Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Home

an elderly man called for help at my front gate. Not a panicked cry, rather a worried call, like when you’ve made a careless blunder. Such as spilling coffee on your white shirt just before an important meeting. Or putting on one brown sock and one black sock. Or when you realise the kids are drinking the punch from the adults’ bowl with the vodka in it... I steel myself for a far-fetched ‘Christmas tale’. It’s the middle of December, after all. “I’m lost,” he began to explain, slightly embarrassed. “I was on a trip down memory lane but now it’s getting dark very quickly. I was wondering if you could tell me the shortest route to my guesthouse.” Because someone recently called me “unduly cynical” (I maintain that I’m…

JAKARANDA CHILDREN’S HOME LIGHT FESTIVAL 1–31 December: Pretoria Celebrate the festive season with a visit to the annual Jakaranda Children’s Home Light Festival where you can see the houses decorated with thousands of lights. Visitors can look forward to live performances, fun family activities, a Christmas market and much more. Visit jacarandachildren.co.za for ticket information or call 012 800 4700 for details. SPIER LIGHT ART SHOW 8 December – 19 January: Stellenbosch Visit the historic Stellenbosch farm Spier for a dazzling display of light and sound artworks. Eighteen unique pieces will be scattered across the farm and you can explore them all at a leisurely pace. Entrance is free but book a dinner or picnic in advance. Visit spier.co.za or call 021 809 1100. DURBAN BOTANIC GARDENS TRAIL OF LIGHTS 12–30…

The Midas touch When you’re tasked with the design and renovation of a chef’s kitchen, it better be as functional as it is beautiful. This was the nerve-wracking job that designer Kyle Coetzee of House2home took on when Ivor and Roxy Jones decided to revamp their home in Plumstead, Cape Town. Working with warm wood-look vinyl, a combination of greys and matte black touches to add a sleek modern look, Kyle nailed it! Ivor, head chef at Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia, and Roxy already owned the bar stools that resemble the wire cages that encase champagne corks; they added brass touches in the customised cupboard handles, warm yellow light bulbs and a drinks trolley to enhance a glamorous look. “We wanted this space to be a showstopper; it’s small but…

WHO LIVES HERE? Hennie and Jolanda Aggenbach with their daughters Mila (18), Jana (15) and Yanke (8) WHERE Durbanville Christmas Day in the Aggenbach household is a time for reflection. There’s always a fire or two on the go and the festive meal consists of dishes that can easily be prepared in advance. “We’re not focused on gifts; our priority is the atmosphere and being together,” says Jolanda, the hostess and creative mind behind this Christmas gathering. “It is a thanksgiving celebration and there’s nothing out of the ordinary on the table. We simply make each member of the family’s favourite dish.” So it’s no surprise to find items such as ‘Jana’s salted potatoes’ and ‘Yanke’s carrot cake’ on the menu; not to mention ‘Jolanda’s wild coleslaw’! ‘Hennie’s venison fillet…

The problem Moira Strydom of Roodepoort writes We have a home office (it was a double garage in a previous life) but now it’s become a dumping ground for anything that won’t fit in the house. I’d like to repurpose it as a guest room; it has an attached bathroom and I was thinking of bringing in a bed with two bedside tables and a chair or two. I also want to change up the lighting and use blue as an accent colour. What do you think? The solution Jenny Collins of Red Cat Design replies Making the most of this space will definitely add value to your home. Here are some things to consider: FURNITURE If you have the space, buy two three-quarter beds that can be used separately…

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

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 1 to 2 hours Do it yourself for less than R1 500: wood R450, screws R50, galvanised pipes R730, varnish R135, paint R90 You will need SHOPPING LIST • 18mm plywood, cut to the following lengths: four 750 x 50mm (shelf supports) one 750 x 350mm (shelf) two 750 x 100mm (wine bottle rack) one 700 x 50mm (back of wineglass rack) two 132 x 50mm (sides of wineglass rack) one 700 x 150mm (wineglass rack) two 950 x 400mm (top) • galvanised pipes (15mm): six 750mm lengths four 150mm lengths four T-sockets eight flanges • one packet 6mm x 50mm chipboard screws • one packet 8mm x 30mm chipboard screws • one packet 8mm x 40mm coach screws…

Out of the box Decorate wooden boxes in different sizes and position them on top of each other to form the shape of a Christmas tree – they will also make pretty gift boxes! QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 1/10 Skill level 2/10 Time needed 2 hours Do it yourself for R340 (the price of 5 wooden boxes) You will need SHOPPING LIST • masking tape • leftover paint • markers • wine corks • potato TOOLS • artist paintbrushes • knife • star cookie-cutter Get started... Box 1 Mask out lines in various widths with masking tape and paint these in different colours. Remove the masking tape and repeat with more lines. Box 2 Mask out triangles on the side of the box and paint them in different colours.…

Toffee-flavoured Hunter Training Snacks R90/200g, select supermarkets and vet shops. Your pooch will look fabulous in this Christmas Tree headgear (R49.99, mrphome.com). Splash out! The leather Country Road Rupp dog lead (R699), collar (R499) and poop bag holder (R249) from woolworths.co.za will make a stylish addition to your pet’s ‘wardrobe’. Treat Fido to a yummy Peanut Pup Cake (R50, fromthebarkery.com). Stinkies Catnip Sardines (R59, shingavet.com) are filled to the gills with organically-grown catnip. Ruffwear Gourdo rubber toys for dogs (R299 each, apetslife.co.za) will provide hours of fun!…

When I phoned to chat to Gwen, she was at the office – at the age of 95 she still works at her husband Gawie’s architectural firm, as she has done for more than 50 years. Gwen qualified as a medical doctor in 1949, but her love of landscaping and plants became her profession and passion over the years. She tells us more about herself and her journey with roses... Where did you grow up? As a little girl, I lived with my Uncle Gielie and his family on the farm Klipvlei in the Moorreesburg district. My mother gave singing lessons in Stellenbosch. My uncle’s farm wasn’t just my playground, it was my entire life; the children on the farm were my friends and they instilled in me a love…

1 BOIL Place a boneless gammon (about 2 kg), 2 chopped carrots, 2 coarsely chopped celery stalks and 1 onion, peeled and quartered, with 3 bay leaves in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for about 2 hours. Let the gammon cool in the cooking liquid for another hour. Remove the meat from the liquid (set aside about 125ml) and cool so you can work with it. 2 GLAZE Place 300g small cherry tomatoes, 1 whole chilli and 250ml boiling water in a small saucepan on the stove and boil for about 15 minutes until the tomatoes and peppers start to soften. Add 250ml sugar and a sprig of thyme or origanum and stir until the sugar has…

At my advanced age I suddenly find myself back in toy stores at Christmas time. Not shopping for a grandchild as you would expect but for someone even more advanced in age. My mother. With time ticking her closer to a hundred each year, she’s been robbed of a lifetime of skills and capabilities. Even most of her memories have gone. Time is a sly old thing, moving with stealth. All of a sudden she’s not sure how the telephone works. Or how to knit. Even the simplest of hobbies, like stringing beads, have absconded with time. So, I’m in the toddler section of the toy store in town, searching for a Christmas present for Oumoeder. The other oumas are looking at all the newfangled gadgets for little girls, like…

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

WHO LIVES HERE? Lynda Burgess, Nic Real, Declan (18) and Shaelyn (16) WHERE West Beach, Cape Town SIZE 300m² Fond childhood memories of festive season celebrations she shared with her family inspire Lynda Burgess to this day! “Christmas was always so magical with all the love, excitement and anticipation of what was to come,” she says. “I’m really a child at heart and that has always stuck with me. I love to see Christmas through a child’s eyes and I still wish upon a star every Christmas Eve.” The Christmas tree usually goes up in early December and it’s filled with decorations collected over the years. “I love using creams and golds and frosted snowy items with pops of red here and there. The basis of my Christmas décor is…

WHO LIVES HERE? Elzabe and Piet Malan WHERE Southdowns Estate, Centurion SIZE 700m² The red brick wall at the entrance to the Malans’ home is bedecked with the grey branches of a fig tree, its canopy full of small purple-green fruits. And as you walk through the ornate rusty-brown garden gate, a feast for the eyes awaits: a large pond with giant koi, neatly manicured Buxus hedges and cement paths, a tickey creeper sprawling up the high walls, an imposing statue against the opposite wall... Elzabe Malan welcomes you at the front door. Warm and hospitable, she’s a dedicated artist: every corner of her garden and home creates a picture-perfect image. Elzabe and her husband Piet planned this house in Southdowns Estate in Centurion for two years before moving in…

Q: I love the dining chairs on page 60 of your April 2019 issue; where are they from? – Alana Niewoudt, Pretoria A: Those chairs are from Block & Chisel (blockandchisel.co.za) but you can find similar ones at Cielo (cielo.co.za) and SHF (shf.co.za). Q: Do you know where I can find a pendant like the one on page 56 of your September 2018 issue? – Freda Coetzee, Garies A: Try Eagle Lighting (eaglelighting.co.za), The Lighting Warehouse (lightingwarehouse.co.za), Builders (builders.co.za) or K.Light (klight.co.za) for dome pendants. Q: I love the rug on page 25 of your June 2018 issue; where can I buy it? – Fiona Abbott, George A: The rug is from MRP Home; you can find similar ones at Rugs & Such (rugsandsuch.co.za) and Airloom (airloom.co.za). Q: Where can…

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

IsoBoard offers an easy-to-install insulation solution to fit to new builds or retrofit to existing buildings. This enables your home to manage external temperature fluctuations with ease, maintaining comfortable living and working spaces for the lifetime of your building. Suitable for all the different areas in your home, this environmentally responsible thermal insulation solution is as versatile as it is effective. You’ll keep your home’s temperature steady, which means using less electricity for heating or cooling. For more tips, tricks and information, visit isoboard.com, like us on facebook.com/isoboard and follow us on Twitter @isoboard. GET IN TOUCH CAPE TOWN 021 983 1140, southsales@isoboard.com DURBAN 031 569 1800, dbnsales@isoboard.com PRETORIA 012 653 8204, northsales@isoboard.com IsoBoard is easy to install; watch the video at homemag.co.za.…

Hooray for Christmas! Lit up like a Christmas tree! Khalisie and her human brother Euan are all smiles! – Lucinda van der Walt, Graskop, Mpumalanga Bling it on Rian is ready to trim the tree. – Chanel Jacobs, Vaalwater, Limpopo Ho ho ho! Chopsticks the Pug gets her Christmas groove on. – Sally Barrett, Howick Bells ’n whistles Nyala looks festive in her red collar. – Nicolette van Wyk, Bloemfontein Santa’s little helpers Christmas is Bello and Leah’s favourite time of the year! – Nicole Young, Kriel The gift that keeps on giving Little Benji the Bengal cat found the perfect present in Emmie the Frenchie. – Zanne Nel, Greyton Email your queries to pets@homemag.co.za…

Celebrating sun time! Midsummer’s day is the longest day of summer and this year in the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice is on 21 December at 06:19. Before clocks, people relied on the passage of the sun through the sky to tell the time. The earliest sundials recorded are shadow clocks from ancient Egyptian and Babylonian astronomy, with the world’s oldest sundial in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings (circa 1500 BC). Armillary sundials were invented by the ancient Greeks with connecting circles and an arrow-shaped gnomon; horizontal sundials have a flat surface usually mounted on a plinth. A sundial must be positioned where it will receive full sun with the gnomon that casts the shadow set to the correct latitude. This has to point to true south in the Southern…

WHO LIVES HERE? Ian and Jessie Walton, their daughter Katie, son-in-law Matt Lotz and grandson Benjamin (18 months) WHERE Restanwold Farm, Grabouw SIZE OF GARDEN AND NURSERY About 1ha TYPE OF SOIL Clay with a little ferricrete* * Ferricrete is a layer of sedimentary rock cemented by iron oxides If your mother is rose guru Gwen Fagan, you can’t help but be passionate about old-fashioned roses. “Although I have many roses in my garden these days, they weren’t always my first love,” says Jessie Walton on her farm outside Grabouw. “My mother is the one who has always had a love affair with old-fashioned roses but her enthusiasm eventually rubbed off on me and now I adore the masses of roses that bloom in my garden each spring!” “My husband…

Macaroni cheese muffins with ham Under R110 • Makes 12 muffins • Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 12 large round pieces gypsy ham • 30ml butter • 1 leek, chopped • 1 clove garlic, chopped • 30ml flour • 300ml milk, hot • pinch of nutmeg • 250ml corn kernels • 250ml grated cheese • 2 eggs • about 250g macaroni, cooked al dente • 125ml panko crumbs • 30ml butter 1 Preheat the oven. Grease the cavities of an ordinary muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray and place a slice of ham in each cavity. 2 Melt the butter in a saucepan and sauté the leeks and garlic for a minute or two. Whisk in the flour with a balloon whisk and fry the mixture for another minute. Gradually beat in the milk until smooth.…

ON THE BOX On Deadline Design (Season 1 starts 23 December on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv), Shaynna Blaze invites us into the complex, creative world of interior design. Each episode follows the journey of a homeowner who tasks Shaynna’s company with reinvigorating their home, and the trials and triumphs of Shaynna’s team as they tackle the renovation. The team has to adapt to vastly different characters, house types, tastes and budgets – and make sure they beat the deadline! CHRISTMAS MARKETS GAUTENG • 29 Nov – 1 Dec: Visit the Parkview Charity Christmas Market in Jo’burg for Christmas gifts, food stalls, a gin bar and beer tent. Proceeds to Nicarela charities (nicarela.org); call 082 445 3525. KZN • 7–16: Enjoy more than 100 tables of locally-crafted Christmas goodies at the Festive…

This gift box, put together by TO BE Gift Boxes specially for Home readers, couldn’t be more convenient. The goodies inside (see right) will be sent out beautifully packaged; all you have to do is click and pay. Home’s first ever gift box, which costs just R590 (incl. delivery), includes: • A 750ml bottle of Hermanuspietersfontein Bloos • A wine stopper-and-pourer • 2 ceramic bowls (12 x 12 x 6cm) • Bamboo chopping board (31.5 x 22cm) • 500ml TO BE hand soap • A copy of the Tuis Dagboek (192 pages), along with a pair of free gardening gloves. Value of box: R735 How to order: 1 Go to www.tobegiftboxes.com 2 Select the SHOP button in the navigation bar and click on TUIS/HOME. 3 Enter your details and make the…

1 WEEKLY TASKS If your sofa has loose cushions, make time to plump them: place a cushion on one of its sides then beat the opposite edge inwards with your hand. Repeat the process on all four sides, then shake it to redistribute the filling evenly and smooth out the cover. Make sure the sofa is standing on an even surface, smooth out the upholstery and remove any lint pilling. Also dust down any leather upholstery and gently brush your sofa. Weekly brushing with a soft brush is especially beneficial: it stimulates the pile and helps with pressure marks and shading. If you have a leather sofa, don’t brush it; rather dust with a clean duster weekly. 2 MONTHLY TASKS Vacuum your sofa thoroughly and rotate the cushions once a…

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

If your house is furnished, and you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to spend more than R10 000 to R15 000, estate agent Stephanie White of Harcourts Dunn, who stages homes herself, recommends the following: 1 Exterior Properties that appear run-down won’t make the cut. Do try to neaten and fix as much as you can. 2 Small fixes These won’t cost a lot of money, but they will make a huge impact on a buyer’s impression of your home. Replace broken windowpanes, missing door and cupboard handles and fix sagging hinges and gutters. 3 Patio or braai area These spaces are important to South African folk and deserve the same attention as the interior of a home. This area is not seen as an add-on, but rather as an…

“Thanks for a colourful year! We wish everyone a safe and prosperous festive season.” – the Tjhoko Paint team 1 Make a chalkboard ‘runner’ Give guests a few playful ‘instructions’ for their meal with a chalkboard ‘runner’. YOU WILL NEED • MDF board in the required size • Tjhoko Paint in Matt Black • mohair roller and painter’s tray • chalk HERE’S HOW... Paint your MDF board with Tjhoko Paint in the colour Matt Black (you can, however, write on any Tjhoko Paint colour). Wait until the paint is dry, then write a few fun instructions on the board with chalk. 2 Stencil your underplates Personalise everybody’s place setting with a nifty underplate-and-placemat combo. YOU WILL NEED • wooden placemats • mandala and cutlery stencils from Tjhoko Paint • stencil…

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

• The Dutch East India company sundial, dated 1781, in The Company’s Garden in Cape Town. • The sundial at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, which was constructed in 1920 by JR Miller at the Royal Observatory in Cape Town and presented to the gardens. • The most unusual sun clock at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria. • A large vertical sundial erected by Danie du Toit in Napier in 1965. • The sundial at the national monument home of South African poet CJ Langenhoven, Arbeidsgenot in Oudtshoorn. • A large sundial at Hankey, which was erected in 1989.…

• Water Jessie’s roses are watered via drip irrigation. “We turn the system on once or twice a week in summer. In winter we get sufficient rain. The benefit of drip irrigation is that the roses get a good watering but it uses less water than overhead irrigation. Our water comes from a borehole and an irrigation system on the farm.” • Mulch To prevent the soil from drying out and to suppress weed growth, Jessie adds a thick layer of wood chips or old straw to the beds in winter. “I simply let the leaves of the deciduous trees remain where they fall in the beds. The leaves that land outside the beds are also raked onto the soil to decompose and form a natural mulch.” • Pest control…

VANILLA BISCUITS This crispy biscuit is everyone’s favourite and if you don’t feel like rolling out the dough and making shapes, simply roll it into walnut-sized balls, flatten with a fork and bake them like the peanut butter biscuits on page 120. Makes about 30 biscuits, depending on the size Preparation time: 1 hour (resting time included) Baking time: 8–10 minutes per baking tray Oven temperature: 180°C • 180g butter • 80g (160ml) icing sugar • 1 large egg • 5ml vanilla essence • 280g (500ml) flour 1 Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy (an electric beater makes it easier). Beat in the egg and vanilla essence. Mix in the flour by hand until the dough comes together. Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead until…

For a very special occasion Lourensford Estate in Somerset West has unveiled its Limited Release Cuveé 108, produced from grapes harvested more than a decade ago before spending 108 months maturing on the lees. Just 419 bottles of this complex yet elegant sparkling wine have been released after the first degorging. Available at the Lourensford tasting room from Monday to Sunday (9:00 – 17:00), it retails for R660; go to lourensford.co.za. NEXT GENERATION Drawing inspiration from Soweto, Mama D and her granny’s cooking, Chef Nti (real name Nthabiseng Ramaboa) realised that in order to talk to a new generation of food lovers she had to reinvent popular flavours in a fresh, innovative way. Her first cookbook, My Modern African Kitchen (R350, Quivertree), embraces exactly this concept, celebrating food that is…