Innehållsförteckning för August 2018 från Home

I love a good story... And the one on page 52 about how the Van Zyls got a new kitchen is currently at the top of my list of the best stories we’ve published in Home. Consider this: you’ve been retrenched from work and that night, in shock and frustration, you grab a hammer and start demolishing your tired old kitchen – to purge all those pent-up emotions! I don’t know all the details, but I wish I’d been a fly on the wall when Sonja van Zyl arrived home that evening. Did anyone try to stop her? Gosh, was anyone even at home or was it a huge, dusty surprise when they eventually saw her handiwork? This whole scenario put a smile on my face. Perhaps because such overwhelming…

What did you learn from this project? We learned patience above all else and that a project of this magnitude takes time, huge amounts of stamina and a good sense of humour. It’s a team effort: both parties have to pull their weight – even if it just means doing the cleaning up afterwards. Planning is also crucial to keep the process going; for example, our cabinets arrived way ahead of schedule but we had a spare room in which to store them until they were needed. And there will be dust no matter what precautions you take! It lingers for months after the project has been completed – deal with it with a smile! Any cost-cutting tips? • We saved by doing almost everything ourselves; getting a contractor in…

What’s next? This house is full of potential; we’re happy to save and tackle the renovation in phases. You did it all on your own; were you tempted to get help? The only help we had was when it came to knocking down the walls and sanding the concrete countertops, which was a big job! But we know what we want and like doing things for ourselves. Any cost-cutting tips? • You’ll be surprised by the unique elements you can find at mainstream retailers; don’t be afraid to repurpose items you like. Be creative! • Do your research and homework before attempting a renovation; this will eliminate unnecessary errors and costs. • Create a moodboard with all the colours, textures, finishes and décor you like; this will keep your overall…

Any cost-cutting tips? We sold our old kitchen cupboards on Gumtree for R5 000, which we then put towards paying for the new cupboards. Herbert installed all the lights and the new braai with the help of a friend. What would you do differently next time? I’d rent another house to stay in while renovating; sleeping on a mattress on the floor with the dust, cement and bricks for seven months in winter isn’t ideal! Any tips for other renovators? • Work from top to bottom – old ceilings can be really filthy. After skimming and cleaning all our walls, we removed the ceilings and then had to clean the walls all over again. • Stack your freezer with lots of homemade frozen food; we got so tired of eating…

You will need SHOPPING LIST • two 2 400 x 610 x 20mm laminated pine boards, cut to: one 810 x 300mm (back) one 860 x 300mm (front) four 520 x 280mm (shelves) one 810 x 520mm (side) two 320 x 585mm (slabs) three 520 x 40mm (retaining pieces) • four 75mm castors • one packet 6mm x 40mm chipboard screws • one packet 8mm x 30mm chipboard screws • one packet 8mm x 16mm chipboard screws • one handle • wood filler • 120-grit sandpaper • paint or varnish (optional) • cordless drill and 3mm and 4mm drill bit • pencil • tape measure • paintbrush • scraper QUICK PROJECT GUIDE  Hard labour 5/10 Skill level 5/10 Time needed 1–2 hours Do it yourself for less than R1 250:…

1 Paint your tiles • Clean the tiles with a rag dipped in paint thinners and allow to dry completely – wait at least 20 minutes. • Mask off any sections you don’t want to paint. • Apply the base colour paint with a 160mm sponge roller, making sure the paint is evenly distributed; wait another 20 minutes before applying the second coat. • Choose a stencil with a suitable design; apply the accent colour(s) over the stencil with a clean sponge roller. Your roller should be fairly dry to prevent the paint from seeping under the stencil. Tip Secure the stencil with masking tape but not on newly painted tiles, otherwise the fresh paint may come off when you remove the masking tape. • Wait about four hours after…

A mystery chest Carol Pittendrigh of Jo’burg writes This chest belonged to a friend’s grandmother who lived in Indonesia in the early 1900s. At first it appeared to be wood but when the sun shone on the wood it gleamed as if painted. I took a photo and the flash reflected what appears to be gold paint! I’ve seen a few similar carved camphor chests but never with this paint effect. Can you tell us anything about it? Johan Joubert of Stephan Welz & Co. replies These chests are sometimes erroneously called “tea chests” but they were manufactured as decorative storage for export to the West. They were decorated to suit the Western perception of Oriental style with figures in traditional landscape and architectural settings. Chests produced for Chinese…

Taking a moment After dinner, Klaus and Kiara head for the couch to rest and digest. – Marilise Gerber, East London A ray of sunshine Tigger has found a top winter spot. – Marilyn Wolfswinkel, Rooihuiskraal, Pretoria C’mon over to the other side Border Collie Ruschka and Thali the French Bulldog stand their ground. – Mercia Nieuwenhuyse, Pennington, KZN If the hat fits... Emily loves her beanie. – Antonette Jacobs, Heidelberg, Gauteng Hot product If you’re looking for a leather collar that can withstand a swim in the dam and a roll in the mud, and still look good after it’s been cleaned, try new SA brand Point Leather. Prices start from R350; check out pointleather.co.za. Balancing act Maya plays it cool while she keeps warm on top of Jessie!…

BUSINESS MU Bespoke Design WHO Luca van der Merwe-Streicher and David Sharkey WHERE Cape Town THEIR WORK When practicing architects Luca van der Merwe-Streicher and David Sharkey decided to launch a décor offering, they based their pieces on raw concrete – a material they’re both familiar with from work in the building industry. “After a month of making a huge mess in our apartments, we managed to create hundreds of rejects and a few pieces good enough to gift to friends and family,” Luca says. These days it’s a whole different story. Now their individually handcrafted décor pieces (including planters, candleholders, vases and coasters) are sold at LIM Furniture in Cape Town or directly from them. Find them on instagram@mu.concrete or facebook.com/mu.concrete.…

WHO LIVES HERE? Arno and Geraldene du Plessis WHERE Port Elizabeth SIZE 350m² When Arno and Geraldene du Plessis bought an empty plot in Sunridge Park, Port Elizabeth – less than 1km from the property they’d been happily living on for 36 years – the plan was to move into their “dream home” within a year. “Our previous house was quite large with a big garden and expansive lawns – and all the bells and whistles associated with homes from the ’80s!” says Geraldene. “But as time passed, we started to consider the merits of a home that would require less upkeep; one that we could enjoy and appreciate before moving on to the retirement home down the road.” On one of their morning walks in April 2012, they came…

A found wooden in hornbill a second that -hand the store couple and sits spray on - the painted trusses white . #1 WHO LIVES HERE? Andrew and Sonja van Zyl WHERE Roodepoort, Gauteng SIZE 17.6m² Sonja and Andrew used old Oregon pine ceiling boards found at a reclamation yard to clad the kitchen island, and a solid wooden top in African mahogany (lovingly donated and machined by Sonja’s father) finishes the look. Formica square-edge ‘postform’ tops in the colour Saxon Oak have been used on the other cabinets. The pendants were designed and made by Andrew and Sonja for a fraction of the price of similar store-bought ones. While renovating their impractical kitchen had always been on the cards, the Van Zyls’ plans were set in motion when Sonja…

What’s your top cost-cutting tip? Use the existing layout of the kitchen and buy prefabricated cabinets. Where did you get your ideas? We were inspired by the original blue and white floor tiles and the colour of the ocean. We really wanted the kitchen to reflect the overall character of our home. What do you enjoy most about your finished project? The space has a wonderful flow and a lovely warm atmosphere. Everyone wants to hang out around the table! What’s next? We would like to create an entertainment area outside under the milkwood trees. [ FINE FINISHES AND CONTACTS ] Cupboards Innovative Timber (084 209 2552) Lighting and wall hooks MRP Home (0800 212 535, mrphome.com) Vinyl stickers Hope Vol Hoop (076 732 0785)…

• A support wall was built before he laid concrete lintels lengthways. Once the lintels were in position, they were wrapped with fibre mesh to reinforce the concrete. • A thick mixture of white cement and sand (1:6) was spread 2cm thick on the lintels and compressed using a heavy object before a straight edge was used for levelling. • To plaster the sides and edges, water was added to the cement and sand mixture to create a thinner consistency; a float was used to smooth the edges. • The surfaces were then heavily dusted with white cement and the rustic effect was created by sprinkling water on the structure while floating. Tip Keep all the surfaces wet by sprinkling them with water regularly for 7–12 days; this will ensure…

Our Kitchen Heroes competition, brought to you by Milestone Kitchens, was a roaring success last year – and we’ve decided to do it again! So if you’re still dreaming of transforming your space with a stylish kitchen revamp, Milestone Kitchens will help you do just that with the units of your choice. These days, people not only cook and eat in their kitchens but also use the space to socialise, entertain guests and even do homework. Getting the design and layout just right is a personal journey and the end result must work for the whole family. Perhaps the kitchen of your dreams has a super-sized island in the middle, maybe you’ve always wanted a butler sink, or how about a beautiful dresser in the style and colour of your…

1 Measure and mark the front and back (as shown in sketch 1) and drill pilot holes where the planks must be attached. Attach the side piece between the front and back with the 6mm x 40mm screws. Attach the bottom and top shelves to form the carcass of the cupboard. 2 Glue and screw a retaining piece to each of the two remaining shelves (see sketch 2 ). Position the shelves in place and secure with screws. Position the final retaining piece (without a shelf) about 100mm above the bottom shelf and attach it between the front and back. 3 Make the slab by gluing together the two 320 x 585mm planks and then securing them with the 8mm x 30mm chipboard screws. Turn the cupboard upside down and…

A modern design Anya Liebenberg of Plettenberg Bay writes I’m planning the renovation of my kitchen and I’m keen on a contemporary look. Are there any kitchen units that have cupboards and drawers without handles with a push-to-close action to enhance a sleek design? Elwyn Sykes, national sales manager for The Eclipse Group, replies We recommend cabinetry with large or wide fronts and clear-cut design lines for a sleek, modern look. Use drawers where possible as they optimise space and create practical storage that is easy to access. Blum drawer systems such as the Legrabox or Tandembox antaro with sleek metal sides have runners that are hidden from view underneath the drawer base. With Blum’s innovative motion technology, Tip-On, a mechanical opening support, and Blumotion, a unique dampening system,…

I want a cutting! Deidre Johnson of Kuils River writes While visiting family recently, I fell in love with this impressive plant in the garden. What type of philodendron is it and how can I take cuttings? JJ replies It looks like a regular Philodendron selloum. You can cut the stem into pieces about 150mm in length and plant them. First trim off all the long aerial roots, as they will get in the way. Then place the stem pieces on their sides and cover them halfway with soil. A bothersome insect Annette van Vuuren writes This insect is infesting my rosebuds and leaves; what is it? JJ replies It looks like a type of wasp. Fortunately, they don’t do much damage to your roses but if you…

Sweet prickly pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica ) This succulent shrub grows up to 3m tall, forming a sturdy trunk as it matures with flattened grey-green leaf-like stems that vary from heavilyspined to spineless. It bears showy bright yellow or orange flowers from October to December and edible fruit covered with minute spines; the fruits start off yellowish in colour then turn red. Invasive status Category 1b invasive plant, which means that it must be removed from your property to avoid prosecution. Why is it a problem? This plant, which originates in Mexico, competes with and replaces indigenous species and is a problem in all provinces of South Africa. It can form dense infestations that threaten conservation and agricultural land. Its fruits cause skin irritations. CONTACT invasives.org.za Did you…

Homemade pasta It’s so therapeutic to knead and roll your own pasta dough and, of course, to eat it afterwards! Put on some mellow music, pour a glass of wine and get rolling... The quantities in our recipe are for one serving – adjust according to the number of guests at your table. • 100g flour • a pinch of salt • 1 extra-large egg PLUS • extra flour for rolling • a sprinkling of fresh herbs (optional) 1 Sift the flour and salt into a large mixing bowl or directly onto your work surface and make a well in the centre. Whisk the eggs and pour into the well. Using a fork, mix slowly until the mixture becomes too thick to continue working with the fork; now you need to work with your hands.…

Churros The pastry is prepared in much the same way as choux puffs – but the cooking method is foolproof! Makes 12 servings Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes • 250ml boiling water • 80g butter • 50g (60ml) cinnamon sugar • pinch of salt • 140g (250ml) flour • 3 eggs • oil for deep-frying • castor sugar, to garnish 1 Mix the water, butter, sugar and salt in a pot over moderate heat until melted, then bring to the boil. 2 Remove from the heat immediately and stir in the flour all at once until it forms a ball of dough that pulls away from the side of the pot. 3 Whisk in the eggs, one at a time, until the mixture is shiny and smooth. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with…

ON THE BOX Building La Dolce Vita with Debbie Travis (Season 1 starts 14 August on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv) is a documentary series that takes viewers on a personal journey: Debbie risks her life savings to buy and transform a 13th century medieval watchtower and farmhouse into a luxurious 14-bedroom women’s retreat in Tuscany, Italy. The series explores the highs and lows of buying and renovating a large property in a foreign country. Pinotage On Tap 18 August: Casalinga Ristorante, Muldersdrift Diemersfontein Wine Estate brings Pinotage On Tap to Johannesburg as part of their annual roadshow. At the festival, guests can indulge in delectable wine, delicious food and live entertainment. Tickets cost R295 per person at computicket.com and include a signature welcome gift, your wine glass and endless…

Jungle fever To create a memorable impression at the entrance to her Durban home, Kara Human added vibrant wallpaper (Ashford Tropics from Hertex) to the staircase. We love the texture it creates as well as the shape it takes on thanks to the steps. A door was removed from a small cupboard under the stairs that now serves as a wine rack – another interesting focal point! Railing from Iron Art A piece of history Years ago in Stillbaai, it wasn’t uncommon to see entire homes built with corrugated-iron sheeting. “Hard clay bricks and cement were difficult to come by in the fifties and sixties,” says Manfred Vietze. He and his wife Louise wanted to retain this bit of history in their Stilbaai home and decided to create a feature…

The pendant lights were made from enamel mixing bowls; Sonja admired the shape of the bowls on a trip to their local plastics shop and purchased a beautiful green one with a black rim for all of R14. Here’s how they did it: • First, Sonja placed a plastic drinking cup on top of the bowl. • Then Andrew drilled a hole through the bowl and cup and strung them up to ascertain whether the size and height would work. • After a few further adjustments, they rounded the pendants off with timber tops turned by Sonja’s father. “We used brass screw-in globe fittings and old wooden buttons spray-painted black to conceal the electrical cord where it comes out of the ceiling. We also opted for black cord to tie…

What were some of the challenges you faced during the renovation? We renovated the entire house and decided to stay put instead of moving out. This meant we had to move into different rooms all the time; we kind of camped in our own home! At first, it was a lot of fun and even romantic at times but the renovations took a year and a half (the kitchen took six weeks) and by the time our house was finished, we had to start rebuilding our marriage! Any cost-cutting tips? We re-used as many old building materials as we could. It’s also fun to find something in a scrapyard and reimagine or repurpose it. You end up with really quirky details in your home. [ FINE FINISHES & CONTACTS ]…

After getting quotes way beyond their budget, they realised that they had to get stuck in themselves. Herbert removed the old kitchen cabinets, all the Novilon floors and the wall tiles – a task that took weeks to complete. The couple also skimmed and painted the walls, and Herbert tackled the tiling where the new cabinets would be positioned. “I stripped four layers of paint off the original Oregon pine doorframes,” says Marlene. “There were plenty of tears in the process, but somehow we managed to keep our eyes on the prize!” These days, the kitchen has good flow. “It really feels like us,” Marlene says. “It is beautiful, yet functional and cosy.” In November 2014, after all the major renovations had been completed, the couple could finally move their…

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 1/10 Skill level 1/10 Time needed Weekend project Do it yourself for ±R7 775: paint R600, work surface R700, floor graphics R3 000, roller blind R1 800, plumbing R1 500, towel rail R175 Before moving into their dream home in April 2018, Kim and Jason Arendse and their four-year-old son Seth had lived in a small two-bedroom duplex for 11 years. Space was at a premium with a washing machine squeezed in opposite the stove and under the microwave in their 3 x 4m kitchen! There was certainly no space for a tumble dryer… When they moved into their spacious new house in Plumstead, Cape Town, a separate laundry room was the ultimate luxury. But it was in dire need of a makeover. Previously, it…

Q: What shade of blue is the piano on page 77 of your April 2018 issue? – Ronel van As, Wellington A: It is True Blue from Tjhoko Paint (tjhokopaint.co.za). Q: I’d like to know where to get the beautiful bedside lamp featured on page 31 of your January 2018 issue. – Henriette van der Walt, Bloemfontein A: The lamp is from African Affair (africanaffair.net) in Sedgefield. Check out The Artisan (the-artisan.co.za) for more industrial-style lamps. Q: Where can I find the adjustable security shutters featured on page 60 of your July 2017 issue? – Rita Swart, Durbanville A: They’re from Plantation Shutters (plantation.co.za). Q: I love those pendant lights on page 22 of your April 2018 issue! Where can I buy them?…

Reconnecting with nature is the theme of Home’s show garden at this year’s Garden World Spring Festival in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg. Entitled ‘Nature’s Perfection’, the garden was inspired and implemented by the Garden World team and the final plan was designed by Grant Gove of GLC Design Studio in Johannesburg. “Gardens should have the feeling of wild places,” the team says. “In this garden, we wanted to create a subtle old-world sense of place; somewhere to sit and dream.” In Home’s show garden, the eye is drawn to the circular rock moon gate flanked by a stone wall. Set in a glade of trees, ferns sprout in the nooks and crannies and an array of greens soften the stone. Flowers in muted shades enhance the dreamlike feel of being at one…

Bake for your buddy Layla Toomey of Cape Town writes I loved the peanut butter and coconut oil doggy recipe you featured in the October 2017 issue! Do you have others? Ilze Fourie of Rogue’s Pawsome Bakery replies My dogs also love those biscuits. The following recipe includes coconut oil but this time it’s combined with rooibos – they work really well together! • 500g wholewheat flour • 1 egg • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (dissolved in a little warm water) • 2 rooibos teabags (brewed in 200ml hot water) Method  1 Mix the wholewheat flour, egg and coconut oil. 2 Slowly add the rooibos tea to the dough; the dough must have a firm consistency to ensure that you can roll it out. 3 Roll the dough out until it’s about 0.5cm…

It’s an ill wind A light breeze in the garden is a gentle ally, but a strong wind can break branches and snap flower stems. Use these coping mechanisms for the windy season: • Stake standard roses and shrubs, and newly planted shrubs that have not yet established strong roots. Check old stakes and ties and replace if necessary. • Protect patios with a vine-planted trellis. • If your garden has to cope with lots of wind on an ongoing basis, compact plants such as Cape daisies (Osteospermum spp.) are the answer; they look spectacular grown en masse. With their wide variety of colours, unique petal shapes and unusual patterns, they’ll add interest to any garden. • Plant a boundary windbreak of hardy trees such as Brachylaena discolor, Buddleja saligna,…

Q: Last year, so many of the new shoots that sprouted on my ‘Graaff-Reinet’ roses had small, curled leaves. The flowers, if they opened, were also stunted and deformed. I sprayed but nothing seemed to help. Is this caused by an insect or a virus? It is a tiny insect called thrips that has become a serious problem countrywide. The tiny larvae hide under the leaves where it is hard to reach them with ordinary spraying. The most effective solution is to apply Koinor, a long-lasting systemic soil drench. August is the best time to do this and it should be effective for about six months before it needs to be re-applied. Make sure to follow the dosage instructions on the accompanying pamphlet. Q: I have a large ‘Artista Panarosa’…

Sweet potato and sesame chicken soup Under R80 • Serves 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes • Cooking time: 20 minutes • 1.2L chicken stock • 500g orange sweet potatoes, diced • 30ml olive oil • 1 bunch spring onions chopped • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 1 knob of ginger, peeled and grated • 400g chicken breasts, cut into bite-size cubes • 30ml sesame seeds • 30ml sriracha sauce for a bit of a bite (or ordinary tomato paste) • juice and zest of 2 limes 1 Heat the stock in a saucepan and cook the sweet potatoes in it until done, then purée the sweet potatoes with a stick blender. 2 Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the spring onions, garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add the chicken, sesame seeds and sriracha and stir-fry until the chicken…

New colour! PRETTY AS A PITCHER Le Creuset stoneware pitcher (1.5L) in Provence R660, lecreuset.co.za Bubbles! Pongrácz has a new offering! Noble Nectar (R149), a demi-sec blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is delicately sweet, dramatic to behold and oh so delicious with crème brûleé and tiramisu, Thai chicken curry or duck spring rolls with quince and chilli jam. A delicious heritage In What’s for Lunch? (R450; New Media), Greek-Afrikaans foodie Ann Christodoulou shares her family’s favourite recipes inspired by their heritage and life on their small wine farm Ambeloui in the Hout Bay valley. The book is also full of tips and decorative ideas for bringing beauty and flavour to your table. Email info@ambeloui.co.za to order yours or, even better, visit the farm! Check out ambeloui.co.za. LET’S DO LUNCH…

A friend I hadn’t heard from for quite a while called me up and announced that he was suddenly speaking in tongues. He’d had a stroke, he said. And when he woke up, he had lost his mother tongue of Afrikaans, and could only speak English. “Me, a Free State boy, nogal. With a name like Frik!” Worst of all, he confessed, the stroke had left him with a mild case of Tourette’s Syndrome. He had started cursing involuntarily. Nasty words. But all of them in eloquent, crystal-clear Afrikaans. Which got me thinking about words – like, it takes us forever to get them into our heads, but we can lose them in the blink of an eye. They say a young child learns a new word every two hours…