Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i Home

Karin Brynard’s column about insomnia (see page 138 ) reminds me of a story from my teaching days. It was composition day, and the usual candidates were full of excuses. Long stories about their incomplete assignments. The long and winding road between the school desks might just as well have been a dry riverbed in the Karoo with the promise that – one day! – there might be water flowing there again, but not that day. That day it was dry and dusty, just like the learners’ excuses. Except for one student: he was lying with his head on his arms, groaning; the burden of some sort of ailment weighing heavily on his shoulders. His memory of the previous day was a bit hazy, he said. Slowly and with some…

Around the world Finding the perfect wall art for a bedroom can be tricky! How do you create a tranquil atmosphere without it becoming boring? Should you choose wallpaper for texture, a series of smaller artworks or one large piece for added impact? In the Blue Disa, a two-bedroom cottage on the Johannesdal 1207 estate near Pniel outside Stellenbosch, a characterful old wall map takes pride of place. It was a vintage find that Dané Erwee, one of the co-owners, restored before using it to decorate the space. “What appealed to me is that the paper is so old that it actually looks like fabric,” says Dané. “I made the ottoman from collected tapestries; I love the dialogue between the sailing ships and map above. In fact, the ottoman only…

WHO LIVES HERE? Jan Sauer Lambrechts WHERE Richmond, Northern Cape SIZE 150m² Jan Sauer Lambrechts isn’t much of a talker; he’s adoer. He kept largely to himself when the Home team were photographing his house but as soon as they took a break, he served up a delicious freshly baked quiche – straight from the oven. This gem that he renovated in Richmond in the Great Karoo is a testimony to his drive – as is the fact that he runs a local guesthouse; a quarry 70km away in De Aar; and a wedding venue, another 40km further, outside Britstown. He’s definitely a doer. His roots lie here but Jan Sauer took a two-year ‘detour’ in Cape Town after completing his studies in urban planning and architectural design. And then…

THE CHALLENGE Andrea Krige of Paarl writes Since the beginning of lockdown last year, my husband and I have both been working from home full-time; we’re lucky to have a home office with a door that we can close at the end of the day. The space is functional, with a desk for each of us, but we need inspiration to make it more appealing and comfortable. We already have acabinet in which we can store some of our office supplies, but the printer is standing on a desk and it takes up alot of space. Extra storage space would be useful and we need a rug. Please help! THE SOLUTION Dina Venter of my.decorlist replies Your office is very neat but it feels cluttered because there is ‘visual noise’.…

Inspired by nature Manon Potgieter of Gqeberha writes I’d like to find out more about these two pieces by Frederike Stokhuyzen (each canvas is about 15 x 12cm). Can you tell me what they might be worth? Kayleen Wrigley of Walker Scott Art Advisory replies Frederike Stokhuyzen is a prolific painter of still lifes and landscapes, finding her dominant inspiration in the beauty of nature. Born in Johannesburg to Dutch parents, Stokhuyzen began her formal training at Rhodes University before going on to train at The Central School of Art in London. There she focused on the medium of stained-glass windows. Her mastery of this medium has lent a certain drama to her painting practice. Stokhuyzen has held many group and solo exhibitions both in South Africa and abroad, and…

This is my spot! To ward off the cold, Bailey makes sure he’s right by the fireplace. – Guinevere Ferguson-Williams, Tokai Sisters-in-arms Siblings Pepsi and Marshmallow only need each other to keep warm. – Melinda Broster, Molteno Catnap Mr Biggelsworth curls up on the sofa, waiting for some human company. – Chantelle Bradley, Randburg A frozen friend Benji and Snippie stand guard with their new buddy, the snowman. – Retha Wepener, Sunningdale All wrapped up Tarzan knows there’s nothing better than cuddling up in a blanky. – Lynette Blackie, Centurion Five more minutes… Mollie Muis catches up on beauty sleep. – Marelese Marais, Durbanville Hot product Make sure your four-legged friend stays active during the winter months with a stylish harness from Dear Pet Co (from R299.99, dearpet.co.za). It has…

Pruning rethink Claude Scott of Johannesburg writes I have a few ‘Arianna’ roses and now I need to prune them. I’ve heard that I must cut them back to an outside eye, and that the angle of the cut should be sloping; is this correct? Ludwig replies In the old days, this was done in the belief that it would result in the rose producing outward-growing stems. However, we have found that the rose makes up its own mind and sprouts from what it regards as the strongest eye. Basically, you must cut a tall-growing rose down to 90cm, a medium rose to 70cm and a low rose, such as ‘Arianna’, to 50cm. Cut out dead wood or old stems (with brown thorns), crisscrossing stems and reduce forked stems to…

THE OWNERS Conrad Conradie and Louise Steenkamp WHERE The Wild Bunch Flower Farm, Wellington SIZE 5ha TYPE OF SOIL Sandy and loamy Conrad Conradie and Louise Steenkamp are passionate about growing plants. Even when they lived in a basement apartment in the heart of London, these plant enthusiasts had a garden. “We travelled through Europe and Africa for a number of years but in our early thirties returned to Conrad’s hometown of Wellington, where we leased land on the slopes of the Groenberg mountain and started growing organic vegetables,” says Louise. “Using that produce, we supplied veggie boxes to households and restaurants in the Boland. One year, though, the demand for artichokes was so low that the plants bolted and produced the most beautiful blooms. I still remember feeling a…

Venison pie Tomato purée isn’t traditional in a venison pie but I love the flavour of the spices with the tomato in the meat sauce. Taste for yourself! Marinate the venison in buttermilk overnight, if you want to temper the flavour of the meat. Makes 2 medium-siwed pies Preparation: 1 hour Cooking time: Long but worth it! Oven temperature: 200°C • 45ml olive oil • 1 deboned springbok leg (about 2kg), cubed • 200g smoked bacon, diced • 5ml ground coriander • 10 black peppercorns • 2 star anise • 5 cloves • 3 bay leaves • 1 tin (410g) tomato purée • 125ml chutney • 125ml cream • potato flour or maiwena • 2 rolls puff pastry, thawed • 1 egg, beaten 1 Heat the oil in a saucepan…

Write to us at Home Readers’ Letters, PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000; email editor@homemag.co.za, fax 021 408 3046, and join our Facebook group (facebook.com/homemag) or follow us on Instagram @TuisHomeMag. When submitting a letter, please include your full name and the town in which you live. WINNING LETTER Lessons from my garden Regine le Roux of Hout Bay writes Recently, the overgrown weeds in my garden became embarrassing! I started by pulling out the easier ones, but when I got to the bigger bushes, I had to tap into my Better Half Mark’s toolbox. Time spent in the garden gives you time to think. As I was hacking away, I realised that the weeds symbolise issues. First, we need to recognise that we have to deal with things. Too…

• Work with what you have – don’t try to make the house something it’s not. • Rather spend more on quality materials because old houses always require a lot of ongoing attention. • Resolve all the home’s issues, otherwise they will be noticeable forever. • Keep all large items neutral and simple so that they will be aesthetically pleasing for years to come. • Enjoy the restoration process. It’s a fantastic experience watching the transformation from old to new.…

Architectural designer Jenny Collins of Red Cat Design shares her top tips for well-designed open-plan living spaces: • First get the architectural elements right before having fun with the interior design. An L-shaped open-plan living space works really well with either the kitchen or your living room in the short arm, whichever configuration suits your lifestyle better. • Nothing beats natural light to make a living area feel welcoming. It creates a connection with the outdoors and also serves to anchor the space. • What’s a living room without a comfy couch? Choose one with a shape that fits the space well and doesn’t obstruct the flow to other areas. It should define the living room, but not box it off. Corner couches work really well and encourage afternoon naps…

You will need SHOPPING LIST • 250ml Tjhoko Paint Stéffan • 250ml Tjhoko Paint Godfrey’s Glimpse • 250ml Tjhoko Paint Thinus’s Terracotta • 28ml Tjhoko Paint Fine Lining • 250ml Tjhoko Paint Clear Glaze • Tjhoko Paint Stencil of Paris • Tjhoko Paint Caleidoscope2 Stencil 30-9-14 • 50mm Tjhoko Paint (Hamilton’s) Ensign Brush • 38mm Tjhoko Paint (Hamilton’s) Fibre Brush • Tjhoko Paint Artist Brush #8 TOOLS • printed images of your choice • tape measure • kitchen sponge • craft sponge • brayer • cup of water • paint scraper • masking tape Get started… 1 Paint the shelves with Stéffan and the rest of the frame with Godfrey’s Glimpse; apply two layers, waiting 30 minutes between coats. 2 Once dry (this will take at least 4 hours), do…

THE OWNERS Marcus Smit and his friends Len and Herman Kruger WHERE Vosburg in the Northern Cape Karoo SIZE 155m2 (including outside rooms); erf 2 700m2 When the Home team visited Vosburg in July 2020, Ricks Karoo Winkel – the only restaurant in the village – specially opened its doors a day earlier than the planned official opening. “Prior to that, there was no restaurant in Vosburg,” says architect Marcus Smit, co-owner of the getaway cottage we had come to photograph. “Ricks was supposed to open on Wednesday but I told them we were expecting visitors, so they had to open on Tuesday night,” he says with a smile. And that’s how it is in Vosburg. “The village is off the beaten track, so it gets very few visitors. It’s…

A good night’s rest Erica Fourie of Stellenbosch writes We’ve alwaws had small dogs such as Dachshunds but our familw recentlw welcomed a new member, aGreat Dane. I’m looking for a bed with good back and leg support; anw suggestions? Morné Claassen, marketing manager of Wagworld, replies Just as we benefit from a quality mattress, a bed with good support is important for your dog’s comfort and wellbeing. The needs of different dog breeds differ when it comes to their beds. When choosing a bed for a large dog breed, consider the following: Larger dogs’ needs Big pooches such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds and Labradors tend to suffer from hip and joint problems, as well as elbow calluses, as they get older. The size and weight of these large…

Why no olives? Sara Truter of Somerset West writes I have a 10-year-old olive tree that has grown well but has not shown any signs of bearing fruit. Last year, I treated it for a sooty mould infestation, but that seems to have cleared up. Now the leaves have these ‘bleached’ spots on them; could this be affecting its fruiting ability? What can I do to improve the health of my olive tree? JJ replies Olive trees don’t need cross-pollination but will fruit a lot better when there are two or more varieties flowering at the same time. Olive trees prefer alkaline soil and they especially appreciate an application of agricultural lime every couple of months. Feed every two or three months with 8:1:5 fertiliser to encourage leaves, flowers and…

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) PLANT GUIDE Perennial Height 100–150cm Position Full sun Sow in seed trays Sowing time October to January Germination 7–10 days at 20–26ºC* Transplant seedlings 4–6 weeks later, from November to March Spacing 100cm apart Flowering season Summer Growing tip Provide well-drained, compost-rich loamy soil. Harvesting tip The neck under the fruit/ flower must be firm before you pick them; they can be picked closed, half-open or open. Onion (Allium) PLANT GUIDE Annual Height75–100cm PositionFull sun Sow in seed trays or directly in the soil Sowing time January to April Germination 10–20 days at 18–20ºC* Transplant seedlings 8–12 weeks later, from March to May Spacing 15cm apart Flowering season October to January Growing tip Alliums like compost-rich, well-drained soil. Harvesting tip…

Butternut and chicken soup Under R85 • Serves 6 • Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes • 30ml butter • 1 small onion, finely chopped • 30ml flour • 1L chicken stock • 1kg cubed butternut, steamed or boiled • 2cups shredded cooked chicken • 250ml cream • pinch of chilli flakes • 30ml chopped parsley 1 Melt the butter in a saucepan and slowly sauté the onions until glossy. Stir in the flour and fry for another minute. Gradually beat in the stock to prevent lumps from forming. Stir in the butternut and simmer for about 10 minutes. Purée with a stick blender. 2 Stir in the chicken, cream, chilli flakes and parsley and simmer until heated through and the soup has reached the desired consistency. Finally, season…

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Paula Dubois WHERE Cape Town BUSINESS Paula Dubois Art & Design HER WORK Connecting with people and, more specifically, connecting man with nature is a key concept in Paula’s life and art. She seeks beauty in everyday life, drawing inspiration from daily walks on Table Mountain and swimming in the ocean. Apart from illustrating Home’s back page every month, Paula’s latest work can be seen at ‘Reflect’, an exhibition starting 1 July at Haas Collective (haaskoop.com) in Cape Town. Her paintings are also available for custom printing as part of the Wallpaper Artist collection at Orms. View her work at ormsprintroom.co.za/ product/wallpaper-collection; wallpaper printing starts from R495/m2 . For queries email decor@orms.co.za. Follow Paula on facebook.com/pauladuboisartandinstagram.com/pauladubois, or email her directly at paulatdubois@gmail.com. The Grohe virtual showroom allows…

WHO LIVES HERE? Terry de Vries WHERE Barrydale, Little Karoo SIZE about 200m2 (excluding front stoep), erf 1 115m² The garden gate that welcomes you to Terry de Vries’s home in Barrydale seems to sit almost impertinently between beautiful hand-stacked slate walls. The slate may be an authentic Karoo touch, but the cobalt-blue gate is reminiscent of Mexico. Terry, a former journalist and long-time Stellenbosch resident, has been living in Barrydale since June 2018. She’s a bundle of energy, yet at the same time she’s also the picture of serenity. Although she has a BSc degree in agriculture, Terry is currently a transformation facilitator and offers yoga classes, labyrinth walks and meditation retreats at her residence, Kamala Retreat House. In 1996, after lecturing at Stellenbosch University’s journalism department for two…

• If you have high ceilings, you can work with a large scale to make the room look even bigger. Install floor-to-ceiling doors and windows. Work with layers: for example, hang two rows of pictures above a bed and something else, such as an animal skull, above that – this will all draw the eye upwards. • The right wall colour sets the tone for the entire space, so take care when choosing paint or wallpaper. • Every room needs a focal point. This can easily be created with eye-catching lights, striking furniture pieces or wallpaper. Even something small can have huge impact if used cleverly. • Keep your large furniture pieces neutral; this way you can change the look and feel of the space by simply switching up the…

#1 Sam, an interior architect, says that rearranging the furniture in each space can have a big impact. However, in the Taits’ living area she believes the furniture placement is perfect as is. #2 An L-shaped sofa instead of two separate couches is ideal for intimate seating in the Andrews’ cosy lounge, says Sam, while two armchairs on the opposite side allow for an easy flow in the space. #3 Due to the length and narrow width of Irma Herbst’s sunroom, a little gin bar (or coffee nook, if you prefer) is ideal for separating the lounge and dining area, creating a wonderful all-in-one entertainment space. The dining table can then be placed in the opposite corner of the space, allowing for more chairs around the table. #4 A corner…

Our annual competition in partnership with Tjhoko Paint gives you the opportunity to work wonders with paint, a brush, roller and stencil. Let your imagination run wild and give an old item a new lease on life with a lick of paint! There’s no reason to buy new things when you can use Tjhoko Paint to create showstoppers for every corner of your home. Not to mention the amazing prizes you stand to win... NOW ON INSTAGRAM There are a few new features in this year’s competition. Most importantly: all entries must be posted on Instagram. This means you must have an Instagram account; if you don’t yet have one, download the app from the Apple App Store or on Google Play, create your profile and get going. Feel free…

Q: I love the mirrors featwred on page 54 of yowr October 2019 edition; where can I find something similar? – Lisa de Swardt, Stellenbosch A: The homeowners bought these from Mr Price Home (mrphome.co.za) a couple of years ago. You can find similar pill-shaped mirrors at Iconomy (iconomyonline.com) and Leroy Merlin (leroymerlin.co.za). Q: What colowr are the walls in Lindie and Erick Senekal’s entrance hall as shown on page 34 in yowr November 2019 isswe? – Janine Johnson, East London A: The walls were painted in Plascon Snow Goose. Q: Where did Andrew and Carina Johnson find the bar stools as featwred on page 47 of yowr April 2021 edition? – Hannelie Swart, Bredasdorp A: Carina bought the stools in natural pine from Mistry’s Pine Furniture (mistrys.co.za) and sealed…

How should you go about restoring a badly run-down heritage house? Marcus’s advice is to work with what you have and to keep it simple. These days, a century-old house rarely ticks all the boxes for cosy get-togethers that spontaneously spill over from open-plan spaces onto a stoep. Marcus is a sociable, hospitable man who also loves modernist architecture. In Vosburg, however, he let himself be guided by his love for the Karoo landscape and respect for the home’s history and what the interior’s original layout would have been circa 1900. “It was easy to work with this heritage because the floor plan and function of each room was simple and direct. The existing floor plan guided me to approach functional areas for cooking and sleeping in the same way…

Fabulous ficus Bring your gardening passion to your living areas with the lush foliage of indoor plants. These four Ficus varieties will add warmth and interest: 1 Ficus elastica ‘Black Prince’ This eye-catching rubber plant variety is trendy and stylish with striking green-black foliage suited to a well-lit area. 2 Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) The ideal tree for indoor landscaping with elegant branches and glossy leaves – look out for ones with plaited stems. This plant tolerates limited light. 3 Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) With large violin-shaped leaves, this plant makes a dramatic statement; plant it in rich compost and place it in bright, indirect light. 4 Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) An attractive ornamental plant that purifies the air and is easy to care for. Place in a well-lit…

New in nurseries! Two-toned stunner Ranunculus Mâché ‘Lemon Rose Bicolour’ is available as a pot specimen or a six-pack of seedlings. This seed-grown variety makes it possible to enjoy these showy spring flowers without needing to plant bulbs. ‘Lemon Rose Bicolour’ is a new introduction to the Mâché range that includes single colours such as orange, pink, purple, red and yellow, as well as mixes of bold or pastel colours. The strong-stemmed plants are vigorous, producing large flowers offset by dark green leaves. They do best in full sun in fertile, well-composted soil that drains well. With a height of 30–40cm, they are ideal for filling a garden bed behind a low-growing border of pansies or violas, as well as in window boxes and patio pots. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za STOCKISTS @home…

WHO LIVES HERE? Charmaine and Martin Haines WHERE Nieu-Bethesda SIZE OF GARDEN 600m2 TYPE OF SOIL Clay The garden created by this artistic couple is one of surprises and contrasts. Not only is this lush oasis unexpected in the quiet, dusty streets of Nieu-Bethesda, but its formal Victorian layout – with straight gravel paths and demarcated flowerbeds – is even more of a surprise. The garden is kept lush with leiwater that is supplied to residents via furrows running through their properties (similar to those along the town’s streets), while the beds are filled with hardy plants that can withstand the harsh winter frosts. And the artworks on a wall decorated with mosaics – a woman with jet-black hair, a long-legged rabbit, a variety of pots – are not your…

Makes 1L pudding Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking time: 2 hours, 30 minutes • 125g softened butter • 60ml brown sugar • 60ml marmalade*, plus extra to serve • 2 extra-large eggs • 310ml (1¼ cups) flour • 7.5ml baking powder • pinch of salt • 150ml hot milk * If you don’t like marmalade, use melted apricot jam or even golden syrup. A pinch of dried ginger is also delicious in the batter. 1 Beat the butter, sugar and marmalade together until creamy and well blended. Add the eggs and beat until mixed. 2 Sift the flour, baking powder and salt over the batter and mix in. Finally, add the milk and beat until just smooth. 3 Pour the batter into a greased 1L, jelly mould, glass mixing bowl or…

Neat ’n tidy Everyone needs a stack of versatile soft cotton Mungo washcloths (from R280 for a pack of 4, mungo.co.za) for kitchen chores and mopping up spills – or to simply admire their lovely colours! TOOTY FRUITY Proudly South African A1 Fruit Water is made by infusing fresh sparkling water with a splash of real African fruit, creating a healthy and tasty treat with zero calories. The natural fruit infusion and flavours found in this refreshing drink are captured as a by-product during the fruit concentrate manufacturing process. A1 Fruit Water is also free of sugar, sweeteners and preservatives. Find Mandarin, Grapefruit and Lemon on takealot.com or visit a1fruitwater.com to find a stockist near you. Warm up! Fransisco Soup Mugs R69.95 each, woolworths.co.za FOR THE LOVE OF TEA… Tea…

We all know it, don’t we? That dreadful feeling in the wee hours of the night when you slowly surface from a deep, restful sleep. It wasn’t a nightmare that woke you. Or things that go bump in the night. You just woke up. Just sommer. For a few sweet moments you’re still hovering in a state between sleep and wakefulness. Then a dog barks. Or a cricket takes out his rusty violin right outside your bedroom window. And now you know it’s over. The gods of sleep have once again abandoned you, wide awake at that old, deserted station called Insomnia. And the last train has left. You consider your options. Should you try counting sheep? Nah. It’s stupid. Self-hypnosis then, counting backwards from 10 and visualising each number.…