Table of contents for May/Jun 2022 in Home

Trends are a fascinating phenomenon. The way in which a certain style starts to ‘catch on’ and before you can blink an eye, it’s everywhere. It happens in fashion, make-up, décor – even holiday destinations, locally and abroad... I always marvel at how trends arise. Think of the beautiful school-style steel-framed windows evident in many renovation projects. The design isn’t new at all, but not long ago someone – with a touch of nostalgia – decided that this old-school look (pun intended!) was exactly what they wanted, and soon it was to be seen everywhere. When it comes to colour, Ican go on for days. I can’t say for sure that grey as a trend is done and dusted but I think we are over the peak. And it has…

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Nomvula ‘Julie Baby’ Mxubane WHERE Pretoria BUSINESS Julie Baby Punch Club HER WORK Illustrator Andel Olivier employed Nomvula ‘Julie Baby’ Mxubane as a domestic worker and nanny; during lockdown, she gave Nomvula some craft supplies and realised just how talented she is – especially with a punch needle kit. This inspired Andel to establish a collective of local domestic workers (weavers, knitters, crocheters and the like) and set up a platform on Instagram @juliebaby_punch_club. Initially, Andel did most of the design work but the team members are increasingly expressing their own creativity and skill in creating beautiful pieces. Order yours via Instagram or email juliebabypunch@gmail.com and help (the now six) local craftswomen to supplement their income. Malaga Decorative Ceramic Ginger Vase (19cm H x 23cm W) R950,…

• Have at least one showstopper in your home – such as the window in my kitchen (page 27). • Don’t display all your knick-knacks at once, even if you love them all. • My motto is “less furniture, more quality” – this allows you to create focal points. • Each piece of furniture has its ideal spot – you just have to find it. • See the potential: what can be, not necessarily what is. • Interior design can make a home, or just another house: a home is where memories are made. • When it comes to a guesthouse, provide that 'special something'. Quality white linen is non-negotiable!…

WHO LIVES HERE? Craig Olckers and his Boston Terrier, Jackson WHERE Wynberg, Cape Town SIZE 125m² (house and freestanding cottage) “I made my living areas brighter and airier for a casual vibe that’s uncontrived,” says Craig. In the lounge, he embraced pinks and terracotta as accent colours. “I love the contrast of feminine dusty pinks and masculine terracotta on a white backdrop with oak accents. It’s all about natural textures with an organic feel.” To enhance the subtle thread of terracotta seen throughout the interior, Craig ordered a download of a graphic artwork with a strong splash of terracotta from online marketplace Etsy and had it printed by ArtLab. Small space, understated palette? Never. In fact, Craig Olckers’ eyeroll would almost be audible. This florist-turned-interior designer is not one for…

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 3/10 Skill level 3/10 Time needed 1 day Do it yourself for R4 395: timber R1 350, screws R20, glue R40, velvet fabric R1 345, batting R190, sponge R725, bed base fabric R725 You will need SHOPPING LIST • 18mm plywood, cut to: fifteen 1 200 x 130mm pieces (planks to be upholstered) • medium-density sponge, cut to: fifteen 1 200 x 130 x 50mm pieces • 5 x 2m (200g) batting TOOLS • staple gun • scissors • ruler • cordless drill and 3mm drill bit • masonry drill and 6mm drill bit • saw • pencil • tape measure • 6m velvet fabric (1.4m wide) • spray adhesive • four planed pine planks (22 x 69 x 2 400mm) • one packet 6mm…

WHO LIVES HERE? Wehrner and Annette Lemmer SIZE 65m2 (including stoep) WHERE Near Seaview, Gqeberha Twenty minutes of winding roads that Google Maps couldn’t cope with and two farm gates later, we end up on a two-track dirt road somewhere between Seaview and Gqeberha. But there’s nothing here except for the most beautiful forest. And then we see the wooden box peeping through the trees. With its sloping roof and large windows, it looks like a log home in Scandinavia or Japan, but this is a hair salon. And we’re in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Wehrner, asculptor, and Annette, a hairstylist, were the winners of the Innovation category in last year’s Fix it with Flair competition, presented in partnership with JoJo. How they got to that point though is…

TOP TIP To ensure your houseplants are set for the cold months ahead, follow the three-R rule: replenish, repot, replace. Our indoor winter favourites include begonia, cineraria, peperomia, peace lily, African violet and cyclamen – all available at garden centres now. Bring on the periwinkle-blues! The Pantone Colour of the Year is Very Peri – ablue with a violet-red undertone that is all about confidence, inventiveness and creativity. What away to dive into the winter garden – are you ready? Try these annuals with their Very Peri hues: • Pansy and viola These cheerful little plants enjoy full to partial sun with regular watering directly on the soil. • Primula These annuals appreciate moist but not soggy soil in dappled or semi-shade. • Delphinium and phlox Plant in full sun…

Indigenous watsonias are an excellent choice for the back of a border where their eye-catching trumpet-shaped blooms are carried on long stems above sword-shaped leaves. These easy-to-grow bulbous plants bear striking spikes of blooms mostly in spring and early summer. The little individual flowers on each stem open one by one from the bottom up, so the plant puts on a lovely display for a long period of time. Plant the bulbs in late summer and autumn (March to May) in full sun in compost-rich soil that drains well. The bulb’s growth phase is in winter; in summer, after flowering, it becomes dormant. However, don’t cut off the stalks as soon as the flowers die off – first allow them to form seed heads that also look appealing. Leave the…

Makes 1 x 23cm cheesecake Preparation: 25 minutes Baking time: 50 minutes Oven temperature: 160°C • 150g crackers (we used Salticrax with Black Pepper) • 60ml finely grated Parmesan • 80ml butter, melted • 400g smoked salmon* • 400g medium-fat cream cheese • 250ml sour cream • 4 extra-large eggs • 15ml finely chopped chives • 15ml finely chopped dill • zest of 1 lemon • 5ml fresh lemon juice • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 Preheat the oven. Process the crackers in a food processor until very fine. Mix with the Parmesan and enough butter to form a mixture that feels like wet sand. 2 Line the bottom of a 23cm loose-base cake pan with baking paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Place the…

One thing I just don’t have the emotional tools to deal with is seeing a grown man cry. Don’t get me wrong. Tears are tears, no matter whose they are. The weight of sorrow comes in equal measure to all of us. And yet, the tears of men are seldom seen. Perhaps they just dam up behind a tough façade. And, once in a blue moon, may spill over at the slightest touch of tenderness. Like the time I saw an old man cry, agardener from the neighbourhood. He was sitting under a huge oak in a little open field close to my home, his shoulders hunched, staring at his hands resignedly. I recognised him from a splendid garden down the road. There was a ‘for sale’ sign at the…

Write to us at Home Readers’ Letters, PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000; email editor@homemag.co.za, or follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/homemag) or Instagram @TuisHomeMag. When submitting a letter, please include your full name and the town in which you live. WINNING LETTER Labour of love David Liebenberg of Krugersdorp writes I thought I’d share what I and my wife Sanet have created over a 20-year period. We began with only grass and then started shaping the garden until there was no grass left. Plenty of inspiration Carol Cupido of Rietkuil writes We relocated from Pretoria to Rietkuil (Suurbraak) in December 2019. We’ve owned this farmhouse (above) for the past 20 years and were finally ready to retire to it. In the past, we used the place for weekend breakaways and…

WHO LIVES HERE? Petrus and Nina Steyn with their kids, Jackie (7) and Petra Calldi (2½) WHERE Kenridge, Durbanville SIZE 144m² Why would you buy a house that’s in such a sad state that your friends call it a “dump”? Infatuation, say the Steyns. They were immediately smitten by the 1 300m² erf, the way light flooded into the house, the slate floors, the high and slanted ceilings, the spacious rooms and the fact that there is a primary school across the road. “It was our dream home. It didn’t necessarily make financial sense to renovate the place but we fell in love with it. And that was that,” says Petrus. He and Nina had to look past the home’s old wall-to-wall carpets, the cramped kitchen and wiring that was…

WHO LIVES HERE? Daleen Stewart, Andrew Verster-Cohen and their kids, Fred (13) and Felix (11) WHERE Bishopscourt, Cape Town “I am fascinated by old things in every shape and size: castles, dark paintings, ornate mirrors – even stuffed animals! The older, the more beautiful,” says Daleen, throwing back her head and roaring with laughter. Indeed. Her Bishopscourt home boasts a distinctive collection of animals, as paintings and statues as well as living, and lustrous elements. And when you notice a selection of round mirrors on a wall that contorts your head and face when you look at them, it literally puts you in the picture: Daleen is someone who doesn’t take herself or her décor too seriously. Her style is “all over the place” and somewhat “quirky”, explains this former…

# 1 Make an escape WHO Marilouise and Jacques van der Merwe WHERE Swellendam The Greenhouse at Fazenda, a luxury retreat and farm outside Swellendam, is immersed in a secluded forest, so it was key that one experience a sense of sleeping in the outdoors, says owner Marilouise. “The glass provides an interactive experience with your surroundings.” While the colour scheme is neutral, green is the main accent along with a dash of blue. The wall behind the bed has been cladded with reclaimed pressed ceiling panels and painted white. White metro tiles finish off the bathroom entrance on the left (see opposite) and enhance the clean style of the space. “There is a sense of magic for me in the Greenhouse; it’s abit of theatre and it immediately takes…

Mom’s favourite! Hot product We love SoPooch’s custom artworks of your beloved pet printed on high-quality paper, canvas or even T-shirts (from R490, sopooch.co.za). Simply upload your photo onto the website and select the type of product you want; an artist will create a continuous line drawing in classic black and white to put your pet in the spotlight. WIN!  Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a large Dream Pod for dogs or a medium Cupcake bed for cats from Wagworld (wagworld.co.za), available at leading vet and pet shops. The gorgeous linen-look canvas fabric of the Dream Pod will complement your décor while offering your hound (or feline) the best possible support for a comfy sleep and sweet dreams. The Cupcake bed boasts quality fabrics that will stay…

STOCKISTS @home home.co.za Coricraft coricraft.co.za Keter za.keter.com MON Exteriors monexteriors.com Netflorist netflorist.co.za Poetry poetrystores.co.za Superbalist superbalist.com Takealot takealot.com Woolworths woolworths.co.za Yuppiechef yuppiechef.com…

COMPANY Bloomia WHERE Le Domaine, Rawsonville Growing more than four million tulips annually in South Africa when these bulbs actually prefer a cold climate is not for the faint-hearted. But this is what Adriaan van Wyk and his team are doing with great success as part of the international company Bloomia. After a visit to the Netherlands, Adriaan’s mom Retha Alberts and her late husband Kobus decided that they wanted to grow tulips on their smallholding in Rawsonville (read about this beautiful farm garden on page 100). In 2009, they started assembling a greenhouse that they had imported from the Netherlands. With the rest of the infrastructure such as the cooling system, refrigeration rooms and pumps – all supplied locally – in place, the first consignment of tulip bulbs was…

It’s a milestone The iconic AGA cooker is 100 years old and it’s as relevant today as it was innovative at the time of its invention. Many of the new ones have state-of-the-art induction hobs alongside traditional AGA hotplates and there are models with a built-in grill. The AGA Collection includes Rayburn central heating appliances and cast-iron fireplaces. AGA cookers come in a variety of sizes, from 60cm to 210cm, and there’s abespoke service, so you can get an AGA in virtually any colour you like.Email enquiries@agastoves.co.za. See through Tinted double wall mugs from R129 each, woolworths.co.za WITH LOVE… Chef Mynhardt Joubert has been cooking from his Station Street Kitchen in Paarl for the past five years, hosting dinners and using his home as a creative space and photographic studio.…

Bedside manner Rupert and Lesley Sykes, owners of the delightful Pineapple House Boutique Hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town, pride themselves on making guests as comfortable as possible, never compromising on impeccable design. They drew on Rupert’s 20 years of experience as a property developer in London to come up with this clever built-in cupboard design with a nook next to the bed instead of a traditional pedestal. “Rupert is excellent at creating storage solutions for smaller spaces. The bedside nooks ensure easy accessibility to plug points (including USB ports) and allow for maximum use of space while maintaining a stylish aesthetic,” explains Lesley. “At Pineapple House we wanted to create an experience for guests full of design elements that surprise and delight! Each room offers a different experience and…

To find her new hometown of Calitzdorp, Zelma Kriek had to turn to a map for help. But find it she did, and these days she can scarcely believe that she was ever apart from this gem in the Little Karoo with its pristine natural surroundings. Zelma’s home, the historic Mooi Nooi, reveals at least two secrets about this homeowner: the first being that she has travelled extensively throughout her life, the second being that interior design is her passion and forté. But if you think that Zelma will have crammed her 1880s farmhouse in the valley with mementoes from her many travel destinations abroad, you’re mistaken. On the contrary, it's the understated décor that is most striking, along with the peace and tranquillity this home offers those keen to…

You’ve seen what the finalists from last year’s Fix it with Flair competition achieved, and you’ll have to agree: 2021 was jam-packed with clever renovation ideas from Tuis | Home readers. Think you can do better and bag a cash prize with your own makeover in 2022? Show us what you’ve got – it’s your last chance to enter! JoJo, SA’s top domestic water solutions company, has partnered with us once again as headline sponsor for the year, ensuring that you’re all set when it comes to your home renovation water needs. The name JoJo is synonymous with water tanks for your garden, but they also supply a range of pumps, rainwater-harvesting accessories and filters that will enable you to fit your home with a rainwater-harvesting, municipal backup or integrated…

STOCKISTS @home home.co.za Christine’s Candelabra candelabralighting.co.za Coricraft coricraft.co.za Decofurn decofurnsa.co.za Incanda incanda.co.za Mr Price Home mrphome.com Sheet Street sheetstreet.com Superbalist superbalist.com Woolworths woolworths.co.za Yuppiechef yuppiechef.com…

School colours Sané du Toit of Buffeljagsrivier writes We’re busy selecting paint colours for our small school in Buffeljagsrivier. Which colours are practical for the walls? Our school colours are navy and yellow. Should we paint the roof navy? Jenny Moolman, brand manager at Duram Smart Paint, replies There are so many factors to consider when it comes to selecting the right type of paint, and colour is such a personal choice. For a building, the colour scheme is usually determined by the substrates being painted, complementary materials left unpainted such as wood, as well as features like window frames, eaves and gates and how they will all work together. I usually suggest neutral shades such as greys or browns for the exterior of a building, as the look…

Dr Alison Lubisi of Onderstepoort Veterinary Research replies The intricate connection between human and animal health has come into sharp focus with the recent increase in the number of human rabies cases reported in SA. Rabies is endemic here and we’ve seen horrific cases, mostly fatal. By law, dogs and cats must get regular rabies shots, so make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Certain shots are optional, but the core vaccines are mandatory for dogs and cats every year. These are combination jabs such as the DHPP for dogs, which protects them against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus-2 (infectious canine hepatitis and kennel cough), canine parainfluenza virus and canine parvovirus (which affects puppies severely). Cats need to get a combination vaccine that protects them against feline viral…

Spinach cannelloni The flavour combination of spinach, leeks, garlic, dill, creamy ricotta and just enough salty feta is a personal favourite. Serves 4 Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Oven temperature: 180°C • 400g spinach, well rinsed • 30ml butter • 15ml olive oil • 2 leeks, white stems chopped • 2 garlic cloves, chopped • 80ml coarsely chopped Italian parsley • 30ml chopped dill • 150g ricotta • 150g feta (preferably creamy Greek feta) • 3ml freshly grated nutmeg • 1 bottle (690g) tomato passata • 30ml quality olive oil • 5ml dried Italian herbs • 5ml sugar • 16 cannelloni tubes • 500ml grated mozzarella • 125ml Parmesan 1 Cut out the veins from the spinach and chop them finely; their texture is almost the same as…

Broccoli soup with chicken and pasta Under R95 • Serves 4 • Preparation: 25 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes • 60ml butter • 60ml flour • 750ml chicken stock • 250ml milk • 500g broccoli florets • 1 garlic clove • 2 chicken breasts, each cut in half • 250ml pasta (we used macaroni) 1 Melt the butter and stir in the flour. Fry for a few minutes, then gradually beat in the stock and milk until smooth. Add the broccoli, garlic and chicken breasts and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken, then process the soup with a stick blender until smooth. You can also scoop out some of the broccoli and add it later for texture. 2 Shred or chop the…