Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2020 i Home

Something wonderful happened in October: for the first time since March, we held an event – our first Décor School in partnership with MRP Home. The ‘students’ came from all over and for three days we had tons of fun: expert talks, a photo shoot, cover discussions, a visit to a breathtaking home and an inspiring fabric designer. Ithink it was due to the fact that all of us were so hungry for the ‘old normal’ that this get-together in Cape Town was so awesome, even though we all had to wear masks, fill out forms every day and have our temperatures taken when we arrived. With Covid-19 restrictions still strictly enforced, we weren’t able to hold the event in Media24’s boardroom because the building was still off limits to…

Top drawer This striking cabinet in Janine O’Grady’s home in Paarl not only provides practical storage for scarves, belts, handbags and magazines, but together with the shelves and artworks above, it also transforms the hallway into a one-of-a-kind gallery. “I don’t really like hallways,” says Janine. “When I was a child, we had a long passage where my brother would hide behind a piece of furniture, waiting to scare me. “Fortunately, this space is short and wide, which means it can be put to much better use.” The cabinet previously stood in a car mechanic’s workshop. “The drawers were black with oil,” recalls Janine, owner of Makietie Linne. “I sanded them down, painted the legs and replaced the wooden top with glass – and look at it now!” Janine installed…

Courtyard dilemma The challenge Newlyweds Michelle and JC Schoeman missed having a dining room in their rental apartment in Stellenbosch and the small paved area in their courtyard left them feeling uninspired. They were keen to create a space where they can unwind and entertain friends, without breaking the bank. The solution With a bit of creativity, the pair turned a dull area into a multifunctional Mediterranean-inspired courtyard. Here’s how: 1 ARTIFICIAL GRASS After doing their homework, creating a moodboard and even painting a detailed watercolour mock-up of the space, Michelle and JC bought two pieces of artificial grass at the hardware store and got to work. “We wanted more greenery outside and knew that artificial grass would do the trick; it’s also soft underfoot like a rug,” says Michelle.…

Get some fresh air! Strrreeetch! Smurf takes a break after an exercise session in the garden. – Izelda du Toit, Cape Town Free to be Nala and Elliot had a blast on a visit to the Golden Gate National Park. – Nina Hamlett, Pretoria Happy hiker Sam is in her element on one of her regular mountain walks. – Benita Maritz, Simon’s Town On the run Lexi looks forward to stretching her legs. – Danel Venter, Mokopane Loyal reader Cleo enjoys her Home magazine in a sunny spot on the stoep. – Ann-Marie Kelly, Johannesburg Neighbourhood watch Mickey keeps a lookout on his favourite perch. – Kate Wisdom, Pietermaritzburg WIN! Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a Deluxe Car Seat Hammock for dogs or a medium Cupcake for…

This kalanchoe may be best known as an indoor plant but it is a lot more versatile than that. It successfully transplants into outdoor containers or into the garden, with other succulents and plants with low water requirements. Originating from Madagascar, it belongs to the Crassulaceae family and its common names include flaming Katy and florist kalanchoe. How to grow When grown indoors, plants need a warm room, bright, indirect light, and should not be overwatered. As a garden plant, it needs well-drained soil and can grow in sun or semi-shade. If plants become spindly, they need more sunlight. With a lot of sun, the leaves may become tinged with red. Do not let the soil dry out completely because the leaves will turn yellow and start to shrivel. Reduce…

For an eye-catching display in your garden, plant a large group of cannas (hybrids of Canna indica) together – either in a bed, on your pavement or along the driveway. These dependable plants bloom from November to March in red, orange, yellow, salmon, rose-pink, apricot and even cream. They look good in a mixed bed; plant at least three to five of them with flowering shrubs and perennials. The plant’s leaves are just as striking as its flowers. Some are bronze-brown in colour, some are bright green or a more subtle dark green, while others have variegated foliage with attractive stripes. The height of the respective hybrids varies. Check with your local nursery to find out how tall the canna you have chosen will grow. Cannas grow easily but like…

Hake in a curry cream sauce Under R150 • Serves 4 •Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes • 30ml olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 10ml curry powder • 1 red chilli, chopped • 1 garlic clove, chopped • 15ml tomato paste • 125ml vegetable stock • 250ml cream • 700g hake fillets • 80g baby spinach • pasta or rice, to serve 1 Heat the oil and sauté the onion until glossy. Stir in the curry powder, chilli and garlic and fry for a few more minutes until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste, followed by the stock, and simmer for 5 minutes until reduced by half. 2 Stir in the cream and heat until warmed through. Add the fish to the sauce and simmer over…

WINNING LETTER Time to shine again Sue Reid of Durban writes As an avid fan of your ever-inspiring magazine, I thought I’d share my own inspirational ‘lockdown light bulb moment’. I created this lampshade from old ‘skadonk’ and unusable paintbrushes that had previously been used at a pottery studio, a remedial school and by some of my well-known artist friends, with some of my own brushes in the mix as well. I loved the different splodges of paint that had been layered and built up over time and just couldn’t bring myself to throw them out. I simply had to find a way of repurposing them and so decided to create a paintbrush lampshade! The patterned and cosy glow at night is so pleasing and a constant reminder of all…

#1 Bold in green (and gold and pink and orange…) The green walls and ceiling create the feeling that you’re sitting under a shady tree canopy on a summer’s day. – Stefan WHO LIVES HERE? Stefan Blom and Albie du Toit WHERE Cape Town SIZE 15m² ORIENTATION North-east Stefan Blom and Albie du Toit are not afraid of colour. On the contrary, their house in Green Point, Cape Town represents all the colours of the rainbow: the guest room is powder-blue (see the cover of Home, May 2020) and here on their stoep it’s lush green, ceiling and all. “Painting the ceiling was suggested by our friend Jan Botha, an interior designer,” says Stefan. “It’s always good to discuss your plans with creative friends because they often have ideas that…

Q: Where did Dinki and Henry Windell buy the geometric rug on page 38 of your February 2020 edition? – Sharnè Grobler, Ermelo A: The rug is from Haus (hertexhaus.co.za). Q: Where can I find a large wall mirror like the one on page 14 of your January 2020 edition? – Lesley Mocke, Witbank A: We’ve seen similar large framed mirrors at Block & Chisel (blockandchisel.co.za) and @home (home.co.za). Q: What colour paint was used on the feature wall on page 8 of your May 2020 issue? – Bernedette Ferreira, Pretoria A: Try Paint & Decor Karoonag (paintdecordiy.com) with a luxurious matte finish. Q: Where did Nico Alberts get the lights on his stoep as featured on page 68 of Home Yard 2020? – Ursula James, Noordoewer, Namibia A: The…

Suzanne Erasmus of Pinelands writes I recently became a cat owner; how do I know if she is in heat and is there anything I should do? Valdette Müller, veterinary sister and owner of shingavet.co.za, replies Unspayed female cats will eventually reach a fertile period, an occurrence that extends well into old age. Hormonal changes that prepare cats for breeding (a process called estrus) begin at between six and 10 months. Since cats are efficient reproducers, their estrus or heat cycle can occur every 12 to 22 days, at which point your cat can successfully mate with healthy suitors. As there’s no easy way to measure a cat’s hormone levels at home, changes in her behaviour can be a sign that she’s in heat. Apart from mating calls and excessive…

Luscious beauty Pentas Lucky Star ‘Lipstick’ has been bred to re-bloom faster, so it seems to flower non-stop throughout summer. This compact plant (40cm tall and wide) grows best in full sun and thrives in heat and humidity. When first planted, water once a week or more to avoid wilting; once established, watering can be reduced. Fertilise once a month with Vigorosa or a similar 5:1:5 fertiliser. The plant always looks tidy and the vibrant blooms attract bees, butterflies, and sunbirds. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za.…

Pork schnitzels with a nutty crust Nuts add wonderful crunch to the crumbed coating of this cheerful, quick dinner. Serves 4 • Preparation time: 20 minutes • Cooking time: 10 minutes • 800g pork fillet, silver membrane trimmed off • 125ml flour • 5ml lemon zest • 2 eggs • 100g salted crackers, crumbled • 125ml mixed nuts, chopped • 30ml grated Parmesan • olive oil for shallow-frying • a large knob of butter • sweet potato mash and coleslaw, to serve 1 Cut the pork into 8 equal pieces and carefully flatten each one with a meat mallet to form schnitzels. 2 Mix the flour and zest in a bowl (season with salt and pepper). Beat the eggs in a second bowl and mix the cracker…

FUN FOR THE FAMILY Let’s Cook: Delicious yet Nutritious Easy Meals and Treats for Kids and Teens (R290, Penguin Random House) by Ms Sibalicious herself, Siba Mtongana, is jam-packed with recipes including tasty lunchbox snacks and morning munchies like batters, eggs, porridge and more. Get the whole family cooking! ADD SOME SPARKLE Kleine Zalze NV Brut Rosé (R136, cellar door) delights the palate as much as the ewe with a delicate pink hue and livelw sparkle. Aromas of cherries and red berries make it the perfect summer drink. Go to kleinezalze.co.za. Go for gold! There are only 30 limited edition gold Smeg kettles (R3 999 each) available at yuppiechef.com. Don’t miss out. Get a handle on it We love the white marble Amazon tray with handles from @home (R499); the…

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Jana Leonard WHERE Durbanville, Cape Town BUSINESS Baskiti HER WORK During the initial 21-day Covid-19 lockdown, Jana Leonard’s 14-month-old son practiced his ball skills with their veggies! Jana’s solution was Baskiti, a beautiful range of hanging storage baskets (R290 each). The handwoven baskets are designed with a handle, a flat back and a big belly with ample space; you can use them for a variety of purposes such as storing veggies, bath toys or braai tongs – or use one as a shopping basket! The Baskiti range includes basket accessories and wall hooks (from R85–R325) perfect for hanging up your baskets – or face masks! See more at Instagram.com/baskiti_cpt. Colour crush The colour experts at Dulux have announced Brave Ground™ as the Colour of the Year for…

WHO LIVES HERE? Jodi and Allan Lawrence with their kids Luke (19), Meg-Rose (17), Benjamin (13) and Levi (10) and dogs Jackson Brown and Enyo WHERE Kommetjie, Western Cape SIZE 410m² For Jodi Lawrence, co-owner of homeware business 8 Degrees South, and her husband Allan, a dated house on a double stand in Kommetjie just outside Cape Town proved irresistible. The couple were able to see past the yellow facebrick exterior, old timber windows and doors weathered by sea air, and the old-fashioned kitchen and bathrooms – and fell in love with the home’s potential. “The fact that it’s ashort walk from the beach was also a drawcard,” Jodi notes. She and her business partner Lola Casey set about transforming the house, guided by the natural laid-back style they favour…

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 3/10 Skill level 3/10 Time needed 1 to 2 hours Do it yourself for ± R2 050: wood R1 950, screws R50, glue R40, sandpaper R10 PROJECT NOTES • Instead of using thick and expensive solid wood for the tabletop, we used plywood and edged it with wide planks; each leg is just two planks supporting each other in an L-shape. • Sand your planks beforehand. You will need SHOPPING LIST • 1 800 x 600 x 18mm plywood (tabletop) • 30 x 95mm planed pine, cut to: eight pieces of 745mm (legs) two pieces of 1 800mm (long supports for tabletop) two pieces of 840mm (short supports for tabletop) • 22 x 69mm planed pine, cut to: two pieces of 1 844mm and two…

In full bloom Who said that beds maketh the garden? Well, no one, actually! And that’s great news for the balcony, stoep, and patio gardener. You can still enjoy all the glory of gardening by playing with pots, experimenting with the colour wheel, using vertical planters, and adding a few fabulous blooms. Using containers in different shapes and sizes will add height and variety to your space, while also giving you an opportunity to play with different styles. Incorporating hanging baskets is another simple way of adding greenery to areas with limited space. Using woven baskets (instead of plastic) with spikey foliage will bring in some lovely texture. Spend some time in the pots and basket section next time you’re at the nursery and see what takes your fancy! Up…

Serving suggestion When braaiing chicken kebabs, baste them with Romesco sauce for the last few minutes of the cooking time and serve with extra sauce on a bed of brown rice, along with roasted butternut strips, rocket and olives. Makes about 500ml sauce • Preparation time: 30 minutes • Cooking time: 30 minutes • 3 red peppers • 3 plum tomatoes, halved • 1–2 red chillies • 250ml whole roasted almonds • 15ml smoked paprika • 15ml red wine vinegar • 2 garlic cloves • 250ml fresh bread cubes • about 100ml olive oil • a pinch of saffron 1 Preheat the oven’s grill element. Arrange the whole peppers on a baking tray and place them about 10cm below the element. Hold the oven door ajar and turn the peppers…

One of the reasons why I love the Kalahari is for its silence. Come mid-December and the earth lies bleached and flattened by the heat, all life retreats into inert silence. Birds sit motionless in the green depths of the camel thorn trees, their beaks agape to cool the blood. Even insects scuttle for the shelter offered by a leaf, a stone or bush, waiting quietly for the heat to pass. Closing your eyes, you’ll sense the hushed arrival of the silence. For it has presence, a quality of being. Like an unseen person entering one’s personal space, turning up out of nowhere and merging with the rhythm of one’s breath, the beating of one’s heart. Many people find it hard to be with silence – those awkward pauses in…