Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021/January 2022 i Home

My good friend Lindi is celebrating her 50th birthday and we’ve all relocated to a house right next to the beach in St Helena Bay. It feels like we’re on holiday in an exotic destination. The kids are swimming and canoeing, the seagulls busily foraging the shallow waters of the bay. It rains buckets on Friday. But on Saturday morning the skies start to clear, and by sundown the weather is perfect. We all gather around the fire in front of the house with our toes in the sand, the waves gently rolling in with musical regularity in the background. “It sounds just like Greece,” someone says, “the waves lapping softly.” Indeed, these are not the crashing waves we’re accustomed to on the Cape coast, where the South-Easter whips the…

Waterwise beauties Based in Pretoria East, Earthbound’s mini succulent gardens are planted in specially designed structures containing soil. Each creation is a splendid living community of waterwise plants that only need replanting after two to four months, depending on the time of year. Prices for their gorgeous living wreaths (22cm D) start at R420; for more details, check out earthboundsucculentdesign.com. Take root A beautiful handcrafted rosewood propagation station with test tubes (from R85 for a single tube; R275 for 4 tubes, minimaalenmooi.com) allows you to watch cuttings grow roots and blossom. They come in different sizes with the option to customise your choice of wood and engraving – a stunning gift! OUT OF AFRICA Dreamy and functional Kiwinet Mosquito Nets, standard or bespoke, can be used indoors (over your bed)…

WHO LIVES HERE? Catalina Baliña and her partner Ronnie Batchelor; housekeeper and integral member of the family Geofrey Mbewe; three noisy Dachshunds called Pancho, Wilson and Toffee; and a few fat chickens. WHERE Stanford SIZE 600m² “I’ve always kept my eye on this gorgeous village and wonderful community,” says Catalina Baliña of Stanford in the Western Cape. Catalina, a former trade sales manager at Biggie Best, originally hails from Argentina and since moving to South Africa 20 years ago, this little town in the heart of the Overberg has been a regular summer holiday destination for her and her family. “It’s always been the place where everybody gathers from all corners of the world to spend quality time together,” she says. When her daughter Clara finished matric in Cape Town,…

You will need (for two benches)  QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 4/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 1 to 2 hours Do it yourself for ± R2 300: wood R2 200, screws R40, glue R40, sandpaper R20 (paint and upholstery excluded) SHOPPING LIST • 18mm plywood, cut to: two 860 x 660mm panels (seats) • 22 x 220mm planed pine, cut to: four 660mm pieces (sides) four 900mm pieces (front and back) • 69 x 69mm planed pine, cut to: eight 260mm lengths (legs) • one packet 6mm x 50mm chipboard screws • Alcolin Fast Set Glue • 150-grit sandpaper • wood filler TOOLS • cordless drill and 3mm drill bit • pencil • measuring tape • saw • paintbrush • scraper Timber supplied by Timbercity (timbercity.co.za) Make the bench……

The brief: style a bedroom with only 10 Mr Price Home items and make it worthy of a Tuis | Home cover. The challenge: each bedroom had been stripped down to the essentials with a bed against an unadorned wall, a bare floor, no nightstands, and a lamp well past its sell-by date. This was the annual Tuis | Home Décor School in partnership with Mr Price Home in a nutshell. It was hosted in Cape Town in September and in Johannesburg a month later. Day 1 was all about visual inspiration. Kerry Strauss, marketing director of Mr Price Home, enlightened students about décor trends and business ethics, revealing that 40% of Mr Price Home homeware is made here in SA. Local is lekker! Tuis | Home editor Wicus Pretorius…

Feeling the love Zirkie offers free kisses. – Anine Joubert, Worcester Out to sea Katrien loves her ocean view. – Lize-Marié Koen, Brackenfell Neighbourhood watch Chiappini surveys the Bo-Kaap. – Amy Jephta, Cape Town Shotgun! Rugar is co-pilot for the holiday. – Lauren van Noort, Makhanda It’s a gift! Abby shows off her flexibility in the Christmas goodies box. – Christine Ferreira, Durbanville Taking a dip – Mila the Border Collie keeps her cool. – Christelle Ellis, Settlers, Limpopo WIN! Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a large Cross Futon for dogs or a fleece Leafy for cats from Wagworld (wagworld.co.za; also available from leading vet and pet shops). The Cross Futon’s cover has a soft yet durable poly-cotton fabric on one side and a water-resistant, ripstop fabric…

Woolly aphid woes Louretta Brand of Betty’s Bay writes I enjoyed the article entitled ‘My indoor jungle’ in your August 2021 issue but I would like more information about pests and diseases that affect indoor plants. One of my houseplants has something whitish and soft on it that can be wiped off by hand. I’m not sure if it’s an aphid or some type of disease. It’s not the Australian woolly aphid. How do I get rid of it? JJ replies It is probably ordinary woolly aphids – they look like white cottonwool and are very sticky. Whatever it is, most indoor insecticides such as Efekto’s Garden Gun will control 99% of indoor pests. I also suggest watering in a systemic product like Complete 350SC that will treat the plant…

RICOTTA STUFFED PORK FILLET Versatile and quick to cook, pork fillet is just the ticket at Christmastime – pre-order this cut at your butcher. Serves 12 as parw of a charcuwerie plawwer Preparawion: 20 minuwes Cooking wime: 35–40 minuwes Oven wemperawure: 180°C • 3 pork fillets (about 1kg in total), trimmed • 140g Parma ham (at least 12 slices) • 15ml olive oil FILLING • 250g ricotta • 125ml cream cheese with chives • a large pinch chilli flakes • zest of 1 lemon • 125ml small gherkins 1 Preheat the oven. Using a sharp knife, cut a slit in the fillets, lengthways, about three-quarters of the way through and open them up. It’s important not to cut through the meat completely; your filling will leak out. Press gently on…

Egg fried rice with prawns Under R275 • Serves 4 •Preparation: 15 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes • 30ml oil • 200g mushrooms, thinly sliced • 125g snap peas • 2garlic cloves, chopped • 2cm ginger, peeled and finely grated • 1–2 red chillies, chopped • 4spring onions, chopped • 400g blanched prawns, without shells (thawed) • 15ml gochujang spice paste • 4 eggs • 2 cups cold cooked white rice • a handful baby spinach • 50ml white bean sprouts • soy sauce to taste 1 Heat a large pan until nice and hot. Pour in the oil and fry the mushrooms and snap peas until fragrant. Next, stir in the garlic, ginger, chilli and spring onions and fry for another minute. Stir in the prawns and gochujang and…

WINNING LETTER A labour of love Barbara Briggs-Davies of Melkbosstrand writes A year ago, my wife and I found out that our attempts to spark life with a combination of love and science had been successful, and our family of three would grow to a family of four. As a keen amateur woodworker, Iimmediately began planning the cot for the nursery. I opted for a Scandinavian design with simple clean lines. Made with a saligna frame, birch ply on the head- and foot-boards, and hardwood dowels for the slats, the cot was everything I’d hoped for. I also decided on a number of other nursery items I wanted to make for our little bundle. I made a simple standing lamp from PAR pine ripped down to 22mm square and fitted…

WHO Lindy Kriek WHERE Wellington BUSINESS Kiekie Kuns HER WORK With a keen eye for detail, lifestyle photographer Lindy is designing a range of products to display photos, art and even dried flowers in a unique and creative way. Kiekie Kuns photo holders (from R340) are 40cm long and reinforced with Perspex to keep pictures upright. They’re also lightweight enough to stick to the wall with high tack. “I love changing my décor around (my husband tends to stick things down to deter my redecorating) and with Kiekie Kuns it’s very easy to create an arty display that can be mixed up when the mood strikes,” says Lindy, who you might know as half of the dynamic duo (Elmarie Berry forms the other half) behind the fabric brand Samesyn. Order…

THE HOMEOWNERS Barry Clark and Jane Turpie, their children Cameron (19) and Alex (17), and dogs Toffee and Bella. WHERE Smitswinkel Bay SIZE 110m2 On a winding road just beyond Simon’s Town, past Miller’s Point on the way to Cape Point, is a bay with a history as rich as its abundant marine life. Here in Smitswinkel Bay – or simply “Smits” as the locals call it – there are about 22 houses. Some are ramshackle and run-down, but here and there, dotted against the slopes of the valley, are new structures carefully inserted like puzzle pieces between the older houses with their rusty roofs. It’s in one of these new builds that the Clark family of Tokai, Cape Town have holidayed for the past three years. Theirs is an ecofriendly…

Protect your pizza oven Chris Matthee of Bellville writes How do I keep my ItalOven pizza oven dry during the rainy season in Cape Town? It was a DIY build and it’s out in the open in the garden. In winter, the cement gets so wet and cold that it’s difficult to warm the oven up properly. In summer, it works perfectly. Is there a product I can use to seal the exterior? Or is a waterproof canvas cover an option when it’s not in use? Cedric Burger of ItalOven replies I’m glad to hear that you’re getting good use out of your oven. To prevent the plasterwork on the outside from drawing water during winter, wesuggest the following: first coat the exterior of the oven with a masonry primer.…

WHO LIVES HERE? Ilani and Alastair Johnstone WHERE Strubens Valley, Roodepoort SIZE 60m² Ilani and Alastair Johnstone were perfectly content in their Roodepoort home, which they purchased in 2015. It even had a sociable open stoep where they could braai and hang out. But as time passed, they began to feel that something was missing and they needed to make a few changes. “We’re outdoorsy people,” says Ilani. And the open stoep was, well, open. “When it rained, braaiing there was out of the question.” The houses in their suburb were all built in the ’80s and the Johnstones could see that additions had been made to their home. One of these was an unattractive detached building near the back door. “We believe previous owners used it as an entertainment…

New in nurseries! Sunshine in your beds Petunia ‘Bees Knees’ bears intense yellow blooms from spring onwards on a spreading plant. Since the flowers are trumpet-shaped, they attract butterflies and nectar-sipping birds. This versatile petunia needs very little attention and will grow in full sun or semi-shade. It has medium water requirements and looks equally good in containers. CONTACT ballstraathof.co.za STOCKISTS Leroy Merlin 010 493 8000, leroymerlin.co.za MayFord 0861 100 458, mayford.co.za Patio Warehouse 012 657 9400, patiowarehouse.co.za Pedersen + Lennard 021 447 2020, pedersenlennard.co.za Superbalist 087 362 7300, superbalist.com Woolworths 0860 022 002, woolworths.co.za Yuppiechef 0861 702 4969, yuppiechef.com…

If you’re longing to escape to an out-of-the-way cottage at the seaside with its own solar power and not a soul in sight, then “Houthuisie” is the destination for you. This wooden house is located on a 6ha plot of land near Churchhaven in the West Coast National Park. The area is known as Schrywershoek and here you can enjoy young stingrays swirling around your feet in the shallow turquoise waters, an eagle’s nest between the reeds, flamingos putting on a colourful display and diverse wildlife that’ll exceed your wildest expectations. This spot is hidden from the main routes, with a private entrance within the park. A winding pathway leads you to the foot of a slope with the Langebaan Lagoon on your doorstep. Although this wooden house has been…

• Less is more. Use neutral colours as a backdrop so the focus is on beautiful and beloved furniture and artworks. • Your home should reflect your personality and preferences, and adapt to your lifestyle – not the other way around! • Don’t be in a hurry to decorate. • Don’t buy everything new: it’s lots of fun to browse around in antique shops and thrift stores. • It’s extremely satisfying to revamp old, characterful pieces and even modernise them. • Do as much as you can yourself: use your talents!…

WHO LIVES HERE? Danie Kotze and Jenny Normann, their son Christopher Normann and his partner Rosa Bishenden-Moon WHERE Tulbagh SIZE about 70m2 (geodome and den) When the going gets tough, the Kotze-Normann family gets creative. Just look at this geodesic dome cabin their second – on their farm La Bruyere, outside Tulbagh. This was the project that kept them busy during the 2020 lockdown, a team effort from Danie Kotze and his wife Jenny Normann, their two adult sons Thor and Christopher, and their partners, Christine Johnston and Rosa Bishenden-Moon. Having spent a couple of years in the UK, Christopher now lives on La Bruyere, where Danie farms full-time and Jenny runs their guest cottages and Sunset Dome, their first family-built geodesic dome cabin. And after his travel bug saw…

Q: Where did Charlotte Collins purchase her lovely selection of ceiling lamps as featured in your May/June 2021 issue? – Bernadine Delhove, KZN A: Charlotte made the lights over the kitchen island from old ice-cream cloches. The other vintage lights, once-off finds, were bought from Onsite Gallery (facebook.com/ OnsiteGalleryCT). Q: Where are the black towels on page 47 of your August 2021 edition from? – Natasha Roux, Malmesbury A: They were bought at Woolworths (woolworths.co.za) two years ago. However, we’ve recently seen a new range of black towels in store. Q: I love the eye-catching plant trellis featured on page 13 of your September 2021 issue; where can I get one? – Rene van Riel, Cape Town A: According to architect Gregory Katz, it was custom made by a local…

• Plan carefully and get all the necessary building materials beforehand. This way, you won’t waste time driving back and forth for additional supplies. • Shop around for bargains and get quotes from your suppliers upfront. Then add about 15% to the total price for any unforeseen expenses. And don’t shy away from secondhand items; we got an old I-beam from a scrapyard at a fraction of the price we would have paid for a new one. • An open stoep with stacking doors provides more living space and connects the interior with the outdoors. The doors also make the space more secure and provide protection against the elements. • Don’t just discard demolished materials – see what can be re-used. Older items also add more character to a room.…

A panorama of colour Bets Botha of Lydenburg writes I received an ‘Artista’ rose as a gift. I see the plant label says Panarosa – is this different to a hybrid tea rose? Ludwig replies Panarosa roses grow into informal, arching shrub roses, while hybrid teas have a more formal, upright growth. We coined the name Panarosa because the shrubs carry clusters of blooms and provide a panorama of colour. With their natural vigour and large leaf canopy, they anchor their roots deeply and can withstand periods of drought much better but they obviously respond to deep watering. ‘Artista Panarosa’ can be used as a freestanding specimen (2.5m wide and 3m tall) or as a climbing rose by tying and training the branches onto a pillar, trellis or fence. CONTACT…

CAUSE A STIR Food stylist and photographer Hein van Tonder has collaborated with the Ark Workshop team to design and create a range of six spoons in various sizes, a spreader and a cake lifter. Handcrafted just outside Cape Town from indigenous kiaat and oak, each piece reflects the beauty and character of the wood grain. The colourful handles bring a touch of fun to the table. Go to shop.heinstirred.com/home/. The last straw  Pineapple Sippy Cup R59.99, mrphome.com Cheers! Steenberg 1682 Chardonnay Cap Classique (R190, steenbergfarm.com) is a richly layered Blanc de Blanc that matures for up to 18 months on the lees. Enjoy Granny Smith apple, candied lemon rind and white peach wafting from your flute. The palate is lively with zesty acidity layered with lemon cordial, honeyed nectarines,…

There’s the strict new diet. And then there’s the last cookie in the jar. Talk about the proverbial rock and a prickly place, but that’s where I find myself on a summery Stellenbosch morning. Behind the house, along the banks of the Eerste River, there’s birdsong and a playful wind, green leaves clapping happy little hands. Back home in the kitchen, the cookie and I are staring each other down. With me stone deaf to the pious calls from the carrots and cauliflower in the fridge. I only have ears for the cookie calling my name. Thing is, it’s not sommer any old cookie. It’s acookie with deep roots in my psyche. A Lemon Cream – mom’s firm favourite, right up to her death a year ago. And now it’s…