Innholdsfortegnelse for Mar/Apr 2025 i Home

In the late eighties, just before the 7am Afrikaans TV news, there was a satirical programme called Die Nuustak (The News Branch). One character – an owl – would always say: “I want to say something, and I’m going to say it.” That’s where I am today. Because from my perch, this is my biggest bugbear, and has been for a while: what’s up with WhatsApp, and when did it become the new Outlook and replace emails? And since when do people conduct business with voice notes and not the written word? Why do I have to wade through a five-minute podcast, I mean voice message, for the umpteenth time because someone has confirmed a new time for a meeting – and ‘hidden it’ in the middle of anecdotes about…

THE WINNING TEAM Johann and Lee-Ann There were 15 weeks of nail-biting tension – and plenty of inspiration – but the clever plans made by the ‘In-Laws,’ Johann and Lee-Ann, in their micro-unit in Elgin saw these two creatives crowned as the worthy winners. Even if you don’t live in a small space, you’ll appreciate that the finishes chosen by the couple are smart, stylish and on trend. Take inspiration and do the same in your own home, and if you’re ever in the Cape and want to experience Johann and Lee-Ann’s micro-unit firsthand, book directly with Old Mac Daddy or on a booking platform such as Booking.com or LekkeSlaap. Experience the pleasure of a ‘Klein Paradys’ (Little Paradise)! A month of almost no sleep and little eating made the…

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Email queries to pets@homemag.co.za. Carpe diem! WIN! Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a gift voucher worth R500 from Petshop Science (petshopscience.co.za). Find all your pet products under one roof at Petshop Science where knowledgeable in-store assistants can help you make the right choice. A vital part of keeping your furry friends in top form is grooming. Regular washing, brushing and trimming not only enhances their appearance but also prevents discomfort and health issues. Petshop Science offers all the essentials you need to make grooming part of your pets’ routine, keeping them happy, healthy and looking their best. The Furminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool (R899.99) removes a cat’s undercoat and any stray hairs. Featuring an ergonomic design, the Purl Pet Massage Brush (R109.99) is perfect for use on dogs,…

Q: I love the beautiful plant pot just outside the patio on page 112 of your February 2025 issue; where did the homeowner get it from? A: It was bought at Liebermann Pottery (liebermannpottery.com). Q: The plant in the blue pot on the Thomas’s veranda on page 58 of your September|October 2024 issue is so unusual? What is it? A: It is a crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii), a low-maintenance succulent indigenous to Madagascar that blooms for many months of the year.…

WHO LIVES HERE? Julia and Paul Lessing WHERE Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga SIZE Garden 6 000m2; property 6 787m2 TYPE OF SOIL Cotton clay Julia and Paul Lessing had no plans to buy a property in Wakkerstroom, let alone an iris farm, but a chance encounter with a friend changed all that. Their friend’s mother, Brenda Dandridge, had died, leaving behind her lovely house dating from 1901 and Runnymede Irises, the iris farm she established in Wakkerstroom in the 1980s. Familiar with Julia and Paul’s adventurous spirit, their friend suggested that they buy it. “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to look,” said Paul. At the time, Paul, an engineer, and Julia were both based in Jo’burg where Julia had a ceramics business near the city centre. “I’d been to Wakkerstroom with a few…

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. WINNING LETTER On the job! Gail Janse van Rensburg of Strubensvalley writes This granny always goes with ideas when visiting her grandchildren. I arrived armed with my December 2024 | January 2025 Home magazine and the Klein Paradys project on page 84 and 85. They were immediately interested in designing their own version of a 7 × 3m unit with a bedroom, bathroom (with a shower and toilet) and kitchen. The oldest took the photos. Here are the results. What a creative project! A big move Diane Towers of Johannesburg writes I relocated to Sunninghill in Jo’burg…

PAINT COLOUR Plascon Greek Island THE HOMEOWNERS Natalie and Thinus Scheepers and their sons, Hugo (27) and Coenraad (31) WHERE De Bakke, Mossel Bay SIZE 315m² You will often find Natalie with her nose buried in a book on Greek interiors. When she and her husband Thinus wanted to build a house near East London in about 1997, she planned to name it Kalimera (Greek for ‘good morning’) but ‘life happened’ and that dream was put on hold for more than two decades. “I longed for a house where I could drink ginger beer on an old wooden chair; where children, loved ones and pets could live.” Natalie’s Kalimera dream lived on until she found herself in front of a run-down 1920s home in Mossel Bay in 2023. “I saw…

Email your renovation project to experts@homemag.co.za. THE OWNERS Thor Normann and Christine Johnston SIZE 35m2 WHERE La Bruyere Farm, Tulbagh, Western Cape KITCHEN A feature wall with interlocking wood-look cladding accentuates the cabin’s shape, while the remaining walls and ceilings are cladded in marine ply. Thor built the pine kitchen counter along the back wall, and the hob and fridge run on gas. “The electric lights get their power from a large UPS battery, and we will eventually install solar panels.” 'After leaving a corporate career in the financial world in London, our passion for travel and beautiful architecture made the transition to building our own creations a no-brainer,” says Thor in reference to the wood cabin that he and his partner Christine built on the Normann family’s farm, La…

Q: What is the name of the paint colour on the wall on page 40 of your December 2024 | January 2025 issue? – Elrene du Toit A: The homeowner says it’s a basic white; natural light in the space made it look like a different shade. Q: I love the colour of the wall on page 68 of the February 2024 issue; what is it called? – Shaun McCabe A: It’s Duram Coral Tree. Q: Where can I find floor tiles like the ones on page 8 of Home Renovations 2024/2025? – Sally-Ann Edworthy A: There is a selection of reds at Decobella (decobella.co.za) or take a look at ShawTec (shawtec.co.za). Q: Where did Stacey Rehbock get the wooden shelving featured on page 32 and 36 in your February 2025 issue? – Stephanie Goosen A: The shelf with yellow…

Send garden info and queries to gardens@homemag.co.za. Autumn may signal the end of summer blooms, but it’s also a time to strengthen your garden’s foundation for the colder months ahead. Make the most of this transitional season with our top tips and plant picks: TIDY UP, BUT DON’T OVERDO IT • Cut back any spent summer annuals or perennials, but leave seed heads like those of agapanthus and coneflowers (Echinacea) to provide food for birds. • Lift and divide overcrowded plants such as agapanthus and day lilies to rejuvenate them and create new plants for spring. • Rake up fallen leaves and add them to your compost heap to create nutrient-rich soil for spring sowing and planting. GIVE YOUR GARDEN A WARM BLANKET Mulching is your garden’s best friend in…

We’ve given six old favourites a twist. Milk bread with biltong butter The secret to this Japanese bread’s distinctive texture and longer shelf life is the tangzhong – a roux of flour and water that traps extra moisture in the dough. If you have a dough mixer, it is so easy to make this bread but you can knead the dough by hand if you prefer. Makes 8 rolls • Preparation: about 3 hours Baking time: 25–30 minutes • Oven temperature: 180°C TANGZHONG • 40ml bread flour • 125ml water DOUGH • 750ml cake flour • 45ml light brown sugar • 10g sachet instant yeast • 5ml salt • 30ml whey powder • 1 egg, beaten • 125ml milk • 30ml butter, softened GLAZE • 1 egg yolk and 15ml milk,…

'You won’t believe it, but the kids won’t let me go to a reunion in Botrivier next weekend,” I overhear an elderly lady in a coffee shop complain to her friend. “I mean, really? No, they’re ‘uncomfortable with the idea’. They’ve ‘been told’ things get ‘a bit wild’ there.” “Oh, good grief, Katinka,” the friend says indignantly, putting her cappuccino cup down hard, bracelets rattling furiously. “Our children know sweet blue figgerall about wild! They wouldn’t recognise it if it bit them on the nose! And the grandchildren, oh my word… Much as I adore them, they’re even worse.” The two ladies are sharing a slice of cheesecake; attacking it together, more like. They could be well into their seventies, although it’s difficult to tell. What with the blue jeans…

Send décor and lifestyle news to johane.neilson@tuis.co.za. DOUBLE UP Available in black or grey, the sleek new Smeg Reversable Double Sink (R6 390, italtile.co.za) is crafted from high-quality composite materials and is designed for built-in installation, so it seamlessly integrates with your kitchen countertop. With a reversible drainer design, it also offers flexibility in installation, allowing you to customise the layout to suit your preferences. For your coffee table Shea McGee fans will be glad to know that her long-awaited design book The Art of Home (R830, poetrystores.co.za) is now available in South Africa. Whether through her design business Studio McGee, her popular Netflix series Dream Home Makeover, or her online community of more than 5million followers, Shea has shown the world how the principles of high-end design can be…

Email your queries to experts@homemag.co.za. Design an artful display Carefully curated still lifes create interest and inject personality into your home. Our creative editor Marian van Wyk shares her top tips for creating beautiful, eye-catching vignettes: Keep it simple Your composition shouldn’t be too busy; after all, it’s called a still life. Practice restraint: don’t keep adding items just because you have them handy. Allow breathing room for each element to make your still life shine. Aim high Get a head start by building your still life under a wall-mounted mirror or artwork, as seen in the photographs above. Incorporating different heights is essential to a balanced composition. Struggling to get this balance right? Simply elevate an object by placing it on a stack of books. Something old, something new……

How to paint MDF Dirk Grobler of Springs writes I want to build my own kitchen cupboards; how do I go about painting MDF boards, especially the sides? I’ve found that the fibres rise up once painted. How do I prevent this from happening? Karin Cronjé, owner of Hands On Creative Building and Management, replies The key to a successful paint finish is the meticulous preparation of the MDF board, especially on the sides. Since MDF board is porous, a durable primer is crucial, as is more than one coat. Follow these steps: 1 Sand the boards with 120-grit cabinet sanding sheets. Wrap the sandpaper around a flat wooden block and sand until smooth. The wooden block helps you to sand flat so you can achieve a smoother surface. 2 Remove…

WHO LIVED HERE? Marius and Linda Alberts* WHERE Vredehoek, Cape Town SIZE 857m² AGE OF GARDEN 10 years TYPE OF SOIL Good quality garden soil, which was driven in With five gigantic fan palms on the property and beautiful Table Mountain as an inspiring backdrop, Linda Alberts began creating this garden in the Cape Town city bowl 10 years ago. “We had moved from Melkbosstrand to the city after searching for a house for almost a year,” she says. “I was starting to feel disheartened and was ready to give up, but Marius encouraged me to keep looking. When I saw this house, I fell in love with it immediately, especially the beautiful gable! “But the house and the garden were in a bad way. In addition to the huge…

Creamy herbed meatballs Under R120 • Serves 4 • Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking time: 25 minutes • 500g baby potatoes, halved • 45ml olive oil • 500g minced meat • 1 egg • 60ml milk • 60ml panko breadcrumbs • zest of 1 lemon • 30ml chopped dill or parsley • your favourite meat spices, to taste • 60ml flour • 30ml butter • 500ml stock • 15ml Worcestershire sauce • 60ml sour cream • 200ml peas, cooked • steamed rice, to serve 1 Mix the potatoes with 15ml of the oil, salt and pepper to taste and air-fry at 200°C for 20 minutes. (You can also boil or microwave them until soft). 2 With wet hands, mix the minced meat with the egg, milk, breadcrumbs, lemon zest, herbs and spices and…