Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2016 i South African Home Owner

THAT EARTHY FEELING All of the PR around living sustainably does seem to be having an effect. Architects are taking earth-friendly approaches to their work; designers are opting for eco-friendly materials for products and accessories; and the general public, like you and I, are putting some concerted effort into saving electricity and water, and recycling where we can. Our June issue is focused on sustainable living, and how the eco-trend can be adopted throughout the home. From the energy-efficient kitchen to the water-wise bathroom, and recycling versus upcycling – we’ve got it all covered. And we even have a special collection of articles focusing on what sustainable living really is, and how to incorporate it into your heating, flooring and everyday life. Our Earth is the only one we’ve got,…

Green living is a way of life today, and in South Africa it has been embraced, from the way our houses are being built to the way they are furnished. Consider these five sustainable design trends when you undertake a new build. 1 A ROOFTOP DELIGHT A practice that has spread across the globe, living roofs are the use of roofs of a building for a garden. Planted over a waterproofing membrane, a root barrier, draining and irrigation systems, all of which make the living roof possible, rooftop gardens allow the roof to filter pollutants out of the air, while providing a habitat for local birdlife. 2 THE BEAUTY OF BAMBOO Wooden floors are always a favourite, but bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative. Unlike most trees, bamboo grows quickly and…

Luxurious living requires little effort from this family of five, who live in a home that does all of the work for them. The home owners wanted the exterior of their house to have a wow factor – and it certainly does. Finished in stone-inspired graphite cladding at the entrance, it features a smooth, natural-coloured facade complemented by glass doors and balustrading. For the interior, the vision was for something simple and sophisticated: a clean look that would have a contemporary style with a timeless character. An open-plan space on the ground floor works well for the large family, who love to entertain – a sitting room, dining space and kitchen flow into one another, allowing the whole family and their guests to be together, while in separate spaces. Leading…

The centre island keeps everyone engaged. It’s where we touch base, have meals, chat and make plans for the future This active family of four likes nothing more than spending time outdoors, flyfishing, camping or entertaining friends at home. “We’re very earthy people. We like the simple things and definitely believe in a less-is-more approach to life. We were looking for a functional space that would reflect our personalities and approach to life,” says the owner. Their brief to the architect was to create an uncluttered, unfussy home with a pastel undertone. Most importantly, the owners wanted a warm, inviting home filled with light-drenched open spaces. “We like our privacy, but at the same time we love to entertain. So our house had to merge these two elements,” says the…

When it comes to water-savvy plants, Chris Tunnicliffe of Julip Landscaping suggests sticking to hardy specimens that require minimal water other than natural rainfall. “When plant-shopping at nurseries, look out for waterwise stickers, or ask your local nurseryman for advice,” suggests Chris. Trusted water-wise plants include aloes, bulbines, Clivia miniata, Dietes grandiflora, Echeveria species, Plectranthus, Strelitzia reginae, Tulbaghia violaceae, salt bush (rhagodia), Salvia leucantha, and vygie species such as Mesembryanthemum. “The advantage of succulents is that they are highly architectural, which gives your garden a structured, landscaped look,” says Craig de Necker of The Friendly Plant. He points out the importance of knowing the climate region in which your garden is located. “South Africa has a diverse landscape and climate. Plants that are endemic to a particular area are well…

Sustainable solutions to implement at home include greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting There’s no doubt that you’ve heard the term “sustainable living”, but what does it really mean, and what impact is it having on how we design, and live in, our homes? In simple terms, sustainable living means meeting our needs in the present without compromising the long-term availability of the natural resources that sustain our way of life. It involves taking no more than the environment can supply and renew, living in balance with nature, and being aware of how your actions (from buying products to throwing away waste) affect the environment. HOW IS SUSTAINABLE THINKING BEING IMPLEMENTED IN HOMES? A sustainable home uses few non-renewable resources, is energy efficient and causes little or no damage to its…

“Going green” is everywhere nowadays – in the news, in our politics, on our roads, in our homes, and even in our technology. There’s no denying that every single thing we do, every day, has an impact on the planet. The good news is that you have the power to control most of your choices and therefore reduce the effect of your footprint (in ways both big and small), starting at home… WHAT CONSTITUTES A GREEN HOME? In a nutshell, a green home is a type of household that is designed, remodelled and/or operated to be environmentally friendly and sustainable, while also focusing on the efficient use of energy and water, using sustainable, recycled or used materials, and producing less waste. Buying more energy-efficient appliances and using specific building materials…

SHARON BALOYI MARKETING COORDINATOR Sharon manages the competition pages, and assists with marketing operations and sales support. WHAT’S THE NEXT THING YOU’D LOVE TO BUY FOR YOUR HOME? I love cooking, so I’d love to get an electric food slicer, to make my life easier. THE BEST THING ABOUT WINTER IS that, most of the time, I am indoors with my favourite people – my family. WHOSE HOME WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT? Basetsana Kumalo’s. I believe I can learn a lot from her – she’s powerful and has managed to keep her private life private. I admire her for that. WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD? Pizza, all the way. WHAT DO YOU FIND REALLY BEAUTIFUL? I find my precious two-year-old daughter beautiful; she’s the light of my life…

Cape Town furniture designer/maker Andrew Dominic grew up on the coast of South Devon, England. After years working in the luxury yachting industry, he chose to follow his other passion, woodwork, and trained at David Savage’s respected furniture school in North Devon. After meeting his Johannesburg-born wife in the south of France, he moved to South Africa and established a furniture business that has a reputation for having an uncompromising dedication to quality, detail and authentic design. Good-quality furniture takes time to make. I am well known for my signature Manu server and Draper kitchen stools. My signature range is a collection of limited-quantity pieces that best describes my design aesthetic. We find that all of our clients share an appreciation for the beauty and finer detailing found in handcrafted…

THE ODD TABLE COMPANY 072 437 7487 As the owners wanted the kitchen to be the social hub of the home, they commissioned The Odd Table Company to create an island geared for communal living. A timeless design with square lines is accentuated by the use of solid wood, and creates a dramatic counterpoint to the kitchen’s dark palette. It’s not often than one finds a home that seamlessly merges clean lines and comfort. Architecturally, the faceted design and modular appearance of this double-storey home in a golf estate reflect the owners’ love of understated style. Pairing sleek simplicity with classic appeal, it straddles the divide between architectural interest and a family-focused lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, the refreshed version of their home is filled with light-drenched spaces and a seamless integration between…

There are Western, Asian and African-inspired design elements throughout the home, captured in decorative pieces or beautifully framed artwork Owning a home in a foreign country is an exhilarating prospect for most people, and a thrilling reality for this travelled couple. Situated in one of Cape Town’s most luxurious suburbs, this home was built to capitalise on the plot’s 360-degree views of iconic Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and the ocean. Important in the home owner’s design brief was the use of clean lines, open living spaces and a lot of light, as well as the incorporation of their love for gardens. The goal was that the end result would successfully unite indoor and outdoor living, in an inviting setting that allowed for flow between various spaces. The interior of the…

This family home is all about space and connection, rolled into a barnstyle build to suit the owner’s taste and practical needs. Known fondly by friends as the “little cathedral”, the main lounge and dining area sits beneath a 7,5m-high open roof structure, instantly adding character to this open-plan space. The feature apex is one of many striking additions that make this KwaZulu-Natal home unique. In the entrance, a beautifully patterned tiled floor is a bold and creative gesture that sets the tone for the interior finishes. Careful not to skimp on the main elements, such as the floors and bathrooms, the owners set a limited budget for the decoration, which is where the creative juices began to flow. “Almost all of our furniture has been given to us over…

Furniture designers use upcycling to create one-of-a-kind pieces that are well made, beautiful and bring a unique look to your home In the words of sustainable food advocate Anna Lappé: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” This idea lies at the heart of upcycling. THE HISTORY While the concept of upcycling has been around for centuries, especially in developing countries where resources are scarce, the term was coined in 1994 by the owner of a German technology company. Since then, upcycling has been used in both the industry and the creative fields to save money, increase greening initiatives, and to make social and political commentary. The idea even extended to New York City’s fashion scene in 2004, when underground fashion…

HANG IN THERE We love Opus Studio’s Monstera deliciosa, Hoya carnosa, palm and fern kokedamas. Often called the poor-man’s bonsai in Japan, kokedama literally means moss (koke) ball (dama). It consists of a small ball of soil covered with organic material such as mosses, grass and flowers, which are mixed and arranged to form a hanging garden. Opusstudio.co.za SIT BACK AND RELAX Blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors with Woodenways’ Taste by 4 Seasons patio furniture. The Rimini Relax chair is ideal for stealing some me-time, while the Vincenza 2.5-seater bench is a must-have for entertaining friends. Make the most of your winter patio by adding a few cosy throws and adding an outdoor heater. Woodenways.co.za COLOUR ME PRETTY Add some winter colour to your borders with the all-new…

Large windows and skylights allow the home to enjoy plenty of sunshine, which also means the home gets that much-needed natural warmth A lot of energy is used in keeping the home warm in winter and cool in summer – data suggests 54% of the total energy bill in most homes can be attributed to this. As the winter chills are upon us, it is good to know that there are various avenues that can be explored to keep the home warm the eco way. Good insulation in the home will go a long way towards lowering energy costs. A home that is not well insulated can lose as much as 40% of its heat through the roof and ceiling, and a further 35% through the walls and floors. North-facing…

Look for household appliances that have low water and electricity consumption 1 CHANGE YOUR LIGHTING Switch your traditional incandescent bulbs to CFL or LED lighting to reduce your demand on energy resources. These lights are low in energy consumption and are long-lasting, limiting their space in landfills. Other ways to save on electricity with lighting is to use dimmer switches, incorporate a timer, particularly for exterior fittings, install occupancy sensors and consider solar lighting in areas such as the garden. 2 UNPLUG DEVICES Most electronic devices still draw electricity even when they are turned off. Simply unplug them when they are not in use, which saves energy and money. 3 CHOOSE ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES Look for household appliances that have low water and electricity consumption. For washing machines, this can be…

Fourteen readers will each win a product hamper, valued at R1 948. A hamper will include: • UltraVine rich collagen cream, worth R652 • UltraVine pro-firming serum, worth R581 • Face relaxant ampoules, worth R715 TheraVine fuses antioxidants derived from grape cultivars with active ingredients at the highest percentages resulting in specially-crafted, extrasensory products that will exceed your expectations in a health and skincare range. The UltraVine rich collagen cream, pro-firming serum and face relaxant ampoules will optimise the natural repair processes in your skin and keep collagen structures supported, thereby providing an efficient treatment solution for both young and mature skins. Combining these three power products will give your skin the boost it needs and will ensure a sustained radiating complexion, dramatically improving your skin’s firmness and elasticity whilst…

DISTINCTIVE GARDENS OFFERS ADVICE ON HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR GARDEN DURING WINTER: • Keeping garden covers handy would be wise this time of year, as the first winter frost can be expected to fall, and water your gardens in the morning to allow foliage to dry before nightfall. • If you have Iceland poppies, pansies and violas in your garden, try to water them during the day in areas that experience frost, and feed them liquid fertiliser twice a month to keep up performance. • This month, pruning of fruit trees is important. When pruning, you not only shape the tree for the summer months to come, but at the same time you are removing dead branches that may cause pest infestation. • When pruning your fruit tree, ensure…

It’s great to see that sustainability is being factored into all areas of the home, including flooring. In recent times we have seen the progress many flooring companies are making in investing in cleaner manufacturing initiatives, such as sourcing environmentally-friendly and recycled raw materials. The trend that sees a return to more natural products is also evident in the replication of wood patterns and grains on other materials such as porcelain tiles, laminate flooring and vinyl. As Bernd de Smedt of Van Dyck notes: “Thanks to technology, carpets, laminates, luxury vinyl tiles and even artificial grass are becoming more environmentally friendly as new developments in yarns and fibres, and the increased use of recycled content are taking over.” SOME IDEAS Here are some options for flooring that have less of…

SAVE THE DATE: 1 - 5 JUNE Kamers returns to Cape Town, at the Castle of Good Hope from 1 to 5 June. As a retail platform for South Africa’s creative “makers”, it offers the opportunity to shop for innovative craft, design and food. Look out for the Young Entrepreneurs, young, local talents who have been given a kickstart at the show. Kamersvol.com CHILD STARS Dovetail, a new studio based in Johannesburg, creates furniture and decor accessories especially for kids. Mums Shelley James and Rochelle Derksen, both architects, founded the business after they felt there was a gap in the market for playful, well-designed children’s furniture, which was affordable at the same time. The products, mostly made of wood, by hand, are simple, yet fun, and remain suitable as kids…