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Five years ago, I adopted a dog, a scrappy little thing that had been hit by a car and (thankfully!) taken to a vet. This act of mercy saved his life, but it transpired later that the phone number the person had given was false, so the dog ended up at an animal rescue organisation – homeless and with a crippled back leg. That is until I drove through to George one Sunday, met the little guy and adopted him. His name is Knapie, and he's a cheeky brat. Truly unruly. With ornaments for ears. No sense of personal space. At his happiest when he's lying on top of you or over you, or sitting with his butt on you. He drives me crazy, but I love him. And I…

PLAYFUL AND VERSATILE The Sprinkles collection by Popstrukt is available in three playful colours and includes a side table (shown in Kiwi Fizz; R2 999, popstrukt.com), a chest of drawers, and a double locker. The range is ‘sprinkled’ with fun elements such as chunky handles, interior scallops and charming corner details! If you love a statement sofa, feast your eyes on the new, made-to-order Hampstead 3-seater (212cm L x 93cm W x 95cm H; R46 995, blockandchisel.co.za). It's upholstered in 100% Sanforized (a pre-shrinking process to reduce shrinkage after washing) cotton, balancing durability with softness and style. Bring on the sunshine! Atelier Annika was born from a love of design, travel and the beauty of living outdoors. The sculpted umbrellas, sun lounger cushions and scatters are all custom made with…

On the side ADD PERSONALITY WITH A DECORATIVE SIDE TABLE OR STOOL Lighten up! BE BOLD WHEN SELECTING A NEW PENDANT OR LAMP STOCKISTS AND CONTACT Bash bash.com Bespoke Home bespokehome.co.za Block & Chisel blockandchisel.co.za Builders builders.co.za Cash Tiles cashtiles.co.za Cielo cielo.co.za Douglas & Douglas douglasanddouglas.co.za Hertex Haus hertexhaus.co.za Iconomy iconomyonline.com Incanda incanda.co.za Karin Orzol instagram.com/karinorzol K.Light klight.co.za Mr Price Home mrphome.com Patio Warehouse patiowarehouse.co.za Plascon plascon.co.za Poetry poetrystores.co.za Rialheim rialheim.co.za Skinny laMinx skinnylaminx.com Woolworths woolworths.co.za Yuppiechef yuppiechef.com…

THE CHALLENGE Although functional, this sideboard with floating shelves above it was looking less than fabulous. Positioned against a grey focal wall in a dark dining room, its grey doors and dark worktop made the space feel dated and dull (see inset, below). THE SOLUTION New rosy-coloured melamine doors and side panels, brushed gold handles, a marble-look worktop complemented by pine shelves, a tiled splashback and a ‘barely there’ blush paint colour on the wall all contributed to a stylish modern update. PAINT COLOUR Duram Confetti Bush ADD COLOUR A single accent wall can look dated. Refresh your space by adding colour to at least two adjacent walls, if not the whole room. Here, the walls, skirting and cornices were painted in the same nude shade of pink. It is…

Marycke Ackhurst, pet behaviour expert at Hill's Pet Nutrition, replies The emotional support that pets provide is well researched and documented, while an increase in mental health conditions and the stress and strain of life continue to pose very real challenges. People with pets are generally happier and enjoy better self-esteem and social skills. Anxiety, stress and depression can affect any member of your family, regardless of age. The relationship between family members and their furry friends is mutually beneficial: pets support our mental health and, in turn, receive the love and affection they need, too. Younger children often find it difficult to express their feelings. Pets provide a sense of security, unconditional love and companionship, which can help a child to develop a positive self-image. Pets can also teach…

Q: Please identify the plant on the shelf above the stove in the Simon's Town house on page 50 of your May 2025 issue? – Luke Andrews, Benoni A: That is a Siam tulip (Curcuma alismatifolia), a tropical plant in the ginger family. They like a spot that gets plenty of light, but not direct sunlight. ASK JJ An unwelcome plant Marius Pieterse of Cape Town writes What is this plant that is taking over my bougainvillea? The leaves have soft hairs on the underside and it bears small, inconspicuous flowers. JJ van Rensburg replies This is a herbaceous perennial called pellitory (Parieteria officinalis). It is regarded as a weed and should be easy to get rid of. Dig it up carefully without leaving any roots and stems behind, and discard.…

When I see something I love at the nursery, I buy it and then I try and find a place for it. I'm pretty sure that's the wrong way to do it, but it works for me! – Hanli Her Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) is still a small tree but is going from strength to strength. “It hasn't started flowering yet, but I can't wait for the soft pink blooms to make an appearance.” Hanli is especially fond of the evergreen magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’) in the front garden. The Japanese crab-apples (Malus floribunda) are lovely in spring. “I love picking the blossoms for the vase.” Deciduous trees, even if they don't bear flowers, have their own charm. “I planted a sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and water oak (Quercus…

Serves 4 • Preparation: 40 minutes (including frying the brinjal and cooking the sauce) Baking time: 25–30 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C 3–4 medium-sized brinjals 125ml cake flour 3–4 eggs, beaten vegetable oil, for frying 8 slices mozzarella, each about 5mm thick 300ml finely grated Parmesan or pecorino TOMATO SAUCE 1 onion, chopped 45ml olive oil 3 garlic cloves, chopped 3 anchovy fillets, chopped (optional) a pinch of dried chilli flakes  a pinch of dried thyme 2 bay leaves, fresh or dried 2 tins (400g each) chopped tomatoes 5ml sugar a handful fresh basil, chopped, plus a few extra leaves, to garnish 1 Make the tomato sauce Fry the onion in 30ml of the olive oil until soft and translucent. Stir in the garlic, anchovies, chilli, thyme and bay leaves;…

Write to editor@homemag.co.za and remember to use the word ‘Letters’ in the subject line (please include your full name and where you live in your letter). Follow us on facebook.com/homemag or Instagram @TuisHomeMag. Our reading nook MeganO'DonnellofDeRustwrites Our little library, which occupies just 10m2 in our nagmaalhuisie here in the Klein Karoo, was a true labour of love by my husband. With the exception of the tiling and stained glass panels (featuring our two cats) that were done by local craftsmen, he built this nook himself. The bookshelves to the right of the picture were enclosed with glass-fronted metal doors, while the ceiling and wall panels were built with different types of wood from several places: the oak and mahogany were recycled from school desks from John Bosco College in…

WHO LIVES HERE? Marie and Eric Droomer, Floyd the Staffie and Beagles, Lea and Thyme WHERE Breede River Valley, between Worcester and Wolseley SIZE 240m2 (excluding garage, courtyard and verandas) Humansdorp, 1983. I'm almost 15 years old and I'm marvelling at the living room of our cool new 25-year-old neighbour, Marie. She teaches me how to make clothes with unbleached linen, like those she wears. ‘Scandinavian’ is not yet part of my vocabulary, but I love her muted white-and-mushroom palette and the ‘otherness’ of the décor (back then, all I knew was generic lounge suites). By 1987 we had parted ways; Eric and Marie went off to travel the world with their two-year-old, Mieke. We lost touch. Plettenberg Bay, 2025. One of my friends, Retha Alberts, tells me about a…

ARTFUL BOOK ARRANGEMENTS Karin has a large collection of books, but not a single bookshelf. She has embraced the art of stacking books in unexpected ways with small stacks on the kitchen counter, a tall pile on the floor in the dining area and a striking display that lines the wall around the staircase, as seen here. “I didn't want to bring the colours on the book spines into my décor. I love flipping my books over; I can instantly tell which ones I've read three times as opposed to just once.” LOOK UP! Thanks to an extra-high ceiling, proportion and height are among Karin's secret weapons. “Why keep everything at the same level?” she muses. From oversized art and dramatic pendant lamps to a surfboard and bicycle placed just…

KITCHEN The Coetzees wanted a cosy, inviting kitchen that also feels luxurious. Kate, a qualified leather tanner, runs a printing business called Sign-Right and this is where the kitchen wallpaper comes from. Together with the wooden shelves and countertops, the eye-catching wallpaper creates interest. “We played around with a few designs until I was satisfied. It really changes the aesthetic and feel of the space,” says Kate. “We spent about 10 days working on the design and another two printing it.” WHO LIVES HERE? Paul and Kate Coetzee WHERE Swellendam SIZE 157m² (house and garage) PAINT COLOUR Plascon Urban Rock It was love at first sight when Paul and Kate Coetzee viewed this heritage home in Swellendam's “old town”. It reminded them of a doll's house. And the couple agreed:…

for brackets Wall-mounted shelf brackets can be decorative or discrete – and Gelmar has them all! Take into consideration the material and finish as well as the size and weight capacity of the brackets. …for handles Concealed handles are attached at the back of cupboard doors, rather than the front like traditional handles, exposing a slim lip of colour. This leaves the fronts unmarred and you can avoid the frustration of lining up drill holes for handles on all the doors! The Gelmar range comes in brushed gold, brushed satin nickel, pearl grey, white and black. …for worktops PG Bison's locally produced Formica LifeSeal worktops offer a modern design aesthetic with a range of styles to choose from – whether you're after a woodgrain look, a stone look or a…

Q: Where are the two cane ottomans on page 37 of the August 2025 issue from? – Carin Loesch A: They were bought at Block & Chisel (blockandchisel.co.za) 25 years ago. Patio Warehouse (patiowarehouse.co.za) has something similar called a Clivia coffee table. Q: I absolutely love the conservatory featured in your September|October 2025 issue. Where are the black-and-white tiles from and who did the tiling? – Therese Charlton A: The homeowner bought the property with the conservatory already built and doesn't have any product or installation details. According to Nicole Russell of Italtile (italtile.co.za), the pattern consists of a number of tile cuts. “We offer tile cutting through one of our suppliers, but this would require careful planning,” she says. “Italtile has a variety of options to create a similar…

Small garden, big heart In South Africa's urban centres, outdoor space often comes at a premium. Yet, even the smallest balcony, stoep, or courtyard can become a lush sanctuary with the right approach, and it can be deeply rewarding. It's all about creativity, resourcefulness, and making every square metre count. CHOOSE LOCAL HEROES In small gardens, every plant should earn its keep by looking good, thriving in your local climate, and ideally attracting beneficial insects or birds. For easy-care structure, go for indigenous plants such as dwarf aloes, spekboom (Portulacaria afra), wild garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) or small agapanthus varieties. They're drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and add year-round interest. For colour and pollinator appeal, plant gazanias, pelargoniums or Cape daisies (Osteospermum), which are hardy, waterwise, and quintessentially South African. These attract bees and…

WHO LIVES HERE? Gertie Pretorius WHERE Boskruin, Johannesburg SIZE OF PLANTABLE AREA 80m² AGE OF GARDEN 5 years TYPE OF SOIL Sandy enriched with compost “Pink is my happy colour,” says psychologist Gertie Pretorius. And happiness was top of mind when it came to the revamp of her tiny garden. Gertie had just been through a divorce; the house was hers and she could now swap the tropical-style garden for one that better reflects her taste and personality. But being a busy professional, Gertie realised that she didn't have the time or the resources to create the garden escape she had in mind. So, she turned to Debbie Smit of Foxgloves Landscape Design. “I explained to Debbie that I wanted lots of roses, lots of pink and a lemon tree.…

Steak, potato and feta salad Under R195 • Serves 4 • Preparation: 40 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes • Oven temperature: 200°C 500g baby potatoes, parboiled 30ml olive oil a large knob of butter 300g deboned rump steak 200g cherry tomatoes, halved 80g mixed leaf salad (cos lettuce and rocket) 30ml crispy onion sprinkles SALAD DRESSING 100g feta 60ml double-cream yoghurt 30ml chopped flat-leaf parsley ½ garlic clove, grated 15ml fresh lemon juice 1 Preheat the oven. Using the bottom of a glass, flatten the potatoes on a greased baking tray. Brush with olive oil, dot with butter and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden-brown and crispy. 2 Trim the excess fat off the steak and chop the fat…

It's the first school day of the new year and my neighbourhood here at the foot of the Stellenbosch Mountain is buzzing with New Year energy. The dog and I are on our morning walk and we stroll past clusters of excited children in crisp uniforms on their way to school. Everything is shiny and bright, right down to the water in the furrows, which is bubbling extra jubilantly out to sea. At the front gate of one of the large houses, a neighbour is struggling to get his four restless boys under control so that they can walk to school calmly. His wife is blowing kisses from the front door where she's leaning on crutches, one foot in a brace. I stop and inquire about her injury. “Meet the…

Sheltered and serene “Colour changes everything,” says Craig Watson of this courtyard in Fish Hoek. Together with his business partners, Adam Lange and Albertyn Smit, he breathed new life into the outdoor space at this heritage home. The walls painted in a dusty rose colour set off a vibrant pink bougainvillea that is slowly but surely climbing up the back wall. The floor, paved in circular patterns, is a nod to the skies above. “We wanted a ‘starburst’ effect,” Adam explains. Each circle is formed from regular bricks, which have been meticulously cut and arranged in multiple circles. The subtle colour variations in the terracotta bricks work well with the dusty pink walls; in turn, the walls are complemented by the classic stripes on the bench cushions, which add a…

WHO LIVES HERE? Matt and Natalie MacLeod with their sons, Leo (12) and Shay (10) WHERE Cape St Francis, Eastern Cape SIZE 172m2 PAINT COLOUR Kleur Space Crocodile Fern MATT'S TIP FOR PAINTING CEILINGS “When you go for a white or very light wall colour, it makes sense to paint the ceiling in the same shade. Otherwise, you will see a transition where you relied on a painter's steady hand to cut a perfectly neat line. When there's no transition of colour, the look is seamless.” Surfboards and fishing rods strapped to the roof racks on their Kombi and two barefoot boys in tow is how you're likely to encounter Matt and Natalie since their move from Gqeberha to the surfer's paradise of Cape St Francis. A lifestyle change such…

We love this! Lila blown glass trophy vase (30cm H) R999, Poetry…

EXPERT ADVICE The perfect décor for your guesthouse Marilouise, who previously worked in the beauty industry, entered the hospitality industry after moving from the Northern Cape to Swellendam. It is here that she explored her passion for design and décor. “It developed organically,” she says. “And now I also help other guesthouse owners with the design of their spaces.” The cottage is a heritage building in the country's third oldest town, so authentic and antique furniture was vital, but Marilouise wanted to mix this with more modern items. “Textural elements such as grass rugs and furniture painted in rich undertones of green and blue bring that bit of eclectic drama to the historic cottage. Colour, art and interesting items add to the overall feel of a space and will give…

A winning design! In our March | April 2025 issue, Milestone Kitchens units worth R100 000 were up for grabs in the annual Dream Design competition. Readers were invited to plan their ultimate kitchen, measure up, select their favourite items online at milestonekitchens.co.za, and then create their ideal design. Karen Ridge of Pringle Bay in the Overberg is the lucky winner! Her design and motivation as to why Milestone Kitchens freestanding units would be perfect for her new home earned her a R100 000 discount on her dream kitchen. Karen writes When my husband Derek and I moved from Pietermaritzburg to Pringle Bay in 2023, we decided to build so that we had enough space for my mom, Irene Cook. The house is half hers, half ours – and it's…

Hands off! “It's just a toy, but it's all mine,” says Zara. – Ri-Ellen Kemp, Jeffreys Bay Cool cat Gryskat knows where to find respite. – Johan Meyer, Montagu Cat's out of the bag! Archie, proudly delivered by Checkers Sixty60. – Mi-Jeanne de Villiers, Bredasdorp Two of a kind Diego is the real McCoy! – Ali Lorenz, Cape Town Feels so good Xara loves a bit of sunshine. – Kayla Roodt, Somerset West To the brim Karel Kat inspects the watering can. – Elisca van Zyl, Lutzville WIN! Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a gift voucher worth R500 from Petshop Science (petshopscience.co.za). Now is the ideal time to switch your pet to nutritious food that's both affordable and high-quality. Discover Petshop Science's new private label range of…

WHO LIVES HERE? Anton and Hanli Smuts WHERE Silwerstrand Golf Estate, Robertson SIZE OF GARDEN 400m2 AGE OF GARDEN 3 years TYPE OF SOIL Clay “When we started building here, it was a dusty, dry piece of land with rock-hard soil. There wasn't a tree or earthworm in sight,” says Hanli. “We moved here in November 2022 after having lived on a fruit and vegetable farm outside Robertson for 36 years. I was accustomed to a beautiful, expansive garden with established trees and shrubs that I inherited from my mother-in-law. The sprinklers ran almost all day long, supplied with water from the Breede River irrigation system. But Anton and I both decided we were ready for something smaller, and because he has been playing golf here since his teens, we…

Mango and prawn salad Every summer I count down the days until fresh mangos are available in store so that I can make a version of this festive starter. Serves 6 as a starter Preparation: 15 minutes 300g cooked prawn tails (shelled) 2 baby gem lettuces 2 ripe avocados, diced 2 ripe mangos, cut into blocks 4 radishes, thinly sliced 15ml pickled ginger, finely chopped SALAD DRESSING 125ml creamy French-style mayonnaise 60ml double-cream yoghurt 30ml mango chutney 30ml tomato sauce a pinch of mild curry powder 10ml fresh lemon juice, or to taste a dash of hot sauce, or to taste Turn to page 124 for more delicious summer salads. 1 Keep 12 of the prawns whole to garnish later. Chop the rest into small pieces. 2 Mix all the…

CONGRATULATIONS! The Alvi's Drift Signature Selection range made its mark at the Ultra Value Wine Challenge 2025, winning Double Gold and Gold medals, including two of the competition's highest honours: White Wine of the Year for the Signature Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé Wine of the Year for the Signature Pinotage Rosé. Go to alvisdrift.co.za to get yours! Star quality Drew Barrymore's Beautiful collection of small kitchen appliances is now available in South Africa! Makro and the brand-new Walmart stores in Clearwater Mall and Fourways Mall offer an array of air fryers, kettles, blenders, toasters and stand mixers that combine performance with good looks. To get yours, go to makro.co.za or download the Wallmart Africa app now. Chef Amori Burger's sensational summer menu at Upper Union in Cape Town celebrates the…