Innehållsförteckning för Home Yard 2021 från Home

WHO LIVES HERE? Sally Prins, her husband Carel van Vollenhoven, their kids James (13) and Leah (11), and Pippa the Golden Retriever. WHERE Rondebosch, Cape Town SIZE OF GARDEN 400m² TYPE OF SOIL Sandy It’s a problem if visitors can’t find the front door to your house, right? This is what Cape Town-based landscape architect Rose Buchanan of Rose Buchanan Landscape & Design refers to as a “difficult entrance situation” – and this was the challenge she faced at Sally Prins and her husband Carel van Vollenhoven’s Rondebosch home. “When I arrived at their house for the first time, I thought: where do I go?” says Rose. The original pedestrian gate to the property was sealed off permanently some years ago to keep the couple’s two small children safe from…

You will need SHOPPING LIST • two lengths of 610 x 500mm laminated pine (sides) • fourteen lengths of 22 x 94mm pine, cut into 500mm pieces (front, back and base) • 150-grit sandpaper • fifty-six 6mm x 40mm chipboard screws • sixteen 8mm x 16mm chipboard screws • four 50mm castors • your choice of paint TOOLS • cordless drill and 3mm drill bit • pencil • tape measure • paintbrush PROJECT NOTES • Remember to drill pilot holes. • Have your planks pre-cut at your nearest timber merchant – it will simplify your task. QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 3/10 Skill level 3/10 Time needed ± 1 hour Finished size ± 550mm (H) x 640mm (W) x 500mm (D) Here’s how… 1 Measure and make a mark 22mm…

WHERE Kommetjie, Cape Town SIZE OF GARDEN 400m² TYPE OF SOIL Dune sand Set in an ecologically sensitive area where the harsh coastal weather and wind is not plant-friendly, a home stands proudly in a ‘secret garden’ tucked away behind a fort-like Rajasthani Haveli door in weathered blue. The New Zealand-based owners have been passionate about this wedge of prime property on Kommetjie Beach in Kommetjie for years and were thrilled to purchase it. “They wanted to convert it into an immersive and experiential space,” says conceptual designer and landscaper Arlo Mitchell of Greencube Landscapes and Gardens. “It was a very personal project for them. They wanted the garden to feel as natural as possible; they didn’t want it to feel contrived. The idea was to create a journey around…

1 ‘FRANCOIS JURANVILLE’ A robust rambling rose with clusters of fragrant, double, rosette-shaped pink flowers. This rose is at its happiest when growing in a tree or over a fence. PLANT GUIDE • Full sun • Frost hardy • Average water needs • Flowers in spring and early summer • Grows up to 7m tall Not all roses are the same Some roses grow easily on structures, while others will tumble over earth mounds. And those that grow upwards do so in different ways: Climbing roses have long, flexible stems that can be secured to a structure or framework. Roses in this group are medium to strong growers and most of them bloom profusely and repeatedly throughout the season. Examples include ‘Casino’, ‘Blossom Magic’ and ‘Crépuscule’. Rambling roses are usually…

OWNER Hannes Wiese WHAT RealFreshVeg, a fresh produce supplier WHERE Somerset West, Western Cape Hannes Wiese’s goal when it comes to his weekly organic vegetable boxes is to win people’s hearts. And if this means that his customers will have healthier diets as well, then so much the better. “I began farming veggies on a patch of land at my house in 2015. But then I thought to myself: if I’m going to all the effort of installing irrigation for my own vegetables, I might as well grow produce for other people too,” he explains. With an MSc in Botany, Hannes had no experience of the business world, so he turned to JM Fortier’s book The Market Gardener for guidance. “It contains a good mix of information about organic farming…

First it was the diagnosis after a scratchy throat and a bunged-up nose: Covid-19 – in the same week that this issue was due to go to the printers. All of a sudden, I was cut off from the outside world. Friends dropped off oximeters, vitamins and soup – deposited on the outside wall at a safe distance for me to retrieve once they’d driven away. All and sundry were instructed to stay away. Including my domestic helper. It was just me and the dogs. And the dog hair. My doctor told me to count the days from when I started feeling ill. But then on day 3, stage 4 loadshedding was suddenly implemented, and day 10 seemed very far off. My oxygen levels were hovering just above 95 and…

WHO LIVES HERE? Jeanne Duminy, her two dogs and a cat WHERE Melville, Johannesburg SIZE 40m² If you love lighting the fire and cooking over the coals as much as Jeanne Duminy, a braai area is a must. Which is why this Johannesburg lawyer decided to create a spacious braai and entertainment area in her back garden – complete with a fire pit for socialising until all hours of the night. “I braai at least once a week,” she says. “A friend once asked me if there’s ever a time when my braai fire isn’t lit.” When Jeanne bought her house in 2012, it had no outdoor entertainment area. “It was a typical ’60s Melville house with wooden floors and pressed-steel ceilings,” she says. “On the top floor, where I…

Parsley Petroselinum crispum Parsley is ideal for cultivating in containers or for softening the fronts of flowerbeds. Growing tips • This hardy biennial likes sunlight and rich, moist soil. • Soak the seeds in warm water overnight and sow in seed trays in spring or autumn. • Plant the seedlings in fairly deep pots, as they have taproots. • Make sure the soil stays moist, and plant parsley near tomatoes and roses. Harvesting and uses • Delay blooming by cutting the leaves often and by pinching out any flowering stems; Italian parsley will keep growing for up to four years before it bolts, especially if the plant’s crown is pinched out. • Parsley has a fresh, clean taste and is both highly nutritious and versatile. It’s at its best added…

BUY THE RIGHT ONE! There are various factors to consider when choosing a fire pit; Simone Smith of The Fire Pit Company shares a few tips. AIRFLOW Drainage holes are often optional; however, they serve a two-part function: they allow oxygen to circulate up the fire pit, thus assisting with the combustion of the fire, and they prevent rainwater from filling up the dish, which would otherwise cause rust. A COVER or lid is another optional extra but it’s well worth the money as it will prevent rainwater build-up, especially if there are no drainage holes. Also, instead of throwing cold water over the hot coals when you want to extinguish the fire, which will damage the bowl, you can use the lid to cover them safely until the fire…

1WHEN PLASTIC IS FANTASTIC! With recycled plastic furniture all the rage nowadays, it’s worthwhile investigating the various options. If you want to do your bit for Mother Nature and save some money on maintenance in the long run, recycled plastic is a great choice. According to Roger Thomas of NewLife Plastics, outdoor furniture is usually made from recycled plastics previously used in food and beverage packaging. ADVANTAGES You help the planet by keeping used plastics out of rivers, oceans and landfills. Plastic is durable, maintenancefree and heavy enough that it won’t get blown away in the wind. It’s also well suited to wet areas where wood, for example, may rot over time. DRAWBACKS The product remains plastic and is somewhat elastic, hence it’s not suitable for very long tables as…

#1 It’s a façade When interior designer Lorette Beling bought her home in Eversdal, Cape Town, she and her husband Andrew decided to change the façade completely. Working closely with architect Janetta Lehmensich, they created a modern look that marries the best of the old with exciting new textures and contrast. Here’s what the Belings did: CLADDING The extra-large garage is cladded with black roof sheeting to create an industrial look. “This material is fantastic as it’s virtually maintenance-free and will never require painting!” says Lorette. TEXTURE The brick retainer wall between the garage and the street-facing exterior gabion wall was painted matte black to create a seamless link. The gabion wall is filled with Hornsveld Charcoal Stone. “It creates another layer of texture and introduces an earthy touch,” says…

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 1 to 2 hours Finished size 600mm (H) x 540mm (W) x 540mm (D) You will need SHOPPING LIST • 22 x 44 x 3 000mm planed pine, cut to: four lengths of 600mm (legs) eight lengths of 560mm (crosses) • 22 x 69 x 3 000mm planed pine, cut to: four lengths of 600mm (legs) eight lengths of 410mm (horizontal planks) TOOLS • cordless drill, 3mm drill bit and 12mm spade bit • pencil • tape measure • jigsaw • paintbrush PROJECT NOTES • Remember to drill pilot holes. • Sand your wood beforehand. • If you’d like to paint your planter box, choose a good quality waterresistant product. • 18mm plywood, cut to: four lengths of 500…

#1 Home sweet home Have tons of fun doing this project with your kids – it’s so easy and rewarding! PROJECT NOTES • We used some pine and meranti offcuts from previous DIY projects. • We used rake handles with a 25mm diameter as posts because they’re longer – and cheaper – than broomsticks. • We finished our birdhouses with ecofriendly ProNature varnish, but you could leave yours to weather naturally. • Refer to the sketches and photo to get started and adapt as you go to suit your own style. #2 Fruity fun YOU WILL NEED • 22mm x 144mm pine (or other offcut wood) cut to: five 200mm lengths (cut one 144mm edge of four of the planks at 45°) • panel pins • wire • twine HERE’S…