Table of contents for Home Renovations 2022/23 in Home

Every year when we start going through the entries for our annual Fix it with Flair competition, I realise once again that Home readers are my ‘tribe’. You’re probably familiar with this informal term that people use to describe those with whom they just ‘click’. You may also know the expression “birds of a feather flock together” or “we’re on the same WhatsApp group”. My people. For me, it’s the back stories that often grab my attention more than the entries themselves. They make me want to read and ‘listen’. Like the house that became a haven after a divorce, with a little garden for an adopted dog (page 26). And the home with its own dam – I kid you not (page 44)! There are countless others… At the…

Hilly Nachman of The Fireplace Studio offers advice on installing a fireplace: • When it comes to a new installation, a freestanding cast-iron fireplace, such as Annabel chose, is a good option. “It’s easy to position and more efficient than an open fireplace – you’ll use less wood and your heat output will be between 70–80% as opposed to an open fireplace that might be 10–20%,” says Hilly. Heat is spread from all sides of the fireplace; no heat is lost to surrounding masonry and the exposed flue also radiates heat. • The size of the unit depends on the size of the area you want to heat. A good rule of thumb is 1kW per 10m2 or 30m3. • A reasonably open space should be chosen for the position…

Islands have become increasingly popular in kitchens as they provide extra work and storage space and encourage socialising while cooking. Designer Nialè van der Merwe of Easylife Kitchens offers the following advice: • When incorporating an island into your kitchen, make sure there’s sufficient space between it and the surrounding cabinets for easy movement. If you need to open an oven door, a 1 100 – 1 200mm gap is best; otherwise, a 900mm walkway will do. • The height will depend on how you use the island. For prep work, the ergonomic industry standard height is 900mm. If you intend to dine at the island on dining chairs, you could add a dropped section with a height of 745mm. If you want to sit on bar stools, a comfortable…

Renovating apartments, where people live in close proximity, is a bigger challenge nowadays as many more people work from home, says Greg Anderson of SL Property Trust, the managing agent for the apartment block in which Brett lives. He outlines a few factors to bear in mind: • Noise and the timeframe of renovations must be managed to reduce any inconvenience experienced by other residents. • While the rules of each apartment building may differ, Greg says that, generally, they will prohibit renovation work after hours, on weekends and public holidays. • Rules might also restrict an owner when it comes to noisy demolition, the transportation and storage of building materials, as well as the removal of rubble between certain hours during the week. • Before a renovation can be…

As an interior decorator, Cailin is very aware of the fact that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. “Bathrooms are one of the most used spaces in a home, but they are also a sanctuary in which to unwind in a hot bath after a busy day.” Here are her tips: Keep it tidy by hiding cosmetics, personal hygiene products, soggy old sponges and facecloths in ample under-counter storage. Introduce your personal style – whether it’s an industrial, natural or luxurious look – and update your décor accordingly. Look at lifestyle and décor magazines for current trends and inspiration. New towels, a few works of art, candles, plants or baskets will add to the overall appeal. Keep the look simple and timeless. Choose the right hardware and countertops. Simply changing your…

Before converting a vehicle into a motorhome, there are a number of aspects to consider. Leon Botha, caravanning and camping journalist at Go! Drive & Camp, has this advice: • The drivetrain is certainly the most important decision you make when considering a certain vehicle. With a two-wheel drive you limit your destination choices but save on purchase price and running costs. The ultimate is a 4x4, but aside from the pricing issue, it weighs more. This means more wear and tear and a higher fuel bill. • Weight is an issue, especially when it comes to the fixtures. Heavier items must be installed closer to the floor. Heavy, high-mounted equipment shifts the vehicle’s centre of gravity. This results in exaggerated body roll which hampers the vehicle’s handling. • Installing…

Stephanie Forbes, national manager of the Kitchen Specialists Association (KSA), says that when installing a kitchen, consumers should expect the unexpected! Unforeseen issues can create massive inconvenience and usually cost time and money. Here is Stephanie’s list of things that need to be taken care of before your contractor arrives on site to start installing a new kitchen: • Remove the old kitchen, including wall tiles and flooring. • Ensure that any building – knocking down of walls, moving of doors, refinishing floors and walls – is done and, if possible, any workmen not related to the kitchen are off site. • Ensure that all the necessary changes have been made to your electrical and plumbing layout and that any gas piping has already been installed prior to the kitchen’s…

Karin and Shaun Nel’s house in the Chelsea Conservancy outside Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape is light and open-plan to make the most of their surroundings and it’s beautifully finished off with chic furnishings. “I created a boho beach feel with white and accents of wood and rattan,” says Karin. “The wood brings in a natural element and breaks the white of the walls. This limited palette creates a calm, serene atmosphere.” The house, which they call Seaview, looks out over the ocean just a few kilometres away. “This also enhances a sense of tranquillity. One can sit here for hours, just gazing at the sea.” Karin and Shaun often sit back and appreciate the house they created from a ramshackle building. “All we kept was the shell,” says Karin.…

Since the Pieterses love the Cape Dutch style, they wanted to give the facebrick walls a smooth finish. “The plaster initially cracked but thanks to a special bonding agent and quality paint, this is now a thing of the past. We realise that paint entails ongoing maintenance but if you use a quality product, you don’t need to paint every year,” says Marilé. Jaco Crafford of Crafford Meesterbouers offers this advice: 1 Make sure the facebrick walls are clean and free of dust and fungus. Apply a fungicide such as Steriklenz, and clean with a high-pressure sprayer (make sure all loose material is removed). 2 Protect windows and doors by covering them with plastic. 3 Mix a bonding agent such as Alcolin Permobond with cement, water and sand, and paint…

Jacque Sherman of Ikhaya Futurehouse Systems, a member of the Green Building Council, explains the advantages of building with corrugated expanded polystyrene (EPS): • The materials are manufactured in SA and due to their light weight (approximately 5kg/m² when unplastered) can be easily and inexpensively transported around the country. • The panels are encapsulated with a 650MPA high-tensile galvanized steel mesh that once covered in standard 14MPA plaster creates a 13-ton load sheer per linear metre. Flame-retardant, they are strong enough to support multiple storeys and have excellent insulation and acoustic properties. • The panels are much more cost-effective than conventional building materials and can be custom manufactured to the client’s plans. For instance, we can manufacture the panels to the exact height required so you can have your roof…

Twenty-three years ago, Brett Anderson-Terry moved into Peak View, a lovely well-maintained apartment building nestled between lush trees in Cape Town, with Table Mountain on one side and the sprawling city on the other. First he rented a one-bedroom apartment before buying it from the landlord. Originally, he planned to stay for just six months. Fast forward two decades and Brett is still around – these days as the owner of not one but two apartments in the building: one of which he shares with his husband Roger Maitland and another that they purchased in 2020 to rent out as an additional income stream. “It all began when a neighbour, who knew about my love of renovating, asked me to visit and give her some advice on the apartment she…

“The past few years have been stressful and as a result, the world now craves colour,” says Stevie Joubert, CEO of Stiles. “Nature-inspired tones, calming hues and warm palettes draw out a sense of euphoria that translates into exciting trends.” Here are a few Stiles favourites: Aqua-blue and aqua-green Aquas are becoming increasingly attractive. The post-Covid migration to the coast is reflected in homes that boast elements of the ocean. Sage The tranquil tone and natural appeal of sage make this shade a popular choice today. Pink Various shades of pretty pink work well for a soft feminine touch. Neutrals Don’t underestimate cream and beige. These warm neutrals are timeless, especially when paired with wood-look tiles. CONTACT stiles.co.za…

Paul Henry, retired managing director of Rawson Developers and Construction, has this advice for would-be DIYers: • If you draw up your own plans, make sure they are accurate and to scale. Keep your interior design in mind from the outset, especially when it comes to shelves and cabinets that may need customising. • Do cost estimates as accurately as possible, so that extras don’t catch you off-guard. Willie and Lois-Mari made sure that they kept track of all their costs, even smaller items such as glasses and corkscrews. With this information, they were able to work out how much money the first two guest rooms would need to generate before they could start the next phase of their future boutique hotel. • When renovating an old building, try to…

WHO LIVES HERE? Karen and Paul Blenkinsop WHERE Somerset West #1 Curves in all the right places Swapping around a kitchen with another room in the house is sometimes the best solution when it comes to catering for your family’s needs. This is exactly what Karen and Paul did when they moved their kitchen from the bottom floor to the guest room upstairs. After all, they spend most of their time on the top level, which opens directly onto the upper garden and entertaining area. “We often joke that we converted our home into an upside-down house,” says Karen. “We use the upper garden every day during summer, and we wanted our new kitchen to link to this space.” Moving the kitchen into an old bedroom was not without its challenges.…

Jenny Collins, architectural designer at Red Cat Design, says large windows that flood the kitchen with warmth and sunlight, and connect us to the outdoors, are often a great addition during a renovation. Here are a few things to consider: The size of a window will depend on: Your kitchen’s layout Larger windows take up wall space, so make sure you’ll still have enough storage space. Your budget Bear in mind that a window wider than 3m will need a structural beam designed by a structural engineer. The style of your space In a modern home and kitchen, square- or horizontally-proportioned windows work, while older homes and more classic kitchens suit vertically-proportioned windows. View What will the window look out onto? There’s no point in having a lovely big window…

“When you want to break out a wall, you must be careful not to demolish a load-bearing wall which supports the roof.” But how does one know if a wall is load-bearing? “Go and look in the roof space where the ceiling beams rest on a wall,” he explains. “If there is a gap between the roof trusses and the wall, the wall doesn’t support the weight of the roof. In which case, you can remove it.” Bennie says that you should also be able to see which walls are load-bearing on proper house plans. As the Nels’ house was very old, this was not indicated on the original plans. Where the roof trusses rest on a wall, the roof may collapse if you remove the wall. “If you want…

My décor style is eclectic and bohemian. I appreciate unique and beautiful things and textures from all cultures. –Annabel After a tumultuous couple of years, culminating in a heartbreaking divorce, Annabel Davids of Cape Town needed more than just a fresh start. “I was looking for a safe haven – a comforting, serene, happy space. One that reflected me, Annabel, someone I’d forgotten about…” Annabel, who launched aroma and holistic lifestyle store Oco Life in 2018, had been searching for a new home for some time and this property in the bustling suburb of Green Point in Cape Town had been on her radar since November 2021 – at that point, divorce proceedings were still underway and the house she shared with her now ex-husband was still on the market.…

Stephen Lew, an interior designer and architect, gives us the lowdown: Q: What are the considerations when adding another level to your home? A: It’s important to identify the function of this new space and explore its relationship with the existing spaces. This, in turn, will help to define your design brief. A staircase can be a beautiful feature as well as a functional access point to your new space but it takes careful planning to connect the new storey to the existing one without losing too much floor space to what is essentially a traffic route. Light becomes critical as you increase the height of the dwelling; taller structures create longer shadows, so try to keep the wall plate (building construct that fixes the roof to the top of…

BRETT’S TOP TIPS FOR RENOVATING A SMALL SPACE • Live in the space first, if you can; this helps when it comes to figuring out how to optimise small spaces. • Create contrast with textures and colours, without overwhelming the eye. Bold but classic is my go-to. • Pay attention to detail – don’t forget to polish your space off with stylish cornices and skirting boards. • There are never enough cupboards in a small space, and clutter is a no-no! • Use sliding, mirrored doors to both save on space and create the illusion of space.…

“In the past, the idea of putting wallpaper in a bathroom would have seemed ludicrous,” says Cara Saven of Cara Saven Wall Design. “The reason for this is that most wallpapers are made up of paper, at least in part. Paper and moisture are not friends – never have been, never will be. “But this is not the case with the new generation of custom-printed wallpapers, which have no paper elements at all. We have products that are water-resistant and fully wipeable, making them ideal for bathrooms. What’s more, because these wallpapers are seamless, there are no joins through which moisture can penetrate and result in the paper lifting over time. The trick is to ensure that you have decent ventilation and to make sure that the wallpaper isn’t getting…

“Artisan-style tiles with depth and a handmade look are right on trend,” says Nicole Russell of Italtile. She shares her favourite new designs: Embossed These wall tiles are the perfect example of an increasingly popular pattern-on-pattern trend. They feature stipples, waves, weaves, honeycombs and checks and their extraordinary lustre is the result of a time-consuming process; as a result, these are small batch beauties. Patterned No one understands pattern quite like the Spanish with their legendary ‘alegría de vivir’ or love of life. The crisp porcelain Howard Blue tile, for example, features a soft blue botanical abstract set in a woven blue, white and black geometric frame. Pattern keeps the eye busy and so it has been described as “anti-anxiety”; Howard Blue’s beautiful repetition certainly creates calm and comfort. Mini…

Frikkie Greeff, managing director of Woodoc, shares his expert knowledge on wooden countertops in the kitchen: Wood is a great option for countertops; it’s attractive, warm and naturally hygienic. However, it’s important that it is treated and maintained properly. Any sealer or varnish that creates a solid coating on top of the wood inhibits its natural resistance to germs, so it’s important to opt for a sealer that can live interactively with its environment. This means using a product that will penetrate the wood but forms a microporous surface through which the diffusion of air and moisture can still take place. This way, the wooden tops will be protected against damage and excessive moisture absorption, while natural resistance to contamination remains intact. Woodoc has a variety of products for use…

“While grey and white are still on trend for kitchen cabinets, soft and dark blues as well as a variety of greens are becoming increasingly popular,” says Jenny Moolman, Duram’s brand manager. “These colours will work beautifully if you’re looking to design a creative and tranquil space.” She offers the following advice: Choose from a wide range of pastel or dark blues and greens from our stripe cards or curated Habitat Colour Collection. Try Vidal Surf or Desert Rose if you’re looking for a softer, more muted shade; otherwise, consider Black Mussel or King Mackerel if you’re keen on a bolder look. Globally, we’re seeing more organic substrates being incorporated into homes, like wooden elements such as exposed oak included in the form of drawers or cupboard doors which then…