Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2020 i Home

The other day, someone referred to the ‘ups’ and ‘downs’ that we are experiencing during this Covid-19 pandemic as a “coronacoaster” – like a rollercoaster ride at the fun fair. Except that in reality it is anything but fun. But, as one does on a rollercoaster, we cling to that car for dear life because we definitely don’t want to fall out. And you comfort yourself with the knowledge that the topsy-turvy ride will come to a stop at some point. Meanwhile, many of us are still working from home – these days it’s a safe little cocoon in which we can attend a telephonic meeting in-between unpacking the dishwasher or pulling out weeds. (Just don’t cut your finger with the pruning shears; it tends to distract you – and…

For good measure A creative display of treasured measuring cups and spoons adds tons of charm and personality to Manuel and Jenny Cernades’ new kitchen in Linden, Johannesburg (see the full kitchen on page 40). “Some of these measuring spoons were passed down from my grannies, and others I have been collecting for over 30 years,” Jenny says. She took the top off an old table and used half of it to create the display board. Each item has its own nail keeping it in place and ready for use. Different coloured panels on the original wood make for interesting texture in the otherwise monochrome kitchen. The collection now has pride of place between two window frames made from recycled Oregon pine. Window frames from Orejen Trendy trellis Nadine Theron…

WHO LIVES HERE? Duan Wanty and Reg Hart with their cat Harley WHERE Victory Park, Johannesburg SIZE 60m2 with a 24m2 stoep Even before Duan Wanty and Reg Hart have offered you a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, their garden cottage makes you feel right at home. The reason? Your eyes are immediately drawn to the cheerful yellow wall just inside the front door – large and bright, loaded with artworks, prints, handcrafts and souvenirs, it’s a focal point that instantly tells you something about your hosts. This living room wall forms the core of their home, the couple says. It symbolises who they are and their outlook on life. And the sense of déjà vu you experience is not accidental. This cabinet or that lamp, this…

Quartz surfaces remain a popular choice for kitchen counters as they offer excellent strength and durability and can even increase the value of your property, says Trevor King, marketing director of Caesarstone South Africa: When it comes to a kitchen countertop, investing in a hard-working surface that will stand the test of time is worth it. Take into account whether the surface comes with any type of warranty, and whether it is scratch- or stain-resistant, a valuable asset in a kitchen. Keep in mind the type of care and maintenance your preferred surface will require and whether it will suit your lifestyle. High quality finishes such as quartz come in a multitude of colours, require simple routine care, and can last a lifetime. CONTACT 083 608 5810, caesarstone.co.za…

PROJECT NOTES • To cut costs, buy a trestle at the store and use an old door or wood offcut for the top – then you only need to make the two cupboard units. • Measure twice, so you only have to saw once. • Remember to drill pilot holes. • Sand your planks beforehand. PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 1 to 2 hours Do it yourself for ± R1 300: wood R1 170, screws R20, glue R30, sandpaper R10, wood filler R30, hinges R20 You will need SHOPPING LIST • 22 x 95mm planed pine, cut to: four 765mm lengths (trestle legs) four 600mm lengths (trestle horizontal struts) • 18mm plywood in these sizes: one 400 x 400mm (trestle shelf) four 680 x 300mm…

Golden oldie Gail Rigele of Midrand writes I inherited this pottery jug; it was brought back from Egypt for my grandmother after World War II. Can you tell me anything about it, and how much is it worth? Ainsley Taylor of Stephan Welz & Co. replies This lovely jug is an item of Gouda pottery (pronounced ‘how-da’) and as the name suggests, it was made in the Netherlands in the municipality of Gouda which, as well as being famous for cheese-making, was a bustling centre for ceramic production for centuries. Gouda pottery is a generic term for all Dutch pottery, other than the more well-known Delftware, and it has a very particular charm of its own. This style of pottery was pioneered by a company called Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland, or PZH, when…

Gert Steyn, managing director of the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA), replies Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which infect humans and certain animals such as cattle, cats, dogs, bats and camels. Canine and feline coronaviruses only infect animals; they don’t infect humans. But some of the coronaviruses that do infect animals, such as MERS Cov which infects camels, can infect people – but this is rare. Although a dog in Hong Kong tested “weak positive” for Covid-19, it hasn’t shown any symptoms of the disease. It is, as yet, unconfirmed whether the “weak positive” result is due to the presence of the virus itself or if the dog actually contracted the disease, as it hasn’t shown any antibody response to date. There is, thus, still no…

Grey and silver hues create a sense of calmness and cool elegance in your garden. They also provide contrast and look good with almost any other coloured flower or foliage. Petro Jacobs of Petro Landscaping in the Western Cape is passionate about using grey in a garden. “I can’t resist using grey in some or other form when I design a garden, whether it be in the choice of plants or in hard elements such as a bench, pots, pavers or water features,” she says. “My palette will always lean towards shades of deep and soft green, soft grey and silvery-grey. The subtle contrast of grey with these greens and other colours creates a sense of depth in flowerbeds and adds tranquillity to a garden.” Petro believes grey works incredibly…

Gnocchi with mushrooms and pecans Homemade gnocchi is quicker to make than you think. Practice makes perfect and soon you’ll be serving fresh gnocchi within an hour – but feel free to take a shortcut with a store-bought packet if you’re short on time (or lack the confidence). Serves 4 Preparation time: 50 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • 6 large potatoes (about 800g) • 1 egg yolk • salt, pepper and nutmeg • about 250ml flour, sifted twice (see tip) • semolina, for rolling SAUCE • 45ml olive oil • 250g button mushrooms, cut into thick slices • 125ml pecan nuts, finely chopped • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped • 5ml tomato paste • 80g (1 packet) flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped 1 Place the whole potatoes in salted water and boil until soft (about 20 minutes, depending on the size…

Imagine there was such a thing as the kitchen police? The thought suddenly struck me late one evening while turning off the lights in a very deurmekaar kitchen. We were at the end of the second month of lockdown and I had just watched the evening news, witnessing that ridiculous cabinet minister with the little goatee threatening us with jail time if we dared to buy summer plakkies. The idea of a kitchen police was by no means far-fetched. Mine looked as if all four horsemen of the apocalypse had just trudged through it. It was germ heaven. So, what sort of crime would land you in jail, I wondered. What would be worse, a grubby kitchen floor or dirty dishes? To my mind, dirty dishes won hands down. A…

WHO LIVES HERE? Mariëtte and Peter Bouwer; their son Martin (22) visits over weekends WHERE Bosplasie, Onrus River SIZE 430m2 On the banks of the Onrus River and a stone’s throw from the ocean lies a slate-grey house filled with the wondrous beauty that only a bold creative could put together. Here you are taken on a trip with the homeowners, artist Mariëtte Bouwer and her husband Peter, not just to distant lands and all corners of South Africa where they have collected colourful mementoes, but also to a bygone era with antiques and heirlooms, many of which have been given a fresh new look. It is a true spectacle that delights the heart and soul. Little wonder then that Mariëtte calls herself a dreamer. “I would love to have…

You can definitely paint your cement countertops if you follow the right steps, says Jenny Moolman, Duram’s brand manager: 1 Preparing your countertop is important in ensuring a good result. Allow new cement to cure for at least 28 days before painting. 2 Make sure that your cement surface is clean and dry and free from dust, oil and grease. Apply Duram Showfloor Cleaner & Degreaser, rinse with clean water and allow to dry. Then lightly sand with 100-grit sandpaper before wiping with a damp cloth. 3 Apply Showfloor Cement Primer to a uniform thickness to seal the surface. The primer dries to a clear finish – ideal for a raw cement look. 4 Paint the counter with Duram Showfloor Polyurethane Floor Paint. First do a test patch with the paint to ensure…

Ashley Howarth of Blum South Africa says it’s important to calculate your storage needs depending on the size of your family and their shopping habits. “Knowing your daily routines in the kitchen, cooking habits and keeping your lifestyle in mind will make choosing your cabinetry solutions that much simpler.” Drawers are preferable for all areas of the kitchen. They create more space for storage and are more accessible than shelved cabinets. For added convenience, Ashley recommends Blum’s Orga-Line dividers to keep drawers tidy. Corner cupboards can be awkward to access. “Blum has a unit called the Space Corner which has fully extendable drawers that allow you to reach those items stored at the back.” For an overall minimalist kitchen design, keep the gaps between the cabinetry fronts to a minimum.…

An origami lampshade QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 1/10 Skill level 2/10 Time needed 1 hour Do it yourself for R272: Paper R60, styrene sheeting R62, ceiling light fixture R130, LED light bulb R20 You will need SHOPPING LIST • 3 sheets of A3 card (160gm) • A4 styrene sheet • ceiling light fitting • split pin paper fastener • double-sided tape • LED light bulb (stays cool, and will not pose a fire hazard) TOOLS • steel ruler • cutting mat • craft knife or embossing tool • pencil • stapler • scissors • hole punch Get started... STOCKISTS Frank van Reenen frank.co.za H&M 021 826 7451, hm.com/za Maizey Plastics 0861 100 420, maizey.co.za Rialheim 079 898 3120, rialheim.co.za The Deckle Edge 021 180 4442, deckleedge.co.za Find the video on homemag.co.za…

WHO LIVES HERE? Sarah and Richard Mattheyse WHERE Protea Heights, Brackenfell SIZE 9m² Subway all the way Designed specifically for New York’s first subway station in 1904, subway (or metro) tiles never seem to date. “More than a century later, we still love the subway tile’s sleek, easy-clean, ever-contemporary and durable personality,” says Nicole Russell of Italtile. “With a few design evolutions here and there, they remain a modern choice with a nostalgic twist.” Nicole shares a few of her top tips for using subway tiles in the kitchen: • The bevelled subway tile is a more modern, elegant version of the flat subway tile and it’s ideal for adding a bit of oomph to a space, such as in the form of a trendy splashback. Both flat and bevelled…

WHY DO WE PRUNE PLANTS? Pruning is done to encourage a good shape and a healthy plant, and to improve the quality of fruit or flowers. In mild winter gardens, prune in the second half of July but in cold gardens, wait until the beginning of August to avoid possible frost damage to new emerging growth. Walk this way The original paths of ancient times were narrow and winding, up hills and down dales, through grasslands, whispering woods and alongside meandering streams made by animals searching for food and water and by the feet of early man as he hunted and gathered wood. Garden paths Paths in gardens, as in life, are trails of discovery; they are walkways that guide visitors from one area to another, sometimes swiftly and other…

Wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana) is one of her favourite grey-foliaged trees. Here, it has been used with ornamental grasses such as indigenous weeping anthericum (Chlorophytum saundersiae), gongoni grass (Aristida junciformis) and the exotic Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’. As the grasses grow, they will frame the sculpture by Marieke Prinsloo-Rowe. For topiaries, low- to medium-height hedges and natural gardens with a less formal structure, Petro favours silver-bush everlasting (Helichrysum petiolare), salt bush (Rhagodia hastata) and Australian rosemary (Westringia fruticosa). Here, Australian brush cherry, salt bush and Australian rosemary have been trimmed into ball shapes; on the left, a low salt bush hedge creates contrast against the dark green foliage of the big num-num. Herbs with grey foliage that Petro likes to use include creeping rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus ‘Prostratus’ syn. Rosmarinus…

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Zelda van der Walt WHERE Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal BUSINESS Blokk HER WORK What started out as a hobby for Zelda, turned into a small business two years ago when more and more friends and family started requesting some of her handmade wooden tile blocks. “The faux tiles are decorated with a variety of raw materials, such as concrete and paint, as well as transfers. Each piece is handmade and has a matte finish, giving the tiles a ‘vintage’ feel,” Zelda explains. The designs are constantly changing and the collections are updated frequently; you can buy a single tile (from R95) or mix and match to create a unique artwork. Blokk started trading at art festivals and trade fairs, and has now expanded by launching an online shop, making…

“I’m a bit of a rebel when it comes to following interior décor rules! I think the soul of a house, what you think is beautiful, what you treasure and find practical all depends on individual taste. Feel free to create your own interior design rules,” says Mariëtte. • Combine different fabrics and textures to create a wonderful atmosphere. “For me, it starts with walls in various shades of grey, against which the colours and textures I use are shown off to perfection. I even sanded some walls to create a rougher texture and a livelier look.” • A uniform floor creates a beautiful whole and comfortable flow throughout the house. “I play with loose rugs in various sizes and shapes. Sometimes, I toss rugs on top of each other…

• Enjoy the process! Be excited, but also patient. • Spend your money on finishes that you will enjoy every day but stick to your budget. If you desperately want something that’s over budget, search the internet; there is always a less expensive option. Or cut costs somewhere else. It can be done! • Hiring a project manager is money well spent; the challenges and frustrations were minimal and there were no disasters or major misunderstandings between us and the builders. Eugene Theron managed all the contractors and even put up with, and organised, me. Without him as our level-headed project manager and now friend, I don’t believe the build would have gone so smoothly. He made this project the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done.” Wallpaper printed by Smart…

Handmade cement tiles are porous and can easily absorb moisture if not sealed correctly, says Kundra Bowley of Moroccan Warehouse in Cape Town: All our tiles are ‘pre-sealed’ with our Colour Retainer Sealer, a water-based sealant that prevents marking during installation. For areas like floors and splashbacks, I recommend applying two layers of our Polyurethane Sealer with a satin finish as a final sealant; one layer should be sufficient for a wall surface. If you look after your tiles, these sealants should last for years. However, you can consider giving the tiles a light sanding every 3–4 years and resealing them. Personally, I love the worn look of these tiles – they have soul! CONTACT 021 461 8318…

A cement shelf can be built using various methods, but the following two ways are probably the easiest if you do it yourself, says Karin Cronjé, owner of Hands On Creative Building & Management: You can use lintels over which a concrete layer is cast to fill the grooves and then finished to a smooth surface, or you can build shuttering (a wooden box) in which you weave rebar and then fill with a lightweight concrete mixture. For this type of mixture, the stone is substituted with a lightweight material such as vermiculite so that it is not so heavy. Although lintels are very strong, it is not recommended to make a shelf between two walls longer than 2 600mm. Building lintels between two walls is an easy and quick…

Décor dilemma The challenge Karien van den Berg of Potchefstroom writes Our 1980s house has an entrance hall with a very high ceiling and lots of texture (the walls are roughly plastered and the exposed brick is whitewashed). It gets plenty of natural light, thanks to high windows – which is great for my plants. There’s also a built-in planter with a bookcase resting on it; it’s practical, but not much to look at. The plants on top ended up there because it’s the only spot in which they flourish. The natural light coming in has a yellow tone and the sconce above the bookcase is the only artificial lighting. At the moment, this area doesn’t showcase our personal style; I’d like to know how to turn it into a…

Take it outside! In on all the action Gatsby goes everywhere – even to the golf course with Dad! – Tayla-Jade Southby, Port Elizabeth Hot product If your dog is susceptible to tear stains caused by eye discharge, Vet’s Best Clean Eye Round Pads with soothing Aloe Vera (R75, shingavet.co.za) will help to reduce marks if used regularly. Look there! Mieke points Willem in the right direction. – Christine Schoeman, Oudtshoorn Feline frisky Move over Lionel Messi; Molly is here! – Tamsyn Wiggill, Cape Town Ready for adventure! Kitty is all set for some caravan action. – Mariette Swart, Brackenfell Sno’ big deal Taz enjoys the snow in Switzerland before moving to SA. – Stephanie Hayman, Eston, KZN On top of the world Charlie loves to explore. – Ryno Schoombee,…

WHO LIVES HERE? Mercia Kruger WHERE Paarl SIZE 270m2 TYPE OF SOIL Loam Mercia Kruger of Paarl likes to create pictures in her garden – but she seldom buys anything new in order to do so. “There is always some or other construction work on the go in our neighbourhood. It’s amazing how much stuff people throw away, which then ends up on the rubble heap: half-bricks, cracked pavers, interesting stumps or chipped pots,” she explains. “I pick them all up because I can always find a use for them in my garden. When my husband Riaan was still alive, he often asked me, ‘Where do you find all this stuff and where are you going to keep it?’ But I always find a spot somewhere in one of the…

#1 Dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima syn. Senecio cineraria) This silvery-grey plant looks lovely throughout the year. It also bears inconspicuous creamy-yellow daisy-like flowers but many gardeners prefer to cut off the blooms and use the plant just for its foliage colour and texture. Trimming off the blooms also helps to give the plant a bushier appearance. Dusty miller likes compost-rich soil that drains well. It is easy to grow, fairly disease-free and drought-resistant. When the plant gets older and untidy, cut it back or replace with new plants (these can be made by dividing or taking cuttings). The soft grey leaves look good in a mixed bed and are great for softening a bed of brightly coloured blooms. It also looks striking if planted at the…

Creamy mussel and corn soup Under R200 • Serves 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes • Cooking time: 30 minutes • 2 tablespoons garlic butter • 125ml white wine • 1kg half-shell mussels, defrosted • 15ml olive oil • 1 red pepper, chopped • 1 chilli, seeded and chopped • 5ml flour • 250g frozen corn kernels • about 500ml quality stock • 250ml cream • 60ml fresh coriander or parsley 1 Bring the garlic butter and wine to the boil in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the mussels, cover and reduce the heat. Steam for 5 minutes. 2 Heat the oil in a second saucepan and sauté the sweet pepper and chilli for a few minutes. Stir in the flour and corn kernels, followed by the stock, and cook for 5 minutes. 3 Reduce the heat slightly, then add the steamed…

BOOST YOUR VITAMIN C ClemenGold mandarins are juicy, easy to peel, and virtually seedless – the perfect in-between snack this winter. Visit clemengold.com. Red, red wine Spookfontein, a boutique wine estate in the Upper Hemel en Aarde Valley, offers aficionados a variety of carefully crafted, robust wines. We love the Spookfontein Phantom 2017 (R145, cellar door), a Bordeaux-style blend dominated by Merlot and full of rich berry flavours, and the Spookfontein Pinot Noir 2017 (R195, cellar door), a lighter red for which the area is well known. Enjoy them by the fireside! Order at spookfontein.co.za. Psst! While you’re online, why not book an overnight stay in one of their luxury cottages for when lockdown is over? SINGULAR SENSATION All Sorts of One-Dish Wonders by Chantal Lascaris (R240, penguinrandomhouse.co.za) proves that…