Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2016 i SA Garden and Home

When you consider the number of kitchen walls that have come crashing down all over South Africa in the past few years, it’s amazing that we haven’t all been deafened by the noise. From the homes that cross our desks, it’s clearly evident that open-plan living is the trend today. One of the reasons for its popularity is that time is precious and the best way to make the most of family time is to have the kitchen as the heart of the home. As a result, kitchens have expanded to include dining and sitting areas and homework and admin stations. Whether they were newly built or renovated, the kitchens in this issue have all been designed to make life as easy and as sociable as possible. Jo’burg designer Mia…

GET THE LOOK Owner of Cape Town homeware store LIM, Pauline Mutlow gives her tips on how to create a similar reading nook Bring in good, warm artificial lighting in the form of standing or table lights. Not only does lighting make for easy reading, it creates atmosphere. Use texture to appeal to the senses of touch and sight. It can be as simple as introducing a luxurious hand-woven karakul wool carpet, heavy linen curtains, and a woven throw to wrap up in. When layering elements, balance is important. Contrast dark and light, straight and curved, shiny and matt, and patterned and plain. The scent of cinnamon or sandalwood from candles or fragrance sticks gives an instant lift on a cold day. Choose an armchair that’s comfortable for reading. Consider…

ONLINE EXTRA Shop more barstools online. Visit gardenandhome.co.za SOURCES Esque esque.co.za La Grange Interiors lagrangeinteriors.co.za Leon at CCXIX leonat219.com Pate Arts & Crafts patesa.co.za Pezula Interiors pezulainteriors.co.za Qoka qoka.co.za The Private House Company privatehouseco.co.za Woodbender woodbender.co.za…

SIZE “As a TV room is informal, a place to put your feet up, look for a sofa that has a generous depth of at least 900mm for comfort,” says Shayleen Speirs. Take into consideration the size of the TV, advises Jonathan Purves. “The larger the television, the further away the sofa should be. The size should be in proportion to the room. Before you buy, make a template of the sofa in brown paper and place this on the floor to check.” Also consider the number of people you need to seat. “For four, you could use a three-seater sofa plus an armchair or two two-seater sofas,” says Zane Pretorius. SHAPE “A versatile sectional or modular sofa is a good choice as you can move it around or reconfigure…

UPCYCLE A TEA TROLLEY. Joe Strydom, from antique shop Trouvé, shows how easy it is. You’ll need An old tea trolley, 80-grit sandpaper, sugar soap, a paintbrush, universal undercoat, silver paint, a dusting cloth, ageing glaze (a mixture of scumble glaze and raw umber) and sealer. How to do it Sand the trolley to roughen the surface, and clean it thoroughly with sugar soap. Then paint or spray with the universal undercoat and let it dry completely. Paint or spray it with silver paint and leave to dry for two to three days. For the distressed look, sand the edges lightly and remove the residue with a dusting cloth. Working in small sections, apply the ageing glaze, wiping away the excess. Finally, apply the sealer to the inside of the…

Midwinter is a dull time in most gardens, but this needn’t be the case. Indigenous aloes and their many wonderful hybrids offer such a wonderful source of colour, shape and texture that it’s hardly surprising they’ve gained popularity over the last few years. LANDSCAPING WITH ALOES Aloes offer striking flowers, architectural form and inspiring stature and have the ability to withstand tough conditions. The diversity of species and the hybrids released each year, ensure there’s something for everyone. Many are at home in pots on a sunny balcony or planted en masse in stark sunny areas. Most can be used as accents to draw the eye through the landscape. For nature lovers, they have the added benefit of attracting a diverse range of birds and other wildlife to the garden.…

"A well-designed driveway definitely enhances your property,” says landscape architect Johan Hosten of LandShapes Design Landscape Architects. “A mistake people make is choosing the cheapest option with no consideration for design and aesthetics. “A driveway should always complement the style of the house. Cobbles or gravel are the best choice for a Mediterranean-style home, while clay brick or natural stone paving would complement a house with a natural African look, and for a modern home, a minimalist concrete slab can look amazing.” CHOOSING MATERIALS Durability is important as a driveway has to take the weight of cars and the constant turning of wheels. Keep in mind that dark paving gets very hot if it’s in full sun. Also consider the slipperiness of the paving. “One of the best ways to…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED Two spades Bonemeal Compost Organic plant food pellets Good topsoil (optional) Secateurs A piece of landscaping fabric or hessian A wheelbarrow HOW TO DO IT 1 Dig a new hole according to the size of the root ball, about 50 x 50 x 50cm. In the bottom of the hole, mix a handful each of bonemeal and organic plant food pellets with 2–3 spadefuls of compost. If you have clay soil or lots of rock, dig a bigger hole (at least 1m3 ) and replace the soil with good topsoil and 50% compost to improve the drainage. 2 Water the plant to be transplanted thoroughly the day before moving. Reduce its size by a third to half with sharp secateurs. Make all cuts just above a pair…

MENU ANTIPASTI WILD MUSHROOM TART SLOW-BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIB WITH SAFFRON RISOTTO DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH ALMOND BRITTLE My parents used to run a restaurant, so when I was growing up, I helped them over weekends and during school holidays. I saw how much hard work they put in and swore I’d never do the same,” confesses Paul Maciel, co-owner of popular Italian restaurant, Pronto, in Craighall. “But after 12 years in the advertising industry, I was looking for a more down-to-earth business,” he says. So doing something with food was the next logical step. Paul opened Pronto with his partner, Davide Casalvolone in 2004 and his sister Natasha joined the business a few years later. Paul heads the food side of things and Natasha (now co-owner) concentrates on front…

STARRING role The latest book from celebrated SA chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, Jan – A Breath of French Air , R395, (Struik Lifestyle) is a memoir of his one-star Michelin restaurant in the south of France featuring a collection of French and South African favourites; the beautifully styled images will keep you coming back for more. Find the recipe for Jan’s Roasted Butternut and Almond Quiche (pictured above) at gardenandhome.co.za Crème de LA CRÈME The Nespresso Aeroccino4, R1 450, is the coffee lover’s new best friend, whipping up hot or cold milk in just 80 seconds. Dishwasher safe, it’s available at Nespresso Boutiques and online at nespresso.com/za On the CIDER SXOLLIE offers easy drinking, single-varietal craft ciders in flavours like sweet Golden Delicious Cider, crisp Packham Pear Perry…

GETTING THERE Lufthansa flies from Jo’burg to Budapest via Frankfurt and from Prague back to Jo’burg. RIVERBOAT CRUISES Our riverboat, AmaSerena, accommodates 161 passengers with cabins that vary in size from 13–33m², all with private en suite bathrooms. There are four passenger decks, four lounges and three restaurants. All cabin suites have HD flat-screen TVs and there is free Wi-Fi Internet on board. Visit amawaterways.com/ships/amaserena USEFUL WEBSITES Visit cruises.co.za; for pre- and post-cruise accommodation see airbnb.com VISAS South Africans require a Schengen visa to enter Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Obtain a visa from the embassy of the country of your first entry, or the country of longest duration of stay. In our case, it was Czech Republic which has an embassy in Pretoria and a satellite…

EVERY MONTH we give away a *prize for the most valuable or interesting antique item sent in. This month Andrew Louwrens has won one five-year-old, one eight-year-old and one 12-year-old bottle of Scottish Cousin whisky worth R920. These superb blends are made by ageing single grain and malt Scotch whisky in barrels. Visit fourcousins.co.za SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Send in clear photographs of collectable items to Treasure Chest, SA Garden and Home, Box 3124, Parklands 2121. Due to the volume of mail we are unable to respond personally or return photographs. Send e-mail submissions to gardenhome@caxton.co.za. Pictures must be sent as separate attachments at a size between 1MB – 2MB. Only one submission per reader will be accepted. For guidelines on the best way to take your photos for Treasure Chest, visit…

AT A GLANCE THE ARCHITECTS: Michael Shaw and Peter Ries of Peter Ries Architects. THE CLIENT: A family with two teenage boys. THE BRIEF: To maximise the views of the golf estate and concentrate on outdoor living. THE HOUSE: A 650m2 house on Cotswold Downs Golf & Lifestyle Estate with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, an open-plan living area, study and guest suite. There were several challenges facing architects Peter Ries and Michael Shaw of Peter Ries Architects when they designed this house. “The site is fan-shaped and very steep on the approach with an ecological no-go area, leaving a fairly small area to work in,” they explain. “The design of the neighbouring houses was also a consideration, as was the 9m height restriction.” To address the shape of the site…

BLACK IS BLACK To complement the graphic shapes in this contemporary TV room, designer Evi Elsner of Home Concept painted a section of the wall black. It not only adds drama to the neutral scheme, but the wall-mounted television blends in when it’s not in use. MADE TO MEASURE In addition to housing the TV, the owners of this KZN house wanted a unit that would hold a small bar and display books and other collectables. “The size of the wall meant that the unit had to have impact and presence,” explains Sheraine Lauterbach of Kitchens by Mint Fresh. “We chose a dark colour so the screen blends in and included plenty of closed storage space to keep the contents dust free. The addition of a cornice makes it look…

EXPERT ADVICE Landscaper Arthur Mennigke of The Naked Gardener, who designed this veranda, has these tips on creating a bushveld feel Achieve a forest look by placing trees close to the house where light can filter through the leaves. Indigenous plants like jacket plums (Pappea capensis), wild olive (Olea africana), and turkey-berry (Canthium inerme) attract birds and wildlife to the garden. Planting two to three plants per hole instead of singly creates natural vistas. Plant naturalised grasses under tree canopies and cut back very little to accentuate the natural atmosphere. Erect a timber pergola to provide shade and make interesting shadows. Add appeal with wooden elements such as a packing crate made into a table. SOURCES Amatuli amatuli.co.za Homestead Décor homestead-décor.co.za Home Talk Interiors hometalkinteriors.co.za La Grange Interiors lagrangeinteriors.co.za Mobelli mobelli.co.za Mr Price Home…

Originating in the harsh environs of the Middle East from south-western Turkey across to Israel, these perennials emerge in the cool autumn months. They flower through a moist winter, before retreating into dormancy in late spring when the days get warmer. There are thought to be 23 species of cyclamen, most of which are native to the areas around islands in the Mediterranean. In South Africa, only Cyclamen persicum and its hybrids are readily available. From early autumn, their showy blooms in white, pink, purple and red and beautifully patterned leaves are hard to miss in florist’s shops, garden centres and supermarkets. There are also dwarf and bicoloured varieties available. Not many people know, but some varieties exude a delicate perfume – strongest in the white and pink flowers. When…

10 things to do this month Contributing garden editor Marianne Alexander’s handy checklist of essential chores to do in June 1 Transplant roses this month, if necessary. Cut them back hard first to compensate for the loss of roots. Make sure they face the same direction as they did before then water well. Spray for black spot in winter-rainfall areas. Water once a week, especially in the dry interior and frost zones. 2 Start planning for next month’s big cut back. Wipe grime off tools and oil moving parts. Sharpen blades of pruning equipment. Service lawnmowers and Weedeaters. Buy thick gloves for pruning; those with armguards are useful when dealing with thorny plants like roses and bougainvilleas. 3 Continue to save water but don’t neglect plants where frozen soil limits…

A side from the visual appeal of the tree, lemons are a popular ingredient in many dishes and drinks. They’re also used to make home-made remedies for colds and coughs, and with their fresh smell, to clean everything from hair and skin to household surfaces. Lemons flower and bear fruit almost throughout the year and they’re easy to grow no matter the size of the area you have available. Choose the best variety for your climate and space. THE BEST VARIETIES ROUGH-SKINNED The Cape rough-skinned lemon does well in colder areas. As the skin comes off like that of a naartjie, it doesn’t slice well but the fruit is good for everything else. This lemon tree requires more space than the smooth-skinned varieties. MAIN IMAGE : The lemon tree is…

My cooking style is simple, honest and delicious. No dinner party is complete without spilled wine. In Portuguese culture, spilled wine also represents laughter, so it’s always a good sign. The kitchen gadget I could not live without is my gas hob. If I had just one recipe book it would be a little blue one that belonged to my mother. She started it in 1975 in Malawi and added recipes all the time. It has all of the recipes from my childhood, even little drawings that I did. Every recipe is named after someone, such as ‘Aunty Lena’s Chocolate Cake’, which makes it extra special. My store cupboard staples are olive oil, plum tomatoes and pasta. I can make just about anything with those ingredients. My favourite comfort food…

A household name in South Africa, Van Loveren has a reputation for delicious, good-value wines. Their signature reds are all about depth and diversity, and they produce wine that not only tastes great but also reflects the character of the farm. A wide selection of reds ranging from light and juicy to complex and full-bodied will take wine lovers on a journey that intrigues, excites and lingers. Curl up on the couch and pour a glass of your favourite; it’s the perfect companion on a winter’s evening. Visit vanloveren.co.za 15 lucky subscribers will each win a hamper consisting of a case (six bottles) of each of the following wines: Java Pinotage, Cabernet Merlot and Blackberry Cabernet Shiraz. 24 months just R408 12 months just R265,20 6 months just R132,60 SUBSCRIBING…

It’s paprika schnapps,” says the statuesque shopkeeper as we stare at a terrace of honey-coloured bottles. “This is Hungary. Paprika is in everything,” she continues. Her shop in the local market in Budapest sells only paprika products and the aroma is tantalising. Mingled with wafts of smoked salami and freshly baked pastries from nearby stalls, the market is torture if you’re peckish. Luckily it’s lunchtime, so we go from shop to shop, buying tastes of Hungary: paprika cheese, delicious cured meats and orange marzipan chocolate. The winner is Túró Rudi, the traditional snack of sweet curd covered in chocolate. This is also the start of our eight-day cruise down the Danube through nine countries including Austria, Germany and Slovakia. Stephen I, known as King Saint Stephen, was the founder of…

Pretoria retrophile Louis Gaigher is a passionate collector of Scandinavian glass from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s even though his job at a university publishing firm only allows him to indulge his interest after hours and on weekends. “I adore its bold shapes, delicious textures and iridescent colours,” explains Louis. “I’ve picked up pieces here and there over the past couple of years. I’m a bit obsessed, but not terribly serious about my collection. I enjoy it for what it is – items that should be appreciated for the time period they represent and each new find adds a splash of colour and glamour to my home. I shop online quite a bit, and thanks to collecting, I’ve also become good friends with certain dealers.” One of the reasons Scandinavian…

Reflected Glory We fancy the Alaina mirror, R2 495, for its interesting textural detailing and curvy lines. Double up for a wonderful sense of symmetry, or add to a guest bathroom for a hit of neutral glamour. Available from Block & Chisel.blockandchisel.co.za Creative Choice Wanda du Toit, creative director of KAMERS, loves these wall clocks from TYDLOOS.COM. “I appreciate the play between the brand name meaning ‘timeless’ and the absence of numerals. These beautifully handcrafted clocks strike the perfect balance between minimalism and eye-catching design.” From R490, tydloos.com. Don’t miss KAMERS in Cape Town from 1 – 5 June. kamersvol.com Stand a chance to win a TYDLOOS.COM clock. Visit gardenandhome.co.za for details. ESCAPE TO THE TROPICS The Dominica linen collection from Linen House features a painterly tropical rainforest design. Bold…

SOURCES @home home.co.za Boardmans boardmans.co.za Créma Design cremadesign.co.za Fibre Designs fibredesigns.co.za Mezzanine mezzanineinteriors.co.za Superbalist.com superbalist.com Weylandts weylandts.co.za Yuppiechef.com yuppiechef.com…

Who lives here Artist, theatre designer and decor stylist Stephen Graham and his dogs, Cooper, a French bulldog and Indy, a pug. The house A newly built two-bedroom single-storey with bright, open-plan living spaces, exposed rafters and a covered patio. For over a year I looked for a low-maintenance, freestanding simplex that appears bigger than it really is,” recalls Stephen, who fell in love with the open-plan layout, natural light and, above all, the high ceilings and exposed rafters of this cluster in Orchards, Jo’burg. The complex of three units was designed and built two years ago by Kuming & Staples Construction. “When I bought it, most of the building was complete, but I was able to choose paint colours and certain finishes like bathroom taps, basins, baths, cabinets and…

ISLAND MAGIC Islands make a natural gathering spot. The generous proportions of this one in designer Mia Widlake’s Jo’burg home means there’s plenty of workspace, plus it can accommodate at least four people for casual meals. “I need a big area for food prep and I like having guests around the island while I’m cooking. Bar stools fit snugly beneath an overhang on one side, while cupboards provide ample storage for my appliances.” Mia designed the dark navy cabinets which she combined with light marble countertops and white metro tiles. Sheepskin seat covers add warmth to the powder-coated bar stools from Chair Crazy. FINE DINING In an open-plan living room and kitchen, a dining table helps to demarcate the different areas. It also provides a surface for food preparation, quick…

“OUR KITCHEN didn’t fit in with the light, modern feel we wanted,” recall the owners of this Cape Town home. “It was all dark cabinets, granite countertops and mottled tiles. It had an awkward layout caused by a wide peninsular with a built-in table that divided the room.” HOW THIS SPACE WENT FROM DRAB TO FAB: Realising they needed expert advice, the owners asked Christelle Nagel and Leon Grobbelaar of Kunst Architecture & Interiors for their help. The designers kept the original footprint, but created a completely new layout. The cabinets and counters were arranged along adjacent walls which freed up space for an island that was placed slightly off-centre. “After gutting the room, we screeded the floor and removed the bulkhead to make way for a flush ceiling with…

Who lives here Jason and Liesl Buhrs and their grey tabby cat, Sasha. The house A large, indigenous, water-wise garden in Irene, Gauteng, with succulents, aloes and veld grasses that reflect the owners’ love of nature. We wanted an indigenous country garden, complete with veld grass and rocks so we could feel as if we weren’t quite in the city,” recall Liesl and Jason Buhrs. “We really enjoy going to the bush, whether locally or in Botswana and Namibia. It’s our favourite way to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.” To turn their wish into reality, Liesl and Jason enlisted the expertise of landscaper Mia Marsay of Over the Garden Wall with whom they instantly developed a creative rapport. “I’m not a fan of flowery garden…

Who lives here Fiona and Tim Massey and their 17- year-old daughter, Jennifer. The garden A 550m² vegetable garden, which includes a greenhouse, laid out around a central water feature. When a massive gum tree on Fiona and Tim Massey’s Bryanston property was struck by lightning a few years ago, it had to be removed. “We suddenly had all this sunny space available,” says Fiona. “Maybe I watch too much Bear Grylls or maybe it’s my Zimbabwean farmer’s blood but I get a kick out of self-sufficiency.” So she decided to plant a vegetable garden in its place. A strategy and business development manager for Rand Merchant Bank, Fiona is used to making things happen, and within a few months, she’d created an edible haven. Her urban farm is an…

The word preservative is often associated with unhealthy chemical additives that prevent spoilage and extend shelf-life. Preservatives have been linked to everything from allergies and asthma to cancer. Whether this is true or not, I prefer to use chemical-free methods to keep my summer harvest. DRYING This is one of the oldest (and simplest) techniques of preserving food. The microorganisms that attack food love moisture and the dryer it is, the less chance they have of surviving. What can be dried? Herbs with low water content (rosemary, oregano, thyme and lavender) are well-suited to drying. Most fruit (apricots, apples, pears, plums, figs, grapes, berries and peaches) and vegetables (eggplants, beetroots, carrots, mealies, zucchini, chillies, peppers, onions, tomatoes, Swiss chard and kale) dry well. How to do it Air drying This…

The most important ingredient in nachos is the cheese. As the top-selling cheese in Italy for over 130 years, Galbani is the perfect addition to this crowd-pleasing recipe. GALBANI MOZZARELLA NACHOS (Serves 6 EASY 30 minutes) 1 . Preheat the oven to 200°C. 2 . Place 250g nachos in a shallow ovenproof dish. Toss 125g grated Galbani Mozzarella and 250g halved cocktail tomatoes with the nachos. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 3 . Top with 250g sliced Galbani Mozzarella and bake for another 5–8 minutes or until melted. 4 . For the salsa, combine 125g chopped cocktail tomatoes, 1 finely chopped red onion, 1 finely chopped green chilli and a handful coriander in a small bowl. Season with salt. 5 . For…

MEXICAN BEAN SALSA (Serves 4) 15ml red wine vinegar 5ml caster sugar 15ml olive or avocado oil 1 red onion, diced 2 tomatoes, diced 1 red chilli, sliced (optional) 1 corn on the cob 5ml butter 2ml cayenne pepper or 5ml Cajun spice 1 x 410g can black beans or kidney beans, drained 80ml ready-made mild or hot salsa 45ml chopped fresh coriander 5ml lime juice salt and milled black pepper TO SERVE 125g sour cream and 125g Cheddar cheese, grated (optional) tortilla chips ready-made guacamole 1 . To make the salsa, place the red wine vinegar, caster sugar, olive or avocado oil, onion, tomatoes and chilli in a mixing bowl, stir and leave to stand for 10 minutes. 2 . Cook the corn in boiling water for 4–5 minutes.…

ESSENTIAL CLOTHING Layers plus some warm clothing, an umbrella and walking shoes. NICE TO KNOW Download audio guided tours of the various places you’ll be visiting on your phone and take along your headphones. This allows you to be independent and still enjoy information about the highlights. MUST-SEE SIGHTS The view from the deck as you depart from Budapest; the reconstructed Bratislava Castle in Slovakia; the scenic village of Dürnstein in Austria as you dock; the approach to the colourful Bavarian town of Passau in Germany. The Wachau Valley in Austria is postcard beautiful too. MOST DELICIOUS BITE Paprika crisps and cheese in Hungary, apfel strudel and sachertorte in Austria, the delicious cured meats and salami in Germany and marzipan chocolates throughout.…

“ I’ve always loved fabrics,” says Luhandra Vorstman, who was recently selected as one of Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives for 2016. “As a little girl, I can remember going fabric shopping with my mother. A piece of fabric has the ability to make a simple item spectacular, whether it’s a piece of clothing or furniture.” Elle Kay Fabrics, taken from Luhandra’s initials, was born when she was looking for material to use in her own home. “I have a background in screen-printing and studied Fashion and Textile Design at the Durban University of Technology, and so I designed and printed my first range of fabrics at home, and a year later, I designed my first batch of rotary printed fabrics,” she says. “I have an obsession with all things patterned…