Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2015 i Home

This was author Deon Meyer’s advice at a writers’ breakfast one morning and when it came to my ed’s letter for this, our French issue, I suddenly understood exactly what he meant. My words dried up – probably because we are slap bang in the middle of two deadlines (our first bonus issue, Home Paint It, will be on-shelf in late April) and my head is simply filled with too many things. So I took Deon’s wise words on board and started writing random thoughts down... I recalled my first visit to France, the blissful start to a holiday that would take me and an old university friend to Spain and back. Such great memories. I also asked friends on Facebook for inspiration. Therese shared a photo of the Eiffel…

Creative corner Add impact to a garden nook by repurposing an old cupboard painted in an authentic French colour such as duck-egg blue. Don’t bother with a weathered paint technique – the elements will soon oblige. Recycle old shutters to frame the setting and add an old watering can and terracotta pots to create a gorgeous outdoor still-life. Clay chic Transform inexpensive clay pots by covering them with trendy paper serviettes. Here’s how: apply one coat of Mod Podge, cover with a serviette and finish with three coats of Mod Podge. It’s that easy! Tip Don’t be alarmed if the serviettes wrinkle when you stick them down – this adds to the rustic look. Serviettes R19.99 and pots R39.99, Mr Price Home Vintage affair If you like collecting antiques, make…

So says Maureen Nel of her dream home built from scratch between Paarl and Franschhoek – an area reminiscent of the French countryside that fits her like a glove. And this philosophy is wholly appropriate for a real estate specialist focusing on the Val de Vie Estate, where she lives. When Maureen decided to leave Gauteng for the Boland 11 years ago, she left behind all her furniture and décor accessories. “I wanted to start again: a brand new career, a new life, fresh colour. I only brought my absolute favourite décor pieces,” she explains. In December 2013, she settled into a new house in the Val de Vie Estate that was designed for her by her long-time architect friend, Charl Groenewald. Her brief to him was to create a…

Ottoman update The ottoman at the foot of the bed was originally the base of an old cupboard. “To this day, I’m still shattered that we gave the cupboard away. If only I’d realised its value back then,” says Dale regretfully. But she certainly made the best of the situation by repainting the feet of the ottoman in Annie Sloan Original, sanding the edges, waxing them with Annie Sloan Clear Wax, and finally re-upholstering it in fabric from Hertex’s Beguile Collection in the colour Linen. Linen cushion covers from R244 each, Mungo Design; vintage crochet throw R999, Woolworths Dale and Ruan have lived in their Kuils River, Cape Town home for the past 20 years and had become so used to their surroundings that they failed to notice how everything…

The challenge Rozitta de Villiers of Cape Town writes I’m expecting twin boys and I’d like to turn our spare bedroom into a nursery, but we’re concerned that it won’t work because of a hand-painted mural that already exists on one of the walls. We don’t want to paint over it; any clever ideas? The solution Germarie and Margaux reply It would be a great pity to paint over such a beautiful wall! We suggest teaming this tranquil scene with a simple black, grey and white palette so you keep the focus on the wall without compromising on a nursery theme. A few pops of colour with bright accessories will add a playful touch. Here’s how: 1 A soft touch Keep the bed linen plain and make sure it has…

On a platter Maggie Visser of Bloemfontein writes My mother gave me two meat platters (medium and large) 16 years ago. The large one has small cracks and the smaller one has a few stains. In addition to the name on the back, there are also handwritten numbers and three impressed stamps. Are they valuable? Shona Robie of Stephan Welz & Co’s ceramic department replies The earthenware platters, transfer-printed with the Morocco Border pattern, were produced by Booths of Church Bank Pottery in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent. The Church Bank Works was built in 1842 and after it had changed hands numerous times, the factory became known as Booths in 1891. It closed in 1948. Not only are the platters printed with the factory mark and painted pattern number, but each body…

Purple Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea’ is a thorny shrub with dark purple leaves that will provide year-round colour and contrast in your garden. But it is in autumn when its leaves change colour that this shrub is at its most beautiful. Purple Japanese barberry grows about 1–1.5m high and works well as a low hedge or focal plant. Although the plant is deciduous, it quickly re-sprouts with dark purple foliage shortly after the leaves have dropped. Cut back older growth in winter and trim the whole shrub if you prefer a smaller bush. This plant likes very cold winters, but will still display beautiful autumn colours in more moderate climates. It doesn’t do well in humid regions such as the KwaZulu-Natal coast or areas that are too dry. There…

Q: I went to the nursery to buy fragrant roses but was very disappointed as those marked as ‘fragrant’, even a rose such as ‘Oklahoma’, had barely any scent at all. Any idea why? The scent that escapes rose blooms is oxidising alcohol. It’s often very fleeting and much depends on the temperature and opening stage of a bloom. In the heat, the scent is gone in minutes; in wind it’s blown away; and in cold weather it doesn’t escape the petals. I know of rose varieties that were entered into international fragrance trials and the breeder found that at 8am his rose had no scent but at 11am it won the prize for the most scented rose. I often pick a bloom, put it in my pocket and only…

Mother’s Day menu Starter Mushroom croque monsieur Main Sunday roast chicken with garlic and sage Reinette’s cooked onion salad (slaphakskeentjies) Oven-roasted vegetables Green beans with anchovy sauce and almonds Savoury apple tart Dessert Frangipani tart with figs and frozen yoghurt Mushroom croque monsieur This dish also works as a meal on its own – just add slices of fresh bread. Makes 4 generous servings Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: about 20 minutes on low heat • 8 large brown mushrooms• 8 slices smoked ham (we used Parma ham) BÉCHAMEL SAUCE • 20ml butter• 20ml flour• 350ml hot milk• 3ml salt• pinch of white pepper• pinch of fine nutmeg• 125ml grated Gruyère cheese 1 Make the béchamel sauce Melt the butter over low heat in a pot on the stove. Add the flour and whisk together for 2 minutes.…

It could happen at any time of the day or night. Pancakes! Any excuse: to thrash out a family problem, to mend a sadness, to gather the troops, to conference, to touch base. My mother would whip up her crêpe mixture and these pancake sessions would manifest with intensity; often she would build a little stockpile by adroitly layering pancake after pancake in a buttered Pyrex dish with a lid set over a simmering pot of water. Sometimes, the rush of pancakes would be so fast and furious, and our appetite for them so capacious, that we would simply line up and take our share straight from the pan. We even had all the pancake paraphernalia: at one point an electric crêpe pan (I was never entirely convinced) and beautiful…

I love asking this question when I’m sitting around a table with new friends and interesting people: what’s your favourite dish? What usually follows is a host of different answers about what people regard as their most delicious treat: a braaibroodjie. Fresh figs from your own garden. Bean stew, tomato bredie. A chop or steak on the braai, snoek on the coals. Obviously, anything cooked over an open fire is delicious for us South Africans. One friend told me – in all seriousness – that the nicest thing ever is instant custard from the carton that you steal from the fridge late at night when no one is around, squirted directly from the box into your mouth. This nocturnal custard-thievery comes from someone who has eaten in the best restaurants…

Outdoor & garden Decorative wall spade with flower pots from Nest Accessories Paris wall clock from Love Home For the bedroom Double floral bed set in gold from Next Kitchen & dining Mini round casserole dish from Maxwell Williams Look out for the red shopping bag alongside products in this issue – they’re all available at spree.co.za/tuishome. And it’s so easy! Find our online shop at spree.co.za/tuishome. Just like your favourite shop in a mall, our online shop is located within spree.co.za. With a simple click of the mouse, you can buy whatever your heart desires! IMPORTANT Delivery is free anywhere in South Africa and you have 30 days to return any item if you're not happy with your purchase.…

Good Food & Wine Show 21–24 May: CTICC The Good Food & Wine Show features international and local celebrity chefs in a super-interactive extravaganza of culinary techniques, equipment and trends. The line-up consists of local radio personalities, comics, poets, actors and performance artists all with a single goal: giving visitors a food thrill. We can’t wait to see Siba Mtongana (pictured right) from Siba’s Table on the Food Network and our own Giggling Gourmet, Jenny Morris, romancing the stove. Visit goodfoodandwineshow.co.za. Grand Designs Live 29–31 May: Coca-Cola Dome, Gauteng Enjoy top brands, designers, expert tips and innovative features that will re-energise your passion for upcycling in your home and garden. Highlights at this year’s jam-packed show include the DIY Build Theatre, Garden Theatre, Chef’s Theatre and even a Tree House.…

The antique linen she’s collected over the years is testimony to her love of all things French – a love which took root somewhere between her Huguenot ancestors (the Marais family of the village Lourmarin) and her passion for collecting. However, the stately Stellenbosch home she shares with her daughter Karla (12) and their Afghan hound Yentl was not quite so elegant when Colette first saw it in 2003. “The house dates from 1936 and the garden was completely overgrown, but I fell in love with the huge old oak trees and the bow windows. It took almost five years to finalise the plans and to do the renovations, which were completed in January 2009.” The house was originally built for a Danish preacher who came to do community work…

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed ± 2 hours Finished size 1 000 (L) x 420 (W) x 750mm (H) Do it yourself for ± R1 080 (excluding paint): legs R480, wood R40, decorative mould R300, screws R10, marble slab R250 Shopping list • 3 000mm piece of 22 x 96mm pine cut to: two lengths of 850mm (long sides) two lengths of 270mm (short sides) eight blocks of 30mm (struts)• 4 curved wooden legs of 750mm• forty 6mm x 40mm chipboard screws• wood glue• Alcolin Acrylic Sealant• decorative mould• wood filler• paint of your choice Tools • cordless drill and 3mm drill bit• pencil• jigsaw• paintbrush• soft cloth Project notes • Ask your local granite stockist for a granite or marble offcut. • Decorative moulds can be made of wood, resin or plaster; we used a resin…

Go island style – and save! Maserame Hlongwane of Johannesburg writes I recently renovated my kitchen and now I’m looking for an island unit for less than R10 000 – I’d be happy with a second-hand piece that I can paint or something similar to Diane van Rhyn’s kitchen island featured on page 71 of your May 2014 issue. Any suggestions? Home’s creative editor, Marian van Wyk, replies It’s very difficult to find cabinetry for less than R10 000, simply because of the craftsmanship necessary to create something similar to the Van Rhyns’ unit. Your most affordable option – and an extremely popular one among Home readers – is to buy a pine timber workbench from a hardware store. Builders (0860 284 533, builders.co.za) stocks the Swartland brand in the…

It’s a dog’s life Harley P Davidson (aka P-Dog), our one-year-old Boston Terrier in his favourite spot. – Kelly Niemandt, Port Elizabeth Ol’ blue eyes Isabella works her magic! – Samantha Joubert, Johannesburg Pretty as a flower Mario strikes the perfect pose among the everlasting flowers. – Lika van Jaarsveld, Villiersdorp Heaven scent Toffee, the new addition to our family, investigates the roses after our morning stroll. – Magda Swart, Eloff Roses are red… Milo shows his appreciation. – Karina Smith, Bellville In the zone KitKat loves a good cat nap. – Mariëtte de Beer, Melkbosstrand Let’s go shopping! Top nosh Deluxe natural pet food range Weruva (available at selected vet shops and nuzzle.co.za from R29 for a 156g tin and R49 for a 400g tin) is now in SA.…

Tasks for May By Kay Montgomery 1 Mother’s Day Perfumed roses are perfect for a Mother’s Day gift. ‘Perfume Passion’ is a hybrid tea rose with pink petals on a white base and a rich scent suitable for a border or container; ‘Garden Queen’ has huge, fragrant deep pink-violet blooms and ‘Sharifa Asma’, named after an Omani princess, is a lovely English rose with a delightful fruity fragrance. And why not surprise your beloved grandmother with a gift of pink ‘My Granny’, deep pink ‘Granny’s Delight’ with its rosette-shaped blooms or cream-apricot ‘Granny Dearest’. 2 Grow plants for a purpose The Fascination of Plants Day (18 May) and World Biodiversity Day (22 May) are all about the importance of plants in conservation. Show your support and grow trees, shrubs and…

Hot spot Patio chair R600, mrphome.com Take note Gardener’s notebook R99, biggiebestwebshop.co.za Hooked Hanging basket hook R200, planbvintage.co.za Wish upon a star Star mini-crate with glass planters R55, biggiebestwebshop.co.za Dig it Lasher hand trowel and fork with long handle R75 each, builders.co.za The next level Pot stand R600, mrphome.com WIN! GREEN READ ONE lucky reader will win a copy of Creative Combinations in Today’s Gardens by Suzette Stephenson and Louise van Rooyen. Creative Combinations (R210, Metz) looks at combinations in four categories: 1) colour 2) shape and form 3) texture 4) the specific environment of the garden and its plants. To enter, SMS the keyword COMBINATIONS followed by your name, email and postal address to 44284 before 31 May 2015 (each SMS costs R1.50). See our competition rules on page…

Pork and bean stew Under R75 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes • 60ml olive oil• 8 thick pork sausages• 1 onion, chopped• 3 celery sticks, chopped• 3 carrots, peeled and chopped• 1 small cabbage, chopped• 125ml white wine• 1 tin small white beans, rinsed and drained• 1 tin chopped tomatoes• 1 sprig each of thyme and rosemary 1 Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the sausages slowly until golden and fragrant. Remove the sausages and fry the vegetables until glossy. Add the wine and cook until reduced. 2 Return the sausages to the pan and add the beans, tomatoes and herbs. Season with salt and pepper and simmer slowly with the lid on for 10 minutes. Chicken livers on pasta Under R95 • Serves 4 Preparation time: 25 minutes •…

Get into gear Three-piece kitchen set R329.99, cottonon.com Ready, steady, cook! Reinée Terreblance-Brand and her husband Deon Brand are the dynamic duo behind Tamatiestraat Cooking School in Stellenbosch (see our feature story on page 106). Their classes are fun, informal and inspirational with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Email info@tamatiestraat.co.za or visit tamatiestraat.co.za to arrange a custom-made cooking class, or join one of their scheduled classes. Everything in its place Three-piece canister set for kitchen essentials R249.95, boardmans.co.za Take note! BBC TV chef and cook book author Rachel Khoo always takes her notebook when she embarks on new culinary adventures from her tiny kitchen in Paris so she can record recipes, ideas, photos and illustrations of the food she loves. Now it’s a cook book! Rachel Khoo’s Kitchen Notebook…

Shop alert After great success as a pop-up shop, Poppi se Shoppi has opened its doors at Heritage Square, Vrede Street in Durbanville. From second-hand furniture to silverware, Poppi will satisfy all your vintage and shabby chic décor desires. Call Lize on 082 339 9166. For stylish tongue-in-cheek décor and gifts, pop in at One Fine Beginning at the Middelburg Mall in Mpumalanga. Passionate about supporting small independent businesses, this beautiful shop is bursting with the finest in SA design. Call 013 244 1307. Watch this space! BUSINESS Tamarillo Designs WHO Lorrae Joachim WHERE Cape Town HER WORK We’ve been watching Lorrae for a while and always spot her at Design Indaba and pop-up fair Kamers. Her latest collection has a distinctly local flavour with its artichoke, grape and beetroot…

Three years ago, Elbeth Travers and her veterinarian husband Frank packed up their home in Pretoria. What they were really after was a change of pace, and that’s what they found in the heart of the Cape Winelands in a French-inspired home that they built to suit their laid-back lifestyle perfectly. For this couple, it’s all about lived-in luxury and creating a space where they can be together as a family – Elbeth and Frank love spending time with their girls, Megan (29) and Leischen (27), and son Walter (16). “Our favourite pastimes are long lazy lunches, laughing, chatting and reading,” says Elbeth. “We also love to cook, making beautiful food and spending time with each other.” Elbeth believes it’s essential to consider your family’s needs when planning your dream…

Q: I’d love a chair like the one on page 95 of your February 2015 issue; where can I get one in Cape Town? – Carin Eygelaar, Bellville A: Frantique (072 439 3933) in Milnerton imports similar chairs or you can buy something similar from Block & Chisel (021 691 0878, blockandchisel.co.za) and have it upholstered in leather. Otherwise, try Farriers (021 761 4767, farriers.co.za) or Interior Concepts (021 886 5114, interiorconcepts.co.za) in Stellenbosch. Q: Can I paint my modern – more plastic – fridge or is it just old traditional fridges like the one on page 96 of your December 2014 issue that can be painted? – Caro Human, Johannesburg A: According to the experts at Annie Sloan paint, you can also paint modern fridges. First give it a…

Tessa Bekker writes What is feline Aids and how can I prevent my cat from getting it? Dr Mats Abatzidis, a member of the South African Veterinary Association, replies Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a viral disease that causes suppression of the immune system, which may limit a cat’s ability to protect itself against secondary infections caused by common bacteria, other viruses, protozoa and fungi. FIV infection occurs worldwide, with prevalence varying by location. FIV is contagious and spreads from cat to cat, typically through biting and fighting, making intact, aggressive male cats that spend time outdoors more susceptible to the disease. The supply of FIV vaccines in SA is erratic – your vet should be able to find out from their supplier if it’s available. Symptoms Early signs of…

Taking care Tersia van Heerden of Boksburg writes My mother received an elephant’s trunk plant (halfmens in Afrikaans) as a gift but we can’t find any information about it on the internet; any advice on how to care for it? JJ replies The genus under which this plant falls is Pachypodium. It likes full sun, well-drained soil and little water. In a chilly area like Boksburg, you’ll have to protect it from the winter cold with a frost cover. These plants also do well in pots. Preserve your white stinkwood Marieta Loubser of Pretoria writes I have a 20-year-old white stinkwood tree that’s lifting the paving in front of my garage. Would it be okay to chop off the thick lateral roots (I think they’re side roots) so I can…

It all began with cuttings that Ingrid de Waal took from a lavender bush she had growing next to her house. Well, to be precise, there were three rows of lavender. Now, 10 years on, her lavender field on the farm Canettevallei outside Stellenbosch is a sea of purple from May to October. These plants are used to make essential oil and honey, and Ingrid also sells fresh and dried flowers. “I adore lavender,” she says. “I wanted to offer tourists something other than the wine we produce. And ever since I worked as a public relations officer at a champagne house in France, these flowers have been my passion.” When Ingrid planted her first lavender bushes 10 years ago, her plan was to make lavender essential oil. But the…

COURSES AND TALKS 9; 16; 23: RAND PARK RIDGE Landscape design Lifestyle College offers a Landscape Design course over three Saturdays at Lifestyle Garden Centre from 09:00–16:00 for R2 500. Call 011 792 5054. 13; 27: CAPE TOWN Talks at Kirstenbosch 13: Kirstenbosch horticulturist Louise Nurrish discusses fynbos and proteas. 27: Geologist Dr John Rogers talks about “The geology of the Western Cape: bedrock and substrate for the flora”. Venue: Sanlam Hall, Gate 2, Kirstenbosch. Time: 10:30. Cost: Entrance to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden (R50 for adults) applies, but the talk is free. Contact Cathy Abbott on 021 465 6440. 17: SANDOWN Grow your own organic vegetables Sought After Seedlings offers an advanced course from R730 per person, including workshop and training materials, a light lunch, tea and coffee. Venue: Inner…

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Nothing beats thyme as a winter tonic and remedy for throat and chest infections. How to grow Likes full sun and ordinary, well-composted garden soil that drains well. Its aromatic leaves keep pests away from cabbages, brinjals, peppers and tomatoes if grown nearby. Use shrubby varieties as low clipped hedges, and groundcovers in-between pavers or to create fragrant pathways. Grows well in pots but needs regular watering and fertilising. Different types Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and lemon thyme (T. X citriodorus) are small, bushy shrubs (30cm high), while the golden, creeping and green thyme and varieties such as ‘Silver Posie’ and ‘Doone Valley’ are groundcovers. Tip Growth slows down in winter; pot up extra plants for overwintering in a sunny, sheltered area so you have…

Trout and cabbage parcels This recipe was inspired by Marita van der Vyver’s book, Winter Food in Provence. I was responsible for the styling – and lucky enough to taste all the delicious food. This recipe was inspired by Marita’s chou farci au saumon. Makes 6–8 cabbage parcels, depending on size Preparation time: 1 hour Cooking time: 20 minutes steaming and 5–10 minutes frying • 350g fresh trout fillets• 125g bacon, chopped• 150g pecorino cheese, grated• 2 egg whites• 150ml crème fraîche or double cream Greek yoghurt• 3–4 leeks, sliced into thin rings• 1 large Savoy cabbage (you can also use ordinary cabbage)• about 100g butter SALSA • ½ red onion, finely chopped• 1 avocado, cut into small cubes• handful of pomegranate seeds• 1 apple, diced• fresh dill, chopped VINAIGRETTE • 15ml Dijon mustard• 15ml honey• 60ml balsamic vinegar• 125ml olive oil 1 Skin the trout fillets…

“When my daughter enrolled at Stellenbosch University, she moved into a flat with a rather depressing kitchen. As the owner of one of South Africa’s leading kitchen manufacturing companies, I knew that I could do a lot more with this small space,” says Silvia Miles of Milestone Kitchens. Silvia gutted the kitchen and made five new units for this small space. The floor units were put in place, the wall unit was hung, and a plumber was contracted to connect the sink. The entire kitchen was ready in a day! Contrary to what many people may think, the Milestone Kitchens look is perfect for small spaces – and affordable enough for student accommodation. “My daughter loves having friends over to share meals with her – the kitchen is now the…