Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2016 i South African Home Owner

IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE... And thank goodness for that, as the first wisps of winter make their way into our homes. SA Home Owner is bringing you all the info you need to make – and keep – your home warm and cosy for winter. Starting with the kitchen, where all that wonderful soup is made, we look at how to cosy-up this space, from lighting and stoves to cookware. It’s either the last thing you do in the day or the first thing you do in the morning – visiting the bathroom has to be one of the coldest experiences in winter. So we give you some ideas on how to warm up this space – from underfloor heating to towel rails and fireplaces. Then moving into the…

“I believe in being brave enough to try and then allowing yourself to fail, and fail again” Maira founded Life Architecture and Interiors and Creative Direction in 1999. Her practice has garnered over 52 international awards and has established a footprint in over 19 countries. She is also the CEO of the Life Group of Companies, which owns five restaurants, with two new hospitality offerings opening this year. My passion for design began when I was a child. I knew, even as a girl, that I’d be an interior architect. When my friends made dolls’ clothes, I made their houses. Visiting the Greek islands every summer, the simple, rustic shapes and the tension between raw and refined really resonated with me, and I knew I wanted to engage in elegantly…

“A contemporary take on French country” was what these owners envisioned for their new home. That brief was translated into a picturesque white farmhouse, whose front is decorated with wine barrels, shrubbery and pergolas, while the contrasting dark window frames and roof add an edgy and contemporary touch for a chic and unique look. Inside, the home has the overall arrangement of a classic farmhouse, although the family has personalised it with a contemporary twist. Large, open and airy spaces make for an easy flow within the living space, as well as between the inside and outside. The high ceiling and exposed trusses contribute a tranquil, natural feel. As the family enjoys spending time together and loves having company, the kitchen was designed to be the “hub” of the ground-floor…

“Our home is geared for outside living and entertaining. We spend all of our free time on the patio, around the pool and in the garden,” says the owner of the home she shares with her husband and two young sons. Located in one of Johannesburg’s luxury estates, the contemporary property is defined by its strong modern aesthetic. The owner admits that the clean-lined design happened by chance. “Our initial brief to the architect was to design a farm-style home with a tin roof and wraparound verandah. He did the first draft and we were happy with it,” she notes. But while on holiday at Zimbali Coastal Resort in KwaZulu-Natal, they fell in love with a house on the cover of a magazine. “We decided there and then that we…

LYNTON POOLS 083 229 9639 Specialising in the building and renovation of swimming pools, Lynton Pools has a wealth of experience spanning 35 years. The clients’ brief for their pool was for simplicity. The result is a 5m x 3m layout, constructed as a concrete shell with a white marble plaster finish and classic blue scum tiles. Overseeing every aspect of the pool, from start to finish, Lynton Pools works closely with both client and contractor to ensure quality service alongside a quality end product. Comfort and style resonate throughout each space What you see is what you get. This property is all about keeping it real – a no-frills, modest home that suited this young Durban couple down to the ground. Set on a well-known Durban North coastal estate,…

Cooker hoods can be contemporary too, such as the Cylindre model from Eurafrican, which fits over an island. Eurafrican.co.za Did someone say “tea time”? The traditional whistling kettle, from Le Creuset, has a capacity of over two litres, for a cup of afternoon tea. Lecreuset.co.za World Baking Day is on 17 May, so whip up a family favourite and serve it with the fun Filou cake lifter from Pylones. Pylones.co.za The Falcon Classic 110 Deluxe dual fuel cooker combines top-of-the-range features with traditional design to produce hearty fare in winter. Globalpact.co.za The Liebherr SBSes 7165 PremiumPlus fridge offers a wine storage compartment, individual temperature zones and frost control. Liebherr-appliances.co.za…

a IS FOR THE ART OF DISPLAY As winter is generally when you will be spending more time at home, surround yourself with items you love. Display them on a console or coffee table; use the change of season to move things around, or buy a few new objects and place them in sight. The beechwood and high-gloss console is ideal for putting items on display in an entryway or living area. Isabelina.co.za b IS FOR BAKING The cold weather is the perfect excuse to indulge in cakes, cookies, pies and hot desserts (it’s all about “body insulation”), so have some fun in the kitchen with your favourite recipes. c IS FOR CANDLES When it gets dark early, candles can be used for adding a warm, inviting glow…

AUTUMN Camellia sasanqua : Flowers have fluted or ruffled white, pink or red petals surrounding golden stamens. Popular hybrids include Crimson King, Jennifer Susan, Narumieroona. Gata, Setsugekka, Sparkling Burgundy and W WINTER Camellia japonica : These cultivars are commonly seen in older gardens. They are large, upright-growing shrubs with large rosettes of white, pink, red or bicoloured flowers. Firm favourites include Debutante, Elegans, Kramer’ s Supreme, Margaret Davis, Guillio Nuccio and Yours Truly. Popular hybrids include Anticipation, Baby Bear and Donation. SPRING Camellia reticulata : These look forward to enormous ruffled blooms in white, pink and red and comprise Dream Girl, Dr Clifford Parks, Francie L, Citation, Miss Tulare and V alley Knudsen.…

The variety of colour in TV viewing will increase, which means deeper blacks, brighter whites and amazing picture quality Everyone enjoys a night in with a good movie or a favourite TV series. If you get the basics right, all you will need is comfortable seating and some popcorn in order to create the perfect setting. IN PLAIN SIGHT Television technology is always advancing. Although 4k and Ultra-HD TVs have been on the market for a while, it has been tricky to get content available in that quality. Thankfully, we can look forward to Ultra-HD BluRay players entering the market in the coming months, and that will allow consumers to see a big difference in picture quality. The variety of colour in TV viewing will increase, which means deeper blacks,…

With open-plan spaces becoming a norm, the fireplace may need to have the capacity to heat up a very large area There are a number of considerations when choosing a fireplace for your home, not least of which is the size of the area that needs to be heated; a fireplace of the appropriate size will ensure that your home gets the right amount of heat output. With open-plan spaces becoming a norm, the fireplace may need to have the capacity to heat up a very large area. Luckily, there is a wide variety. OPEN WOOD - BURNING FIREPLACES Pros: • They give you the most “real” fire experience – right down to the scent. • They are great value for money. • Besides making the fire and periodically adding…

Be bold and layer rugs to make a strong style statement. “Layering can work in various settings, from patios and living rooms, to bedrooms and even kitchens and bathrooms (provided you use the right type of rug). Depending on the room or the aesthetic you are after, the overall effect can range from eclectic and bohemian to sophisticated and quite grand,” says Charles. When layering rugs, he suggests sticking to either a similar style or pattern to create continuity. “Kilims and geometric-pattern rugs are particularly effective to create this look; the combination of similar patterns and tones works well when grouped together.” Also consider mixing textures that complement each other. “Layer hides or a tribal Berber on top of a sisal or jute area rug,” says Charles. Layering your rugs…

With the Eskom crisis still looming, it is arguable that generators have become a necessary part of life to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity. So what happens if you live in a townhouse complex or an apartment block and your neighbours fire up their generators – and you have to be subjected to the noise until the lights come back on? Marina Constas, director at BBM Attorneys, says generators are certainly an issue in sectional-title developments. “There is no doubt that generators are noisy, and many schemes have been unsuccessful in attempting to obtain a communal generator, due to the expense and the perceived disadvantages to residents.” She has this advice for installing one large communal generator for the entire building: “Generators constitute a movable asset which is placed…

KERRY JOHNSTON FREELANCE WRITER Kerry is one of our weekly online contributors for SA Home Owner online, writing about all things garden, decor and lifestyle related, and writes the monthly "Burning Issue" column in the magazine. MY HOME IS a colourful reflection of who we are as a family; of our hobbies and interests, of the places we have visited and the things we have done. FIRST THING I DO WHEN I GET HOME IN WINTER: I switch on the kettle and put on my PJs. DECOR DREAM: I fell totally and utterly in love with a country barnhouse that was featured in the X Factor UK last year. My dream is to build and live in an exact replica of it! WHAT DOES STYLE MEAN TO YOU? I used…

This family of five chose a fabulous corner plot in an Umhlanga residential estate to build the home of their dreams. Careful to adhere to estate guidelines, the design process evolved as a collective between owner and architect. Although the house needed a practical core to meet the demands of a growing family, the wish was for creative juices to flow, resulting in a magical home with unique features that reflected the owners’ tastes and style. As you pull into the driveway, you are greeted by a spectacular Koi pond that wraps around and seemingly disappears under the “floating” lounge. A blend of desert-coloured stone clad walls, with rich timber cladding, welcomes you as you approach the front door. The interior is awash with light, courtesy of a dramatic double-volume…

INFINITI FIRES 010 900 4111 The fire in the living area not only keeps the room warm, but also provides a cosy ambience. Infiniti Fires, which specialises in the design and building of high-efficiency wood stoves and gas fires, supplied the gas unit. The grate and burner are made of 304 grade stainless steel, which complements the contemporary style of the interior. The flame of the burner has a “dancing” effect, to add to its visual appeal. Manufactured locally, the unit doesn’t require a chimney, so it can save on building costs, and it is capable of heating 100m². When combined with an eclectic mix of accessories, most sourced from decor shops, but some inherited pieces, there’s a calming, yet lived-in feel throughout Creating a “warm home for family” was…

TREVOR KING MARKETING DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL SLAB SALES Trevor King was born in Durban and studied at the Cedara College of Agriculture, taking up dairy farming soon after graduating. After running several small businesses in various industries, he joined International Slab Sales in 2004 as the George branch manager. In 2007, King was promoted to market development manager, and established the International Slab Sales marketing department. In 2011 he was appointed marketing director. International Slab Sales is one of the largest national suppliers of natural and engineered stone surfaces and holds the sole distribution rights for Caesarstone in the southern African region. Caesarstone has grown from being a premier quartz surface of choice in the South African market to a leading luxury quartz surface in southern Africa. “I think part of…

As winter settles in and the temperatures begin to drop outside, you’ll know it’s time to bring some warmth back into your home. An effortless way to achieve this is by introducing different textures of warm textiles, from cotton and wool to mohair. HOME GROWN “Reminiscent of the nostalgic rural lifestyle in the old Xhosa homelands”, MaXhosa by Laduma is a knitwear brand that explores knitwear design solutions that would be suitable for amakrwala (Xhosa initiates). Since 2010, founder Laduma Ngxokolo has extended his range to include rugs and throws. With a distinctive design and a true contemporary South African feel, MaXhosa by Laduma celebrates traditional Xhosa aesthetics, which can be seen in his Gqira Lendlela, Songololo and KwaXhosa rugs. A blend of mohair and wool, these are designer pieces…

The beautiful curves of this unusual building reflect the natural shoreline and echo the waves of the ocean, to create fluid interior spaces that the home owner wanted to complement with a modern, contemporary design aesthetic It is clear from the exterior of the building that sculptural form was a design priority, which made for awkward indoor spaces and a challenge for the architects. The double-volume curved glass wall in the living room was a particular challenge, as “it had a distinctly shopping-mall feel to it”, describes the home owner. By lowering the ceiling with oversized leather and crystal chandeliers, and adding long, flowing drapes, the textures and shapes created made for a more cohesive and elegant living space. While this living area is the most impressive in the home,…

DISTINCTIVE GARDENS OFFERS EXPERT ADVICE ON HOW TO WATER YOUR GARDEN OVER THE AUTUMN MONTHS: • With flowerbeds, it’s best to water once or twice a week. It is better to water occasionally, but with plenty of water rather than a little water often. • When you water cool soil in the evening, less water evaporates than when watering hot soil during the day. Watering in the early morning or evening also allows plants to sufficiently supply themselves with water before the next day’s heat. • When planting bulb flowers, ensure the soil is well drained to prevent rot. Bulbs are susceptible to rot when planted in poorly-drained sites. • Planting bulbs is simple enough to do. Bigger bulbs represent bigger flowers. Ensure you plant them at least 8cm deep…

Rugs are especially appealing in winter, when rooms crave warm, plush comfort underfoot. Add a timeless touch with Persian-inspired prints, lend a pop of pattern with trellis and chevron motives, or choose an abstract design to breathe life into a dull room. There’s no denying that rugs have the amazing ability to transform a room in an instant. FOOT NOTES Charles Gonsenhauser, owner of Gonsenhausers Fine Rugs, says home owners are spoilt for choice when it comes to geometric, vintage and traditional-style rugs: “Contemporary rugs are hot on the radar and there are countless bespoke designs available. A popular trend is to infuse traditional designs with modern flair, while deconstructed, vintage-inspired designs are sought after,” he notes. “In addition to classic and vintage-style rugs, patchwork designs are bang on trend,”…