table; she and Michaal sanded it and some of the original green paint is still visible. The chair is from Michaal’s grandparents’ house. Rug from MRP Home; mannequins and artist’s hand from The Deckle Edge
Classic plan, new texture
The inspiration
Photograph Getty Images
“My inspiration for our home was the famous Farnsworth House that architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed as a weekend home outside Chicago in the middle of the last century,” says Michaal. “I adapted the idea for a suburban South African environment and instead of steel and glass I used bricks and mortar, as this is where our builders’ skills lie. Otherwise, I would have had to call in specialists and pay accordingly. Besides, steel and glass isn’t suitable for our climate. “The simplicity of the architecture creates a neutral backdrop for our furniture and décor and I was inspired by the simple lines and light-filled open spaces.” Because the walls aren’t plastered, the pair couldn’t use cement blocks and maxi bricks for construction. “You have to work with whole bricks if you don’t plaster,” explains Michaal. After much debate, they decided on traditional bricks that were considerably more expensive. The unplastered walls create an imperfect impression that suits the De Jagers, whose kids happily ride their bicycles from one side of the house to the other. “We don’t want to be checking up on them all the time,” says Annemie. However, she points out that in the four years they have been living here, they’ve discovered that painted unplastered walls aren’t as washable as smooth walls. “Because of the texture, dirt gets stuck in the crevices. Our solution is to keep 20L of paint handy and every few months I go around with my paintbrush and do touch-ups.” The couple love their open-plan space, although it does mean that things have to be kept fairly tidy. But true to their ideal of “family first”, they believe one shouldn’t hide the fact that kids live here too! >>
Well-known Farnsworth House was designed to look ‘transparent’. Since the De Jagers built on a panhandle stand and the entrance gate is on the street, they can get away with having few curtains. February 2020
home 63
small spaces Stoep
Front door
Garage Bedroom
Bedroom Bedroom
Lounge
Dining room Kitchen
Dressing room
Bath
Bath
Scullery
TV room
Michaal painted the artwork above the bed. The kelim belonged to Annemieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mom and the bedside tables were part of her grandparentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bedroom suite. The cane bookshelf was bought second-hand. Almost all the doorframes and window frames were bought second-hand from SA Build Antique.
Bed from Decofurn; black-and-white scatter from MRP Home; throw from @home
64 home February 2020
The mirror and enamel bowls used for storage in the bathroom belonged to Annemieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mom.
The print above the chair in the bedroom is a map of the night sky on the coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding day; Annemie gave it to Michaal on their 10th anniversary. >> Green velvet cushion from Woolworths
Annemie bought the doll’s high chair in Anouk’s bedroom at a flea market. The cane headboard is from a second-hand store. The rag doll, bunny and patchwork quilt were made by her mom; the rocking horse was a custom-made gift, also from her mom. White side table from Decofurn; black Panton chair from Chair Crazy; striped rug and black frame from MRP Home
Annemie ‘stole’ the side table from her mom’s house for Michaal’s books. Rocking chair from Chair Crazy; rug and cloud cushion from H&M Home; yellow scatter from Woolworths; metal bed, throw and blanket from MRP Home
[ EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED ] During their first inspection, the structural engineers discovered that there was a surplus of organic matter in the soil. This is due to the property having lots of big trees that have deposited tons of leaves over the decades, and these have decomposed, resulting in unstable soil. “The engineers suggested a wider and deeper foundation so that the weight of the house would be more evenly spread, with less dependency on the soil for support,” explains Michaal. “We decided on a ‘floating’ foundation. This is a steel framework that is a little wider and deeper, and instead of rods for reinforcement, mesh is used. “This unforeseen expenditure meant that we had to cut construction costs in other places; so, for example, our roof height dropped from a planned 3m to a more standard 2.6m,” explains Michaal.
Michaal Snr and Annemie made the doll’s house (left) for Anouk’s third birthday to house her Sylvanian Families. Cut-out A (above right) and ‘A’ lamp from Typo
CONTACTS AND STOCKISTS @home 0860 834 834, home.co.za Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Chair Crazy 021 465 9991, chaircrazy.co.za Decofurn 087 740 1800, decofurnsa.co.za Coricraft 021 508 5200, coricraft.co.za Dassiesfontein 028 214 1475, dassies co.za Glo Lighting 011 440 1781, glolighting.co.za H&M Home 086 0690 707, hm.com/za Handles Inc. 021 422 2322, handlesinc.co.za Hertex 0860 437 837, hertex.co.za Le Creuset 086 177 3321, lecreuset.co.za M&S Epoxy 021 948 2244, msepoxy.co.za Makro makro.co.za Michaal de Jager Design 021 903 3407, Facebook @michaaldejagerontwerp MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com SA Build Antique 021 906 2846, robinhill.co.za The Deckle Edge 021 201 4100, thedeckleedge.co.za Typo cottonon.com/ZA/typo Weylandts 0860 103 400, weylandts.co.za Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za
small spaces
Subdividing – beware the pitfalls The De Jagers purchased the property in 2014 and the plan was to build before the arrival of their second child as they were living in a two-bedroom apartment at the time. “The property was advertised and transfer took place,” says Michaal. “But when I submitted the plans for approval, we realised that technically there wasn’t a property! The subdivision had been approved in principle, but it was never registered so it had expired. We had basically paid for something that didn’t exist and would have had to go to court to get our money back.” The estate agent had disappeared and the whole process had to start from scratch. “We had to get permission from all the neighbours once again and some of them weren’t keen.” The process was delayed by almost a year. “We started construction in July 2015 after having bought the stand in May 2014,” says Annemie. “We then had to negotiate with all the authorities again: Eskom, Telkom, the traffic department…” In the end, all the neighbours agreed. “We asked them really nicely and were upfront about our plans,” says Michaal.
The laundry also serves as Annemie’s workspace; her old Singer sewing machine is kept here permanently.
Striped basket on top shelf from Dassiesfontein; other baskets from MRP Home; rug from Hertex
The De Jagers’ advice for buying property • Ask to see the title deed of the property before you sign the offer-topurchase; this will make you aware of any restrictions, such as servitudes or title building lines. • If you buy a property that was created by a subdivision, check with your local city planning department to make sure that all the conditions for the subdivision were met and that the subdivision process was finalised. Stand numbers and title deeds can be generated and transfer can take place without the property having been registered at the municipality. That’s what happened in our case, and it meant that our application to build a house on the property could not be approved.
[ WHAT WOULD THEY HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? ] “I would have borrowed more from the bank, because then you ŚĂǀĞ Ă ďŝƚ ŽĨ Ă ďƵīĞƌ͕͟ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶƐ DŝĐŚĂĂů͘ ͞ ĞĐĂƵƐĞ ǁĞ ĚŝĚŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚŝƐ͕ ǁĞ ĐŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ĂďƐŽƌď ƚŚĞ ƵŶĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ĞdžƉĞŶƐĞƐ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞĚ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐŽƐƚƐ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĚĞůĂLJ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵƵŶŝĐŝƉĂů ĂƉƉƌŽǀĂů ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĞdžƉĞŶƐŝǀĞ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ͘͟ ͞zŽƵ ŵƵƐƚ ůŽĂŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂdžŝŵƵŵ ĂŶĚ ƚĂŬĞ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ďĂŶŬ ŝƐ ƉƌĞƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ŐŝǀĞ LJŽƵ͕͟ ƐĂLJƐ ŶŶĞŵŝĞ͕ ǁŚŽ ŵĂĚĞ ƚŚĞ ĐĂůĐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͘ ͞EŽǁ / ƚŚŝŶŬ ǁĞ ǁĞƌĞ ƚŽŽ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ ŵĞĂŶ LJŽƵ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ďŽƌƌŽǁ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ LJŽƵ ĐĂŶ ĂīŽƌĚ͕ ďƵƚ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐĂƐĞ Ă ĨĞǁ ĞdžƚƌĂ ƌĂŶĚƐ ǁŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŵƵĐŚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJ ďŽŶĚ ƌĞƉĂLJŵĞŶƚ͘ dŚĞ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ŝƐ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐůLJ ƐƚƌŝŶŐĞŶƚ͕ ƐŽ ŝƚ ŵĂLJ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ůŽĂŶ ŵŽƌĞ ůĂƚĞƌ͘ “Find a balance between your budget and your current and ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŶĞĞĚƐ͘ tĞ ƉůĂŶŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚǁŽ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƵƌ ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ budget decided rather to build bigger from the start and save on ĮŶŝƐŚĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ƟůŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ďƵŝůƚͲŝŶ ĐƵƉďŽĂƌĚƐ ;ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĞ ĨĞůƚ ǁĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ĂĚĚ ůĂƚĞƌ ŝĨ ǁĞ ǁĂŶƚĞĚ ƚŽͿ͘͟
Since they mostly enter the house through the garage and laundry room, this ‘mud room’ (left) is where the kids’ raincoats and boots are stored. Coat rack from H&M Home
February 2020
home 67
Shelly Bergh
Before
QUICK ON THE
drawer! Revamp a flat pack unit in a few easy steps.
By Shelly Bergh • Photographs Francois Oberholster
Rope planter from Woolworths
do it yourself
You will need SHOPPING • drawer unit (we used the Space Saver from Ucan) • 9mm plywood cut to: two 468 x 489mm (top and bottom) two 550 x 489mm (sides) six 90 x 450mm (drawers)
• wood glue • screws • six metal nameplates • 12 drawer knobs • 4 castors Note The cutting sizes will vary according to the unit you use.
TOOLS • pencil • ruler • G-clamps • jigsaw • screwdriver • nail gun with 16mm nails • drill with 3mm wood drill bit
QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 2/10 Skill level 2/10 Time needed 1 day Do it yourself for ±R987 Ucan Space Saver drawer unit R400, timber R305, doorknobs R72, nameplates R22, castors R188
Get started...
2
1 1 The top of the flat pack unit has a slight lip overhanging the edge; unscrew it, clamp it to your work bench with the G-clamps, measure the excess and remove this with a jigsaw. Then screw the top in place. Now start cladding the unit.
2 Glue and nail the 550 x 489mm pieces of ply to the sides of the unit; the ply should overhang the front of the unit by 9mm. Now do the same with the top and bottom, using the 468 x 489mm pieces. The top and bottom pieces should be flush with the side panels you’ve attached.
3 3 Attach two 90 x 450mm pieces to each drawer. We cut strips of card to use as spacers between the ply. It’s a good idea to position all the drawer fronts with the cardboard spacers in-between to make sure everything fits. Mark where the bottom drawer front will end on the bottom drawer, apply glue and nail it in place.
4 4 Remove the drawer from the chest and attach the second drawer front in the same way. Remember to put your spacer in place. Replace the drawer and repeat steps 3 and 4 with the remaining drawer(s). 5 Measure and mark where the knobs and nameplates should go on each drawer front. Drill holes and screw them in place.
5 STOCKISTS Ucan 086 022 2829, ucandoit.co.za Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za
To finish Measure and mark 15mm from either side of each corner at the bottom of the chest where the castors will go. Screw the castors in place. February 2020
home 69
PROMOTION
YOUR DREAM HOME
STARTS HERE
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You’ll get up to 15% discount on everything you buy from the box – so it pays for itself!
Paint like a
pro! By Shané Barnard Photographs Elza Cooper Styling Amanda van Wyngaardt
Elicia’s kitchen was the winning entry in this year’s Tjhoko Champs competition. She painted everything in her kitchen with Tjhoko Paint’s chalk paint – even the melamine countertop! “I sealed it with Tjhoko Clear Glaze and it still looks perfect!”
Meet Elicia Badenhorst, the winner of our first Tjhoko Champs competition in collaboration with Tjhoko Paint.
WHO LIVES HERE? Elicia and Bernard Badenhorst, their kids Emris (6) and Astrid (3), as well as Bernard’s parents WHERE Emalahleni SIZE OF KITCHEN 15m2
tjhoko champs
The prize As the winner of our first Tjhoko Champs competition in collaboration with Tjhoko Paint, Elicia’s prize includes: • A two-night stay for two adults in one of the premier cottages at the Aquila Private Game Reserve and Spa worth R30 000. This includes accommodation, welcome drinks, in-room wine and bubbly, all meals, a horseback adventure, quad bike safari and spa treatments. • R5 000 cash. • Tjhoko Paint products worth R3 000.
I have a beautiful new kitchen without having removed a single tile or cabinet! – Elicia Vinyl stickers from PEP Home adorn the tiles behind the stove. These too were sealed with Tjhoko Clear Glaze. The cupboard doorknobs were painted in Am’s Rose Gold.
T
he moment Elicia Badenhorst dipped her paintbrush into a pot of Tjhoko Paint the first time, it was love at first sight. “The chalk paint has the most wonderful consistency; it was like working with satin,” she recalls. Her first project – a makeover for a suede ottoman – was a huge success! Since then, this maths teacher has tackled many projects with Tjhoko Paint – from furniture such as bookcases to an entire wall in her home office. So she didn’t think twice about using the same chalk paint when she and her husband Bernard decided to renovate their kitchen. “I really wanted to renew my kitchen cupboards but they were still in excellent condition. Replacing them would have cost almost R70 000.” That’s when she had another Tjhoko moment... On Women’s Day last year, Elicia began painting the 29 cupboard doors, four drawers, wall tiles, stools and countertops in her kitchen. More than a month, 15 tins of Tjhoko Paint and five pots of glaze later, the project was completed. “It took about 230 hours to paint the kitchen. The tall members of this household had to help reach the top tiles but otherwise I did it all myself at night and on weekends.” Elicia is very pleased with how well the project turned out. “It is amazing what you can do with paint. You don’t need to install a brand-new kitchen if you want a fresh look – just do it with paint!” Next, she plans to tackle her scullery with Tjhoko chalk paint. “The staff room at our school is also crying out for a fresh look,” says Elicia. “Then I want to paint a focal wall in my daughter Astrid’s bedroom, the cupboards in my 1980s bathroom... My list of Tjhoko projects is endless!” Visit tjhoko.co.za for more information and to locate a stockist near you.
Elicia’s palette Sherrif’s Stone
Am’s Rose Gold
Stone Wash
Cloud White
Before [EXPERT ADVICE ]
Nadine Vosloo of Tjhoko Paint says they don’t really recommend applying Tjhoko Paint to countertops. “It’s a short-term solution. If you’ve used it on counters, always place a trivet under hot items and cut on chopping boards, not directly on the counter. Always seal the surface with Tjhoko Clear Glaze.”
STOCKISTS PEP Home 0860 737 000, pepstores.com Tjhoko Paint 011 708 3166, tjhokopaint.co.za
February 2020
home 73
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 with the design of your kitchen or wooden cladding gone askew? You ask – we find the answers. Get rid of old varnish Dewald Kannemeyer of Stellenberg writes We want to replace our front door but we’d like to keep the doorframe. How do we go about stripping the frame of about 40 years’ worth of varnish? Is paint stripper or a heat gun effective or will we have to sand, sand, sand? Frikkie Greeff, managing director of Woodoc, replies It’s best to just “sand, sand, sand” as you put it. We seldom recommend paint strippers as they’re horrible products to work with. A heat gun is a better option but you have to be extremely careful not to scorch the wood (or your eyebrows). In our opinion, the best method is to use 60-grit wet/dry sandpaper and mineral turpentine. Wrap the sandpaper around a sanding block then dip the sandpaper in the turps and sand in the same direction as the wood grain. Dip the sandpaper in the turps again when it feels as if there is no more ‘bite’. This will rinse the varnish residue off the sandpaper and make the process easier. Keep doing this (replace the sandpaper when it is no longer effective) until the old varnish has been sanded down to the raw wood. Clean the wood thoroughly with a turpentine-soaked rag and then sand again with fine-grit sandpaper to make sure the wood is clean and smooth; I usually finish off with 180-grit or finer. The smoother the wood is sanded, the better the ultimate finish will be. Since you don’t know the chemical composition of the old varnish, we suggest you leave the used sandpaper and rags lying open until they’re completely dry before discarding them. This will prevent them from spontaneously igniting as a result of a chemical reaction. When the wood is thoroughly clean and smooth, wipe it again with a turpentine rag and let it dry. Now the timber can be sealed. Since this is an old doorframe, the wood will probably be well oxidised and therefore have a lovely rich colour. The colour the timber shows when it has been wiped with the turpentine rag is the natural colour that will emerge when it is sealed. If that colour is acceptable, use a clear sealant such as Woodoc 50 for outdoor use (available in a gloss and matte finish). If you want to change the colour or the timber is badly damaged and you want to make the damage less obvious, use one of our Woodoc Colours concentrates (check out the options at woodoc.com) to achieve the desired look. Simply add 20ml of the Colours to 1L of clear Woodoc sealant such as Woodoc 50. Mix well and apply as directed on the container. CONTACT 0800 411 200, woodoc.com
74 home February 2020
Get to grips with cladding Jessica Paddock of Benoni writes I used wooden planks to create a cladding effect in my living room, but now everything has gone askew! What can I do to fix this? DIY guru Deon de Goede replies The best solution would be to remove the planks entirely. Then drill and screw supporting horizontal struts into the wall to act as a frame for your vertical planks. Once these have been fastened, you can attach the cladding to the frame using nails and cold glue. Secure the planks with oval nails; hammer them into the horizontal struts at a 45° angle. I also recommend sealing the wood with three coats of Woodoc Water-Borne Matt, letting the sealant dry completely between coats. CONTACT deon@diydeon.co.za
Home art director and DIY enthusiast Andrew Maritz replies Unfortunately, the wood has warped since the cladding was installed. It is the nature of wood, especially pine, to warp as it dries out. I recommend removing the wood entirely and reattaching it to the wall using solid rawl anchors this time. I suggest six anchors per plank: two, side by side, at the top and bottom and two, side by side, in the middle of the plank. Although the wood has dried out and become bent, by removing it you may be able to flip pieces so that the flatter sides touch the wall where your anchors will be. Wetting the concave sides thoroughly might make the wood more pliable and less warped and the rawl anchors will control some of the warping when the wood dries out again. These products are available at most hardware stores.
advice
Carrie-Lee’s kitchen
A winning kitchen
In the August 2019 issue of Home, Milestone Kitchens units worth R50 000 were up for grabs in our Kitchen Heroes competition. The winners were Carrie-Lee and Michael Wolff of Durban. Carrie-Lee’s hero item is the Swedish-style double butler sink unit. “Michael and I spend a lot of time in our kitchen with our two young girls, enjoying our morning coffee and cocoa milk as well as arts and crafts around the kitchen table,” says Carrie-Lee. “Unfortunately, the kitchen is literally falling apart. After the sink collapsed, we made a quick fix, but now some of the cabinet doors are also starting to fall apart... I’ve dreamed about redesigning my kitchen with Milestone Kitchens units for years!” With the double sink unit in mind, Silvia Miles, owner and director of Milestone Kitchens, suggests the following design, which will allow the Wolffs to make the most of their space. “We demarcated specific areas: one for cooking, one for homework and crafts, another for the scullery, and another for the pantry.”
Wall unit
Wall unit
Double butler sink with pot drawers and utility drawer
Shelves
2-door server/ pastry table
Shelves
Recipe book stand
2-door server/ pastry table Nina island with stove
Deluxe grocery cupboard
Oven house
Fridge
Pastry table Nina island
1 THE STOVE The Nina island unit has space for a built-in hob, so we positioned it in the centre of the room to create a focal point in the spacious kitchen. As Michael is quite tall and does most of the cooking, this unit will be higher than the standard 900mm. The island provides ample space for food preparation, with more than enough drawers for storing cooking utensils such as wooden spoons and spatulas. Behind the island and against the wall we suggest using two pastry tables on castors, on either side of the short wall, to create a continuous flow. 2 THE SINK Carrie-Lee’s hero piece is a double butler’s sink unit which we placed along one of the walls. This unit also includes drawers for storing pots as well as a utility drawer. There is enough working space next to the sink to drain washed dishes and to stack dirty ones. 3 THE FRIDGE To manage a tight working triangle between the fridge, sink and stove, this appliance should stand against the other long wall between the deluxe grocery cupboard and the oven house. With the grocery cupboard conveniently positioned next to the fridge, food preparation is even easier. It’s also close to the existing pantry. CONTACT milestonekitchens.co.za
Quick fix
If you would like a kitchen update, but can’t do it all in one go, Sabrina Miles, Silvia’s daughter and operations manager of Milestone Kitchens, suggests the following: 1 Replace your cupboard doors only and then paint your carcasses to match. 2 Remove some old cabinets or a wall to make room for a kitchen island. The Milestone Kitchens freestanding islands on castors are very popular as they can be moved around and used as servers, tables or breakfast nooks.
76 home February 2020
The same can be said for replacing units with one of our coffee dressers or grocery cupboards. This is the beauty of freestanding units, not everything has to be done at once. 3 It can be practical and beautiful to have a combination of different countertops in a kitchen. Stainless steel around the sink for water permeability combined with a wood top on an island for comfort and warmth can be very striking.
Quick questions
Q: I love the green upholstered sofa on page 56 of your July 2018 edition; what type of fabric was used and where can I buy it? – Elmari van der Merwe, Bellville A: The homeowner has had the sofa for 20 years! The fabric comes from one of the Hertex (hertex.co.za) velvet ranges. This type of sofa is available at most interior shops; take a look at Block & Chisel (blockandchisel.co.za).
Q: Where can I print photographs on wooden blocks as featured on page 59 of your November 2019 edition? – Ronel Bredell, Hermanus A: There are several companies that offer this service: try Orms Print Room (ormsprintroom.co.za), Photoblox (photoblox.co.za) or Studio 22 (studio22.co.za).
Q: Where can I buy the brick tiles featured on page 58 of your Home Renovations 2019 issue? – Monita Swart, Pretoria A: You can find them at most hardware stores and tile manufacturers, including Builders (builders.co.za), Persian Tiles (persiantiles.co.za) and Leroy Merlin (leroymerlin.co.za).
Q: I love the copper pots on page 30 of your August 2015 issue; where can I buy something similar? – Erna de Jager, Bethal A: The copper pots are from Culinary Equipment Company (culinary.co.za); you can also try Yuppiechef (yuppiechef.com).
Stash it or trash it? What a character!
Jane Meneses of Edgemead writes These lovely old Royal Doulton vases depicting Charles Dickens characters have been in my family for many years. Do they have any value? Kayleen Wrigley of Walker Scott Art Advisory replies The Doulton factory was established in Lambeth, South London in 1815 by John Doulton (1793–1873), who was previously employed at Fulham Pottery. His first production lines consisted of practical and decorative stoneware, ranging from bottles to sewerage pipes, all made in his small factory. In 1835, John’s son Henry (1820–1897) joined the company and oversaw the expansion of the firm’s production of stoneware items to include laboratory articles, sanitary ware and drainpipes, which were sold worldwide. In the mid-1850s, John Doulton began to experiment with more decorative pottery items, for which the company would later become known. Doulton was granted the Royal Warrant by Edward VII in 1901. Doulton Series Ware was an innovation of the decorator, designer and artistic director of Royal Doulton, Charles Noke. Series Ware has taken the form of everyday crockery decorated with characters from legend, literature, history and song. The Dickens Series has been one of Royal Doulton’s most popular, featuring characters from Charles Dickens novels. Production on Dickens ware began in 1922 and did not cease until 1983. During the 60-year production period, there were many variations in styles, techniques and modes of production as well as varying backstamps, all of which have kept collectors fascinated for decades. The particular backstamp used on your vase was used in the 20 years between 1931 and 1951.
CIRCA 1931–1951 VALUE Between R1 000 and R1 500 each at auction CONTACT walkerscott.co.za
LEAKING ROOF? WATERPROOFING & RESEALING OF : t Roof screws t Roof sheeting t Galvanised flashing overlaps t Repairing small holes in roof sheeting
SAND OFF RUST & FLAKING PAINT
WASH OFF LOOSE PARTICLES
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Available at leading hardware merchants.
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ADVANTAGES r Good adhesion to substrates r Dries quickly approximately 2 hours r Non-toxic - contains no plasticisers or solvents r No membrane required r Tough and highly flexible r UV resistant
The packaging is the applicator!
even the professionals use it 5880 ASHAK Home FEBR 2020 1/2pg ad
PROMOTION
DECLUTTER,
AND WIN!
Are your cupboards overflowing, is the spare room a dumping ground for things that will never see the light of day again or does your garage resemble a flea market?
I
Clynt Garnham / Alamy
t’s a growing trend: more and more people are choosing to downscale and live in smaller spaces. And, as we are all only too aware, if you start running out of storage space, there’s only one solution: spring-clean and throw out! Or sell your clutter on Gumtree and pocket the cash. What a great idea! Japanese declutter queen Marie Kondo has acquired worldwide fame with her KonMari method. Her message is simple: if an item doesn’t spark joy in you, get rid of it! Because we know just how difficult this can be, Home and lifestyle channel VIA (DStv channel 147), in collaboration with Gumtree, are launching a declutter competition as an incentive. We are looking for South Africa’s Declutter King or Queen for 2020! No matter whether you live in a farmhouse in Mooi River, a garden flat in Bloemfontein or a family home in Brackenfell, if you’re afraid to open your cupboard doors because of what might come tumbling out of them, we want to hear from you!
/Ĩ LJŽƵ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌLJ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͕ ĞŵĂŝů Amina.Essop@media24.com Žƌ ĐĂůů ϬϮϭ ϰϬϲ ϮϮϬϱ͘
[ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? ] [ HOW TO ENTER ] • Go to homemag.co.za ĂŶĚ Įůů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌLJ ĨŽƌŵ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ƚŽƉ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞď ƉĂŐĞ͘ zŽƵ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă EĞƚǁĞƌŬϮϰ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďĞƌ͖ ĞŶƚƌLJ ŝƐ ĨƌĞĞ͘ ͻ ĞƐĐƌŝďĞ ǁŚLJ LJŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ ŶĞĞĚƐ ƚŽ ďĞ ĚĞĐůƵƩĞƌĞĚ ŝŶ ŶŽ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ϮϱϬ ǁŽƌĚƐ͘ ZĞŵĞŵďĞƌ͗ ǁĞ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ƉŝĐƚƵƌĞƐ͕ ƐŽ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ĞŶƚƌLJ͘ ͻ ŶƚƌŝĞƐ ĐůŽƐĞ Ăƚ ŵŝĚŶŝŐŚƚ ŽŶ &ƌŝĚĂLJ ϭϯ DĂƌĐŚ ϮϬϮϬ͘
THE PRIZES
ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ ŽĨ ϭϲ DĂƌĐŚ ϮϬϮϬ͕ ƚŚĞ Home ƚĞĂŵ ĂŶĚ s/ ǁŝůů ĐŚŽŽƐĞ ϭϯ ŚŽŵĞƐ ŝŶ ŶĞĞĚ ŽĨ Ă ĚĞĐůƵƩĞƌŝŶŐ ĞdžƉĞƌƚ͘ dŚĂƚ ĞdžƉĞƌƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ Ăƚ Ă ůĂƚĞƌ ƐƚĂŐĞ ;ǁĂƚĐŚ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƉĂĐĞ͊Ϳ͘ ZĞŵĞŵďĞƌ͗ ŝĨ LJŽƵ ĞŶƚĞƌ͕ LJŽƵ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ǁŝůůŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĂƉƉĞĂƌ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŐĂnjŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ ŽŶ ds͕ ĂŶĚ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ƚŽ ŚĞĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐůƵƩĞƌŝŶŐ ŐƵƌƵ͛Ɛ ĂĚǀŝĐĞ͘ &ƌŽŵ ϭ Ɖƌŝů͕ Ă s/ ĐĂŵĞƌĂ ĐƌĞǁ ǁŝůů ǀŝƐŝƚ ƚŚĞ ƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚ ŚŽŵĞƐ ;ďƌŽĂĚĐĂƐƚƐ ďĞŐŝŶ ŝŶ ƵŐƵƐƚͿ͘ ǀĞƌLJƚŚŝŶŐ LJŽƵ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ƌŝĚ ŽĨ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ƐŽůĚ ŽŶ 'ƵŵƚƌĞĞ͘ Home ǁŝůů ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ;ŽŶůŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶ ƉƌŝŶƚͿ ĂŶĚ ǁŝůů ĞǀĞŶƚƵĂůůLJ ƐĞůĞĐƚ ĂŶ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ǁŝŶŶĞƌ ǁŚŽ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĐƌŽǁŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ ϮϬϮϬ ĞĐůƵƩĞƌ <ŝŶŐ Žƌ YƵĞĞŶ͘
Weekly prizes will be awarded at random to Home readers and VIA viewers who enter the competition. The overall winner will receive a grand cash prize!
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80 home February 2020
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advice
Email your queries to pets@homemag.co.za
Animal antics Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel
All the cuddles!
Best buds
Golden Spaniel Leo keeps baby Neve warm and cosy. – Bev Carter, Pennington, KZN
David and Goliath
New pup Frankie Frankfurter meets her big brother, Great Dane TomTom, for the first time. – Debbie Smith, Durban
A gentle giant
Mila, a 17-month-old Golden Doodle, still loves to give mom a bear hug! – Marinda Brindle, Bloemfontein
Bear necessities
Mattewis loves to curl up next to Teddy. – Sonneke Aucamp, Durbanville
Q&A
Cats ’n dogs
Johlene Bosman of Pretoria writes
Just can’t get enough
Brothers Bobby and Bennie do everything together, from hunting to sleeping. – Carla Brandt, Melkbosstrand
Hot product Oil Science CBD Pet Oil Drops (R399 for 50ml, oilscience.co.za) is a premium, 100% natural, certified cannabidiol oil product formulated to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of pets. Ethically sourced and fully legal, a daily dose of CBD oil under the tongue, morning and night, has been shown to support anxiety, chronic pain and general health.
Round the twist
Twinkle Toes, aka Prauw, performs a contortionist act before assuming the sleep position. – Rebecca Dawson, Port Elizabeth
Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a large K9 Camper for dogs or a medium Cupcake for cats from Wagworld (wagworld.co.za). Available from leading vet and pet shops, the K9 Camper is made from a heavy-duty waterproof canvas, discouraging the breeding of fleas and other mites, and while perfect for patios or kennels, it’s beautiful enough to use inside too. The double-sided and machine-washable Cupcake bed is a favourite for cats and smaller breeds of dog. Send your pics (at least 2MB each) and contact details to pets@homemag.co.za – you could be a winner too! See competition rules on page 130.
WIN!
Proudly South African!
I’d love to adopt a puppy and kitten at the same time; do you have any tips to ensure that they get along? Dr Roxanne Jones, vet and owner of online pet care portal zuki.co.za, replies We all know the phrase “to fight like cats and dogs” but we’ve also seen countless YouTube videos of them cuddling like besties. If you’re keen to achieve harmony between moggies and mutts, the following will help: Train your dog A dog that pounces on a dropped crumb or zooms towards neighbourhood squirrels is likely to display the same behaviour towards a cat. Teach your dog self-control from the start. Introduce them at a young age If possible, bring the two species together as youngsters. Young animals haven’t yet developed intolerances; they also aren’t fighting for dominance or territory. Bring them together in a controlled way Introduce your new pet to the other furry members of the household through a barrier: set up a gate, use a crate, or let them sniff each other underneath a closed door so they get used to each other’s presence and smell. It’s ‘safe’ to remove the barrier when they stop getting agitated at the sight or smell of each other. At this stage, let them socialise under supervision. Positive reinforcement Start by feeding them close to each other (not right next to each other but close enough to see each other). This helps your pets associate the positive feelings around eating with each other. When they interact well, give each animal a treat. Encourage good behaviour by making a fuss of them, but never favour one over the other. Negative reinforcement may also be necessary when it comes to bad behaviour. You can use a spritzer bottle of water on your cat as a deterrent and try time-outs in the kennel for dogs. Give each animal its own space Make sure your pets have a space of their own. It’s a bit easier with cats as they can jump onto perches. For dogs, a kennel works well. Cats are often calm, aloof and averse to chaos; dogs are generally prone to boisterous behaviour. But if they’re raised together in a loving, positive and nurturing environment, they can come to tolerate each other – or even become friends. CONTACT zuki.co.za February 2020
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the tait florilegium
Botanical designs are bang on trend! Take inspiration from this exquisite anthology and the four prints included exclusively in Home this month. THE SET OF ILLUSTRATIONS Courtesy of Gateway Publishing, four of Lady Cynthia Tait’s original illustrations have been reprinted and individually included with the February issue of Home.
A gathering of flowers
By Elna van der Merwe • Photographs Francois Oberholster • Styling Marian van Wyk
Collect the entire set – or choose your favourites!
Upholstery fabric and cushion from Hertex (hertex.co.za); rug, side table and vase from Haus (hertexhaus.co.za)
A casual conversation about a box of illustrations that had been lying under a bed for many years led to the publishing of a lavish book, The Tait Florilegium, now available in South Africa. Florilegium literally means “a collection of flowers” in medieval Latin, and paging through this compilation of mostly indigenous South African plants, it almost feels as if you are holding a bouquet of beautiful blooms in your arms. The detailed illustrations, printed on high quality art paper, are simply gorgeous. Each one is botanically correct, including the colours, with the English and Afrikaans common names provided with each one. The illustrations are the handiwork of British artist Lady Cynthia Tait (1894–1962). And when we opened this coffee table book here in the Home office, we immediately asked for permission to reprint four illustrations especially for our readers, who we know would love to have them adorning their homes. Botanical designs are trendy right now – on cushions, ceramics, and of course as artworks. The illustrations have a lovely story behind them. During her two marriages, Lady Tait lived in South Africa and the former Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at various times, and while under the African sun increasingly focused her artworks on South African plants. Her first husband was British Admiral Sir Campbell Tait, who worked at the naval base in Simon’s Town in the 1940s. But it was her second husband, Lancelot Herbert Ussher, whom she married as a widow, who fostered her affinity for local flora. As neighbours to Kirstenbosch, the couple were big supporters of this now worldfamous botanical garden, donating many plants from their garden. In 1956, the Royal Horticultural Society awarded Lady Tait a silver medal for her exhibition of Cape wildflower illustrations. In 1961, she received a bronze medal for her sword lily illustrations – which today still hang in the Compton Herbarium at Kirstenbosch. One of her other artworks, hanging in the conference room, was her final assignment before her death in 1962 – a painting of a wreath of wildflowers with space left in the middle for the names of a group of eminent botanists and horticulturists who were to attend a conference at Kirstenbosch. After Lady Tait’s death, the major part of her collection of illustrations was bequeathed to two of her grandchildren: Cynthia Cormack MBE and William Astley-Jones. One day in 2015, Cynthia, in conversation with leading Clematis breeder Raymond Evison OBE, a fellow inhabitant of Guernsey Island
Lady Cynthia Tait in the English Channel, mentioned a box containing her grandmother’s illustrations that had been lying under one of the beds in her home for a number of years. After seeing the illustrations, Raymond brought them to the attention of the Guernsey Arts Council. The idea for an exhibition was born born, with Gat Gateway Publishing in the Channel Islands undertaking to print a book and note cards to coincide with the event in Guernsey. One of the partners at Gateway, Duncan Spence, also owns Rickety Bridge Winery in Franschhoek, whose wines were served at the opening. South African horticulturist Keith Kirsten, who attended the event, got Duncan to promise that he would bring both the exhibition and the book to Kirstenbosch. And here it is!
Come and see for yourself
Altogether, 66 of Lady Cynthia Tait’s works will be exhibited at Kirstenbosch from 16 January until 15 March – daily from 09:00 to 18:00 – in the Richard Crowie Hall at Gate 2 (the usual entrance fees apply). The Tait Florilegium, published by Duncan and his partners at Gateway Publishing, Chris Andrews and Amy McKee, will be on sale. The note cards will be available too. Alternatively, you can order a copy from amazon.com or gatewaysark.co.uk.
Win!
One lucky reader will win a copy of The Tait Florilegium worth R1 850. SMS the keyword TAIT and your full name, physical and email address to 33406; each SMS costs R1.50. See our competition rules on page 130. Entries close on 29 February, 2020.
February 2020
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advice
Send garden info and queries to gardens@homemag.co.za.
Gardening notebook
Gillian Eva
The iris is February’s birth flower, a plant that symbolises faith, valour and wisdom. Compiled by Gillian Eva • Photographs Francois Oberholster and supplied
In love with irises
N
amed by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, the iris family has been cultivated since ancient times, not only for their beauty, but also for their religious symbolism and their use in perfumery, where the orris root is used as a scent fixative in pot-pourri. In Greek mythology, Iris is the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods. The iris was a symbol of life in ancient Egypt and India and in the Christian world, the iris was sacred to the Virgin Mary. Irises are associated with royalty and found on flags and coats of arms; the fleur-de-lis was an emblem of French monarchs. IRISES IN ART Irises adorned King Minos’s palace walls in Crete (2100 BC) and were used on 18th century Japanese screens and in 19th century French tapestries. Irises featured in medieval and Renaissance paintings (the most well-known being those by Leonardo da Vinci) and were favoured by Impressionist painters such as Vincent van Gogh, Renoir and Paul Cezanne. Irises were a favourite flower of Monet who grew them along pathways and around the water’s edge in the gardens of Giverny. American Georgia O’Keeffe, a 20th century artist, is famous for her painting Black Iris. IRISES IN THE GARDEN Irises are found in Europe, Asia and North America growing in arid regions, rocky slopes, meadows and boggy ground along riverbanks. Some are sweetly fragrant. The three inner upright petals are known as ‘standards’, and the three outer petals are referred to as ‘falls’. Irises attract bees and butterflies. • Dwarf, intermediate and tall bearded irises (Iris germanica) add vertical height in gardens from late spring to early summer. Their blooms are as colourful as any rainbow, ruffled or plain, with stippling or spotting on the petals that act as landing pads for pollinators. Their main flowering time is spring and early summer, with some re-blooming in autumn. • The evergreen Japanese iris (I. ensata) needs moisture-rich soil with the rhizomes covered with soil. The boggy soil at a pond’s edge or rich, moist soil in the garden suits these irises. The Louisiana group of irises enjoy similar growing conditions to Japanese irises. • The Siberian iris (I. sibirica) has grass-like foliage and flowers on thin stems and needs moisture during the growing and flowering season and drier conditions while dormant. • Dutch irises (I. hollandica) with long thin stems in blue, white, yellow and red are a favourite of florists.
86 home February 2020
Louisiana iris
FROG-FRIENDLY GARDENS The annual Leap Day for Frogs will be celebrated on 29 February this year, and aims to create awareness about these creatures’ loss of habitat. Do your bit by creating a frog-friendly pond with sloping sides, hiding places, and rocks and plants that provide shelter from the sun.
Siberian iris
Did you know?
The iris family in South Africa includes Dietes, Gladiolus, Freesia, Ixia, Sparaxis, Babiana, Crocosmia, Tritonia, Dierama and Watsonia – all of which are popular garden subjects in many parts of the world.
Photograph Gallo Images
Growing tips for irises • Iris species grow from rhizomes, bulbs or corms and require different soil conditions; some prefer moist soil, while others need excellent drainage. • Divide overcrowded irises this month, discarding woody centres and planting the new outer growths. Trim foliage into a fan shape about 3cm in height. • Position rhizomes of bearded irises on a mound of earth so that the rhizome is slightly exposed to sun. • Do not mulch bearded irises, as moisture can cause rhizomes to rot. • Unlike bearded irises, Louisiana and Japanese irises are moisture-loving plants that should be planted in well-composted, moisture-retentive soil with the rhizomes covered. Don’t add lime or superphosphate.
An edible rainbow Your edible garden can become a rainbow of colour above and below soil level with multicoloured carrots, beetroot and radishes; white and purple brinjals; red, orange and yellow peppers; red and blue-green cabbage; purple cauliflower and yellow baby marrows. Plant cabbages in clusters, lime-green and ruby lettuce in triangles and squares, and Swiss chard ‘Bright Lights’ with stems of red, orange, apricot or yellow. Add edgings of mauve chives and silver/grey sage. Introduce even more colour by painting supports for climbing vegetables. Grow orange marigolds in pots of cobalt-blue, use yellow pots for nasturtiums, mauve thyme in lavender pots, and strawberries in red planter boxes. By Kay Montgomery
Bearded iris
Water smart
Waterwise plant of the month
Large wild iris
We love succulents!
Also called fairy iris, Dietes grandiflora is an indigenous evergreen perennial that can grow up to 1.5m tall in large clumps. It bears showy white flowers with splashes of yellow and mauve and although the blooms donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last long, they appear continuously throughout summer. Its spreading fans of dark green, swordlike leaves make it an interesting accent plant or filler in difficult parts of the garden. It will grow in most types of soil in full sun or semi-shade (in very hot areas, a semi-shaded position is recommended). The plant is hardy and can survive without water for fairly long stretches.
Dietes grandiflora
Big blue chalk sticks Big blue chalk sticks (Senecio ficoides) is a striking shrublet with spiky blue-grey leaves that look silvery in the sun. As a young plant it produces long, upright stems with leaves all the way up. Its upward growth makes it stand out, providing texture and contrast. How to grow Plant in full sun. It tolerates poor soil that drains well; mix in a little compost when planting. Keep plants moist, but not too wet, until established. Established plants are extremely waterwise and only need watering once the soil is completely dry. As plants grow, the long stems tend to fall over and become more of a groundcover, rooting along the ground. Pinching off the growth points when plants are 10 to 15cm tall encourages the plant to branch, keeping it more upright. Garden uses Use as an accent plant, in a mixed bed with other succulents or drought-tolerant perennials and annuals. It contrasts well with yellow-leaved Sedum and red Kalanchoe sexangularis. It is conspicuous not only for its colour but also its texture and form. Because of its trailing habit as it gets older, provide space for it to spread as a groundcover. Different types Senecio ficoides is the largest of three blue chalk stick senecios. The others are Senecio talinoides, medium-sized with thin finger-like blueish leaves, and Senecio serpens, a dwarf ground-hugging variety with stubbier finger-like leaves. Did you know? Originally from the Northern Cape, Namaqualand and Alexander Bay, Senecio ficoides grows easily in most other parts of South Africa, except very cold regions. CONTACT Ngena Succulents; email john@ngena.africa
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Indoor plant of the month
Anthurium There has been an explosion of new colours in Anthuriums, with many different shades of red and pink, as well as pure white and green-white, cream, and a variety of bicolours. As a long-lasting gift for Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, take your pick from the many different pinks: baby-pink, bright pink, salmon, dusky-pink and pink-and-white bicolour. Plants also range in size and the miniatures are particularly appealing. Anthuriums are long-lasting indoor plants that live for years if well looked after. That said, they need very little care: medium to bright light and minimal watering. Allow the soil to dry out moderately between watering. Spritz the leaves every now and then to wash off any dust. Feed with a liquid fertiliser when you remember. CONTACT plantimex.co.za
advice
Ludwig’s rose corner Louise van Wyk of Bloemfontein writes From the moment they
‘Forever Delight’
Blue or pink? Ester Oppermann writes Is it true that
sprout, the leaves and blooms of my ‘Forever Delight’ rose are terribly deformed. Is it a virus? Ludwig replies This is caused by the chilli thrips. The larvae puncture the immature leaves as they sprout, causing the deformation. It takes a week or less from larvae hatching to adults feasting on the petals of the opening blooms, after which they fly down on the plant and puncture the green stems to lay their eggs. The cycle is then repeated. The immediate solution is to spray with Plant Care (which is best), Rose Protector, Cyper or Ripcord. Spray weekly for three weeks to break the breeding cycle. Thereafter, drench the rose bushes with Koinor. This provides long-term control for four to six months. Cut off all damaged buds and blooms, put them in a plastic bag and throw them away (not on the compost).
Michelle Marais of Durban writes My standard ‘Iceberg’ roses that were growing well, especially after the last rains, have started to wilt. Any idea why? Ludwig replies If water is withdrawn suddenly, like when the rain stops, the rose takes time to adapt because it wants to continue drawing up the same amount of water. With not enough water, there is a build-up of air bubbles in the stems which block any water going upwards, acting rather like an embolism in a blood vessel. The roses then become more susceptible to insects and fungal disease. After heavy rain it is always best to ‘wean’ the roses by watering well but then slowly reducing watering so that the rose adapts to less water. CONTACT ludwigsroses.co.za
Regional rose tasks for February Summer rainfall Renew mulch where necessary and provide at least 10L of water per rose each week. To shade the roses, keep as many leaves on the bush as possible by just cutting off the dead blooms and spraying weekly with Ludwig’s Insect Spray to discourage red spider. After a rainy period, spray with Chronos to prevent black spot. Delay fertilising with Vigorosa until end February if the weather is hot and dry. Winter rainfall Red spider poses a threat in hot and dry conditions. Wet the underside of
Ask JJ
the leaves when watering and spray with Ludwig’s Insect Spray every two weeks. Water deeply at least once a week and maintain a layer of mulch around the roses. Fertilise towards the end of February. Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal coast High humidity brings out pests and increases the risk of fungal diseases. To control both, spray with Ludwig’s Insect Spray mixed with Chronos or Rose Protector. Water deeply at least once a week and fertilise with Vigorosa towards the end of February.
sprinkling Epsom salts around hydrangeas can change the colour of the flowers? And if so, will it change to pink or blue? What can I use to manipulate the colour? JJ replies The colour of th blooms is determined by the p of the soil, and Epsom salts won’t change that. To make pink hydrangeas turn blue (or to keep your blue ones from turning pink), increase the acidity of the soil by working acidic compost into the soil around the plants. You can also water the plants with a solution of aluminium sulphate (about 2 tablespoons to 10L water).
Annoying onion weed Ronelie Kaiser of KZN writes How can I get rid of onion weed? It is everywhere; in my veggie garden, amongst shrubs, even in-between my agapanthus. Any advice? JJ replies Your best bet is to use something like the herbicide Servian and to apply it directly to the weed with a brush – it will then kill the weed without affecting the surrounding plants. >> Listen to JJ’s gardening tips and tricks on Derrich Gardner’s show Brekfis met Derrich at 07:40 every Saturday on RSG.
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Garden goodie Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel Fired Earth tank paint (available in various colours) R198 for 1L, Builders
‘Early Love’
Outdoor Chic pendant R555, K.Light
New in nurseries Sweet and spicy Dianthus ‘Early Love’ is an unusual border or pot dianthus because of its large, double-pink flowers with a purple-black centre. The pickable flowers cover the plant, resembling a bouquet, and have a sweet, spicy fragrance. The growth is bushy and compact, with a height and spread of about 20cm. They are good for a sunny border, especially in small gardens, a rockery or on the patio. Their needs are simple: full sun, fertile soil that drains well and no overwatering. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za
Beaufort teak 2-seater bench R2 399, Decofurn
What flower is that? Gardening app Candide now offers a plant ID function, perfect for when you discover a flower you love in someone else’s garden and have no idea what it is. Just go to the ‘Knowledge’ section on Candide, take a photo of the plant, or upload a pic from your gallery, then press the identify tab and you’ll get not only the name and a short summary of the plant and species, but details of its origins, environmental preferences, propagation, problems, uses and much more. Candide is free for download in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Go to candidegardening.com for more information.
Garden Master Preset Water Timer R649, Makro
Succulent handbook The opening quote in Garden Succulents sums up the current succulent craze beautifully: “In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king, and so it is that in the land of drought, waterwise growers’ gardens remain green”. South Africa is a water-scarce country and this has led to an upsurge in the popularity of succulents. Garden Succulents by Gideon F. Smith & Ben-Erik van Wyk (R395, Briza Publications) is a useful guide for novice and expert gardeners alike as it contains descriptions of more than 400 well-known succulents accompanied by more than 600 full-colour photographs showing the distinctive shapes, sizes, and colours of the plants to help you choose those that best suit your local conditions.
Kiddies garden planter R1 997, GardenStuff
Concrete birdbath R259.99, MRP Home
Outdoor Chic bracket wall light R1 057, K.Light
STOCKISTS Builders 0860 284 533, builders.co.za Decofurn 087 740 1800, decofurnsa.co.za GardenStuff 071 245 1658, gardenstuff.co.za K.Light 021 552 4370, klight.co.za Makro 0860 600 999, makro.co.za MRP Home 0800 212 535, mrphome.com
90 home February 2020
Compiled by Gerda Engelbrecht
WIN!
crossword #138
One of eight NB Publishers books worth R360 could be yours.
Join TV personality Lorna Maseko on a personal food journey in Celebrate with Lorna Maseko. She shares some of her fondest memories, including how she fell in love with Asian food on a trip to Hong Kong; how she participated in MasterChef South Africa and showcased her momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chicken dishes; how travelling exposed her to so many different food cultures; and how traditional dishes can be recreated with a bit of imagination. Check it out! The first eight readers whose correctly completed crosswords are drawn will each win a copy of Celebrate with Lorna Maseko worth R360. Note: The solution to Crossword #132 is available online at homemag.co.za.
Send the completed crossword, and your details, to Home Crossword #138, PO Box 1802, Cape Town, or scan in your completed crossword and email it to competition@homemag.co.za to reach us by 28 February 2020. See our competition rules on page 130.
Name ............................................................................. Address .......................................................................................................................... Postal code .................. Cell .............................................. Tel. (w) ............................................. Email ......................................................... February 2020
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TOP TRENDS for
gorgeous gardens
Take inspiration from the annual Garden World Spring Festival and try something fresh in your own small oasis. Compiled by Beatrice Moore-Nรถthnagel โ ข Photographs Magriet Jansen van Rensburg
Bug hotels, rocks, tree trunks and birdbaths are key in creating a healthy, natural environment in your garden and provide you with an abundance of small creatures.
A pond with a waterwheel and some wooden fish create a space where a child’s imagination can run wild.
Designer: Sonita Young, 3rd Teacher Nature Scapes
Get the kids outside
(and off their smartphones)
“Nature play and nature schooling is a growing trend internationally, especially in the early developing years of a child,” says Sonita Young of 3rd Teacher Nature Scapes. “The concept of ‘Nature Play’ developed through fusing two principles: the Reggio Emilia approach of experiential learning, in which the environment is the third teacher, combined with the Nature Scape principle that playgrounds should be natural with as few man-made components as possible, encouraging learning through playing.” IN YOUR OWN GARDEN “If you utilise every possible aspect of a garden for child’s play, kids can explore nature without any restrictions,” says Sonita. “A water feature, for example, teaches them about gravity and volume; soil is great for sensory input when kids ‘bake’ mud cakes; rocks, stumps and mounds are perfect for developing gross motor skills; and jumping results in proper impact on the bones, making them stronger.” Sonita’s other tips include: • Keep to a neutral palette as too many colours can become overwhelming and overstimulate a child. • Walls coated with black roof paint provide a smooth finish that kids can draw on with chalk, creating a dynamic environment.
• Create contours in your garden by adding mounds, large rocks and stumps. Not only are they great for dimension and interest but they’re also fun to jump or walk on and they help young children to learn balance and about calculated risk-taking, which is imperative for the development of selfconfidence. With more and more children being diagnosed with osteoporosis, kids need to jump and play in such a way that there is bone-on-bone contact, which helps to prevent this disease. • Don’t introduce too many man-made elements like pavers; rather keep the flooring natural with lawn, groundcovers or bark chips so that kids can feel the earth under their feet. >>
Plant list SENSORY GARDEN PLANTS TASTE Acorus gramineus ‘Licorice’, apple mint, pineapple sage (Salvia elegans), sugar plant (Stevia rebaudiana), strawberry SMELL Chive, common sage (Salvia officinalis), rose-scented pelargonium, Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas), rosemary, wild garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) TOUCH Irish moss, lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) SIGHT Calendula, Swiss chard, yarrow CHOOSE A COLOUR BLUE Blue arrows rush (Juncus inflexus ‘Blue Arrows’), Carex ‘China Blue’ PURPLE Selago villicaulis ‘Purple Turtle’ RED Carex ‘Red Rooster’ BROWN Carex ‘Tall Brown’ PINK Scabiosa, Polygala virgata ORANGE Bulbine ‘Wildfire’ YELLOW Crassothonna cacalioides, Cineraria saxifraga, Wheels of Wonder ice plant (Delosperma) February 2020
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Crassula multicava in a red tin bath forms a striking focal point on top of the water feature.
Designer: Lizette Nieman, Strylitzia
Bold colours and backgrounds A striking blue focal wall, a lime-green gazebo and red accessories set the tone in this fun contemporary vegetable garden. “Don’t be scared to use colour – be adventurous!” says Lizette Nieman of Strylitzia. “After all, it’s just a tin of paint.” Working with bright colours in the garden is becoming more and more popular. “Gardeners can take their cue from colours found in leaves and flowers,” advises Lizette. This edible garden “Dark backgrounds on boundary walls also combines function and highlight plants and the look and feel of the space aesthetics to create in a different way: by fading the background, the purpose-driven spaces in foreground becomes more prominent.” which to relax and entertain.
94 home February 2020
Wooden planter boxes are combined with concrete boxes to add texture and interest.
trends
gardens
The dark blue boundary wall enhances the foliage of the plants, as well as the colourful flowers in the garden. It also forms a lovely contrast to the limegreen pergola.
IN YOUR OWN GARDEN Lizette firmly believes that a small garden should be functional and offer value for money. She loves to incorporate vegetables and herbs in small outside entertainment spaces as you can harvest from them and they provide lovely colour and texture. Her other tips for small spaces include: • Divide the area according to function (a relaxation area, a veggie patch and a mixed flowerbed) then add detail in the form of pots, containers and decorations. Mix perennial and annual plants so that there will always be something to look forward to. • Dark colours like blues, greens and charcoals are great for boundary walls as they make them ‘disappear’. The idea is that your eye won’t stop at the wall, creating a solid end line, but will rather borrow from the outside environment to create a feeling of open space. Stick to darker shades, as lighter colours won’t have the same effect. Remember, you don’t want to create a focal wall, although it does provide added interest. • Choose plants with lighter-coloured leaves and textures that will contrast with the painted walls. Colourful annuals such as pansies and petunias are also great for contrast. The idea is to create a 3D effect where your eye will jump around in the garden and not stop on a single focal point. • Shades of lime are wonderful for accents such as pergolas and teepees as they bring a fresh look to a garden and contrast with darker backgrounds. • Climbers soften pergolas while adding extra greenery and flowers. ‘Catawba’ is a wonderful grape variety that doesn’t need to be sprayed against mildew, while the ‘Perfumed Breeze’ climbing rose is also a very happy grower.
Plant list VEGGIES Summer Brinjal, green pepper, chilli, green bean, tomato, lettuce, pumpkin, baby marrow and potato Winter Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, baby ‘Virofly’ spinach, ‘Great Lakes’ lettuce, garlic, onion, broad bean and pea Year-round Carrot, beetroot, celery, spring onion, leek, radish, kale, radicchio and spinach HERBS Year-round Coriander, rocket, thyme, rosemary, sage, artichoke, chive, parsley, fennel, dill, lavender and sorrel Summer Basil, tarragon, rhubarb and Jerusalem artichoke EDIBLE FLOWERS Dianthus, nasturtium, borage, viola, rose, fennel, sunflower, lavender, honeysuckle, chive, carnation, calendula, baby marrow, marigold and pineapple sage FRUIT Apple tree, gooseberry, strawberry, melon and watermelon HEDGE PLANTS Buxus ‘Faulkner’, Viburnum tinus ‘Lucidum’ and Abelia ‘Lemon and Lime’ topiary balls
CONTACTS 3rd Teacher Nature Scapes 083 381 8089, facebook.com/3rdteacher Garden World 011 957 2047, gardenworld.co.za Ngena Succulents 079 317 5396, ngena.africa Strylitzia Landscaping 082 454 2869
Designer: John Sauer, Ngena Succulents
A waterwise meadow
Due to the ongoing drought in many parts of the country, more and more people are planting succulents. However, these gardens need not look like a desert. “Nowadays, succulent gardens can be leafy, green and full of colour,” says John Sauer of Ngena Succulents. “Succulents can easily be combined with other plants to create the look and feel of a meadow.” They come in different colours, textures and sizes and offer you the opportunity to be creative in your own unique way. “Don’t just copy your neighbour or magazines – choose what appeals to you. It’s your outdoor living space – create something you love,” he adds. >>
Agave attenuata
The water feature and patio set the tone for this contemporary waterwise garden that was designed as a relaxing, lowmaintenance retreat.
Good to know
If you go on holiday, your succulents will be fine without water for a couple of weeks; they’ll recover quickly once they’ve been watered again.
The plant combinations highlight a medley of succulents paired with a rich and diverse range of other plants that have similar low water requirements.
IN YOUR OWN GARDEN “I always recommend the same no-fuss 14 succulents (see plant list) to new gardeners as they offer a lovely variety in terms of height, textures, colours and groundcovers, and will grow almost anywhere in the country,” says John. He shares his best advice: • Prepare the soil well with compost and bone meal, just like you would with a regular garden. Don’t overcomplicate things by adding sand or small stones. • Position your focal plants such as aloes in a triangular design; this tends to work well in succulent gardens. Use five different varieties for an informal look or three of the same kind for a more formal feel. • Fill in the space with plants according to your own taste, keeping the size and colours of each in mind. • If you want to combine succulents with other plants to enhance the meadow-like effect, lavender and viburnum are great companions and also need very little water. • In summer rainfall areas, water succulents well every 10–14 days over the summer months if there is no rain. Water after 16:00 in the afternoon as this allows plants to soak up moisture overnight. Watering in the morning, with high daytime temperatures, could lead to some plants rotting. In winter, water every 4–6 weeks. Let the soil dry out completely before watering again. In winter rainfall areas, no watering is required during the winter months. In summer, water well once a week.
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Plant list NO-FUSS SUCCULENTS • Aloe arborescens • Aloe chabaudii • Aloe marlothii • Carpobrotus edulis • Crassula arborescens • Crassula capitella ‘Campfire’ • Crassula multicava • Crassula muscosa • Delosperma lydenburgense • Euphorbia tirucalli • Kalanchoe sexangularis • Kleinia petraea • Senecio ficoides • Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) COMBINE WITH • Buddleja • Statice • Lavender • Viburnum • Tulbaghia • Daisy bushes • Salvia • Scabiosa • Convolvulus cneorum • Dietes • Arctotis • Thyme • Bay
Lavender is a great example of a plant that works well with succulents and is also wonderful for colour and fragrance.
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small garden
masterpiece
Retha Swartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of mosaics was the inspiration behind the design of her compact garden in Durbanville. By MariĂŠ Esterhuyse Photographs Francois Oberholster
100 home February 2020
WHO LIVES HERE? Retha Swart WHERE Durbanville SIZE Front garden 45m², narrow strip next to house 22m² TYPE OF SOIL Clay AGE OF GARDEN 2½ years
A
n artistic space with a mosaic design is what Retha Swart envisioned for her small townhouse garden. “I’m mad about gardening and I regard myself as a hands-on gardener,” she says. “In 2006 I travelled to Spain and while there, I was enthralled by Antoni Gaudí’s mosaic work in Barcelona. Ever since then, I have been a fan of this art form which is why I decided to use it as the basis for the look of my front garden.” Retha incorporated contrast, colour and texture to create a structured living mosaic. “The garden consists of two sections surrounded by high walls: the front garden with its mosaic aesthetic and a narrow strip down the side of the house,” she explains. “When you have such a small space, you have to plan carefully; I approached my friend Martie de Wet of Fresco Landscaping in Durbanville for assistance. I cannot emphasise strongly enough how important the initial layout, planning and soil preparation is – especially if you want to create a certain look.” Martie drew up a plan for Retha with precise dimensions. Using this, she divided the front garden into symmetrical blocks and defined them with cement pavers. Then she planted a combination of waterwise plants in each block. Since Retha wanted to keep costs as low as possible, she made sure she chose the right plants from the start so that she doesn’t have to replace them later. The plants were grouped by type to facilitate maintenance and to create greater impact in each block. Plants with contrasting foliage shapes, leaf colours and flowers were also chosen for various blocks. “My garden needs little maintenance and attention. I’m happy that the highly creative and skilful Enerst Madechihwe helps me once a month. He prunes the spekboom and ensures that the salt bush blocks look like perfect ‘tables’. I take care of the rest myself and regularly apply a liquid fertiliser such as Nitrosol. In spring and summer, I give the garden organic compost on a monthly basis, but less in winter. “My garden is my happy place. It is my refuge after a long day at work, where I can give free rein to my creative streak. It’s where I drink my first cup of coffee in the morning and where I can be still and reflect on life.”
A garden can quickly descend into chaos, especially in a small space, so it’s wise to keep it neat. – Retha
Retha has no irrigation system in the garden. Because it’s so small, she can water everything with a watering can; otherwise, she lets the hose trickle between the plants, using water from the tank. This is done about three times a week in summer, always with tank water; she seldom irrigates in winter.
Retha bought this mermaid languishing in the birdbath (right) at the Owl House in Nieu-Bethesda.
small garden
Retha’s process Meticulous planning, the right plant selection and professional help were all part of Retha’s recipe for success. The front garden was completed in just two days.
Senecio mandraliscae
Aloe ‘Porcupine’
DAY 1 The soil was prepared properly. First, the entire area was dug over and all the stones and building rubble removed (the development had just been completed). The soil was levelled and divided into six blocks. Sand was put down as a base for the pavers that divide the beds and form the pathway. Then compost was worked into the separate beds. DAY 2 The trees were planted first, followed by the rest of the plants. Retha bought trees that were already quite big as she didn’t want to wait too long for shade. Finally, it was time for the groundcovers. Although she bought a few new plants, she got a lot from friends and grew her own from cuttings. >>
Rhagodia hastata
Retha’s mosaic handiwork Retha (left) planned and planted her garden in May 2017, in the midst of the severe drought in the Western Cape. The plants and trees she chose are all waterwise, hardy and require little maintenance.
Cotyledon orbiculata
February 2020
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[ PLANTS IN THE MOSAIC GARDEN ]
Sketch Martie de Wet (dewetmartie@gmail.com)
1 Aloe ‘Porcupine’ with Crassula expansa as a groundcover in-between. The aloe’s beautiful coral flowers attract sunbirds. 2 Sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) and spekboom (Portulacaria afra) were planted against the walls to soften them. 3 Pig’s ear (Cotyledon orbiculata) with orange bell-shaped flowers that attract bees and birds. The leaves have a thin red margin. 4 Northern white lady (Kalanchoe luciae); its red foliage adds additional colour to that block.
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8 9
5 Salt bush (Rhagodia hastata syn. Einadia hastata) with dainty grey foliage is pruned into a table shape. 6 Leopard tree (Caesalpinia syn. Libidibia ferrea) is ideal as it has an upright growth habit which lets sunlight in. It doesn’t overwhelm the small space and the plants under the trees still get dappled sun in summer. Because it is a deciduous tree, it lets through more than enough sun in winter. (Note In more humid subtropical regions, a leopard tree can grow a lot bigger so it is not suitable for a small space.)
7 Agave attenuata with wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina) as a groundcover in-between; the red-and-green foliage of the latter provides contrast. Retha deliberately planted very small Agaves – when they become too large and dominate the bed, she will lift them and share with friends. 8 Senecio mandraliscae under the wild olive tree. 9 Wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana). This tree is evergreen and was planted close to the stoep and braai to provide shade.
Retha was inspired by Gustav Klimt’s famous Tree of Life for this mosaic.
A narrow strip next to the house gets little sun in winter but it’s very hot in summer – this made the plant choice difficult. “I grow a variety of plants here so it is less formal,” says Retha. “There are trees for shade, spinach and herbs for the kitchen, potted miniature roses, waterwise succulents that need little attention and bulbs that come up during the year and add colour.”
gardens
plant of the month
Square up!
Salt bush can easily be clipped into almost any shape. Follow Retha Swart’s lead and create a neat table-like block. By Marié Esterhuyse • Photographs Francois Oberholster
W
ith its dainty silver-grey foliage, salt bush is versatile, waterwise and easy to grow. You can use it as a hedge, as a topiary or even as a groundcover in wilder parts of your garden. The grey leaves contrast beautifully with other colours in the garden and make a lovely focal point when clipped into shapes. Salt bush grows quickly and a creative pruner will soon be able to craft it into the desired shape. For a hedge, plant the shrubs about 30cm apart and cut back from an early age to ensure that the plant also grows densely at the bottom. Over time, and with regular pruning, it will form a thick hedge. This plant is drought-resistant and grows well in coastal gardens, hence the name salt bush. Plant it in well-drained soil and keep it moist until established. Thereafter, it requires little water. Salt bush is also fire-retardant, which makes it useful in veld gardens.
Here’s how...
106 home Febuary 2020
Martie de Wet of Fresco Landscaping, who laid out Retha’s garden, says it’s easy to prune salt bushes into neat ‘tables’. She started with plants in 4kg containers and about 20cm tall. “Salt bush was the ideal plant for this shape,” she explains. “Plant your salt bush shrubs in a zigzag pattern, about 30–40cm apart. From the get-go, regularly trim the new growth back by about 2cm so that it forms a bush that grows sideways and becomes dense. You don’t want long twigs but rather plants that expand sideways. “Once the plants touch each other, you can start pruning them as a unit and no longer as individual plants. Use a length of rope across the top of the plants to make sure you cut straight along the horizontal. The more you prune, the more beautiful the effect,” she says. “And be patient. It takes a season or two to form a dense table like this. Prune the table Plant guide regularly; the plants will show you when this Common name Salt bush should be done. Give them liquid fertiliser such Botanical name as Nitrosol or Seagro every month if you want Rhagodia hastata syn. them to grow quickly.” Einadia hastata Full sun Sources Waterwise Gardening with Keith Kirsten by Keith Kirsten; pza.sanbi.org; lifeisagarden.co.za; thegardener.co.za Moderately CONTACT frost-resistant Fresco Landscaping dewetmartie@gmail.com Evergreen Wind-resistant
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1
MONTHLY CALENDAR
ARI E AG DINSDA
MAANDAG
FEB MAAND
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The diary provides a month-a make a note of all your important dates for
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TIPS AND ADVICE Pluk vir
die pot!
Only R155 arket
Rosa Tradescant’
Roosbottels van Rosa soulieana ‘Coral Reef’
Boomdahlia (Dahlia imperiali
Yslandse papawer Blom laatw nter en vroeglente in skakerings van hoofsaakl k oranje geel en wit
Freesia Heerl ke geur Plant bo le in die herfs
Vinkel Meerjar ge kr
Koringblommetjie
Saad van die amberbo om (Liquidambar styrac flua)
WƌĂŐƟŐ ǀŝƌ ƉůƵŬ ,Ğƚ pers w t pienk of blou blomme
Scabiosa ochroleuca
Eryngium yuccifoli um se sade
Klein en fyn en net die ding v r voor n ’n bedding
K imop (Clematis brachiata) se saad en blomme
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Groei goed onder bladwisselende bome en begin n die w nter blom Plant bolle in die herfs
Fuchsia magellan ica Spoorsalie (Plectranthus fruticosus ‘Liana’)
Bessies van die Boston klimop (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
Roosbottels
Ammi visnaga
Dipsacus fullonum
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Krismisroos (Hydrangea macroph ylla)
Pioenroos (Paeonia)
For those with green fingers, the seasonal gardening tasks will be invaluable – from a handy rose guide to a veggie planting calendar, pruning advice for autumn and mulching tips for summer.
3
BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS
Sanguisorba offic na is ‘Rubra’ Skarn erp ant (Physostegia virg niana)
What a bargain!
Kamelia (Camellia sasa
Helenium
Fra (Plumeri
The diary contains more than 100 of the most gorgeous garden photos that have appeared in Home. A sight to behold!
Clivias, ferns and winterflowering orchids are planted in the shade garden.
108 home February 2020
small garden
WHO LIVES HERE? Bernice and Pierre van der Merwe and Doc the Jack Russell WHERE Constantia, Cape Town SIZE OF GARDEN 145m² TYPE OF SOIL Rich and fertile
Think big! In this tree-filled garden, fairies feel right at home.
By Marié Esterhuyse • Photographs Francois Oberholster
small garden
I
n a neighbourhood that once formed part of Groot Constantia Estate, Bernice van der Merwe has proven that limited garden space doesn’t have to hold you back. “Our garden is now two and a half years old. When we moved here, we renovated our townhouse and gave the garden a facelift at the same time,” says Bernice. “I approached garden designer Margot van der Westhuizen for help. All I did was explain the look that I wanted and which plants were my favourites – the rest was Margot’s handiwork.” The garden was created from virtually nothing and the backyard where the Van der Merwe family likes to relax and unwind is now a lush haven. It is a rectangular strip that originally sloped upwards from the house to the rear boundary wall. They levelled most of the surface from the stoep towards the back to create a lawn and created a new braai patio on the upper level against the boundary wall, with steps connecting the two levels. To prevent the soil in the sloping beds on either side of the steps from washing away, Margot built retaining walls with wooden poles. The braai patio is cool and shaded. Here, cement pavers were used for the floor surface and low beds have also been demarcated with wooden poles. In this part of the garden, Margot planted shade-loving plants such as clivia, Plectranthus and a variety of ferns. This is also where Bernice grows all her potted orchids.
Bernice keeps her potted herbs on the stoep so she has easy access to them from the house.
The many trees in Bernice’s garden ensure plenty of bird visitors; she has provided feeding stations for them, as well as birdbaths and a bottle of sugar water for the sunbirds (opposite). Silky the fairy
An extension of the house On either side of the lawn, annuals and perennials provide colour and fragrance alongside Australian brush cherry hedges. Because Bernice laid out her garden at the height of the 2017 drought, she and Margot mostly chose indigenous and waterwise plants, with favourites such as foxglove, star jasmine and delphinium, which need more water, in-between. Bernice uses the complex borehole water twice a week; she also uses grey water and the permitted amount of municipal water to irrigate the garden. In winter, this area behind Table Mountain receives sufficient rain. Bernice is particularly fond of garden ornaments. “My garden fairy has been with me for 25 years. When our two sons were small, they were crazy about Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree books and believed
that Silky the fairy lived in our previous (much larger) garden. Today, she’s still with us – even though the boys are out of the house! “My garden is like an extension of our townhouse. I’m creative and love making my space look pretty. Out here I can express myself and be at peace with my Creator.” Although Bernice’s garden is small, she has plenty of favourites, with orchids at the top of the list. “I try to attend every possible orchid show. I have about 10 orchids in the shade by the braai patio. Over the years, I’ve had to give some of them away because I’ve run out of space! In some flowering seasons, my Cymbidium orchids bear as many as 45 blooms each. They are just too beautiful for words!” >>
My granny’s beautiful garden in the Little Karoo fascinated me as a child. – Bernice Bernice covers polystyrene balls with water-based glue, rolls them in dried rose petals, lavender seed, moss and even crushed seashells and suspends them from fishing line on the pergola, along with hanging baskets and kokedamas.
The stoep, with its view of the garden, is a favourite spot in which to entertain. February 2020
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Rock roses (Echeveria) and other succulents thrive on a sunny shelf on the stoep.
Bernice
[ GARDEN PLAN ]
Downsizing tips
1 Shade garden with clivia, plectranthus and ferns 2 Wooden poles 3 Mixed borders 4 Australian brush cherry hedges 5 Lemon trees 6 Structures with star jasmine
1 2
Braai patio 3
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Searsia crenata topiary balls
Sketch Out of the Blue (outoftheblue.co.za)
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Lawn
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Stoep
112 home February 2020
Although Bernice used to have a garden of 2 000m², she quickly learned what was important in a small garden. Here’s her advice: • Create the illusion of space by dividing a small garden into different areas. We have the stoep next to the house where we love to sit or entertain guests, then there’s the lawn with symmetrical beds on either side – and the third section, which is the raised braai patio. • Use a minimalist palette. Too much colour can make a garden seem smaller. I try to stick to blue, purple and white. • Think big! Knee-high and medium-sized annuals and perennials such as wild irises, agapanthus, delphiniums and foxgloves, look lovely in a small space. Grow smaller plants such as pansies and Erigeron in the front. • Use pots, especially on a stoep. This extends your planting area. And it’s not necessary to use small pots in a small garden – larger pots remain moist for longer and form more of a focal point. Succulents need little water and can be grown in smaller pots. • Plants need regular food. I apply Atlantic Fertiliser Bio Ganic All Purpose to the beds and 2:3:2 to the lawn monthly. The pot plants get Nitrosol or Seagro every three weeks.
[ BERNICE’S FAVOURITES ] Orchids, especially Cymbidiums Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) Lavender (Lavandula spp.) Dwarf agapanthus Clivia miniata Common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica) Ivy (Hedera helix) Dune crowberry (Searsia crenata) and Ficus nitida for topiaries
Wooden poles have been used to create raised beds in the shade garden.
plant of the month
gardens
Plant guide Common name Dune crowberry Botanical name Searsia crenata Full sun to semi-shade Moderately frost-resistant Waterwise Wind-resistant Evergreen Indigenous
Amazeballs! Bernice uses an indigenous shrub to create round focal points in her garden.
By Marié Esterhuyse Photographs Francois Oberholster
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ith its glossy green foliage, indigenous dune crowberry provides a wonderful display all year round. Although it’s regarded as a small tree or large shrub, you can control this plant’s height and shape very well by pruning it. Plant it in a pot or directly into the soil and prune it into a ball shape as Bernice did for an eye-catching focal point. Provided it is planted in well-drained soil in a sunny spot, it will reward you with good growth and soon form a dense ball. Dune crowberry occurs naturally along the Cape Peninsula coast up to southern KwaZulu-Natal. It’s a hardy plant that grows quickly and needs little water and it likes sandy soil, so it’s ideal for coastal gardens. But the plant also has other benefits: it can be used to stabilise sandy soils and is an excellent hedge plant that can serve as a windbreak. In addition, it makes a lovely bonsai. Definitely a plant with many uses! Sources Gardening with Keith Kirsten by Keith Kirsten; pza.sanbi.org; lifeisagarden.co.za; thegardener.co.za CONTACT Margot van der Westhuizen 082 776 4149, mwgardens.co.za
February 2020
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By JohanĂŠ Neilson â&#x20AC;˘ Photographs Francois Oberholster
Fruit smoothies Recipe on page 121.
From the
freezer Summer veggies and fruit are now available in bulk at special prices; buy and freeze the excess so you can make these delicious dishes when needed.
freeze for later
food
Plum and berry compote Recipe on page 121.
February 2020
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Freezing tips Many vegetables and fruits – including tomatoes, pumpkin, berries and stone fruit – can be frozen raw. Here’s how: • Freeze the fruit in portion sizes that match your family’s eating habits and write the raw weight plus the date on which you freeze it on the freezer tub to ensure you use the oldest food first. • Rather use containers for freezing instead of plastic bags that have to be thrown away after one use. • Fruit such as apples, bananas and stone fruits may discolour if exposed to light for too long while you’re pitting and slicing. Sprinkle with lemon juice and work quickly!
ALWAYS DEPENDABLE TOMATOES Pork shoulder Bolognese Instead of mince I use pork shoulder, one of my favourite cuts for melt-in-the-mouth pulled meat, in a versatile Bolognesestyle tomato sauce that can be served in many ways. The oven does all the hard work; you can just serve and enjoy. Serves 8 with pasta • Preparation time: 30 minutes • Cooking time: about 3½ hours • Oven temperature: 160°C • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
125ml olive oil 1.5kg pork shoulder, skin removed 500g bacon bits 1 onion, chopped 1 carrot, peeled and chopped 8 whole frozen plum tomatoes (thawed) 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 250ml quality red wine 60ml tomato paste 15ml sugar 250ml stock 4 sprigs thyme 2 bay leaves 125ml cream (optional) salt and pepper to taste
1 Heat the oil and fry the pork until golden-brown all over. This step is optional but I believe it improves the flavour. 2 Remove the pork from the pan and fry the bacon in the same oil until browned. Stir in the onion and carrot and fry until glossy. 3 Preheat the oven. Cut a cross in the tomatoes and peel them. Stir the garlic and peeled tomatoes into the bacon and vegetables in the pan and heat. Stir in the wine and cook for 5 minutes. 4 Put the pork back into the pan, add the tomato paste, sugar, stock, thyme and bay leaves, then cover and bake in the oven for about 3 hours.
5 Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and let the meat rest for about 15 minutes. Reduce the sauce (with or without the cream) until thick. Pull the meat with two forks and remove the bone. Mix the meat through the sauce, season and serve with Parmesan and fresh basil over pasta. Or use as the meat layer in lasagne, or as a topping for a sumptuous baked potato. Tip A large cut of meat on the bone needs longer in the oven. If time is short, ask your butcher to debone it and cut the meat into smaller pieces before you brown it; then follow the recipe as above and reduce the cooking time by 1 hour.
freeze for later
food
Tomato rice I sometimes serve this rice as a meal on its own. Even without the chorizo and feta it makes a delicious side dish for a braai or with roast chicken. Serves 4 as a side dish • Preparation time: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 25 minutes • • • • • • • • •
30ml olive oil 1 chorizo sausage, chopped 1 small onion, chopped 250ml jasmine rice about 1L stock 300g frozen cherry tomatoes pinch each of salt and pepper 1 round feta micro basil
1 Heat the oil and fry the chopped chorizo until crispy. Remove the meat from the pan, reserving the fragrant oil. Now fry the onion slowly until glossy, keeping the heat low so that the onion doesn’t start to brown before it softens properly. Stir in the rice and fry until all the grains are nicely toasted. 2 Heat the stock and tomatoes in a pot and boil (with the lid on) until the tomatoes start to burst. Once the tomatoes are defrosted, mash them lightly with a potato masher.
3 Stir the rice and onion mixture into the stock in the pot, bring to the boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10–15 minutes (check the rice packet for the correct cooking time and amount of cooking liquid needed). 4 Remove the pot of cooked rice from the heat, cover tightly and let it stand for a further 5–10 minutes. 5 Stir in the crispy chorizo and crumble the feta over. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve with a sprinkling of fresh herbs. >>
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food
freeze for later
Cooking in a traditional tagine pot is not essential but do make sure you use all the aromatic ingredients!
PUMPKIN AND BUTTERNUT Lamb tagine with tomatoes and butternut Don’t be put off by the word ‘tagine’ – it’s just a lamb stew with a Moroccan twist. Serves 6 • Preparation time: 1 hour • Cooking time: 2½ hours • Oven temperature: 160°C • 12 dried peaches • 250ml strong rooibos tea, hot • 1.5kg sliced lamb neck • 1 cinnamon stick, broken into chunks • 10ml each ground cumin and coriander • 5ml turmeric • 15ml paprika • 45ml olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 4 cloves garlic, chopped • 30ml tomato paste • 250ml beef stock • 8 whole frozen tomatoes (thawed) • 375ml butternut or pumpkin cubes (thawed) • 15ml honey • fresh coriander, to garnish
1 Pour the hot tea over the peaches and set aside. Rub the lamb with the spices and oil (wear gloves as turmeric stains). If you have time, marinate the meat for an hour or two. 2 Preheat the oven. Heat an ovenproof pot and fry the lamb until well browned. Add an extra dash of oil if necessary. 3 Stir in the onions and sauté for a few minutes with the meat. Add the garlic, tomato paste, stock, dried fruit and rooibos to the meat and stir. 4 Using a sharp knife, cut a cross in each frozen tomato and peel them. Add the flesh
to the pot, cover and bake for 1½ hours. 5 Take the pot out of the oven and remove the lid. Mash the tomatoes lightly with a fork and baste the meat with the sauce. Add the pumpkin, drizzle with the honey and season to taste with salt and pepper. Increase the oven temperature to 180°C and bake open for another 45 minutes to an hour or until the pumpkin is cooked and tender. 6 Serve the tagine with a sprinkling of fresh coriander and steamed couscous mixed with toasted almonds, lemon zest and mint leaves – the nuts add great texture!
Butternut and chocolate loaf This loaf makes a delicious teatime treat.
Makes 1 long or two short loaves • Preparation time: 30 minutes Baking time: 1 hour • Oven temperature: 180°C • 500g butternut or pumpkin cubes (raw weight before it was frozen), thawed • 180g butter, softened • about 300g (375ml) sugar • 2 eggs
Psst! The cooked loaf can be frozen for up to two months and makes the most wonderful toast.
Curried pumpkin fritters
This alternative to a traditional sweet pumpkin fritter is a great starter or side dish. Makes about 12 fritters • Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes
Accessories Le Creuset (lecreuset.com)
• • • • • • •
2 egg whites, whisked 375ml cooked pumpkin purée, thawed 5ml curry powder 70g (125ml) self-raising flour a pinch each of salt and pepper oil and butter for frying 2 spring onions, chopped
1 Beat the egg whites and pumpkin together until well combined. Stir in the curry powder, flour, salt and pepper, and mix to a smooth batter. 2 Heat a generous splash of oil and a knob of butter together in a saucepan over moderate heat until hot. Now drop a few spoonfuls of the batter into the oil and fry until goldenbrown. Turn over and fry the other side until brown. Keep the heat moderate so that the fritters don’t burn before they are cooked through. 3 Remove the fritters and repeat until all the batter is used up. Sprinkle the spring onions on top and serve with chutney. >>
• 80g (1 slab) dark chocolate, chopped • 280g (500ml) flour • a pinch of salt • 3ml baking powder • 5ml bicarbonate of soda • 10ml cinnamon
1 Place the butternut or pumpkin in a saucepan, cover with water and boil until tender. Drain and put the cooked pumpkin back on the stove. Heat and stir the pumpkin so that any excess water can boil away. This ensures that the purée won’t be too watery. Mash and set aside to cool. 2 Preheat the oven. Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light in colour. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the pumpkin purée and chocolate chips and sift the dry ingredients on top of the mixture in the bowl. Using a spatula, mix together in a folding action to form a batter. 3 Line a loaf pan with baking paper and grease with non-stick cooking spray. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, level out the top and bake in the centre of the oven for about 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean from the middle of the loaf. Depending on the moisture content of the pumpkin in the batter, the loaf may need another 5–10 minutes of baking. Turn the cooked loaf out onto a wire rack and cool.
Apricot jam
MAKE MAGIC WITH STONE FRUIT Peach crumble The soft sweet-tart fruit contrasts wonderfully with the crispy crumble. Topped with a dollop of cream, ice cream, custard or yoghurt, this pudding hits all the right notes! Serves 4 Preparation time: 10 minutes Baking time: 45 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C • 60ml firm butter (not rock-hard) • 60ml self-raising flour • 60ml almond flakes • a pinch of cinnamon • 60ml + 15ml brown sugar • about 300ml frozen sliced peaches • a teaspoon of rum (optional) 1 Preheat the oven. Place the butter, flour, almonds, cinnamon and the 60ml brown sugar in a food processor and pulse until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. You can also rub the ingredients with your fingertips if you don’t feel like dirtying your appliance. 2 Place the frozen peaches in a 16cm ovenproof dish, sprinkle with the 15ml sugar and the rum. Then sprinkle the crumbs on top, press down lightly to firm and bake in the centre of the oven for 40 minutes or until golden-brown. Tip Small or individual servings of the pudding work better than one big tart as this saucy dessert looks a bit messy when dished up.
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Apricot jam I prefer to cook only small quantities of jam at a time and use it all up before making more. For this purpose, I freeze 1kg packets of raw pitted fruit, ready to use. Because I consume the jam quickly and don’t store it for months, I use less sugar. Makes 4 medium-sized pots Preparation time: 45 minutes, plus overnight Cooking time: about 30 minutes
Strawberry watercolour Hannes Koegelenberg
• 1kg pitted apricots, frozen (the weight of the fruit before it is frozen) • 800g white sugar • 2 lemons 1 Start the night before. Arrange a layer of frozen apricots with the pip hollow facing upwards in a pan and sprinkle a layer of sugar over. Repeat until all the fruit and sugar is used up. It is sometimes difficult if the fruit has frozen together – I cheat by putting it all in the pot at once and then stirring later as the fruit thaws. Squeeze the juice from the lemons and add to the pot. Lemon pips contain pectin that helps the jam to set so I usually throw in about 5 lemon pips and scoop them out later with the foam before I bottle the jam. Leave the fruit and sugar to stand overnight. 2 The next day, place the saucepan with the apricots over moderate heat on the stove and stir until all the sugar has dissolved. The jam must not boil until all the sugar has dissolved, otherwise it will become gritty. In the meantime, put a saucer in the fridge to get cold for testing the jam later. 3 Increase the heat once all the sugar has dissolved and boil the jam fairly rapidly for about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and skim off any foam that forms on the surface with a spoon and discard. 4 After 25 minutes you can start to test whether the jam is ready to bottle: remove the chilled saucer from the fridge and place a teaspoon of jam on it. Press the jam with your finger; if the surface forms wrinkles, the jam is ready. Bottle the hot jam in sterilised jars and seal immediately.
Fruit smoothies Quantities for smoothies are a personal choice – feel free to adapt the recipe to your liking. Fruit such as mango and banana freeze well and add a delicious creamy texture to these drinks, while berries add a
sweet-tart flavour. Experiment with different combinations of fruit and flavours, such as ginger and peanut butter, until you find your winning recipe. Makes 2 large servings Preparation time: 10 minutes • 2 cups frozen fruit cubes (we used mango and blueberries) • 1 chopped frozen banana • 250ml plain yoghurt • 15ml chia seeds, soaked in 60ml boiling water until swollen • milk, coconut milk or coconut water to adjust the consistency • honey to taste Put all the ingredients except the milk in a juicer and pulse until smooth. Dilute if necessary with milk and sweeten to taste with honey.
[ HAVEN’T HEARD OF CHIA? ] Chia looks like poppy seeds and because this super food is rich in fibre, it makes you feel satisfied for longer. Eat the seeds raw or soak them in milk or water – they will swell to form a gel that makes them more digestible. Chia can be used like sago to thicken soups and stews.
Plum and berry compote A compote is simply a sweet sauce made from fresh or frozen fruit and sugar cooked rapidly. It is delicious with ice cream, or add a few spoonfuls over a bowl of Greek yoghurt, French toast or cheesecake. A compote doesn’t contain as much sugar as jam and is not intended for bottling or keeping for long. Store it in the fridge and eat within 1 week. Makes about 500ml Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes • 250ml frozen sliced plums (no pips) • 125ml frozen berries (we used blueberries and raspberries) • 80ml castor sugar, or to taste • a pinch of salt • 15ml balsamic vinegar 1 Mix the frozen fruit, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan and heat gently.
Because the fruit is frozen, it will take some time before there is enough moisture to prevent the sugar from burning. 2 Once the fruit starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. You can blend with a stick blender or potato masher to break up the fruit to get a smoother texture, and even push through a sieve if you don’t want any seeds or peels, but I prefer it chunky. 3 Remove from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar. Cool. Tips • The balsamic vinegar complements this fruit mixture. You can substitute it with orange juice, freshly grated ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, lemon or fresh herbs to complement the fruit you use. • We served the compote in meringue nests with ice cream – an easy Eton mess. Keep the meringue nests as is or break into chunks.
Yorkshire puddings, ROAST BEEF AND GRAVY A traditional feast – and everybody’s favourite! By Johané Neilson • Photographs Francois Oberholster
Yorkshire puddings 1 Whisk 2 eggs and 150ml milk together until frothy. Add 112g (200ml) sifted flour, a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper, and beat to form a smooth batter. Allow to stand for 30 minutes. 2 Pour a little vegetable oil into each of the cavities of a standard-sized muffin pan and heat in a preheated oven at 200°C for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and quickly divide the batter between the prepared cavities. Be careful, the batter hitting the oil can sizzle and splash. 3 Put the pan back in the oven and bake for 20 minutes – no peeking! The Yorkshire puddings should be risen and puffy with a lovely cavity in the middle for holding gravy.
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The roast Rub a 1.2kg trimmed and frenched (the term for bones clean of meat) beef rib roast all over with 15ml Dijon mustard, salt and freshly ground pepper. Make sure the roast is at room temperature and not fridge-cold. Heat about 30ml oil in an ovenproof pan and sear the beef all over to get a golden-brown crust. Add 12 peeled baby onions, a couple of sprigs of rosemary and 125ml water to the pan and roast in a preheated oven at 200˚C for approximately 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to 180˚C and roast for another hour. Rest the meat in a warm spot for 15–30 minutes before carving. A beef rib roast is best served blushing but if you prefer it well done, roast until it’s cooked the way you like it.
Gravy To make a simple gravy, roast a tray of beef bones under a preheated grill until golden-brown and caramelised. Chop 1 large onion, 2 carrots and 2 sticks of celery (this mixture is called a mirepoix in French cooking) and sauté in 15ml oil and 15ml butter until soft and starting to colour. Add 30ml flour and fry while stirring for 2 minutes until lightly browned. This is called making a roux. Whisk in about 1L of good quality stock until smooth. Add this to the bones in the oven tray, cover with foil and bake for about an hour at 180°C for flavour to develop. Alternatively, put the sauce and bones in a large casserole and simmer on the stove.
Finishing touches While the roast is resting, deglaze the roasting dish by adding 125ml white wine or stock to the pan and scraping the bottom to loosen any delicious brown bits left over from cooking. Retain the vegetables to serve with the roast (we added fried bacon and mushrooms to the onions) and add the juices to the gravy.
Taste the gravy and adjust the seasoning. At this point, you can enrich the sauce with cream if you like. Strain the velvety sauce and get ready to serve!
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We’ve got supper sorted! Four laid-back family meals.
By Johané Neilson • Photographs Francois Oberholster
Baby marrow, mushroom and basil pasta
Under R95 • Makes 4 servings • Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C • • • • •
4 large brown mushrooms about 30ml garlic butter 300g farfalle pasta 200g baby marrows, sliced 60ml mascarpone
• zest of 1 lemon, or to taste • a handful fresh basil leaves • about 15ml truffle-flavoured olive oil
1 Preheat the oven. Place the mushrooms in an ovenproof dish, side by side, and dot each one with some butter. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the mushrooms are cooked and tender. 2 Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. 3 Heat a griddle pan and fry the sliced baby marrow until it has char lines. You can also use a regular pan or bake the baby marrows with the mushrooms, but using a griddle pan gives the pasta a great smoky flavour. 4 Once the pasta is done, drain and mix immediately with the mushroom pan juices. Stir in the baby marrows and mascarpone (the heat of the pasta should melt the cheese). Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon zest and sprinkle the basil over. Drizzle with the truffle oil and serve each plate of pasta with a large mushroom.
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Chicken curry
Under R130 • Makes 4 generous servings Preparation time: 15 minutes • Cooking time: 40 minutes • 4 potatoes, skin on and cubed • 1 chicken braai pack (at least 6 pieces) • 30ml olive oil • 15ml mild curry powder • 1 small onion, chopped • 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 knob ginger, peeled and grated • 125ml chicken stock • 30ml chutney • 15ml apricot jam • rice and fresh coriander, to serve
1 Parboil the potatoes in salted water. Drain and set aside. 2 Make several deep incisions in the two chicken breasts and one through the skin of the thigh pieces. Heat the oil in a large pan (with a lid) and fry the chicken until goldenbrown all over. Season to taste with salt and pepper and add the curry powder, onion, garlic and ginger. Cook for a few minutes until fragrant. 3 Stir in the stock, chutney and jam, as well as the parboiled potatoes; put the lid on the pan and simmer for 25–30 minutes or until the chicken and potatoes are done. Serve with rice and fresh coriander.
quick food
Hake with sweet potato and tomato Under R160 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • Oven temperature: 220°C
Accessories Le Creuset (lecreuset.co.za)
• 1 long, thin orange sweet potato, thinly sliced • 30ml butter and olive oil • 500g hake fillets • 5 peppadews, chopped
• ½ red onion, chopped • a handful cherry tomatoes, preferably stems on • 1 round feta, crumbled • lime wedges and basil, to serve
1 Preheat the oven. Mix the sliced sweet potato with the butter and oil and spread in a single layer in a deep baking tray. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the slices are soft. 2 Preheat the oven grill. Move the cooked sweet potato slightly to the side and place the fish in the baking tray so that it is surrounded by sweet potato. Mix the peppadews, onion, tomatoes and feta and sprinkle over the fish. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 3 Place the pan directly under the oven grill until the fish is cooked and the topping is nicely grilled. Thin cuts of fish will cook in 5–10 minutes; turn thicker pieces over to grill a bit more if necessary. Once the fish flakes easily, it is ready to serve with the lime and basil. Enjoy it with fresh bread to mop up all the delicious pan juices.
Lentil salad with butternut and smoked pork Under R120 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 25 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C • 200g butternut cubes (2 x 2cm) • 1 small cauliflower cut into 1cm-thick slices • 125ml olive oil • 5ml sumac (optional) • 3 slices (about 200g) smoked pork neck or bacon, diced
• 5ml each wholegrain mustard and honey • 30ml red wine vinegar • ½ red onion, finely chopped • 2 tins lentils, rinsed and drained • a handful rocket and herb leaves
1 Preheat the oven. Mix the pumpkin and cauliflower with half the oil and sumac, and spread in a single layer on a baking tray. Season with salt and pepper and bake for about 20 minutes. Heat the oven grill and grill the vegetables for a further 5–10 minutes or until done with charred tips. Stir as needed to make sure the vegetables grill to a nice crunch. 2 Heat the remaining oil in a pan and fry the pork until golden-brown. Beat the mustard, honey and vinegar together and add to the cooked pork in the pan. Stir the onion and lentils into the hot pan. 3 Spoon the lentils onto a serving platter, add the cooked vegetables and sprinkle with the herbs. Delicious hot or at room temperature. February 2020
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food & drinks It’s summer! Celebrate the flavours of the season! By Johané Neilson • Photographs supplied
Winning combination!
De Kleine Wijn Köop Kreatuur Die Mounache 2018 combines Mourvèdre (77%) and Grenache, resulting in a blend that’s fruity with aromas of rooibos tea, wildflowers and spice. Traditionally, De Kleine Wijn Köop wines were only sold on allocation and online, but a recent partnership with Morvino Wine Merchants will see them more widely available in key outlets in the Western Cape. Visit dekleinewijnkoop.co.za or call 021 703 3775 for details.
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY Americana-style restaurant and vinyl lounge Calexico at 44 Stanley in Milpark, Johannesburg recently celebrated its 1st birthday. Known for food designed to be shared with family and friends (think tasty nachos, sticky ribs and double-double burgers), they also offer signature cocktails and craft beers as well as a vinyl DJ every Friday night and live music every Saturday from 14:00 – 17:00. Call 011 482 5791 or email info@calexico.co.za to book a table.
FOR THE RUM DIARY
Set the table Add colour to your dining table with a beautiful 45 x 200cm Protea runner (R179.99) and four cork placemats (R149.99) from mrphome.com.
Don Papa (R699, Makro and Norman Goodfellows) is a must-have for every rum-loving connoisseur. The column-distilled molasses-based rum is first aged in different types of sherry casks and then carefully blended. Expect notes of plum, dark chocolate and ripe figs in this velvety tipple. Go on, spoil yourself!
A FOODIE LOVE LETTER Join TV personality Lorna Maseko on a personal food journey in Celebrate with Lorna Maseko (R360, Human&Rousseau). She shares some of her fondest memories, including how she fell in love with Asian food on a trip to Hong Kong; how she participated in MasterChef South Africa and showcased her mom’s chicken dishes; how travelling exposed her to so many different food cultures; and how traditional dishes can be recreated with a bit of imagination. Check it out!
IN FULL BLOOM Handcrafted by England’s oldest gin distillers, Bloom London Dry Gin (R499, selected retailers nationwide) is a light floral gin inspired by nature and boasting aromas of chamomile, honeysuckle and pomelo. Enjoy with premium tonic water and garnish with a strawberry for a summer favourite.
Perfect 10 The 2019 Gabriëlskloof Rosebud Rosé (R80, cellar door) is the 10th release of this everyday favourite. The Provencal-style rosé – blended from equal amounts of Syrah and Viognier grapes – is light and dry. Order online at gabrielskloof.co.za.
SAY (CREAM) CHEESE! Good news: much-loved, and previously imported, French cheese products The Laughing Cow and Kiri Cream Cheese are now made in George on the Garden Route. The Kiri Cream Cheese tubs (200g) are perfect for cheesecake swirl brownies and frosting or served on waffles with crushed berries!
BEST OF THE BEST Ooh la la Confectionary in Abbotsford, Jo’burg recently won a whopping 16 awards at the 2019 UK Great Taste Awards, a prestigious annual competition held in London by the Guild of Fine Food. They walked away with the highest-ranked award for nougat, which means they can now officially claim to have the best nougat in the world! Visit oohlalaconfectionary.com.
Pop it in your pocket
The stainless steel Opinel Traditional pocket knife (R339, yuppiechef.com) ensures that you’re always prepared at picnics!
What’s in the box?
The 3L bag-in-a-box 2019 Cape Fynbos Chenin Blanc is made from old vine Chenin Blanc grapes harvested from unirrigated bush vines in the Voor Paardeberg and Swartland areas. The wine promises a creamy mouth feel and long finish and is now available for R129.99 at Checkers and Checkers LiquorShop outlets countrywide.
We love this!
The box boasts more than 17 botanical sketches by artist Tertia du Toit. February 2020
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SHOP WINDOW
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and Monday and
Ne-e-e-ext Monday It’s only February and the year has taken flight again, I hear a woman in the supermarket tell her friend. “You’re telling me,” her friend sighs. “I was still planning my New Year’s resolutions.” She sounds exhausted, like someone who drags trains around for a living. Her companion nods. “Resolutions, my foot! My Jacob has the temerity to make them on my behalf. Went and got me a gym card for Christmas!” “Ver-ry romantic,” the train-dragger smiles wearily. “At least it’s not a ladder. Are you going to use it?” “I guess I should, heaven knows. My tummy is slowly invading my rib cage. And January has come and gone and I’ve been nowhere near a gym. I keep saying, Monday; I’ll start on Monday. But you know how it is.” I nod along, even though I’m not part of the conversation. You see, I have lots of those “Mondays” myself, a whole cupboard full. Row upon row they are stuck in there, like patient believers in a never-ending sermon. The front rows are occupied by the newly converted, also known as the Come-Monday-Novices. They’re a pious bunch of less-red-meat-intentionists, more-mindfulness-postulants, Facebook-abolitionists and grow-your-own-vegetable-fantasists. Awfully trendy, they are. Très chic. Sunglasses artfully crafted from upcycled flip-flops and socks woven from hemp. Behind them there’s a delegation of veterans under the seasoned guidance of Master Next Monday. No cool clothing here, alas. And more than a whiff of old mothballs and mould. Next up is a cluster of even more ancient old geezers in floppy hats and hand-crocheted vests. They’re the Uber Veterans, calling themselves the Ne-e-e-ext Monday Minstrels because they have their own anthem, which they sing in duet: Tenors: “What are we?” Basses: “We are fat and lazy.” Tenors: “When do we stop?” Basses: “Monday.” Tenors: “Tomorrow is Monday.” Basses: “Ne-e-e-ext Monday.” You might well ask what’s so special about a Monday. And I could verily explain that it has everything to do with logic. And psychology.
There is something truly inspiring about a beginning that begins at the beginning. Something empowering. Tuesday, on the contrary, is kind of second best, isn’t it? As for Wednesday... It’s just too much of a middle-mushy day. Come Thursday, you’re a nervous wreck on account of the mountains you still have to move by Friday. And Friday, of course, is for winding things down and preparing for the weekend. No sane human being would consider a last day as a start day, so to speak. No one. The Monday-rule naturally implies that you start with a clean slate. Say, for instance, you embark on a new no-more-sweets plan. This means that all your remaining supplies must be consumed by Sunday night. Finish and klaar. You will search and devour every last treat in its hidey-hole – even the secret stash in the sock drawers. It’s all part of the sacrificial cleansing ritual. And if there’s an unfortunate slip-up in the course of clean-slate-Monday – maybe a piece of birthday cake ambushes you at the office at 10am – then the game is immediately cancelled and you’re only allowed to start again Next Monday. But in case there’s a picnic planned for that day, it naturally becomes Ne-e-e-ext Monday. Be mindful of the fact that, sadly enough, there are just four Mondays in a month. If you’re using one Next Monday and one Ne-e-e-ext Monday each, your supply of Come-Mondays will be severely limited. Soon you’ll find yourself on a slippery slope towards the dreaded Next Month. But relax. February is but a pup, so you’re good for another Next Monday or two. Should there be circumstances beyond your control, however, you should brace yourself for your first Next Month of the year (stay strong, it happens in the best of families). And suppose you run out of Mondays in March as well, you will of course arrive at your first Next Quarter. Don’t panic. There’s a second Next Quarter from June to September. The last quarter, unfortunately, doesn’t offer that service. It simply has no Next Quarter since you’re already parked at the gates of Next Year. I don’t know about you but to me it all seems perfectly logical. Meanwhile, I’m chomping sweets and sacrificing like mad. I’m on my new no-sweets-plan, you see? Roll on Monday.
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Illustrations Paula Dubois •Translation Annelize Visser
If you want to turn over a new leaf, you start on a Monday, says Karin Brynard. It’s only logical.
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Trap! Dis my huis A mad house VIA 50 strangers under one roof Wednesdays 20:30
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