Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Home

At the beginning of the year I invited the team for an informal dinner at my house. Everyone helped to make the meal, including our digital editor Shané. Although I’ve been recycling glass for quite a while now, my plastic waste ends up in the dustbin. And when Shané saw this, I was in big trouble. She was right, of course. It’s outrageous. I gave her a weak excuse: something about the Cape drought and how we can’t throw away soiled meat trays and containers until we’ve rinsed them but we’re only allowed 50L of water a day. But her ‘reminder’ made me feel so guilty that for the rest of the day I kept looking over my shoulder before throwing any plastic, polystyrene or empty containers in the bin.…

Lizl Naude of Lilly Loompa re-uses junk to make fun statement pieces, such as her cute Toona Cans (R95) made from discarded tuna cans – they’re perfect for storage and make a great conversation piece! Browse her other ecofriendly products at lillyloompa.com . Hot products Keen to ditch single-use plastic straws? The c.straw (from R50) and fabulous shweshwe straw storage bag (R27) will fit neatly in your handbag. Go to ebonymoon.co.za/stockists . Fine fabric For a touch of nostalgia, use Alex Latimer’s Iconic SA fabric from Abundant African Art (R650/m; 140cm W) in your home décor and have fun identifying local favourites in the design! Take a look at abundantafricanart.co.za . Beetroot Inc.’s eco furniture range includes a variety of bookcases,…

Light-steel frame (LSF) is a lightweight application that ensures a significant drop in transport costs and impacts, thus reducing the carbon footprint overall, explain Dal and Neal who regularly use this building method. The final product boasts a thermal resistance superior to a double brick wall, reducing the necessity for extensive heating/ cooling of the building. This, too, has a significant impact on the carbon footprint. The core component, steel, is a 100% recyclable product with a 600-year lifespan.…

Rudi and Karen Oosthuyse’s house is the first structure you see when you turn off the Van der Stel Pass onto a winding track that leads to their fynbos farm just outside Bot River. Built with stone excavated on the farm as well as reclaimed blackwood, pine and blue gum – with huge windows affording a glorious view of the valley below – this home is entirely Rudi’s handiwork. “Rudi is a dad, entrepreneur and creative thinker,” says Karen. “I, on the other hand, am an exercise fanatic and I can’t work with my hands at all. But I’m really good at buying things!” Together the pair own and run a mountain lodge where they’re bringing up their two children as close to nature as possible. “Ruan is a real…

• Lower your carbon footprint! Trees absorb carbon as they grow and this carbon is locked away when the timber is used for construction. Wood is also a renewable resource. • Building a timber home makes less of a mess during the construction process as the work predominantly consists of ‘dry’ trades where products are ‘fixed’ and installed, as opposed to ‘wet’ trades where products are mixed and applied on site. • A timber home is easy to alter according to your needs over the years. • Because timber-frame walls are less bulky than brick walls, you gain approximately 1m² of internal floor area for every seven running metres of external wall length. • A timber-frame home can take about half the time it takes to build a conventional bricks-and-mortar…

It’s that time of year! Entries for our annual Fix it with Flair competition are closed and the judging process has begun. Once again, we were bowled over by our readers’ impressive DIY projects, resourceful solutions and inspiring renovations that included everything from entire homes and beautiful living spaces to individual rooms. The Home team carefully went through all the entries and we’ve selected our Top 10 semi-finalists for 2018 – it’s never an easy decision and this year was no exception. As usual, the rules stipulate that at least 50% of the work has to have been done by the homeowners. We checked – and double-checked – the budgets and these contenders clearly aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to get more bang for their bucks. VOTE &…

For a limewash look Emma Badcock of Zambia writes I’m building a house and would love to know which paint was used on the exterior of Jacques Müller and Justin Duckitt’s home in Nieu-Bethesda. Justin replies I used a basic limewash technique, as can be seen on many old – and modern – farmhouses. Take note that this technique can’t be used on previously painted walls – it works best on rough, newly-built walls. Here’s my recipe (I used a 1kg yoghurt tub as a measure): • 6 yoghurt tubs regular cement powder• 1 yoghurt tub Gluex• 1 yoghurt tub Bondit liquid• 40L water• 50ml black paint stain• 8 packets black oxide powder Mix everything in a large paint bucket. Stir well and ‘wash’ the entire structure with a…

It’s an infestation! Melanie van Deventer of Mookgophong writes My plants are covered in white foam with red mites inside. What is it? JJ replies Although not usually found on Eugenias, this looks like cochineal insects. Try rinsing them off with soapy water (use soap powder) and then spray them with Oleum or Karbaspray. On occasion, thinking it was a type of scale, I’ve also used Malasol and it worked well. Listen to JJ’s gardening tips and tricks on Derrich Gardner’s show Brekfis met Derrich at 07:40 every Saturday on RSG. Email gardens@homemag.co.za…

Lesley Mayford of Cape Town writes I’m dreading spring because I know my little Maltese will start suffering from allergies and itchiness. I’ve tried many products, but haven’t had much success. I’m now looking for a few natural solutions; any advice? Professor Patrick Bouic, an independent researcher for Cape Kingdom Nutraceuticals, replies Like humans, animals also feel the effects of the change of seasons, so we need to find ways to make things more comfortable for them. Natural products offer fantastic benefits with no side-effects, so opt for these alternatives where you can: Yoghurt A natural probiotic, unflavoured and unsweetened yoghurt is the perfect healthy treat for your furry friend. And since they love the taste, there’ll be no hassle getting them to eat a few spoonfuls. Yoghurt helps…

There is an unspoken camaraderie between those who plant flowers, those who pollinate them and those who enjoy them. It gives us an understanding of how much we need each other and keeps us humble. – Megan Edible flowers are colourful and fragrant, making them a useful addition to your garden. But they can also give your food and drinks a lovely twist – think of a salad garnished with nasturtiums or a cocktail finished off with pansy ice cubes. We asked Megan McCarthy, the horticulturist responsible for the vegetable garden at Boschendal Estate outside Franschhoek, to tell us more about edible flowers. “At Boschendal, many plants are grown specifically for their edible flowers. Of all the plants we cultivate here, the edible flowers bring me the most joy. They…

Q: What is the best way to support standard roses? I have a driveway lined with ‘Granny’s Delight’ and last year the wind broke off one of the heads. The stake needs to go as high as the crown, which will protect it from wind damage or from snapping off below the bud grafting. A T-bar or a circular support on top of the stake is most effective. A good method is to ‘bandage’ the stem, securing it to the stake with a shade cloth strip. When using the bandage method on youngish standard roses, it is advisable to wedge styrofoam pieces between the stem and stake to allow for expansion. What must I do with the new, reddish-coloured stems that shoot out from the base of my ‘Candice’ roses?…

WINNING LETTER A great paint job Kim Verburgh of Hoedspruit writes I was keen to update the canvas cushions on my pool loungers and thanks to some good advice from Home, they look amazing again! I diluted 1L paint with 1L water and managed to cover all eight cushions. I then finished off the job with wax and applied a fresh coat of varnish to the wooden legs. I’m so happy with the result! Compact and cosy Laura Helen Brown of Velddrif writes The picture on the cover of your July 2018 issue struck me as very familiar and when I read the lovely article ‘A Home Away from Home’, I realised that I had been in that house. My cousin lives next door to Amelia House and we’d asked…

BUSINESS Flip Flop Sculptures WHO Davis Ndungu WHERE Cape Town HIS WORK Davis is a passionate environmentalist and in 2009 started Flip Flop Sculptures using pre-loved flip flop sandals to create striking works of art – all with just a sharp knife and sandpaper. He started showcasing his work at a stand at The Rosebank Market in Jo’burg and now runs a popular store with four employees at the V&A Waterfront’s Watershed. You can also shop online at flipflopsculptures.co.za.…

IsoBoard is proud to be associated with EcoStandard South Africa, an organisation whose vision is to set environmental standards of excellence to measure and rate products, manufacturers and service providers within the building sector in SA. EcoStandard intends to promote the demand for and use of environmentally responsible organisations by participating in the global initiative to improve and strengthen the environmental consideration of our planet. Committed to providing clients with a product that’s environmentally friendly, IsoBoard is part of EcoStandard’s valuable portfolio of certified and rated products that have been awarded an EcoProduct label for their transparency and outstanding environmental practices. When looking for a product that will regulate the temperature of your building – be it an office, business or home – look no further than South Africa’s premier…

The subdivision of a property can be a complicated process but, in a nutshell, comprises the following: • Firstly, a town planner and a quantity surveyor must be privately appointed to draw up a draft plan. • This plan is submitted to your local municipality for approval, after which the municipality will do an assessment and approve the subdivision (or not) with certain conditions regarding the installation of services, access and permissible construction. • After municipal approval, the surveyor creates a final diagram of the subdivision and submits it to the Surveyor-General for approval. • Once approval is granted, a conveyancer must register the subdivision with the deeds office. An urban planner will guide you through all these steps. Grounds for rejection include: • Your local municipality’s bylaws or policies…

The Oosthuyses say their house is always open to friends and family. “We love spending time at home,” says Karen. “Because we run a guesthouse, we’re here a lot anyway and it was important that our space be as comfortable as possible for all of us, especially the kids. “When we entertain, we do so out on the deck. We braai, cook a potjie or bake pizzas – always with a few good bottles of wine and some great music!”…

While there has been a slight increase in the number of homes built with timber in South Africa, there are still a number of myths that put people off, says Jacques Cronjé of Jacques Cronjé Timber Design. “These include concerns around deforestation, durability of a timber home and the risk of fire.” Myth 1: Deforestation Wood is a renewable resource: for every tree harvested, another can be planted. South African Forestry Companies Limited (SAFCOL) is currently planting more than can be harvested and there is enough South African pine to meet current housing demands. Myth 2: Isn’t there a high risk of a timber home burning to the ground? Have you ever tried making a fire with a match and a log? A large amount of timber is very difficult…

The guest room was built among the thorn trees, a short distance from the venue. Because the turf soil was relatively unstable, a pole structure first had to be erected. Once the roof structure was up, the walls were constructed between the poles. “We used polystyrene sheets as a type of formwork to shape the walls – one layer inside and one layer outside – with holes for the bottles. There is a gap in-between, like a cavity wall, which keeps the space cool. “The bottles were placed in the holes, one layer at a time, with the neck of the bottle facing inwards. Then a layer of ordinary mortar was applied to both the inside and outside of the polystyrene sheets. About 4 000 white wine bottles later, the…

You will need SHOPPING LIST • old wire garden chair• Rust-Oleum Stops Rust metal primer• Rust-Oleum Chalked spray paint in Serenity Blue• 150m braided polyester or parachute cord (4mm)• 12mm carabiner TOOLS • hacksaw• vice grip• wire brush• scissors Get started 1 Secure the legs in the vice grip and saw them off with the hacksaw. 2 Use the wire brush to remove loose paint and rust flakes. 3 Prime the wire chair with Rust-Oleum Stops Rust metal primer then spray-paint it with two coats of Serenity Blue, letting the paint dry between coats. 4 Use the lark’s head knot to attach 10 x 3m lengths of cord to each arm of the chair. Then create the alternating square knot pattern with the cords. We stopped with the knots halfway…

Q: I love the figurine on page 60 of your May 2018 issue! Where can I get one like it? – Ansie Engelbrecht, Kimberley A: The homeowner got it at a shop that has since closed down, but you can order one directly from boutique.tintin.com or wantitall.co.za. Q: The trees above the door in Arina Vermeulen’s home on page 97 of your March 2018 issue are lovely! Where did she buy them? – Riana Botha, Johannesburg A: She got them from gift shop Avoova (avoova.com). Q: Where can I get a fabric laundry basket like the one on page 25 of your April 2018 issue? – Ann Abrahams via Facebook A: It’s from Makro (makro.co.za); Game (game.co.za), MRP Home (mrphome.com) and superbalist.com stock similar.…

Rockin’ the daisies Tamara romps among the Bloubergstrand blooms. – Arno Vorster, Cape Town Ready for anything! Starbuck gazes lovingly at his human. – Leigh King, Cape Town Just part of the furniture… Nala found the perfect spot on granny’s dresser. – Ronél Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen, Waterkloof I come bearing gifts Rescued Labrador Ringo knows how to win hearts. – Estelle Scheurkogel, Odendaalsrus Taking a moment German Shorthaired Pointer pup Piper poses in front of the daffodils. – Lisa Hebbelmann, Middelburg On the tip of her tongue Molly loves a good munch after the winter rains. – Diane Pritchard, Somerset West Email your queries to pets@homemag.co.za…

Once again, we’re back at the Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo – and this year we’re pulling out all the stops! Come early for the best seats and make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun. As always, our demonstrations promise to be informative, packed with nifty tips and, of course, entertaining. Best of all? The demos are free – and we have plenty of giveaways, prizes and even home-baked treats on offer! SPECIALS AT THE EXPO • Subscribe to Tuis|Home and get a massive 50% discount! Remember: this is a once-off offer and it’s only valid for print subscriptions paid for at the Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo. • Hot off the press, the September issue will also be on sale for R30! • Our food editor Johané Neilson will…

• The flowers of culinary herbs such as lavender, borage, chamomile, thyme, sage and chives have a similar flavour to the leaves and can be eaten as is or used as a garnish. • Edible flowers look great in salads, especially if their colours match those of the salad. Yellow and orange nasturtiums or the petals of calendulas will brighten up a green salad beautifully! • Always make sure a flower is edible before putting it in your mouth. • Harvest flowers in the early morning before they wilt in the heat of the day. The flowers should preferably not be wet when you pick them. • Never add flowers to food if they have been sprayed with pesticides. It’s safest to grow your own edible flowers. • If you’ve…

Bobotie koftas Cook these kebabs over an open fire or bake them in the oven. Remember to soak the skewers in water so they don’t catch alight. Serves 6 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 15–20 minutes • 3 thick slices of white bread, crumbled • 125ml milk • 15ml olive oil • 1 large onion, finely chopped • 2 large cloves garlic, chopped • 15ml mild curry powder • 5ml ground coriander • 2cm fresh ginger, peeled and grated • 2cm fresh turmeric, peeled and grated • 15ml tomato paste • 30ml apricot jam • 30ml red wine vinegar • a pinch of chilli flakes • 100g toasted almonds, chopped • 50ml raisins • 60ml chopped fresh coriander • 800g beef and ostrich mince • 1–2 lemons, thinly sliced • 12 bay leaves • yellow rice and sour cream, to serve 1 Soak the bread in the milk and…

Chocolate ice-cream cones If your first attempt at folding the cones is unsuccessful, eat the bits and try again. These cones will keep for up to three days in an airtight container. Makes about 10 cones Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus 1 hour resting time Baking time: about 5 minutes per baking tray Oven temperature: 180°C • 70g (125ml) flour • 15ml cocoa • 100g (190ml) icing sugar • pinch of salt • 3 extra-large egg whites, whisked • 100g butter, melted and cooled • about 60ml melted dark chocolate • cake sprinkles 1 Make the batter Sift the dry ingredients into a mixing bowl; slowly whisk in the egg whites until smooth. Gradually whisk in the butter. Cover the batter and refrigerate for 1 hour; it should thicken slightly, making it easier to spread. 2 Make a…

It must be a small-town thing, I realise when I spot old Manie at the hardware store again. I don’t know Manie personally but I see him here regularly. Today, there’s a lady at his side – wearing a fleece jacket similar to his, displaying the same middle-age spread around the midriff. She doesn’t call him Manie, she calls him “Dadda”. They’re looking at one of those ‘handy’ collapsible contraptions used for hanging wet laundry. Don’t ask me what they’re called. Probably something just as clunky and complicated and obstreperous as the contraption itself. This particular demo model is standing there all pious and goody-goody, the ultimate quick-fix washing line for small spaces. Bring it on; the instructions on the box promise that it’ll accommodate all your panties plus all…

ON THE BOX Reno My Reno (Season 1 starts 24 September on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv) dives into the world of renovation projects gone wrong. In each episode, top-notch contractor Dave Depencier and his team right all the wrongs and teach the culprit behind the disaster how to do things properly. In just a couple of days, Dave and his team whip these misguided DIYers into shape to create jaw-dropping transformations. KAMERS/Makers Bloemfontein 26–30 September: Monte Bello Estate, Bloemfontein This pop-up market returns to Bloemfontein with more than 120 exhibitors; expect a wide variety of fashion, jewellery, homeware, décor and lifestyle items. Tickets from plankton.mobi cost R60 and include a limited edition KAMERS/Makers shopping bag and magazine. Tickets at the entrance cost R90; under-18s enter free (excluding shopping bag and…

Keys to my castle Jill Marion’s key collection began on her 21st birthday. “Instead of the usual engraved key, my parents presented me with an enormous rusty one from an old Scottish castle,” she explains. “The rest have been collected on my travels – they’re so easy to transport! Keys evolved to locks, bottle openers and even old penknives. The handcuffs are from the old Mossel Bay prison; they were given to me by an elderly gentleman who saw that I had an old jail door on the back of my bakkie.” Jill takes steel nails out of electrical cable clips and uses those to hang the bigger items on the wall; thinly rolled ‘sausages’ of Prestik work well for the smaller keys. All bottled up A vertical garden is…

I wanted to enhance the imperfections by combining old furnishings with modern fittings. – Darryl Architect Paul Marais went on to win an Afrisam-SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation for the design of Darryl’s home. Is building a rammed earth home something the ‘average Joe’ can consider, no matter the location? Yes, it’s viable to build a rammed earth house anywhere and the technique is used throughout the world in both wet and dry climates. Seven-storey rammed earth buildings have been constructed in Yemen and there are entire villages (tolou) built from rammed earth in China. One requires well-graded earth that comprises sand, gravel, clay and silt and this is widespread throughout South Africa. What specifically about rammed earth interests you and what other types of green building methods…

Having grown up in the suburb of Walmer, Fiona Whitfield has fond memories of the Friendly City. After living with her husband John in various locations over the years, the couple returned to Port Elizabeth in 2001 to make this coastal town their permanent home. They bought a property overlooking the beautiful Baakens River Valley and in 2015 started building a contemporary, ecofriendly “tree house”. The structure is a combination of heavy and light steel and the end result is proof that with a clear vision, a tight budget need not spell the end of your dream. “It just goes to show that if you have a good idea and you’re willing to put in some hard work, you can make it happen,” says Fiona. In the treetops When John…

“Firstly, it’s vital that you start with the fundamentals of ‘basic’ design,” advises Neal. “By this I mean the simple design principles that drive us should be nonnegotiable in terms of site context. We must keep in mind the light, wind, permanent on-site elements that create cold spots, such as shadows from neighbouring buildings, and other features including vegetation and the gradient. “These relate to the correct orientation of the building and how each façade deals with each element or site restraint. All these principles can easily be adopted and require little or no further capital investment.” Other design and specification aspects may include: • A well-insulated building with correct ventilation; • Incorporating passive environmental methods such as solar power for heating and electricity; • Rainwater harvesting; • Using recyclable…

• Because the framework of the structure is made separately before it’s pinned to the foundation, it’s of utmost importance to measure twice and cut once. • Check that the pine you purchase has been treated to protect it against bugs, fire and moisture. Architect Jacques Cronjé adds that he specifies the required treatment of all structural timber purchased by the contractor. “In terms of moisture protection, the level of moisture treatment varies for each application; this is referred to as a ‘hazard class’,” he explains. “For example, pine exposed to weather and ground must be treated with Hazard Class 3 (H3), while pine exposed to occasional water needs H4 or H5. Most timber merchants should be able to advise you on which hazard class is suitable for which application.”…

The benefits of this type of construction are that less glass ends up on landfills, it provides employment on site, the glass creates beautiful patterns of light and the walls provide good insulation.  The tapered ends of the bottles can also be cut off and taped, end to end, to form a sealed tube of glass. The tubes are then stacked in a pattern and either set in cement, lime or cob (a mixture of straw, water and subsoil). Lime and white cement are more effective when it comes to reflecting light through the glass. Tinfoil can also be wrapped around the bottles to further enhance the quality of light. Source ecodesignarchitects.co.za…

Face the music Irma Delport of Pretoria writes I got this piano from my mother who bought it second-hand in 1945; she believes it was already 25 years old back then. It’s in working order but it needs to be tuned. What is its approximate value? Sophie-Louise Fröhlich of Stephan Welz & Co. replies Upright pianos don’t hold much value compared to baby grand or grand pianos. John Broadwood & Sons, the English manufacturer of your instrument, was founded in 1728 by Burkat Shudi. After his death in 1773, the business was taken over by John Broadwood. CIRCA Late 19th century – early 20th century VALUE From R2 000 at auction CONTACT stephanwelzandco.co.za Email stashit@homemag.co.za…

Each owner whose pet is featured here wins the new large Urban Hound bed for dogs or a medium Cupcake bed for cats from Wagworld (wagworld.co.za). Available from leading vet and pet shops, the Urban Hound’s durable and waterproof canvas is easy to clean with just a touch of design to complement your home’s interior décor. The Cupcake bed is a real treat for furry friends that prefer to be indoors. Deluxe anti-pill fleece on one side takes care of those chilly winter nights while cool cotton on the other side is just right for hot summers – making it perfect all year round! Send your pics (at least 2MB each) and contact details to pets@homemag.co.za – you could be a winner too. See competition rules on page 129.…

When Henriëtte and Johan de Beer viewed a house on the charming Bankenveld Golf Estate in eMalahleni in 2016, it was love at first sight. “From the get-go we adored this contemporary home,” says Henriëtte. “But we weren’t impressed by the garden. It lacked character and there were no focal points or nooks in which to relax. I believe garden nooks are important because they give you a chance to sit and enjoy your surroundings.” The De Beers approached Yvonne Joao of Jardinier Landscape Design & Décor as she’d landscaped their previous garden. Her brief was to create a more classic space with lots of structural elements. Yet the aesthetic had to be uncomplicated, with not too many different types of plants and colours. Yvonne took on this massive task…

Local heroes Gardens are often created in difficult conditions – think of patches of green in a dusty Karoo town, pockets of brightly-coloured flowers among rocky outcrops and seashore plantings buffeted by relentless winds – with plants that have stood the test of time and the whims of fashion. And many of the stalwarts grown in gardens around the world have their origins in South Africa. Agapanthus, arum, Diascia, Crocosmia, Gazania, red-hot poker, Nerine, protea and watsonia are just some of our many floral treasures that provide colour in gardens both here and abroad, while pelargoniums have long been favourite plants for window boxes, containers and hanging baskets across Europe. Heritage Day on 24 September is a celebration of the amazing wealth of our plant kingdom and a reminder to…

Mexican sweet potatoes Under R110 • Serves 4 • Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C • 4 medium sweet potatoes (orange flesh), halved • 30ml olive oil • 1 ripe avocado • about 60ml sour cream • about 15ml fresh lemon juice • 1 bunch coriander, chopped • 300ml shredded cooked chicken • 200g cherry tomatoes, chopped • 125ml sweetcorn, charred • red kidney beans • micro herb leaves 1 Preheat the oven. Score the sweet potatoes without cutting through the skin and rub with oil. Put the sweet potato halves on a baking tray, cover with foil and bake for about 30 minutes or until cooked through and soft. 2 Purée the avocado with a spoonful of sour cream, the lemon juice and a sprinkling of chopped coriander. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 3…

WIN! One lucky reader will win 21 bottles of delicious FAT bastard wine worth R2 300 to celebrate FAT bastard’s 21st birthday. FAT bastard wines are gutsy and full-bodied – whether it’s a celebration or a casual get-together, there should be a bottle (or two) chilling in the fridge! Visit fatbastardwine.co.za for details. To enter, SMS the keyword FATBASTARD followed by your full name, postal address and email address to 33406 by 12 October 2018 (each SMS costs R1.50); see competition rules on page 129. A vegan wine Did you know that animal products such as gelatine are sometimes used in the traditional winemaking process to clarify the liquid before bottling? Delheim’s 2018 Pinotage Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc are now proudly vegan; a type of clay called bentonite and plant-derived protein…