Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2015 i SA Garden and Home

How often at the beginning of a year, do you say to yourself, “This year I’m going to make some changes”? And then, before you know it, it’s December and you’re battling through all those end-of-year tasks and nothing has been crossed off your list. This year, be realistic. Only set yourself one or two goals – far less daunting than a long to-do list. In this issue, we’ve included features on the most desired changes and provided plenty of inspiration to achieve them. If updating your home is on your wish list, you’ll love the feature on page 48 where a Jo’burg family removed a wall and covered a dark floor, creating a much more social environment. Another source of ideas is the feature on page 32 where, with…

Have you always been an artist? Early in my life, I had to choose between science and the arts – and art won. I specialised in jewellery design at Stellenbosch University, and I was a jeweller for 30 years. But when I turned 50, porcelain found me – and it has never let me go! What inspires you? Since early childhood I have expressed myself geometrically. In Sir Roger Penrose’s 1978 article Pentaplexity, he gives a mathematical explanation of the grid of aperiodic tiling, and his dart and kite motifs inspired me to see the endless repetition in everything from the mosaics of the Alhambra to nature’s patterns; shells, feathers, seedpods and images of microorganisms taken with a scanning electron microscope. Tell us more about your style. I investigate symbols…

Get the look Alice Colle, owner of The Ballito House, who designed the room pictured opposite, gives her tips for creating a similar atmosphere: Keep the main canvas as neutral as possible and then add a pop of colour here and there as I’ve done using the cushions, blue and white containers and banana leaves. Neutral colours and textures don’t date and can be classic or contemporary. Group a number of similar accessories together to create a high-impact display. Blue and white china makes a statement on this taller-than-usual side table. A tray is a great way to organise items on a coffee table. Choose items with differing heights and add something natural. Ensure the tray is the right size for the table – leave enough table space around it…

“We used a classic neutral sofa as the starting point for creating three distinct looks,” explain decor fundis Kirsten Di Clemente and Brenda Payne of Slate Interiors. When choosing a sofa, opt for one in a neutral hard-wearing fabric rather than a trendy design that’ll date quickly, advises the team. “You can then change the look by adding accessories. The obvious way is with scatter cushions and objets d’art. To add an extra layer of interest, turn the wall treatment into a feature by adding a dado rail and painting the top and bottom in different colours or by wallpapering one of the sections.” COPPER AND CORAL The mood: warm and inviting The look: “Rose gold and copper are hot colours at the moment, so we sourced beaten-copper elements and…

PROBLEM AREAS: kitchens, bedrooms and TV rooms, says interior designer Candice Koller of Candice Woodward Interiors KITCHENS The biggest mistakes: Displaying appliances like the microwave or toaster as well as cluttering the counters. Another one is overstuffed drawers. Solution: Hide your small appliances behind a roller shutter door. Pack everything in cupboards so that you can keep counters clear. If there isn’t enough space get rid of unused items. You don’t need to make big changes; something as small as a spice rack, a big jug for all your wooden spoons or a small kitchen island on wheels can alleviate clutter and look good. Use glass cabinets or open shelves to store crockery you use every day and really special pieces. BEDROOMS The biggest mistakes: Opting for small bedside tables…

The best way to ensure you never miss a single copy of your much-loved gardening and decor magazine is to subscribe. Garden and Home is packed with ideas for keeping your home and garden looking beautiful, plus there are always loads of giveaways and prizes to be won. In this month of love we’re offering you a gift for a special friend or family member as well. By taking out a subscription to Garden and Home or renewing an existing one, you’ll also receive a free subscription to Country Life to send to the person of your choice. SUBSCRIBING IS EASY – CHOOSE FROM THESE 5 OPTIONS: SMS the words “CAXTON GH” to 33115 An SMS costs R1,50 Call 011 473 8700 NOW with your credit card details or to…

The move to smaller homes and security estates with large houses and tiny properties means that gardeners have to cope with looming boundary walls, narrow passages and extreme heat or total shade. But don’t despair; here are 10 ways you can create a beautiful garden no matter how small it is. CREATE ILLUSIONS By using a few landscaping tricks, you can make a small garden appear much larger. Incorporating circular paved sections, like this one leading to a sitting area, establishes a visual flow so that the eye doesn’t register the narrow shape. This is a good idea for passages between the house and boundary wall. USE CONTAINERS This is the best way to green paved areas. Don’t clutter them with too many small pots; rather make a statement with…

Of all edible plants, herbs are the easiest to grow and the hardest to kill! They don’t need pampering and prefer benign neglect – perfect for busy and inexperienced gardeners. What’s best about herbs is their versatility. With herbs, you have plants at your fingertips that flavour food, heal common ailments, lift the spirits, help dull hair to shine, keep pets happy and perfume the home. MAKING A HERB GARDEN IN 7 EASY STEPS A herb garden can be as large or as small as you need it to be. In fact, start small and let the garden grow as your own interest in herbs grows. 1 START WITH A PLAN Decide on a theme. If you want a culinary herb garden, select those herbs used in your favourite dishes.…

MENU BLUEBERRY GIN FIZZ HARISSA MUSSELS SALSA VERDE KINGKLIP GRILLED FENNEL, ARTICHOKE AND FIG SALAD ROASTED TERIYAKI SWEET POTATO WITH DATES, CHILLI AND MICRO ROCKET BERRIES AND FRUIT WITH BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE Rebecca and Kate Lund, better known as the Delish Sisters, had an unconventional introduction into the world of food. And what’s remarkable about their success is that neither of them is a trained chef: Kate is a qualified beauty therapist and Rebecca a copywriter and stylist who studied film and media. “We’ve always loved food, though,” they explain. “And to get into the food industry, a market seemed like a good, cost-effective way to test the waters.” In December 2013 they started a stall selling their freshly prepared slow-roasted lamb in naan wraps and decadent chocolate brownies at Durban’s…

Looking for new ways to prepare tasty, effortless meals at a fraction of the energy you normally use? Why not opt for electricity-smart cooking? Stoves are heavy on electricity, and unsurprisingly, cooking accounts for up to 8% of the power used in the average household in South Africa. Electricity-smart cooking will help to give your food preparation appliances a rest and reduce your energy bills. The 49M Energy Efficient Cookbook, in collaboration with The Star newspaper, offers you recipes for an electricity-smart lifestyle that’s light on effort and time spent in the kitchen. THE RECIPES INCLUDE: • Pressure-cooker cheesecake – an everyday favourite made in 15 minutes. • Savoury pap – a classic that only needs 10 minutes on the stove, then an additional hour of cooking in a Wonderbag™…

Cape Town artist Jan du Toit is an inveterate collector. The size of his compact flat is no deterrent and the walls are plastered with paintings and drawings while surfaces display treasured pieces of porcelain and pottery. The kernel of his collection is a small, but carefully acquired selection of very rare and little-known pieces of pottery made in Rorke’s Drift (near Dundee in KwaZulu-Natal) in the 1960s and 1970s. “When I first saw this pottery I thought it quite ugly,” says Jan. “It seemed very brown, in keeping with the colours used on pottery at that time, but images of it stayed with me and I started collecting it to use in still-life paintings.” What fascinates Jan is the interesting marriage between two very different styles – African and…

Cape Town-based figurative painter Cyril Coetzee is somewhat of a dualist. He holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Art and an Honours Degree in English. Cyril has also managed to juggle a parallel career – as award-winning artist and art historian. Recently he curated the Standard Bank Gallery exhibition, Exact Imagination: 300 Years of Botanically Inspired Art in South Africa, which showcased botanical illustrations in the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) collection. “Curating is an extension of art history and a continuation of the thread,” he says of this career avenue. So what inspires these showcases? “I allow the material to guide me. I love that at first glance there’s such an unlikely combination of elements, ones that aren’t usually seen together and yet resonate so well with each…

winning letter HOME INSPIRATION I adore your magazine and not receiving it for months due to the postal strike is akin to being without a close friend - I keep all back copies for about three years, and only then do I pass them on to friends. I’ve lived in my current home since 1979, and every room echoes past cop of Garden and Home. I spray-painted my patio furniture in bright yellow, and added gorgeous cushions. My gardens, both front and back, are styled with ideas from your magazine. My kitchen update was based on one of your articles - and what a difference a few pots of paint make! I read your mag from cover to cover, and pray that Mr Postman will be delivering my missing copies…

A SOCIABLE KITCHEN Design your kitchen so you can spend more quality time with your family, whether cooking, watching TV or just grabbing a cup of coffee Three essential elements : A large multifunctional island, a work station and a sitting area with a TV. How this sociable space was achieved: Having lived with a kitchen consisting of a number of disjointed areas, this Cape Town couple asked architect Alex Stewart (pictured) to design them a large, comfortable kitchen-cum-living area where they could spend time with their two young daughters. The design challenge was to “reframe the spaces, and to get an easy flow,” explains Alex. His solution was to create a centrepiece for the room in the form of a long island that serves as a hub for family…

HOME IS WHERE THE HOLIDAY IS Durban decorator Lisa Walters of Lisa Walters Interiors gives some pointers on how to keep a holiday feeling going in your outdoor living area. Use accessories in bright, cheerful colours to create a holiday vibe. Look for portable seating like a daybed with wheels so you can chase the sun. Choose seating with a built-in canopy to provide shade on the hottest days. If you’d rather not have a built-in canopy, consider a pretty gazebo or pergola. Decking has a relaxed feel reminiscent of seaside resorts. It’s also durable. Include a side table near your daybed to ensure that a cold drink or some reading material are within easy reach. SOURCES Cane Time canetime.com Cécile & Boyd cecileandboyds.com Creative Living creative-living.co.za Lisa Walters Interiors lisa@lisawaltersinteriors.co.za Mobelli mobelli.co.za Mr…

The more ferns you discover, the more you’ll want and the more pleasure you’ll get. Don’t let the fact that they don’t flower put you off, they have many other desirable traits. Ferns vary tremendously in form, leaf shape and texture, some tall and elegant, others soft and feathery. For a cool relaxed look, combine ferns with other foliage plants or use them to highlight the bright colours of flowering shade lovers like impatiens, fuchsias and azaleas. Versatile plants, they can play many different roles: singly as feature plants, massed as a groundcover or to enhance an oriental and a woodland garden. They are a must for water features and will even grow in crevices in stone retaining walls. Most are evergreen but some are deciduous, and although they all…

Many gardeners believe that a true garden should be filled with roses and annuals and dismiss natural gardens as boring. But there are many advantages to replacing exotic plants with endemic (suited to one specific area in South Africa) and indigenous (occurring naturally in South Africa) ones. So why the trend to go back to the bush? Award-winning landscaper Gordon Stuart of Gordon Stuart Landscaping Co. says, “Due to environmental, social and financial pressures, gardens have to become more eco-friendly and less maintenance and water dependent.” CHECK YOUR REGION When planning a natural garden, consider whether you fall into a dry region with little rain (from the West Coast to the Highveld, including the Karoo), the Mediterranean region (Western Cape), the Highveld which has summer rainfall and dry cold winters…

Thanks to the many new varieties currently available in a range of heights, flower sizes and shades, dahlias are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Another reason is that they continue to bloom into early autumn, a time when few other plants are in flower. Dahlias are also unfussy and relatively easy to care for. They tolerate a wide range of soils, but prefer those that are well drained. Once planted, they can be left in the soil to overwinter, except in the very coldest of regions. There are six main types of dahlia available in South Africa – find out which are best suited to your garden. CACTUS The narrow, spiky petals of cactus dahlias make them a striking addition to the summer border. These varieties grow a bit taller,…

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is the perfect partner for tomatoes in salads, sandwiches, sauces and pasta. It’s also the base for pesto. Bees love its flowers too. Bay (Laurus nobilis) leaves (usually dried) add depth to meaty dishes and aid digestion, especially of rich food. Clip the bush into an attractive topiary feature. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are delicious snipped over food as a light onion-flavoured garnish or infused in oils and vinegars. Plants repel pests, multiply easily and tolerate light shade. Garden mint (Mentha spicata) is more than a sauce for lamb. Its fresh flavour enhances salads, dips and dressings and is delicious with brinjals. Grow in pots to prevent it spreading. Oregano (Origanum vulgare) has a powerful flavour most associated with pizza and Italian cuisine. Use the strongly antiseptic leaves…

Our cooking style is experimental. We love trying new recipes and ideas, but don’t like to get too complicated in the kitchen. No dinner party is complete without Champagne or a delicious refreshing cocktail. The kitchen gadget we couldn’t live without is a blender; it takes the headache out of chopping, slicing and combining things all by hand. Our store cupboard staple is Maldon salt and toasted sesame oil – both essential for seasoning and lifting any dish. Our favourite comfort food is homemade mac and cheese – you can’t go wrong! The best things we ever ate were the creamy, white wine mussels at Olympia Café & Deli in Kalk Bay and the chocolate fondant at Little Havana in Umhlanga Rocks. If I were stuck on an island with…

CLAM, BACON AND FENNEL LINGUINE (Serves 4) 30ml oil or coconut oil 1 onion, peeled and diced 1 garlic clove, crushed 4 bacon rashers, cubed (optional) 1 fennel bulb, sliced 500g clams, cleaned 80ml white wine or fish stock 5ml lemon or lime zest 500ml cream or light coconut milk 10ml cornflour slaked in 30ml cold water salt and ground black pepper 400g wholewheat linguine or spaghetti, cooked TO SERVE: lime wedges fresh fennel fronds 1 red or green chilli, thinly sliced 1 . Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan. Gently fry the onion for 3–4 minutes. 2 . Add the garlic and bacon (if using) and fry for 3 minutes. Stir in the fennel and cook for 2–3 minutes. 3 . Increase the heat and add the…

SOURCES Ebony ebonydesign.co.za Gonsenhausers Fine Rugs finerugs.co.za Gregor Jenkin gregorjenkin.com Hoi P’loy hoiploy.com James Mudge jamesmudge.co.za Lucinda Mudge lucindamudge.wordpress.com Sobeit Studio sobeitstudio.com Weylandts weylandts.co.za Wiid Design wiiddesign.co.za…

Who lives here Faline Edwards, an interior designer who spends her time between Klein Kastaiing and her second home on the island of Malta. The house A renovated 70s-style bungalow with three bedrooms and an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. Hidden behind a grassy berm and situated on the banks of the Kastaiing River, which gets its name from the Afrikaans word for the chestnut trees lining its clear waters, Faline Edwards’s contemporary villa is only a few minutes from the village of Franschhoek. Yet, standing in the lush garden with the river rushing past, you feel like you’re in the heart of the Winelands’ farming country. Moody late-afternoon light catches the magnificent mountain peaks ahead through oak and willow trees, and guinea fowl scuffle through the undergrowth and…

SOURCES Boardmans boardmans.co.za Da Gama dagama.co.za Hertex hertex.co.za Pezula Interiors pezulainteriors.co.za Santos santos.co.za Vintage Vista vintagevista.co.za Woolworths woolworths.co.za Zana zanaproducts.co.za…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: An old coffee table, 60-grit sandpaper, jig saw, drill and 5mm drill bit, 2 clean paint brushes, universal undercoat, 15 buttons covered in fabrics of your choice, fabric off-cuts, 22cm-thick foam, white PVA, mattress needle, heavy-duty polyester thread or string, staple gun and staples, binding and glue gun, or upholstery studs and a hammer. PREPARING AND UPHOLSTERING THE OTTOMAN: 1. Sand down the base of the table and the legs with 60-grit sandpaper to remove any old varnish or paint. 2. Trim the overhang of the table top with a jig saw so that it’s flush with the base of the table. 3. Using a 5mm drill bit, drill holes into the top of the table where you want to position the buttons. Joanne used three rows…

Who lives here Niall and Julie-Anne Hegarty and their three children Michael (12), Ella Rose (7) and Jack (5), and their two dogs, Diesel, a Weimaraner, and Murphy, a beagle. The garden A 4 500m² informal garden with a pool, an outdoor living area, a natural rock pond and a potager. Niall and Julie-Anne Hegarty’s dream was to have a garden with many vistas and beautiful spaces to enjoy all year round, and their large 4 500m² Sandton property gave them the scope to achieve this. “We wanted a garden filled with colour, paths and wonderful spaces in which to sit,” recalls Niall. To help them achieve this, they called in award-winning landscape designer Craig de Necker of The Friendly Plant. “This garden has evolved over a number of years,”…

10 must dos this month Contributing garden editor Marianne Alexander’s handy checklist of essential chores to do in February 1 To fill the gaps, plant quick-growing, heat-tolerant annuals like alyssum, marigolds, nicotianas, petunias, phlox, salvias, vinca hybrids and verbena. TIP: Before planting out seedlings, water seed trays with a weak solution of Epsom salts to harden them up. Keep feeding bedding plants fortnightly with foliar feed or a slow-release fertiliser. To encourage flowering, use a high-potash fertiliser like 3:1:5 and nip off faded blooms; water as needed. 2 Don’t mow your lawn too short! Longer blades will shade the roots, keeping them cool; they’ll also produce more food resulting in stronger growth. To prevent fungal outbreaks, water in the early morning so the lawn has time to dry. Check for…

Gardening can be expensive. But a good way to keep costs down is to ‘create’ new plants from those you already have. Do this by collecting seeds, planting runners or by leaf division. FLESHY SEEDS: CLIVIAS Clivias, like many bulbs, are easy to grow from their colourful fruits. However, be patient, your first flowers will only appear in 3–4 years’ time. Other plants that replicate this way: Scadoxus spp. (Catherine wheel and paintbrush lily) and blood flower (Haemanthus spp.) WHEN: Wait until the fleshy seeds are ripe and turn red, or yellow in the case of yellow clivias. METHOD: 1. Rub off the fleshy pulp to expose the large pearly seeds. Rinse and sow immediately or keep in a refrigerator in a sealed plastic bag until ready to use.…

WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE JARS WITH FRESH BERRIES (Serves 4) 180g white chocolate, chopped 300ml PnP Fresh Cream 5ml (1 tsp) powdered gelatine powder 3 PnP Eggs, separated fresh PnP Berries, to serve like PnP Raspberries, PnP Strawberries and PnP Blueberries 1 . Stir the chocolate and cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until melted. Set aside to cool. 2 . Place 1 tablespoon boiling water in a small heatproof bowl. Sprinkle over the gelatine. Melt the gelatine on the defrost setting of the microwave for 30 seconds at a time (don’t boil). Stir the egg yolks and melted gelatine into the cream mixture. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, until thickened slightly. 3 . Use an electric beater to beat the egg whites until firm peaks…

CONVERSATION STARTERS Cape Town-based chef Liam Tomlin’s lastest book, Tapas (self-published), R350, is full of appetising dishes perfect for alfresco dining. You’ll find the recipe for Seared Tuna with Soba Noodles (pictured above) on our website gardenandhome.co.za. Call 021 422 0128 or buy the book online at chefswarehouse.co.za Added eggstras Show your family you care by cooking their eggs in these rings, R89,95 each, from Woolworths. Visit woolworths.co.za Going GREEN For the eco-conscious here’s a selection of whites from the latest Nedbank Green Wine Awards. • Nederburg Earthbound Chenin Blanc 2014 , R36, is tropical, quaffable and delicious with a Parma ham and melon salad. • Reyneke Chenin Blanc 2013 , R120, was selected the overall best organic wine. •Jordan Chameleon Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay 2013 , R56, is ideal with…

Is your garage overflowing with hedge cutters, lawnmowers and all manner of garden tools? Are you tired of constantly looking for your rose pruners in a heap of other equipment? It might be time to rethink your outdoor storage. Keter, a market leader in quality plastic home and outdoor storage solutions, has a wide range of innovative products that’ll help you get – and stay – organised. Keter Factor Sheds are ideal for housing garden implements. The compact, lockable sheds are easy to assemble and their steel-reinforced structures ensure they’re sturdy and durable. Modern high-arched doors and a stylish window and skylight allow for easy access and plenty of natural light, so you won’t be stumbling in the dark. The heavy-duty floor panel and two sturdy shelves guarantee adequate, secure…

WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK! BY SIMPLY POPPING ONTO WWW.MYMAGSURVEY.CO.ZA AND COMPLETING OUR ONLINE SA MAGAZINES LIFESTYLE SURVEY, YOU COULD BE SPENDING TIME SEEING THE SIGHTS IN ASIA, COURTESY OF GATEWAY TRAVEL. The survey asks you questions about South African magazines and why you read them and will take 20 minutes of your time (don’t worry, you can save while answering and go back to it if you run out of time). To reward you, we’ll enter you into the competition to win the grand holiday prize, and also give you a chance to win fabulous hampers. There are over R140 000 worth of prizes to be won. Not too bad for answering a few questions! GO TO www.mymagsurvey.co.za to enter the competition now! Closing date is 20…