Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2019 i Home

In the midst of the end-of-year panic, I arrived home one evening recently and randomly started organising my fridge. It wasn’t urgent, but at that moment it was essential. In the ecosystem of the prevailing chaos, that white appliance was something I could sort out right then and there – and, thus, my decades-old Defy became a metaphor for all that was ‘past its sell-by date’ yet salvageable. I couldn’t even pour the buttermilk for the rusks I’d been planning to bake since the start of winter out of the container, that’s how thick and disgusting it had become back there between the half-empty jam jars, so I tossed it just like that. Cheddar with rock-hard rind? Cut off the outer layer, grate the rest. Overripe tomatoes? Into the freezer for stews.…

Bibby’s Kitchen by Dianne Bibby (Human & Rousseau) presents a host of exciting recipes, ranging from vegan options to SA favourites with a modern twist. The book is crammed with deliciousness: sweet and savoury breakfasts, soulful soups, hot and cold sides, slow food and simple suppers, sensational desserts and the ultimate Cake Friday recipes. Be inspired to try something new, making the time you spend in the kitchen deeply rewarding. Visit nb.co.za.…

On the shelf Both professional photographers and self-professed travel junkies, the first thing you notice in Selma and André Ohlsson’s kitchen in Uitzicht, Durbanville is the ‘snaking’ raw pine shelf that creates a practical and visually stimulating feature. “We got the idea from Pinterest. Originally, we thought of using the space for crockery but during the renovation we ‘decluttered’ and decided to rather create a fun display and keep the ‘kitcheny’ things behind closed doors in the bottom cupboards,” says Selma. Lighter and brighter The kitchen was designed by Lee-Ann Vigus of LVstar Photography and Interiors; she worked closely with Nicholas Ripepi from My Style Woodworks to transform it into a space the couple adore. Selma and André wanted their open-plan kitchen to incorporate their trinkets and treasures so they…

WHO LIVES HERE? Karel and Olivia Botha with their children Le Mar (2) and Tre Monne (1) WHERE Swellendam SIZE 260m² Olivia Botha discovered her creative side at a young age and ever since, her world has been a kaleidoscope of bright colours. “I started painting when I was nine years old and at the age of 11, I began selling my artworks – and I never stopped!” says Olivia who co-owns Art de Olivia, an art gallery and store in Parys, with her husband Karel. Olivia is so passionate about colour and décor that she once bought a scatter cushion just so she could take it to a nearby paint store for a colour match that she could replicate on a wall at the entrance to her home. Her…

IsoBoard offers an easy-to-install insulation solution to fit to new builds or retrofit to existing buildings. This enables your home to manage external temperature fluctuations with ease, maintaining comfortable living and working spaces for the lifetime of your building. Suitable for all the different areas in your home, this environmentally responsible thermal insulation solution is as versatile as it is effective. You’ll keep your home’s temperature steady, which means using less electricity for heating or cooling. Did you know? 1 IsoBoard can be treated with water-based paints and wood stains to suit your colour scheme. 2 When replacing a ceiling, leave the existing ceiling as is and simply install IsoBoard directly underneath – a quick and permanent solution with minimal mess or fuss! 3 Adjacent boards interlock with tongue-and-groove edges,…

Best friends forever! Soft spot Kitty waits patiently for sleepyhead Scamp to play with her. – Tracey Cotton, Durban Through thick ’n thin Zesty the Beagle and Karamel the Spaniel are inseparable. – Robbie Pretorius, Nelspruit Double trouble Rocky and Jack are no angels! – Wena van der Merwe, Porterville Like cats and dogs Ginger cat Simson loves to cuddle with wirehaired Dachshund Elvis. – Elsje and Johan Carinus, Stellenbosch On the edge Ginger and Duke keep an eye on each other. – Terry Lane, Durbanville Farm friends Coco, Jasper and Zara make a new friend at the farmyard! – Anchen Wentzel, Brackenfell Hot product Try out the multipurpose Silicone Pet Grooming Glove (R79.99, mrphome.com) – it’s great for keeping your pets happy and home clean! Use it to scrub…

Ludwig’s rose corner Selene Smith of Pietermaritzburg writes Every time a bud forms on my ‘Black Madonna’ roses, insects or beetles magically appear, suck out all the nutrients and then that bud dies off. I have tried everything, numerous sprays and even diatomaceous earth (DE), but nothing works. What can you suggest? Ludwig replies It may be a stink bug that is causing the problem, or a wilter beetle that sucks below the bud on the still-soft peduncle. Some insects prefer specific varieties to feast on. I should think that drenching the soil around the ‘Black Madonna’ rose with Koinor should solve the problem. Koinor is effective for four to five months so keep an eye out for the return of the bugs, but hopefully they will have moved on.…

At Fairview, water is harvested and re-used, and the garden is irrigated with kitchen and tank water. “You’ll be amazed at how much clean rinsing water you can collect in a plastic bowl in the kitchen sink. With the vegetable and herb garden near the kitchen door, it is easy to use this water there. I also have four water tanks with a total capacity of 15 000L in various spots in the garden. I only need a pump for two of them for irrigating; water from the other two is gravity-fed. We installed fishing net around the tank nearest our back stoep and a Mexican blood trumpet is climbing up it to conceal the tank.”…

“I’m a plant fanatic – the more, the better! So it’s difficult for me to limit myself to 10 favourites,” says Benk. “By tomorrow I will probably think of three more that should be on my list at all costs! I like taking cuttings and growing plants from seed, so self-seeding plants like poppies are a must.” Benk shares his top choices: • Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), which is great for softening a bed. • The hybrid tea ‘Just Joey’ for its wonderful fragrance; it is also a robust grower. • The climbing rose ‘Albertine’, a lush grower with a fragrant pink rose bud. • Bush violet (Barleria repens) is a good hedge plant; it is indigenous and drought-tolerant. • Delphinium (Delphinium x elatum) is my first choice for height and…

Pineapple rice salad Under R75 • Serves 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes • Cooking time: 10 minutes • 1 small pineapple, peeled • 8 rashers bacon • about 30ml sesame oil • 1 carrot, grated • ½ red pepper, chopped • ½ yellow pepper, chopped • 1 red chilli, chopped • 500ml cooked brown rice • 1 bunch spring onions, chopped • fresh coriander 1 Quarter the pineapple and remove the hard core. Cut each quarter into four equal blocks. Halve each bacon rasher and wrap around the pineapple; thread onto four kebab sticks. 2 Heat the sesame oil and fry the kebabs until the bacon is cooked and the pineapple starts to soften. Remove from the pan and fry the carrot, peppers and chilli until glossy. Add more oil if necessary. Stir in the rice and spring onions and heat through.…

Nespresso, the leader in portioned coffee, has released its Barista Creations range designed to be enjoyed with milk. The Chiaro (meaning ‘light’ in Italian), Scuro (‘dark’) and Corto (‘short’) blends will have you covered when preparing an indulgent milky coffee at home, just the way you like it.Visit buynespresso.com. Bowled over This pretty (12cm D) Lilies bowl (R49, home.co.za) makes presentation an art! Let’s do lunch Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant invites guests to start their meal with shared dishes inspired by their rich culinary heritage, including breads, spreads, salads and meats. Starters come with condiments from Granny’s pantry: pickled or preserved fruit and veg, chakalaka or chutney, kaiings or kluitjies. A shared starter and main meal costs R335 per person. Desserts can be ordered as an additional course or…

My dentist is this really nice guy. He greets you as if he is genuinely happy to discover you there among the magazines in the waiting room, as if it’s a delightful surprise. You have made his day. Most people would positively glow in the warmth of such a greeting. Every last trace of apprehension would vanish and they would follow him happily to the chair. Everyone, that is, except me. I react like a lamb to the slaughter. My legs stiffen involuntarily and my heels dig deep holes into the carpet. The doctor has to practically prise me from my chair. Don’t ask me where this fear comes from. It could be anything from an unfortunate experience with the tooth fairy way back when to some hidden trauma in…

ON THE BOX Everyone wants a ‘move-in-ready’ dream home, but with soaring real estate prices in a red-hot market, it’s just not possible for most homeowners. On Worst to First (Season 1 starts 18 November on the Home Channel, 176 on DStv), contractors Mickey Fabbiano and Sebastian Sevallo take on the challenge of transforming the ugliest house on the block into the envy of the neighbourhood. ANNUAL NAPPY RUN 2 November: Johannesburg Zoo Take part in this annual 5km fun run at the Johannesburg Zoo on International Children’s Day. Run, walk, wheel or stroll to raise awareness of children living with disabilities. Tickets can be purchased from nappyrun.org.za at R100 per adult and R60 for kids; funds raised will be used to buy nappies. Visit nappyrun.org.za or call 011 452 2774…

Airbnb like a pro! Annalie Honniball of Winterton writes Your Home Sharing Conference in partnership with Airbnb looked very interesting but I wasn’t able to attend. Did you make a DVD of the event, is there a printed version of the proceedings or, even better, something online? The Home team replies The Home Sharing Conference was indeed very informative. From panel discussions on managing your property to tips on decorating and a photography masterclass, our first Home Sharing Conference presented in Cape Town was a fun-filled day of sharing knowledge – for newbies and seasoned hosts alike. Expert speakers addressed questions from the 200 attendees – here are 15 of the most interesting points that emerged: 1 Airbnb now has more than 6 million homes listed across the globe. Thanks…

WHO LIVES HERE? Juanita Lacock and her children, Lily (19) and Adriaan (16) WHERE Worcester SIZE 18m² When interior designer and stylist at Incanda Juanita Lacock bought a beautiful house (built in 1953) in the Worcester town centre back in 2001, her budget only allowed for a superficial makeover of the kitchen, such as painting the existing cupboards. Fast-forward 16 years and the timing was finally right for a full-scale renovation, including structural changes. Juanita had always dreamt of a separate scullery, something her old kitchen lacked, so building on a 9m² space to serve this purpose was a must. Typical of older homes, the kitchen lacked sufficient natural lighting, so replacing a small old window with a large contemporary steel-frame window was another key consideration and the major inspiration…

Dr Zarina Motala, veterinarian at Tygerberg Animal Hospital, replies In a country rife with backyard breeders and puppy mills the motivation behind breeding should be carefully considered. Responsible, well-educated dog breeders are invaluable: they treat their animals as family members, know what to expect and prepare accordingly, allowing us to benefit from quality specimens of the various breeds. These breeders ensure that their animals are carefully selected through processes such as X-ray grading of hips and elbows; characteristics such as physical shape or conformation and temperament are also taken into consideration. This allows for genetic selection to promote healthy puppies with a decreased risk for breed-specific hereditary problems. These include hip and elbow dysplasia, which can cause severe lameness and pain for the lifespan of the animal; poor nose, airway…

After Benk and Philda’s children moved out of home, the lawn was reduced quite substantially and the couple created two very distinct garden rooms using metal screens. The garden room at the front of the house is more formal to complement the architecture of the Cape Georgian house. This is where Benk has established the formal rose garden. The other garden room is more informal with a mixed border to soften the look. This section is home to the circular rose bed, too. Roses such as ‘Albertine’, ‘Cécile Brünner’, ‘New Dawn’, ‘Dorothy Perkins’ and climbers such as wisteria and granadilla are growing on the metal screens. The granadillas grow particularly well, while Catawba grapes are thriving on the pergola by the front stoep. Philda uses the fruit of both to…

1 Indigenous and waterwise YELLOW WILD IRIS The indigenous yellow wild iris or peacock flower (Dietes bicolor) has attractive strap-shaped leaves and flowers non-stop for months on end in spring and summer. The pale-yellow blooms each have three brown markings on the petals and are borne on the ends of branched stems. And although each flower only lasts for one day on the plant, it blooms so abundantly that it provides colour almost continuously. This evergreen perennial is fast-growing, copes with poor soil and is happy with very little water but can also be planted in damper areas. It grows in full sun and semi-shade, but in hot interior regions it should rather be planted in semi-shade. Yellow wild iris needs little attention and multiplies rapidly. Use it as an…

WINNING LETTER In pursuit of light Shireen Coetzee of Mitchells Plain writes I live in an old council house with bedroom and lounge windows that face west and don’t get direct sun. I’m an ardent lover of glass and yearn for more sunlight in these rooms. I marvel at how easily some people break down walls in pursuit of light! I think an article on how to psychologically prepare for the ‘big breakdown’ is needed. Especially when it comes to convincing the other residents that half of the lounge wall has to go. Of course, the payoff will be enjoying four hours of afternoon sun. The new view would, however, reveal a dull alley that must be transformed into something beautiful. But the big debate will be the safety of…

Inspired by the beautiful private garden at Tokara, photographer Theresa Fourie, in collaboration with Tokara Delicatessen in Stellenbosch, has launched the exclusive Tokara Collection, a pure linen range of pillowcases, tablecloths and aprons. Each item features scenes and blooms found in the garden. Visit the Tokara Deli or email sarah@tokara.com for orders. CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Talia van der Walt and Justine Darby WHERE Johannesburg BUSINESS Sewing Room THEIR WORK With a shared passion for beautiful décor and interior design, Talia and Justine launched an online made-to-order design service offering an easy one-stop solution. Sewing Room allows you to choose from a selection of on-trend fabrics for scatter cushions, dog pillows, beanbags, throws and lampshades in the size you’d like. They also have a design service, offering personal advice when you submit…

WHO LIVES HERE? Dewald and Suzanne Coolen with their boys, Jonathan (9) and Nicolas (11) WHERE Somerset West SIZE 590m² When Dewald and Suzanne Coolen went on a hunt for the perfect family home in 2015, the 360° views from a 1990s home in the Erinvale Country and Golf Estate in Somerset West caught their attention. “Situated at the end of a cul de sac, the property boasts epic vistas from the Helderberg Mountain on one side to Lourensford Wine Estate, the Hottentots Holland Mountains and all the way to False Bay on the other side,” explains Suzanne. A renovation was on the cards and the couple brought in an architect and construction company to advise them on possible structural changes before purchasing the property. As it turns out, the…

You will need SHOPPING LIST • birch ply (cut to the size of your table top)• 14 x hexagon tiles in grey and light grey• contact adhesive• Woodoc Water-Borne Floor Matt• tile adhesive• grout in light grey• clear silicone TOOLS • pencil• ruler• spacers (we used sosatie sticks; you can use tile spacers or matchsticks)• g-clamps• jigsaw• drill with 8mm wood drill bit• applicators• paintbrush• mixing container for grout• sponge• cloth QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 2/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 5 hours, excluding drying times Do it yourself for ± R1 280: birch ply R555, tiles R170, contact adhesive R100, tile adhesive R150, grout R45, Woodoc Water-Borne Floor R260 Get started... 1 Put the plywood on your table top. Place the hexagon tiles on top in an organic pattern;…

To begin with, make sure your mats – if you have any – have a non-slip backing. If they don’t, you can buy a non-slip underlay from a hardware store such as Builders. Alternatively, apply an even layer of Rust-Oleum Industrial Choice Anti-Slip Spray on the floor. Prepare the surface by cleaning it thoroughly with soap and water; let it dry well. Cover all the surfaces you don’t want to treat with drop sheets and masking tape then simply apply an even layer of the anti-slip spray over the floor. Let it dry completely before you walk on it. CONTACT shellybergh@gmail.com…

Stephanie Forbes, national manager at The Kitchen Specialists Association of SA (KSA), offers the following advice: • There’s a move to a thin, sleek look well-suited to porcelain and other solid surfacing materials such as Corian. Even manufacturers of engineered stone have made inroads to making their slabs as thin as possible without compromising the product’s integrity. • Marble-look surfaces are popular once again. While natural marble isn’t particularly well-suited to a kitchen as it’s softer and more porous than granite, many of the engineered stone manufacturers have invested in creating products that imitate its colour and texture, allowing consumers to enjoy the aesthetics of marble with the durability of engineered stone. • The natural, rough look remains popular. Irrespective of product, there has been a move to offer consumers…

Companion plants What we have come to know as companion planting has been passed down by generations of gardeners, and while much is based on folklore, gardeners use this knowledge to find out which plants make good companions, and which don’t. People became aware that while some plants thrived together, others did not, an indication that plants had certain properties that could affect others. The Roman agriculturist Marcus Varro (116–29BC) noted that nothing would grow beneath walnut trees, and it has now been found that the roots of these trees produce a natural herbicide that is toxic to other plants. The roots of marigolds (Tagetes) contain a substance that is toxic to some nematodes in the soil, and they are often grown prior to planting a crop, or interplanted between rows…

• Choose the site of your veggie patch with care. It must get at least six hours of sun a day. • If you want to eat vegetables, you have to give them food. I have three compost heaps and supplement them with chicken and dove droppings. With this compost, vermicompost and worm tea from our worm farm, plus Atlantic Fertilisers’ Bio Ganic All Purpose, the vegetables get everything they need. • A vegetable garden near the kitchen door makes harvesting vegetables convenient – and it’s also easy to work a teabag or some coffee grounds into the soil. In the kitchen, we have several containers for egg shells, vegetable peels, coffee grounds and teabags. At the end of each day, they are emptied onto the compost heap. We crush…

Benk removed all the plants in this mixed border about two years ago. Tired of constantly pulling out weeds, he decided to lay a special fabric that reduces the weeds but still allows water through. Copious amounts of compost were first incorporated into the bed and then the fabric was laid on top. He cut holes in the fabric for planting the annuals and perennials and added a layer of sawdust to conceal it. Although weeds still come through, they are not nearly as prevalent as before. The only pitfall is that self-seeding plants like poppies cannot germinate here. At planting time, the annuals and perennials are spaced about 30 to 40cm apart. Although the bed initially looks a bit bare, the plants soon cover the area. If they are…

Baby marrow and feta muffins These easy-to-make savoury muffins are ready in a jiffy – enjoy them as is or with butter.   Makes 12 muffins Preparation time: 5 minutes Baking time: about 20 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 210g (375ml) self-raising flour • 250ml coarsely grated baby marrows • 125ml crispy fried bacon bits • 1 round creamy feta, crumbled • 100ml oil • 100ml buttermilk • 1 extra-large egg • 30ml sunflower seeds 1 Preheat the oven. Mix the flour with the baby marrows, bacon and feta. Beat the oil, buttermilk and egg together in a separate bowl. Fold this into the flour mixture until just combined. A few lumps are better than an overworked batter. 2 Spray the 12 cavities of a standard muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray and divide the batter so that…

STUFFED PORK LOIN WITH CRACKLING Pork loin is the ideal cut for enriching with a filling, then roasting to perfection to achieve crunchy, crispy crackling. Serves 6–8 • Preparation time: 45 minutes • Cooking time: about 2 hours • 2kg pork loin, skin on, at room temperature • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 250ml stock FILLING • 8 slices (about 100g) Black Forest ham • 2 rolls soft goat’s cheese rolled in paprika and pepper • about 8 Medjool dates, pitted and soaked overnight in 60ml sherry • 16 glacé cherries 1 Using a sharp utility knife, score the entire rind at 1cm intervals, without cutting through the fat of the meat (or ask your butcher to do it for you). Rub generously with salt and pepper and place the meat, skin side down, on a…