Ideas is all about MAKING your world more beautiful. Packed with creative inspiration, fresh ideas, easy projects and step-by-step instructions, this magazine is the go-to guide for crafters, stitchcrafters, makers, cooks and DIY home decorators.
CONTACT ME terena@ideasfactory.co.za instagram.com/terenaleroux On Monday evening our class sat around the table as usual, ready to chat away enthusiastically in Italian. But this time things were a bit different. Our new teacher from the north-east of Italy had insisted that we do a ‘show-and-tell’ – each of us had to bring something with us that we did in our spare time so she could get to know us a bit better. I should perhaps start by saying that there is plenty of spare time among us, given that the class consists mostly of 60-plussers who are already retired. But it’s not really important, because I am fairly sure that 10 or 20 years ago the picture would have looked pretty much the same. One often hears the expression: ‘If…
Country living means ease and durability, but the dreamer behind the interiors of this 180-year-old farmhouse, Illze Muller, never skimps on style. When she and her husband Wouter moved into the homestead as newlyweds, a new wing had already been added to the original thatched house to form a classic T-shape. Smitten with the generous wooden staircase installed at its heart, but faced with an awkward flow and dated bathrooms and kitchen, she used her design finesse to merge the two wings into a beautifully cohesive entity. The house now has a relaxed continuity that complements its soaring ceilings and wonderful pastoral views. The renovation included opening up rooms and reconfiguring the interior layout to create a large cooking and dining area connected to an open-plan living space, while the…
SCANDINAVIAN SLEEK This style is characterised by minimalistic interiors, white walls, usually wooden floors and furniture with clean lines. A mixture of textures, contrasts, soft colours and balance is important when you are putting together your Nordic look. In this room, we see the use of simple wooden furniture in a rustic table and handmade bench. Two metal chairs provide a pleasing contrast, and the raw, unfinished cement floor combines well with the neutral colours of the rest of the décor. A curtain made from blocks of different fabrics serves as a partition. Decorate the room further with wooden accessories to add to the Norwegian concept of hygge: functionality and simplicity in a warm and inviting space. RETRO ELEGANCE The years between 1960 and the mid-1980s are the retro décor…
SAVOURY SANDWICH CAKE This pretty cake is actually a large sandwich made with bread and layers of tasty savoury ingredients. It’s easy to prepare and will certainly make a great impression. Serves: 10-12 Preparation time: 45 minutes, plus chilling time ♥ 1 round ‘potbrood’ bread ♥ 4 large eggs, hard-boiled ♥ 60ml mayonnaise ♥ 3 spring onions, finely sliced ♥ 2 × 230g tubs medium-fat cream cheese (at room temperature) ♥ 45ml chopped marinated sundried tomatoes ♥ soft butter, for spreading ♥ 125g shaved smoked ham or smoked salmon ♥ 20ml snipped chives ♥ 150g sliced Cheddar cheese ♥ 30ml Greek yoghurt ♥ 5ml grated lemon zest (if using salmon) TO DECORATE ♥ 150g radishes, trimmed ♥ 4-6 mini cucumbers ♥ 2 medium-sized carrots, trimmed and peeled ♥ 3 sticks…
PUFF PASTRY A light and flaky pastry made from dough that has been folded many times to create delicate, crisp layers. It is made with flour, a large amount of butter and a little water. The butter is added in one large piece and the dough is then rolled out and folded many times to create individual layers which puff up when it is baked. It needs to be chilled and rested in between folding and is labour intensive and requires skill to make. Luckily ready-made frozen puff pastry is readily available at your local supermarket. Puff pastry is used to make classic recipes like Danish pastries and palmiers, or to top sweet or savoury pies. ROUGH PUFF The quicker version of puff pastry. Butter is chopped and added to…
Makes: about 30 biscuits Preparation time: 1 hour, plus chilling time Baking time: about 15 minutes per batch Oven temperature: 170 °C ♥ 250g (270ml) soft butter ♥ 140g (160ml) castor sugar ♥ 2 large egg yolks ♥ 5ml vanilla extract ♥ 360g (660ml) cake flour 1 Beat the butter and sugar together until light. Beat in the egg yolks and vanilla extract. Add the flour and stir together to form a soft dough. Cover in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Roll the dough out between two sheets of plastic wrap. It is now ready to shape into biscuits. 2 STAMP COOKIES Roll out the dough and use a wooden stamp to press a letter or number into the dough. Use a cookie cutter to cut…
