Table of contents for Home Yard 2025 in Home

BAGS OF STYLE The facebrick walls of the house were transformed by first bagging and then painting them. The bagging helped to maintain the facebrick texture, which was essential for the desired style. For the exterior paint finishes, Dillon was advised by Matt Macleod of Kleur Space (see page 31 for details), who suggested Sabre High Build Wallcoat in a creamy tone, Gently Worn, from their Kleur Collection. Architectural designer Nicola Hecht added a surround to the kitchen's stacking window that acts as a serving hatch. “It's perfect for entertaining and invites the outside in,” says Nicola who plastered the surround to contrast with the bagged walls. Daybeds from Coricraft; scatter cushions and towels from Mungo WHO LIVES HERE? Dillon Buirski and his Border Collie Jackson WHERE Cape St Francis,…

WHO LIVES HERE? Theuns and Lindré van Rensburg with their daughter Karli WHERE Pretoria SIZE 35m2 The outdoor braai with its louvre awning was such an eyesore for Theuns and Lindré van Rensburg that they almost didn't buy their house. “It was the first thing you noticed from the front door and it also obstructed the view of the garden from the living room. The space simply had no atmosphere or appeal,” says Theuns. “In addition, we found out later that it leaked really badly during the rainy summer months.” Although their outdoor nook was unsightly, the couple liked the idea of a louvred roof as it let in lovely light in winter and didn't make the house feel dark inside. The Van Rensburgs called on architect Andries Schutte of…

1 Add more shade “Although it's a long-term project, one of the most effective ways to turn hot dry gardens into cool sheltered spaces that retain moisture and protect plants is to plant more trees,” says landscape designer Neville Orsmond of Create a Landscape. “Especially with global temperatures on the rise.” Plant deciduous or semi-deciduous trees to filter the sun in summer but let it through during the winter months. “Good trees for this are forest bushwillow (Combretum kraussii), lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis) and white stinkwood (Celtis africana),” says Neville. “For year-round shade and privacy, consider the wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana), Henkel's yellowwood (Podocarpus henkelii) and wild plum (Harpephyllum caffrum) which are evergreen. 2 Reduce the size of your lawn While lawns add a lush touch, they are notoriously…

WHO LIVES HERE? Alison and Chris Reynolds WHERE Napier, Overberg SIZE OF ERF 1 331m2 AGE OF GARDEN 5 years TYPE OF SOIL Rocky with shale In September 2020 when Alison and her husband Chris first viewed the Napier cottage that is now their weekend home, Alison found herself gazing across a vast meadow. “Apart from two evergreen trees, a couple of red aloes, and seven deciduous trees lining the patio, there was absolutely no garden here. That suited me because I could create something I really like,” she explains. The first step was to clear the land of weeds, canola and excess stones. “Establishing a new garden in this environment is not for the faint-hearted. I was horrified by the huge number of pebbles and stones but, five years…

PITCH PERFECT “It took time to find just the right tiles and finishes. My current colour crush is a combination of blush pink, terracotta and olive green,” says Craig. COCKTAIL HOUR As a keen entertainer, Craig wanted an outdoor kitchenette. The pitched industrial-grade plywood roof over the wood storage space to the left of the fireplace is repeated on the right for a cohesive look. The plywood has been treated with double coats of marine sealer, Eco Rubber and topcoat. Homey Cotto splashback tiles from Tilespace; Verde Guatemala Marble Slab countertop from Continua; Rose Art basin and Neo Brass High basin mixer from Cape Plumbing & Bathroom Supplies; chairs and table from Chair Crazy WHO LIVES HERE? Craig Olckers and his Boston Terriers, Jackson and Aria WHERE Upper Wynberg, Cape…

• First, consult with a professional pool contractor or designer. They can assess the feasibility of resizing your pool based on its current structure and your desired dimensions. The process involves either partially filling in the pool or reconfiguring its shape. This might include reducing the pool's depth or width and adjusting the surrounding features, like decking or landscaping. • To make a pool smaller, it must be drained and the existing liner (if it has one) removed. Then sections of the pool are filled in with gravel or concrete. This must be done very carefully to ensure that the structure of the pool isn't damaged and so prevent issues with drainage or water flow. • The resized pool is then relined and waterproofed, after which the tiles, coping and…

WHO LIVES HERE? Helen and Roy Cannon WHERE Westville, KwaZulu-Natal SIZE ± 5 000m² AGE OF GARDEN 29 years TYPE OF SOIL Rich loamy soil Despite the fact that it only had ‘thirsty’ pine trees and an old ‘fake Tudor’ house without a driveway or garden, Helen and Roy Cannon fell in love with this Westville property 29 years ago. “We were so impressed by the towering cliffs of pristine riverine forest framing the Palmiet River that runs through the property. But the place was a mess. We felled as many of the pine trees as we could afford to, then rented a Bobcat bulldozer to make a new driveway and to get the garden's levels right,” Helen explains. “It was a lot of hard work in the beginning. There…

WHO LIVES HERE? Estelle Hester WHERE Storms River, Eastern Cape SIZE 4 000m² AGE OF GARDEN 20 years TYPE OF SOIL Black with a bit of clay, but drains well The Tsitsikamma region of the Garden Route in the Eastern Cape is a gardener's dream: with an average rainfall of about 100mm every month, there's almost no need to water. Estelle Hester was drawn to the town of Storms River 24 years ago when she began to feel that city life was causing her anxiety. “I initially lived on a farm outside town for three years and fell in love with the forests in the area – their cool tranquillity is magical!” says Estelle. She made Storms River her permanent home in 2005 when she purchased a pristine 4 000m²…

It was while they were renovating their charming old farmhouse with architect Karin Harcus-Harrison of Origin & James Architecture and Design that the owners of this property turned their attention to the garden and pool. “The swimming pool, which was built in the ‘70s, was what was referred to in those days as a resort-style pool,” say the homeowners. “It was a double pool with a deeper section at the far end and a shallower children's area with a rock feature and an island in the other. When the boys were young, they loved it.” However, as their sons got older, the couple started seeing the disadvantages of having such a large pool. “Pool design and safety regulations have evolved, and odd-shaped pools have become increasingly difficult to cover,” says…

Henau Marais and Sharon O'Callaghan-Marais of Riebeek-Kasteel in the Swartland put up a stretch tent on their stoep to provide shade and protection from the elements – a temporary solution as Sharon wasn't keen on a latte lean-to or pergola and needed time to find the perfect solution. “It was up for more than three years and remained in great condition – it's totally waterproof and mould-resistant and we loved the relaxed feel it added to the space,” says Sharon. In 2021, they fitted a proper roof with white IBR sheets and an IsoBoard ceiling.” While the stoep remains open in the front, the roof is deep enough to protect the space from rain. “We love to sit outside and watch the rain fall,” says Sharon. Stretch tent custom made…

With three boisterous kids in the house, Harold Verster found that online meetings and working from home presented a few challenges. He urgently needed to come up with another plan. An old corrugated iron shed in the garden that served as storage space for tools and building materials presented the ideal solution. “Years ago, we bought the panels from Builders and erected it ourselves. After eight years, it had become dilapidated and nobody wanted to set foot in it anymore,” says Roné. “But when we started clearing it, we realised that the 3 x 3m space would make the perfect home office.” Thanks to Harold's qualification as a quantity surveyor and experience as a project manager with a developer, he was able to tackle the project himself. THE GROUNDWORK A…

Advantages of natural pools No chemicals are used so that the water is safe for pets, insects, birds and wildlife. Minimal maintenance is required. An airlift pump uses less electricity than a normal pool pump. WHO LIVES HERE? Joni-Leigh Doran and her partner Adam Cruise, two horses and a couple of cats WHERE McGregor, Western Cape The climate in McGregor is one of extremes with temperatures often reaching 35°C and over in midsummer. This was one of the reasons why Joni-Leigh Doran decided that a pool where she and her partner Adam Cruise could cool off was a necessity. However, as an artist who believes in living in harmony with nature, she wanted a pool that would blend naturally with the landscape. Having seen a natural swimming pond created by…

WHO LIVES HERE? Simon and Toni Rimell WHERE High Riding Country Estate, Sir Lowry's Pass Village SIZE 1 hectare AGE OF GARDEN 22 years TYPE OF SOIL Mainly clay When Simon and Toni Rimell started their garden 22 years ago, the land was overrun with invasive plants such as Port Jackson willows and blue gums. “High Riding Country Estate was a new development. We had to build our house and develop the garden from scratch. We got a bulldozer to clear the land and built the first section of the house; it was all we could afford at the time,” says Simon. “Then we planted the garden in stages, starting closest to the house and moving outwards.” The Rimells had no master plan, they simply tackled the garden one section…

VARIOUS HOST PLANTS LURE DIFFERENT BUTTERFLIES • African dog rose (Xylotheca kraussiana) Window acraea and blood red acraea • Creeping foxglove (Asystasia gangetica) Forest mother-of-pearl and common diadem • Dune false-currant (Allophylus natalensis) Pearl charaxes • Long-spiked spurflower (Coleus subspicatus) Gaudy commodore • Ribbon bush (Hypoestes aristata) Blue, yellow and brown pansy • White ironwood (Vepris lanceolata) Green-banded swallowtail, mocker swallowtail and citrus swallowtail Trees for birds and other wildlife Helen says many of the trees in her garden sprouted thanks to seeds spread by winged creatures! Here are her favourites: • Broom cluster fig (Ficus sur) The fruits attract fruit-eating birds, monkeys and bats. • Forest toad tree (Tabernaemontana ventricosa) Its fruit is relished by monkeys and birds. • Large-leaved dragon tree (Dracaena aletriformis) The most fragrant of all…

KENILWORTH, CAPE TOWN STELLENBERG Large lawns, old oaks towering over flourishing hydrangeas and mixed beds give this iconic garden an enchanting character. When the layout was established, different gardens were created within the large grounds, all linked by pretty paths and lanes. Have a wander through the renowned white garden, the vegetable garden, the parterre, the herb garden, the wild garden, the walled garden and much more. Old outdoor ornaments and statues, as well as modern sculptures, add interest throughout. ADMISSION Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:00 (last tour of the day begins at 15:00). No visitors on weekends and public holidays. The garden is closed from 30 April to 1 October for its winter rest. Guided tours by appointment only; email stellenberggardens@ovenstones.co.za. COST R200 per person; under-16s enter…