Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i House and Leisure

Walking out of trend forecaster Li Edelkoort’s presentation on a Saturday morning in Cape Town a few weeks ago, I knew one thing for sure: I had to rush to my computer or get to a notepad to scribble down a few things I’d heard as quickly as possible. I’m often in two minds when attending Li’s talks, because they are always sensitively executed with amazing visuals, considered text and, lately, great songs and audio that she layers on top. So I had decided not to make notes on my phone, and instead tried to listen to and focus on her – but then I found myself starting to panic when I couldn’t instantly remember the first section of her speech in full. Li’s talk this year was centred on…

It’s a familiar scene: a child climbs on a chair to get on top of a kitchen counter and reaches for a treat he’s not meant to take. Climbing on that chair to eat peanut butter by the spoonful is one of my earliest memories of my grandmother’s kitchen… that, and the way my grandfather used to roast corn on the wood-burning stove. Nearly four decades later, you can still catch me in the kitchen eating peanut butter by the spoonful – #nosugarnosalt and preferably organic. I also put it on everything. Except bread, because who still eats bread? For breakfast, it’s two tablespoons with honey in a bowl of oats; at dinnertime, very little compares to peanut butter sauce with chicken; and as a snack, I smear it on…

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THIS SHOOT FOR MORE GO TO HOUSEANDLESURE.CO.ZA…

It’s the area’s oldest inhabited home, predated only by the museum, and its exterior has been painted the same warm hue as when it was first built in 1854. You can’t help but be drawn to the ochre-coloured gabled house on the edge of the road in a pretty Klein Karoo town under the mountains. It’s the area’s oldest inhabited home, predated only by the museum. Heartliftingly rural in its simplicity, it has baroque-style holbol gables – that clean-cut Cape Dutch design whose wavy contours alternate between hollowed and rounded – and has been painted the same warm hue as when it was first built in 1854 by a young man for his parents. ‘When we stripped the structure to its bones, under all the limewash and paint, that first…

CAULIFLOWER AND CUMIN FRITTERS WITH CAULIFLOWER TAHINI CRÈME For the cauliflower fritters 2 cauliflower heads 1 large egg white 1 cup cornflour 1 cup cake flour A pinch of salt 2t cumin seeds, toasted 1t baking powder 1½ cups sparkling water For the cauliflower tahini crème Cauliflower stalks (reserved from above) or 1 cauliflower head 1 garlic clove 5g fresh thyme Zest and juice of 1 lemon 400g tin of chickpeas, drained 4T tahini paste Salt and black pepper, to taste 4T olive oil Trim the cauliflower heads into small florets. Wash and dry them, reserving the stalks for the tahini crème. Whisk the egg white until it forms a soft foam. Add the flours, salt, cumin and baking powder. Slowly pour in the water until a thick, pourable batter…

COLOUR Inject new life into a classic palette with textured, bold and graphic accents in softer versions of the primary hues, such as these. MATERIALS Natural wood, tough yet tactile marble and warm metallic add-ons are still firm favourites for an understated backdrop in need of a boost. FUNCTION Make optimal use of storage and work surfaces by starting with stylish yet practical basics – then add elegant extras that deliver on service, looks and longevity. DETAILS It’s all in the proverbial, with culinary essentials from patterned softs to sophisticated accessories and covetable serveware.…

MATERIAL WORLD Nothing compares to luxurious French linen. Invest in the Quilted Crumpled Washed French linen throw in Ocre/Paille (R14›900; 2.5×2.7m) to see for yourself. lagrangeinteriors.co.za STAND STRONG For something sturdy and hard-wearing, the Concrete Round Traytop coffee table with concrete top and acacia base (R5 999; 80cm diameter) is the answer. home.co.za SQUARE DANCE Daniele Lo Scalzo Moscheri’s Belt collection for Varaschin consists of a lounge chair (R42 669), corner unit (R49 188), chaise longue (R54 966), daybed (R57 040) and ottomans in different sizes (from R30 876 each). varaschin.it DOWN TIME Your patio can be refined, too, with the Leather and Linen Upholstered daybed (R11 990; 160×45cm; includes one bolster headrest). lim.co.za THE 50KG BASE (R999; ON WHEELS; AVAILABLE IN A HOST OF COLOURS) OF THIS RECTANGULAR WOODEN…

I was born in China and grew up in Guangzhou until I was 12, then I moved to South Africa. I am a cook. I ran Beijing Opera, a dim sum restaurant in Cape Town, for four years, after which I relocated to Joburg, where I’m working on a series of pop-up dinner clubs. I love what I do because sharing good food makes people happy, which makes me happy. The food world is exciting: there are so many ingredients, cuisines and methods of preparing them, and there’s a lot to learn. Each day is different when you’re feeding people. Even if I’m making identical dishes to the ones in my restaurant, they never taste the same. It’s about appreciation of the present, the cook who prepares the meal and…

YELLOW FEVER Although there is no clear consensus, eating too many bananas in one sitting can be bad for you because of the potential potassium overdose. The recommended maximum amount you can eat at once without ensuing any negative health effects is a dozen. BREAD AND BUTTER Former US president Bill Clinton says that one of his favourite sandwiches is peanut butter and banana. This is also reported to have been a favourite of Elvis ‘The King’ Presley. FINGER LICKIN’ GOOD According to statistics collected by City Press newspaper in June 2014, South Africans consume about 13 million kilos of takeaway chicken a month.…

When South African fine artist Pierre le Riche embarks on a new project, he takes time to learn an unfamiliar handicraft. For his latest offering, Portable Heritage/Swerfgoed: Perspectives on White Mobility in Post-apartheid South Africa, it’s the practice of wood turning. ‘I’m always excited to employ crafts in conjunction with fine art techniques,’ he says. ‘The marriage of these methods can yield interesting results.’ It also brings to the fore the question of what defines craft versus fine art, a debate Le Riche finds particularly intriguing. Once he gets to grips with a new skill, he starts creating in his Woodstock studio in Cape Town. Any flops are preserved, an exercise that’s a crucial part of his work. Le Riche considers the process of wrestling with the medium just as…

There’s something undeniably romantic about Christian van der Walt and Anli Jones’ Parktown North home in Johannesburg. Part of that impression is created by the surprise of finding it where it is: at the end of a long, narrow, bumpy driveway, the entrance to which is hidden in plain sight among shops, offices and restaurants that are situated on one of the suburb’s busiest streets. Arriving there is a little like slipping through a chink in the fabric of ordinary life, and suddenly finding yourself in a mystical secret garden. Who knew that all the while, somewhere behind the street’s familiar facade, there exists a parallel world, where lavender lines the borders of a sweet-smelling, tree-filled paradise, bees from a pair of hives buzz around a lush vegetable patch and…

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand Reserve has unveiled seven refurbished suites for its Selati Camp, which has long been admired for its authentic railway memorabilia, billowing linens, classic style and intimate setting. Skillfully brought to life by designers Tabbert Interior Consultants and Design Republic, the redesign combines olde-worlde charm and luxurious modern-day comforts. The Sabi Sabi lodges each represent a design philosophy of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Selati Camp explores Yesterday, with ambience and interiors that reflect the rich history of the steam-train era. Each of the suites has been named after one of the stops of the old railway line that travelled through the land to Mozambique – and is artfully decorated with antique artefacts sourced from railway stores. Tactile accents of wood, thatch and…

NEW GINS ON THE BLOCK Benguela Diamonds Gin features fresh fynbos notes. R650. info@bengueladiamonds.com; Malfy Gin Originale has a perfect balance of botanicals. From R380. malfygin.com; Blind Tiger Handcrafted Gin charms with fragrant, floral flavours. From R359. blindtiger.be FRESH TASTE AtholPlace Hotel & Villa in Johannesburg has a new head chef: Omar Koenen began his career in the Netherlands and, in 2015, secured a position at Cape Town’s Ellerman House, where he continued to refine his palate. Having spent last year in the Netherlands, he’s back in SA to take up his current role. 90 Pretoria Ave, Atholl, Johannesburg. atholplace.co.za GOING PUBLIK PUBLIK’S SLEEK YET LOW-KEY NEW PREMISES ARE IDEALLY SUITED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT’S CALLING TO BE A CASUAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WINE BAR. ADD THE FACT THAT THIS COOL, ‘EVERYDAY’ PLACE…

IN THE BAG Although the Kimi Paper basket in Mid Grey by Country Road (R349; medium) is completely made out of paper, it can still be handwashed. woolworths.co.za FULL FLOW The chrome plating on the Tivoli Roma Elite Swivel Spout basin mixer in Brushed Bronze (from R1 906) results in an easy-to-clean tap that is less likely to rust. italtile.co.za DIFFERENT MOULD Constructed from lightweight Kohler Lithocast® high-gloss cast resin, the Veil freestanding bathtub in White (R63 250; 41cm deep) includes supportive contours that cradle your body while you bathe. africa.kohler.com SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THE PRINTED DAWSON DENIM DUVET COVER SET (R1 049; QUEEN; INCLUDES TWO PILLOWCASES). PLUS, IT’S MADE FROM ARTFULLY CRUMPLED WASHED-COTTON FABRIC THAT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE IRONED. VOLPES.CO.ZA BLOCK PARTY Privacy has never been…

THIS NON-SLIP CLASSIC CARPET IN CAULIFLOWER FROM THE STANDARD RANGE (R805; INCLUDES INSTALLATION) IS A HYGIENIC AND LONG-LASTING ALTERNATIVE TO A FLOOR RUG. QUARTZCARPET.CO.ZA PLUSH PAL The velvety feel of this Rabbit soft toy in Black (R229) is a brilliant way to help your children develop their sense of touch. hm.com/za BRIGHT SPARK When your kid gets too old for a night light, the ceramic and wood mini lamp set in White (R170) is a compact option. mrphome.com SUNNY SIDE UP If you’re after a chair for your young one’s homework desk, why not go for the Sylvester dining chair in Deep Yellow (R899), with its gorgeous hue and geometric base? home.co.za HARD CASE Make squashed school snacks a thing of the past with the Robot Sandwich Keeper lunchbox by…

NATALIE ROOS Having spent eight years as a K-TV presenter and a few years at DStv’s Afrikaans music channel MK, Natalie started her blog, Tails of a Mermaid, in 2010. When she’s not discovering things to blog about, she works as a freelance digital specialist, which is why she recently served as our acting digital editor. What does your ideal kitchen have in it? A gas stove, a big dining table and sharp knives. Which three words best describe your home? Cats, light, safe. What’s your favourite thing about autumn? The sunsets. It’s the best time of the year to watch the sky turn pink. If money were no object, what would you treat yourself to? Endless travels. And a LOT of massages. What’s your earliest design-related memory? Discovering the…

‘You have about 10 seconds to put the plants down before the sun starts printing,’ says Amanda du Plessis, a Johannesburg-based fabric designer and the founder of South African homeware company Evolution Product. When she makes her exquisite Botanical Blueprint and Silverprint Silhouette handprinted textiles, she starts with locally woven linen that has been dipped in light-sensitive chemicals and spread out in the sun. She’ll have carefully composed arrangements of indigenous plants and grasses that she’s collected from the nearby Melville Koppies with the print that they’ll leave behind in mind. They’re speedily transferred onto the fabric the minute it’s ready in an intensely concentrated few moments as Amanda works quickly and decisively. ‘Once they’re on the cloth, they can’t be moved around because the printing process starts immediately,’ she…

No matter in which space you stand, there’s a distinct sense of connectedness permeating Liz and Dirk’s Bishopscourt abode in Cape Town. Carefully engineered by Johann Slee and Yvonne Onderweegs of Stellenbosch-based architectural firm Slee+Co, every room offers glimpses of the surrounding landscape. Of course, this quiet suburb, known for its sylvan-like greenery, has no shortage of breathtaking natural views, so when Liz and Dirk first alighted on the plot – with its abounding vistas of the Constantiaberg mountain – there was no question that whatever structure they created would need to be inexorably linked to its environment. ‘The houses we design respond to their direct topography, views and vegetation, as well as the history of the place,’ says Slee, who sized up the erf’s existing structure and realised he’d…

Dodging legions of scooter-borne locals on our way to the heart of Marrakech, a taxi driver told me that negotiating in Morocco is something of a national sport. Newcomers will pretty much discover this as soon as they exit the city’s distinctly modern Menara Airport. Designed by French firm CR Architecture and E2A Architecture of Casablanca, the new terminal’s striking rhomboid facade merges with contemporary lines, cultural motifs and high, glass-domed ceilings in a remarkable build – albeit one that gives the first-time visitor no inkling of the colourful, crowded milieu beyond. AMONG ANCIENT ALLEYWAYS An introduction to the medina – the oldest walled part of the city founded by the Almoravids, a Berber Muslim dynasty – could be described as a pleasant assault on the senses. Seasoned touts vie…

HIGH SHINE Thanks to its multi-wick design, the Imprint candle holder in Brass (R2 250) emits a greater glow than the average candle, while the attractive dish-like base reduces the chance of wax spills. shf.co.za RELAXATION STATION Unwind on the two-seater Kirk 245 modular sofa in Velvet Var 89 with piping in Zenit Var 53, frame in solid canaletta walnut and feet in grey pewter metal by C Ballabio for Porada (R348 000) – it can stand alone or be grouped in sections as pictured here. maldini.co.za FOLLOW THE LIGHT The Leaning Arc lamp in Black (R4 280; includes shade in Black cotton) features a curved arm that can be directed to different areas of the room. lim.co.za MIXED MEDIA Smoked oak and brushed brass combine in the elegant Nelly…