Table of contents for Aug-22 in Home

In early winter there was an unexpected lull between deadlines, so I drove from Cape Town to Barrydale to visit a new retreat with a few other media people. The first major Cape winter storm was looming but in the Little Karoo the fire was crackling, the food was delicious and the company was top-notch. It was a much-needed outing for me. Because as enjoyable as ‘working from home' is, it can become quite monotonous walking from your bedroom to the ‘office’ every day and back again at night. I was desperate to get out! The retreat is reader Terry de Vries's new place. We featured her gorgeous home in our July 2021 issue (check it out on News24.com/home) and now she has created a retreat with a lush garden…

WHAT’S NEW COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW ‘Personalisation’ has emerged as the most significant new trend in bathrooms, according to British brand Victoria + Albert. Leading this trend, Victoria + Albert's colour service allows you to personalise the exterior of their freestanding baths and basins to coordinate with the rest of your unique bathroom design. Choose from a spectrum of 194 hues in either gloss or matt using the RAL colour system, so that the shade you select can be easily matched with the rest of your décor. For more information, visit vandabaths.com. Rose RAL 3017 Signal Yellow RAL 1003 Pastel Turquoise RAL 6034 Moss Green RAL 6005 FORM AND FUNCTION Acre Studio's latest range includes exquisite furniture, lighting and home décor pieces that aim to be both functional and approachable.…

READER HOME We love spending time outdoors and look forward to having a cascading Wisteria one day - this is a work in progress! – Jenine WHO LIVES HERE? Mynhardt Joubert and Ian Engelmohr WHERE Paarl, Boland SIZE 155m2 “These eight pendant lamps from the seventies form a focal point in our living room,” says Mynhardt. “The living room is a mix of both our stories,” says Ian. In Mynhardt and Ian's front garden, a fire-engine red sculpture by Strijdom van der Merwe entitled There It Is points towards the neighbouring house and Paarl Rock. And fittingly so. The green house next door belongs to Ian's mother Bets Engelmohr and this is where it all began when the pair started looking for a home in Paarl. “Now I have to…

QUICK PROJECT GUIDE Hard labour 3/10 Skill level 4/10 Time needed 1 hour Do it yourself for ± R970: wood R580, legs R40 each, screws R20, glue R40, sandpaper R20, Woodoc Antique Wax R150 PROJECT #1: MAKE THE BENCH… You will need SHOPPING LIST • one 1 200 × 380 × 19mm laminated pine plank (top) • one 3 000 × 94 × 22mm planed pine plank (sides) • one packet 6mm × 40mm chipboard screws • Alcolin Fast Set Wood Glue • 220-grit sandpaper • Woodoc Antique Wax TOOLS • cordless drill, 3mm drill bit and 12mm spade bit • saw • jigsaw • router • pencil • tape measure • brush • soft cloth PROJECT NOTES • Measure and mark carefully. • Remember to drill pilot holes. Did…

Try these colours! STOCKISTS @home home.co.za Babylonstoren babylonstoren.com Dulux dulux.co.za Duram duram.co.za Eurolux eurolux.co.za Incanda incanda.co.za Mr Price Home mrphome.com Paint & Decor paintdecordiy.com Tjhoko Paint tjhokopaint.co.za Woolworths woolworths.co.za Yuppiechef yuppiechef.com…

ONLINE MASTERCLASSES Our online masterclass series will help you to perfect your painting techniques! Home, South Africa’s best-selling home and garden magazine, has for many years been a source of inspiration when it comes to decorating your spaces. Now, for the first time, the Home team is offering you an online masterclass series in chalk paint techniques at an affordable price! This series, presented by Home editor Wicus Pretorius and Dale Niehaus of chalk paint studio Chisel & Chalk, covers the basic principles of chalk paint techniques. They’ll also show you a few advanced techniques as well as step-by-step furniture makeovers using Tjhoko Paint and Annie Sloan products. 10 masterclasses, complete with shopping lists and notes that you can keep on hand for when you start painting. View the video…

Nicolet Muir of Johannesburg writes I know it's important to protect my dog and cat from ticks and fleas, but I can't stand the pipettes used to administer the treatment; do chewable alternatives work? Dr Michelle Enslin, Boehringer Ingelheim's resident vet, replies To chew or not to chew, that is the question. Unlike Hamlet in William Shakespeare's play, our pets' answer to life's greatest contemplation is a definitive yes. With the understanding that most pets are food-driven animals, it's logical to presume that chewable parasiticides might be better received than other applications. Are they as effective? Yes, and they have additional benefits. There's no difference in efficacy levels as they're tested alongside other treatments and work in the same way. What does differ, however, is how pets will receive them.…

Shereen Smit of Cape Town writes I have a couple of star jasmine plants in big cement pots that were doing so well but have now developed reddish spots on the leaves. What could be causing this, and how do I treat my plants? I don't want to lose them! JJ replies The spots are caused by a fungus called black spot, which develops when the leaves stay wet for long periods. Treat it with an appropriate fungicide - I normally use Mycoguard. You will need to spray the plant as well as the soil in the pots and repeat after about 10 days. Potted plants generally need more feeding, so I would also recommend a fertiliser high in nitrogen such as 7:1:3 or organic-based Gro Green every two months or…

WHO LIVES HERE? Jéan and llinda du Preez with their two cats, Pixel and Meko WHERE Monaghan Farm, Lanseria SIZE OF ERF 6 000m2 TYPE OF SOIL Clay and sandy Ilinda du Preez wanted a garden that looked and felt like the veld. “I've always loved a natural garden, so when I stroll through mine I want to be surrounded by wildflowers and grasses just as it would be in nature,” she says. “One of the conditions of the estate where we live is that 50% of the erf's total area must remain natural veld - the house, swimming pool, garden and any other built structure may not cover more than half of the property.” Ilinda says that any plants used in the garden should by and large be indigenous…

Serves 6-8 • Preparation: 40 minutes Baking time: 30 minutes • Oven temperature: 160°C • 1L milk • 250ml sago • 180ml sugar • 80ml boiling water • 60ml butter • 45ml whisky • 250ml cream, at room temperature • pinch of sea salt flakes • 4 eggs, separated • 220ml castor sugar • pinch of cream of tartar or a few drops of lemon juice 1 Bring the milk to the boil. Beat in the sago and simmer over medium heat until the mixture thickens and the sago becomes translucent (about 20 minutes). 2 Dissolve the sugar in the water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Then bring to the boil and cook, without stirring, until the caramel is a golden colour. Stir in the butter, whisky, cream and salt…

Mexican meatballs Under R125 • Makes 12 meatballs Preparation: 25 minutes • Cooking time: 30 minutes • 500g beef mince • 1 onion, grated • 1 egg • 250ml breadcrumbs • 60ml chopped coriander • 5ml smoked paprika • 30ml olive oil • 1 tin (400g) Mexican-style chopped tomatoes • 1 tin (400g) red kidney beans, drained • 125ml frozen corn 1 Season the beef mince with salt and pepper and mix in the onion, egg, breadcrumbs, coriander and paprika. Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and shape it into meatballs with wet hands. 2 Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan and fry the meatballs gently over medium heat until golden-brown. 3 Add the tomatoes, beans, corn and a dash of water to the pan and simmer until the…

PRETTY AS A PICTURE The 'Harvest Collection’ homeware and fabric range features watercolour designs of artichokes, figs and pomegranates by Caron Andrews. The disposable paper placemats and 100% cotton runners, napkins and tea towels are printed in collaboration with Caversham Textiles. Visit shop.flourishbycaron.com and cavershamtextiles.com to find out more. BRING HOME THE BAKING! Baking for Profit and Pleasure (R420, NB Publishers) by Christine Capendale boasts more than 80 inspiring recipes for a host of delicious treats, sensational cakes, savoury platters and traybakes. Also included is advice on equipment, costings, packaging and branding as well as top tips for successful home baking. We can't wait to try the vegan peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake! Enjoy now, or later The latest release of the 2020 vintage of Delheim Edelspatz Riesling (R330, delheim.com),…

READER HOME WHO LIVES HERE? Jean and Renée Daneel with their dogs Bonzo, Loki and Maggie WHERE Napier, Western Cape SIZE 163m2 When Renée and Jean Daneel started looking for a house in 2005, they came across an old barn with a chicken coop, tractor shed and cowshed in a backyard in Napier and immediately fell in love with it. These days, when you dine at the chic restaurant that Renée has been operating in the original house on the property since 2005, you'd never guess that it was the once unsightly old barn behind the house that was the biggest drawcard for this couple. The building in the backyard consisted of three rooms next to each other covered by a rusty corrugated-iron roof. “Right next door, as befits a…

#1 Fixed up with flair! Petro and Fanie Kruger, our 2021 Fix it with Flair winners in the DIY category, tick all the boxes with their bathroom renovation. The look is trendy yet classical with elegant finishes. This is the second home these avid DIYers have tackled. With the profit made from the sale of their first house, Petro and Fanie bought this lovely 1950s home in 2019. “She was last updated in the '70s and was in desperate need of some TLC,” says Petro. After mainly focusing on maintenance since moving in, the couple decided to do a major bathroom renovation in 2020. “Finally, we got to the fun part! Two kids later, it's taking us a bit longer than our first home makeover but we're getting there, slowly but…

PROJECT NOTES • Remove any handles before you start painting. If you want to put on new ones, fill the old screw holes with wood filler and attach the new ones once your project is finished. • This chest of drawers was previously varnished. To get rid of the yellow undertone and achieve a more subtle wood-look all over, the varnish layer was sanded off with a hand sander - first use the 80-grit sandpaper until almost all the varnish has been removed; then sand with the 100-grit sandpaper until the original wood is exposed and smooth to the touch. • Use a paint scraper to remove any stubborn varnish or other dirt. • Thanks to Tjhoko Paint's built-in sealant, you don't need to seal the surface. If you're worried…

Q: Where can I find a wall hanging like the one on the Home Paint It 2022 cover? It took my breath away! - Susan de Bruin, Johannesburg A: The homeowner bought this tablecloth from Babylonstoren in Franschhoek a couple of years ago and had it made into blinds. They sell similar tablecloths online and deliver countrywide (shop.babylonstoren.com). Q: Where can I get the ‘bugs' scatter cushions as shown on page 15 of Home Renovations 2021/22? - Amorie du Plessis, Vereeniging A: The scatters are from Clinton Friedman; order them online at clintonfriedman.com. Q: Where did Craig Olckers buy the beautiful brass handles for his lower kitchen cupboards as seen on page 49 of your May/June 2022 issue? - Selina du Toit, Cape Town A: The brass shells and knobs…

HEALTHY HYDRANGEAS Start feeding hydrangeas towards the end of August by sprinkling fertiliser around the root zone and watering in well. Spotlight on fynbos With over 9 000 species, from the beloved protea to delicate Ericas, you’ll be spoilt for choice if you'd like to try your hand at growing fynbos. Although endemic to the Cape, these hardy, drought-tolerant plants can be grown in other parts of the country too. Fynbos thrives in acidic soil with good drainage and no manure added. Mulch your plants with acidic compost once a year and remember to prune them after flowering or before spring to encourage lush growth. Visit your local garden centre and select some beauties from these four fynbos species: PROTEA There's little to beat the showiness of our national flower…

GRASS GARDEN WHERE Stellenbosch SIZE OF GARDEN About 2.5 ha TYPE OF SOIL Clay Ornamental grasses provide movement, texture and a source of food for wildlife in your garden. In addition, they require very little maintenance and are waterwise. “Grasses are easy to grow and add great value to a garden or a bed,” says Stellenbosch gardener and plant lover Pietman Diener. “They require little effort to grow - all that's needed is for them to be cut back to ground level at the end of winter. They also need less water than many other plants. They are a bonus for birds, who use the grass stalks as nesting material and feed on their seeds throughout winter.” Inspiration from nature “If you use ornamental grasses in the majority of a…

BACK PAGE “I'm going to kill him and kill him dead,” I hear a young woman from my neighbourhood saying through clenched teeth. She is part of a group of early birds that regularly flocks to a little coffee cart that parks for an hour or two each morning on a quiet street nearby. It's a lekker little contraption, this pop-up coffee bar, basically a tuk-tuk sporting a proper coffee machine on its back. Early in the morning, once the kiddies have been delivered to school, people stop by for a quick coffee and a chat before work. They drink their cappuccinos standing in the street, talking rugby and world peace, or even shaking on a business deal now and then. Our barista, a jovial guy with a flat cap…

A private haven With just one bathroom in their 1930s heritage home in Rondebosch, Bronwyn Pirrie desperately wanted to create an en suite for her and hubby Andrew's bedroom. “As a mom of twins, I longed for a space I could call my own – with some privacy from the boys!” says Bronwyn with a smile. Bronwyn was one of our weekly winners in this year’s Rookie Stylist competition in partnership with Mr Price Home. The Pirries enlisted the help of architectural designer Jenny Collins of Red Cat Design to assist with their overall renovation (the rest of the house is still very much a work in progress), which included adding on the tiny en-suite bathroom. “Space was a real problem, as the bathroom had to be squeezed into the…

WHO LIVES HERE? Jenine Bruce and Richard Calothi with baby Teya and Molly, a Kerry Blue Terrier WHERE Claremont. Cape Town SIZE 268m2 Jenine Bruce of Lacuna always impresses us with her fabulous interior design skills. This time, she modestly opened her own home’s doors to us - and we love what she's done! Her look is unique. Fun, yet elegant. Striking, but still timeless. “We moved into the 10-year-old house towards the end of 2020 and the size is just perfect for us right now,” says Jenine, who welcomed baby Teya in June. “We are amongst young families and close to a dog park. The house has good bones and beautiful wooden sash windows and doors.” While the home lacked character inside, Jenine didn't see this as a negative.…

Décor dilemma Passage pizzazz Lize-Mari Lamprecht of Villiersdorp writes We recently moved into a farmhouse with large rooms and I'm finding it difficult to decorate the long passage. Luckily, there's a lot of natural light, but I need ideas on how to create the ‘wow effect’. Any suggestions? Wouter le Roux, interior architect at Hello Charlie, replies When trying to create that 'wow effect' in a typically overlooked space, such as a passage, these pointers will go a long way: Function Consider improving the functionality of the space by creating storage. While your semi-circular table is perfect for the end of a passage, other options such as a built-in or freestanding unit with drawers can be very handy for stashing items not in use daily. Focal point The wall right…

ADVICE Snug as a bug… Camo cat! Tigger likes to just blend in… - Schalk and Antoinette van der Merwe, Pretoria In style Asher rocks his winter coat! - Neeltjie Conradie, Johannesburg Living her best life Puppy Maya Rose loves rainy days! - llsa and Flavio Vorster, Cape Town Blanket effect Ollie knows how to keep warm. - Ina Ehlers, Durbanville Hear me roar! Our ‘little lion' Katryn stands guard in front of the fire. - Elmien Opperman, Kathu, Northern Cape Window dressing Dikkes basks in the winter sun. - Nelea Beukes, Middelburg, Mpumalanga Hot product We love new kid on the block Hound and Co's handmade ceramic cat and dog bowls (from R620, houndandco.co.za). Made in a small pottery studio in Pretoria, the bowls are not only pretty but…

Anna van Blerk of Kroonstad writes I recently acquired some ‘Garden Queen' roses; please advise on when and how to fertilise them? Ludwig replies Generally, fertilising starts in August, especially if it was not done in July when roses were pruned, and is carried out monthly until the following April. If your roses were planted in well-composted soil, allow them to settle in and only start fertilising after two months. Apply a rose fertiliser such as Vigorosa (5:1:5), which contains a balance of macro-nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) as well as Epsom salts, lime, boron and humic acid. Roses need 30g once a month and larger shrub roses and climbers need 60g; always water well after fertilising. It is recommended that you stop fertilising in May to allow your roses…

Mushroom burgers with halloumi, caramelised onions and avocado Caramelised onions are a labour of love - pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy the delicious aroma as they slowly fry. Makes 4 burgers • Preparation: 45 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour • 30ml olive oil • 8 large black mushrooms • 8 marinated sun-dried tomatoes (see below) • 4 thick slices (circles or squares) halloumi • a handful baby spinach • fresh basil • 1 brinjal, thinly sliced and fried • 1 ripe avo, peeled and sliced (sprinkle with lemon juice so it doesn't oxidise) CARAMELISED ONIONS • 3 white onions, peeled and thinly sliced • 30ml olive oil • 5ml light brown sugar • knob of butter • 15ml balsamic vinegar 1 Caramelise the onions Place the onions and 250ml…