Innehållsförteckning för April 2018 från Home

Because the other night I couldn’t come up with one good reason for their existence. After the umpteenth attempt to swat one of these annoying blood-sucking insects with a wild swipe through the air, I klapped myself. Wide awake. It was 3:17. Fed up, I googled: “Mosquito purpose”. I’m apparently not the first person to question this because the general consensus was (among non-scientists, anyway): mankind would be better off if mosquitoes simply disappeared overnight. They are a bit like one’s tonsils and appendix: redundant. Fish, frogs and other aquatic animals will, of course, be negatively affected if the world’s population of mosquitoes disappears because they feed on them. As one scientist put it: mosquitoes make more mosquitoes, and they’re food for aquatic animals. (Couldn’t we rather start a GoFundMe…

Hot products For a quick and easy update in any room, experiment with these circular tropical-themed wall art stickers from mywalltattoos.com. They are available in three different sizes (50cm, 75cm and 100cm in diameter) and prices range from R260 to R540. If the Tropical Flowers design pictured here isn’t your thing, take a look at the Toucan, Parrot and Flamingos prints. Simply stunning! Run by Labyrinth Nursery in North Riding, Gauteng, online store succulent-trays.co.za offers a variety of mixed succulent trays, conveniently sorted according to price (starting at R295 for a tray of 128 little succulents). Go to their website to view the various mixes and sizes. We adore the seven pastel-coloured tiles from Italtile’s new Chalk range. Easy to mix and match, the brick-style ceramic wall tiles are 75…

The homeowner Michael Hogan WHERE Skeerpoort, North West SIZE House 800m²; garden 18ha When interior designer and ceramicist Michael Hogan bought his farm near Skeerpoort 15 years ago, it consisted of a sorely neglected plot of land and a dilapidated ’70s-style house. Now it boasts a glorious 18ha garden that attracts thousands of visitors when it’s opened to the public every year and a home that, since its meticulous renovation, provides a welcome refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city. “When we renovated the house, we incorporated the shed that was previously used for drying tobacco and the rondawel outbuildings into our new home,” he says. “There are now four en-suite bedrooms, a main living area including a kitchen and breakfast nook, and a TV room on the…

After buying their first home – a dated fixer-upper – in 2015, Wynand and Nicola Pretorius had to decide where to begin renovating. They’d just come back from an overseas trip and money was tight, so they decided to tackle the bathroom first. “It was really ugly and some of the other changes we had planned for the house were much bigger, so we felt that doing the bathroom would be a quick win. And it was!” says Nicola. Wynand, an engineer, and Nicola, a digital media marketer, spent six months planning and then transforming the space. They did most of the work themselves; this included spray-painting the tiles, retiling the floor, installing a vanity, redoing plumbing and fixing leaky pipes. The final touch was adding shutters and quirky accessories,…

Up to scratch Annemie Fleming of Mbombela writes We used Cemcrete’s Colour Hardener Sealer on the floors in our new house; unfortunately, something was dragged across the living room, leaving a long, but superficial, scratch. How do I get rid of it? We also have a cement kitchen island that we sealed with Colour Hardener Sealer and I’d like to know if it’s heat-resistant? Joanne Sykes, marketing manager at Cemcrete, replies For the scratch, apply more sealer using a very thin art paintbrush so as not to overlap onto the existing sealer; you just want to touch up the scratch. Colour Hardener Sealer, as with most sealers, will resist a hot cup but not hot pots or hot pot lids; it’s advisable to use protection, as well as wipe up…

Is this an ivy? Michelle Richter writes This photograph is of my ivy plant; it has a flower that looks like a daisy. I’ve never seen an ivy flower before – is this normal? JJ replies This isn’t an ivy, although it looks very similar. It’s actually an indigenous climber called a canary creeper (Senecio tamoides). What a pest! Anette Laubscher of Olifantshoek, Northern Cape writes For almost three years, I’ve been struggling to eradicate mealybugs from my garden. They gather at the growing tips of my asters and Inca lilies as well as on the stalks and just above the soil. The foliage just above the soil soon dies back and the rest of the leaves change colour. I’ve cut off the stems to ground level and burnt them…

With a diverse range of proudly South African products including stylish décor pieces, ecofriendly furniture made from recycled wood, accessories, gifts, novelty items and more, Beetroot Inc. will help you create the home of your dreams! Beetroot Inc. designs are “unapologetically different, colourful and individualistic” and the team is more than happy to personalise any furniture item on their catalogue to your specifications – they’ll also reupholster your old favourites so they look as good as new! Visit one of their stores in Gauteng (Menlyn Maine, Fourways Mall, Waterkloof Corner and Springs Mall), Western Cape (Table Bay Mall and Tyger Valley Centre) and KwaZulu-Natal (Ballito Junction) to see what’s on offer. • For further details and to view the various ranges, go to beetrootinc.co.za. THE PRIZE One lucky reader will…

The jungalow effect ‘Jungalow’, a combination of jungle and bungalow, describes the current trend in bringing the outdoors inside and surrounding yourself with greenery. Just as you layer plants in your garden, the same effect can be applied to your indoor spaces with palms, ferns, Dracaena, Philodendron, delicious monster, Sansevieria and peace lily (Spathiphyllum). Include hanging kokedamas for trailing plants, as well as cane furniture, basket ware and colourful rugs and cushions to accentuate the jungle theme. Wildly appealing World Heritage Day (18 April) and International Earth Day (22 April) remind us of the need to preserve the world’s wildflowers, which are rich in history, tradition and the romance of yesteryear. Regretfully, though, they are in constant danger of disappearing due to urban development and destruction of the environment. In…

Peperomia ferreyrae ‘Happy Bean’ gets its name from the peapod-shaped leaves that give this plant its quirky appearance. It will look good on your desk at work (or at home) or anywhere with bright, indirect light where it will be noticed and enjoyed. To keep it compact, pinch out stem tips if the plant starts to become straggly. Don’t overwater; rather water when the soil is dry and then do so thoroughly, making sure that the pot does not stand in water. In hot conditions, provide humidity by spritzing. Renew the potting soil once a year and feed with a liquid fertiliser in spring. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za…

Creamy chicken pasta Under R110 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes • 2 smoked chicken breasts• 3 spring onions, chopped• a handful of watercress• zest of 1 lemon• 300g linguine • 250ml frozen peas• 200ml creamed cottage cheese• about 125ml freshly grated Parmesan 1 Dice the chicken. Finely chop the spring onions and watercress, and mix with the lemon zest. 2 Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente; follow the package instructions. When it is almost ready, stir in the peas for another minute. Drain and mix immediately with the cottage cheese. The hot pasta will melt the cheese to create a sauce. 3 Stir in the chicken, spring onions and watercress then season with salt and pepper and then generously with…

So fresh! Delicious Vrede en Lust Anni Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (R90, cybercellar.com) is made from grapes cultivated on Elgin farm, Casey’s Ridge. It shows typical cooler climate aromas with flint notes and flavours such as grass, granadilla and gooseberries. Pair it with sushi, shellfish and Thai stir-fries. All in one The Instant Pot (R1 999, yuppiechef.comyuppiechef.com) combines seven kitchen appliances: it’s an electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer and yoghurt maker all in one. The secret is in its advanced microprocessor technology and one-touch controls that ensure perfect results every time – and actually remember the way you cook! Visit for details. IT’S G+T TIME! Crisp and refreshing Greenleaf + Terroir is a pre-mixed G&T with a unique flavour – the gin is distilled…

WINNING LETTER Literary genius Janine Elliott of Pietermaritzburg writes A friend’s daughter is a book fanatic (and Harry Potter fan!) and when I was asked to help decorate her bedroom, my imagination ran wild! First we revamped a bathroom cabinet for bedroom purposes. The ‘book’ shelves were made by cutting one large floating shelf into three book-sized shelves. I stuck corrugated cardboard on the sides to create ‘pages’ and covered them in faux leather. The candles were made with toilet roll inners, hot glue, paint and battery-operated tea lights. We used pages from old damaged books purchased from a charity shop to make the wallpaper and applied it with ordinary modge podge. Thank you for all the inspiration – Home is my muse! Renewed with paint Robin Searle of Gordon’s…

One in a million This eye-catching wall art in Laura Matzner’s home in Paternoster has a fun surprise element with one fish swimming against the flow. The wooden fish were carved from invasive species by craftsmen in the Eastern Cape. “Their original carvings were slightly more rustic but they sanded this school of fish smoother specially for me. Generation gap Inspired by an exhibition of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt’s work, Nicky Myburgh, head of exhibitions and product co-ordinator for Kamers, decided to create a permanent artwork in her historic Stellenbosch manor house. “An artwork like this, that cannot be removed, is a gift from our generation to future generations,” she explains. The pops of gold are a nod to the gold leaf details in Klimt’s art, but also reflect light…

This estate is We love having a paradise for kids with all its footpaths. a picnic next to the dam. – Carla As you enter the front door of Charl and Carla Burger’s contemporary farm-style home, there’s no mistaking the fact that they cherish their family bonds, their precious heirlooms and lovingly made wooden furniture. And so it should be when you’ve grown up with a dad and two brothers in the timber industry and then, for good measure, you married a man whose hobby is woodworking, says Carla. In 2015, Charl and Carla decided to move from Plattekloof in the northern suburbs of Cape Town to the quieter Kanonberg Lifestyle Estate on the other side of the hill. “Kanonberg offers a more ‘platteland way of life’ which we both grew up…

What were the biggest challenges during the renovation? Having to watch every penny. It also took us a very long time to clean all the tiles before spray-painting them – but the cleaner they are, the better the product adheres. Did you have any disagreements? I was keen on lighter grey walls but Wynand wanted them to be dark. In the end, we went with his decision and I’m so glad we did. Sometimes we argue because Wynand wants to do too much of the work himself and I get impatient because it takes too long. Any advice for other renovators? It’s good to live in the space before renovating. Often, your priorities and ideas about what will work and what you like and dislike change; let projects develop and…

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 1–2 hours Do it yourself for less than R750 (paint/varnish excluded) You will need SHOPPING LIST • 610mm laminated pine, cut to: seven 600 x 300mm pieces (shelves) • 3 000 x 22 x 44mm planed pine, cut to: four 2 100mm pieces (uprights for frame) four 300mm pieces (short cross-members for frame) three 600mm pieces (long cross-members for frame) • 3 000 x 22 x 22mm planed pine, cut to: seven 600mm pieces (retaining planks) • two wood offcuts: one of 272mm and one of 250mm (spacers) • one packet of 8mm x 30mm chipboard screws • one packet of 6mm x 50mm chipboard screws • wood glue • wood filler • 120-grit sandpaper • paint or varnish…

Q: Where can I get the bar stools on page 32 of the September 2017 issue? – Fidelia van der Linde-Pelser on Facebook A: Homeowner Marinda Turvey bought them at Mabibuch (mabibuch.co.za). Try Chair Crazy (chaircrazy.co.za), Red Apple (redapple.za.com) or Block & Chisel (blockandchisel.co.za) for similar industrial-style stools. Q: Where can I find a tablecloth like the one on page 13 of the January 2018 issue? – Elize de Bruyn, Mbombela A: The homeowner got it at Feel Good Interiors (feelgoodinteriors.co.za). You can find something similar at the online shop Masquerade (masquerade.co.za). Q: I’d love to give my bathroom a modern makeover. Where can I find a sleek bath like the one on page 56 of the October 2015 issue? – Alet van der Merwe, Pretoria A: Dado Baths (dadobaths.co.za)…

Out to bat Watch out Proteas, Mielo is ready for action! – Marie-Louise Fourie, Durbanville Strike a pose Katrien, sometimes nicknamed Katryn Kruger after the international model, is a natural! – Rochelle Loubser, Cape Town Crazy for you! Boerboel pup Mischief pulls his best Scooby Doo face. – Denita Verwey, Philadelphia Caught in the act! Theodore, an Arabian Mau, was originally an alley cat from Dubai. – Maryke Gouws, Port Elizabeth Getting an earful Lola loves her built-in chew toy! – Philna Knöpfler, Hartbeespoort Grrrr! Schabbers, or Varkie, helps in the garden. – Mariana Els, Alberton Hot product The Alley Cat GPS Cat Tracker (R1 495, apetslife.co.za) uses GPS and GSM tracking as well as Google Maps, ensuring that you find your kitty – no matter how far it has…

Who lives here? Ansi and Renette Buitendag WHERE Waterfall Country Village SIZE OF SHARED GARDEN 1 080m² It evolved naturally that identical twin sisters Ansi and Renette Buitendag bought two stands right next to each other in Waterfall Country Village in Gauteng. They both wanted to get away from the crime in the city and this development just outside Midrand, with its lovely country feel, was just what they were looking for. “The fact that we are twins definitely played a role in our decision,” says Ansi. “We wanted to take this journey together and the planning and realisation of our dream was something we both relished. “From the outset, we decided that the two houses must be connected via a shared garden and we discussed this idea with the…

Q: I grow my roses in pots. Can you suggest a pink rose that produces good cut flowers? The best roses for containers are bushy, low- to medium-high growers. For shapely, pickable blooms that last well in the vase I recommend hybrid tea varieties; the following five are all a good choice: • ‘New Zealand’: low-growing, highly fragrant, with large, pointed, full blooms. • ‘Andrea Stelzer’: tall grower with long stems and exhibition-class blooms. • ‘Garden Princess’: delicate pink, fragrant and disease-resistant. • ‘Heart Throb’: fragrant pale salmon blooms brushed with coral. • ‘Shaleen Surtie-Richards’: warm coral-pink blooms with a heady fragrance. Q: My ‘Belle Époque’ roses have been in the garden for more than 10 years and I notice that the soil is no longer as fertile. It compacts…

1 Loaves and fishes Tear or chop 6 slices of ciabatta into blocks. Season with a halved clove of garlic, anchovies, lemon zest, thyme, salt and pepper and drizzle with oil. Roast in a preheated oven at 200°C until crispy. Blend in a food processor. 2 Bring on the brinjal Thinly slice a medium-sized brinjal and fry the slices on both sides on a griddle pan until the flesh is cooked. Season with salt, pepper and a dash of good quality oil. 3 Layer upon layer Carefully butterfly a deboned leg of lamb (about 850g) with a sharp knife; place the meat on a chopping board with the fat side down and flatten to a uniform thickness with a meat mallet. Layer the fried brinjal slices, 125ml of the breadcrumbs,…

DÉCOR Pink is back! We show how readers incorporate this feminine hue in their décor Nicky Handfield’s Muldersvlei garden is thriving, despite a lack of water – yours can too! PLUS The best trees for your garden! DIY How to make a bedside table and the softest headboard Next month in home On sale 16 April 2018 BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS Stylish and serene sanctuaries Three gorgeous reader homes and a dramatic renovation in Cape Town’s city centre FOOD Dishes that begin with an onion and end with a “mmmmm…” Solution to Crossword #111 Competition Rules 1 Home competitions are open to anyone in South Africa except the employees of Media24, the competition sponsors, their subsidiaries, promotional and advertising agencies and immediate family members. 2 Prizes will be awarded to the first…

ON THE BOX On Save My Reno (Season 1 starts 17 April on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv), cash-conscious homeowners finally catch a break when savvy contractor Sebastian Clovis and resourceful DIY designer Sabrina Smelko come to the rescue! Each episode sees Sebastian and Sabrina take on the challenge to execute budget-friendly home renovations using salvaged goods – and they’re not afraid to put the homeowners to work! Watch them make dreams come true… South African Cheese Festival 27–29: Sandringham, Stellenbosch The annual South African Cheese Festival promises to be a fun-filled day for the whole family. Taste a variety of cheeses and enjoy your favourite with a glass of wine and other top quality local products. Tickets from any Computicket, Shoprite or Checkers store cost R180 per person…

Brick is a good option in a wetroom as it’s totally non-slip. – Etienne Some privacy, please The problem In line with the elegant aesthetic in the bathroom of her Cape Town home, Donna Podems wasn’t keen on a bulky window treatment. However, the bath is located just below a window so creating some form of privacy was essential. The solution Silver Stain Stained Glass Studio designed this gorgeous custom-made window which takes care of the privacy issue while also enhancing the overall look of the space and allowing for plenty of soft dappled light to filter through. Bathroom designed and built by Bespoke Bathrooms; floor tiles from Lasco Architectural Components; towel from Weylandts Ahead of the curve The problem During a recent home renovation in Robertson, interior designer Etienne…

turns 10! When the Fix it with Flair competition was launched in 2009, we had no idea that it would grow into the showcase of renovation talent it has become over the years. This year, we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of this popular competition, and we’re eagerly awaiting your entry! Since we are giving away more than double the money in vouchers, we’re keen to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later, so entries have opened early. The 2018 Renovator of the Year will walk away with a R100 000 product voucher from BUCO and TimberCity! Note that entries close on 31 May 2018 – so get cracking! WHAT CAN YOU ENTER? No project is too small or too big; whether it’s an entire house or a single room, all…

Shelly says:  is a natural elegant, copper high quality metal d that écor style complements from modern any country to industrial. QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 1/10 Skill level 1/10 Time needed 3 hours (excluding 24 hours curing time for adhesive) Do it yourself for ±R1 065 (6m copper pipe R600, four copper T-pieces R72, eight copper elbows R96, adhesive R199, metal polish R98) TOOLS • measuring tape • marker • pipe cutter • vice grip • square You will need SHOPPING LIST • 6m x 22mm copper pipe • four 22mm copper T-pieces • eight 22mm copper elbows • strong all-purpose adhesive • metal polish GET STARTED 1 Measure and mark the following lengths on the copper pipe: two x 850mm; two x 750mm; four x 580mm; two x…

Time for tea Graham Elbourne writes I inherited this tea set consisting of six cups, five saucers, six side plates and a sugar bowl. The following is inscribed under the bowl: Victoria, China, Czechoslovakia, Old England and hand-painted. Is it valuable? Sophie-Louise Frohlich of Stephan Welz & Co. replies The Victoria Porzellan factory in Stará Role, Czechoslovakia (formerly Altrohlau, Bohemia up until the end of WW1) manufactured this set. Schmidt & Co. were the proprietors in the late 19th century and the pottery ran until 1945 when it was nationalised under the Communist regime. The factory’s main concern was commercial production and not artistic value. However, it still produced some high quality pieces. Since your set is incomplete, it does not hold much value. CIRCA Late 19th century – early…

Desiree Lourens of Jo’burg writes My Yorkie is often constipated, even though he eats pellets – and hardly any table scraps! Can you suggest any remedies? Dr Denver Mudie, a member of the South African Veterinary Association, replies Dietary, behavioural, environmental and medically-related issues may result in constipation. Cats get constipated if they refuse to use a soiled litter tray and house-trained animals locked up all day can become constipated if they refuse to defecate indoors. A diet including too little fibre or not enough drinking water is a factor and feeding bones to your pet can also cause an obstruction or severe constipation. Signs of constipation • Intermittent straining with no production of faeces. Cats may be seen scratching around in their litter while straining; this may indicate a…

Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower. – Albert Camus Make an autumn mobile You will need • decorations: a few autumn leaves, seeds, berries and rose hips • a twig or stick to hang them on (or use a hanger) • thin wire • pliers HERE’S HOW 1 Tie wire of different lengths to the stick (space the pieces about 3–5cm apart). The wire must initially be longer than you want it because the leaves and seeds still have to be attached. Also, don’t make the wire all the same length – the different lengths will add interest to your mobile. 2 Now thread a few autumn decorations onto each wire – about five to seven per wire is sufficient, depending on how long the…

Silver-leaf bitter apple (Solanum elaeagnifolium) is a herbaceous shrub that grows up to 60cm high with felty stems covered with white or silvery, felt-like hairs. The stems and undersides of the leaves are covered in orange or reddish prickles. It has greyish or silvery-green leaves that are often wavy and folded upwards along their midribs. The plant bears mauve, blue or white flowers and produces shiny green berries that turn yellow. Invasive status Category 1b invasive plant, which means that it must be removed from your property to avoid prosecution. Why is it a problem? Silver-leaf bitter apple forms dense spreading infestations which compete with other plants. It is extremely difficult to eradicate as it has deep, spreading roots and the ability to regenerate from small root fragments. The young…

Moist buttermilk chocolate cake This cake, says Leana van der Meulen of Lothair, Mpumalanga, is foolproof and delicious. For an Easter twist, we baked ours in mini cake moulds. Makes 1 large cake or 12 mini cakes Preparation time: 35 minutes Baking time: 35–40 minutes for the cake; 20 minutes for the mini cakes • Oven temperature: 180°C • 125g butter• 105g (125ml) castor sugar• 5ml vanilla essence• 2 extra-large eggs• 125ml smooth apricot jam• 175g (310ml) self-raising flour• 3ml bicarbonate of soda• 50g (125ml) cocoa• 250ml buttermilk FROSTING • 125g dark chocolate, chopped• 60g butter• 30ml fresh cream (optional) 1 Preheat the oven. Line a round 22cm springform cake tin with baking paper and grease with non-stick cooking spray. Whisk the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add…

I was feeling raw and vulnerable, the other day, when a neighbour arrived with a bowl of figs. ‘Adams’ figs. Favouritest of favourite food! Soul food. Almost black in their purpleness, plump and generous. Full of sweet promise. Normally my mouth would be watering so much that I’d barely be able to mutter my thanks before accepting such a glorious gift. But this time it was different. Because my heart was bruised, all shrivelled. Once the kind giver had departed, that bowl of figs and I quietly contemplated each other in silence – them in their voluptuousness and I from my place of pain. Only then did I feel a slight stirring deep inside, something shifting, opening up just enough to let in the light. Because, you know, a fig…