Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2017 i South African Home Owner

THE TREND STARTED SOME YEARS BACK, TO OFFER A QUICK WAY TO CONSTRUCT BUILDINGS IN RURAL AREAS THAT NEEDED THINGS SUCH AS CLINICS, SHOPS AND EVEN PLAYSCHOOLS. With the constantly rising costs of building brick-and-mortar homes, people are continually looking for better-priced alternatives that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. We have seen the rise and fall of timber structures, as well as prefabricated options, with neither becoming a great commercial success. What is becoming a growing trend in South Africa, however, is the experimentation with transforming shipping containers into contemporary living spaces. The trend started some years back, to offer a quick way to construct buildings in rural areas that needed things such as clinics, shops and even playschools. Architects started catching on to what could be achieved through…

THE CREATIVE STONE COMPANY 011 794 9737 The Creative Stone Company was consulted to provide solutions for the exterior design elements of this home, including the entrance area, the driveway and cladding elements, as well as the outdoor entertainment areas and firepit retreat. The collaboration between the company’s design team and the home owners resulted in a synergy of texture and details that enhance this stylish property. From humble beginnings on a field in 1998, The Creative Stone Company has evolved into a company of substance and stature in the simulated stone industry. With the development of many additional ranges, it has matured into a company comprising 60 000m 2  of developed property, including indoor and outdoor showroom areas and three factories, with a fourth in development. Its products…

With so many different activities taking place in the kitchen, creating the perfect combination of lighting to cater for each unique requirement requires proper planning. Says Eben Kruger of Eurolux: “As one of the most functional spaces in the home, you want to ensure the kitchen is sufficiently lit. The effectiveness of the lighting is the main concern, with the choice of fitting – be that a central fitting, track lighting or downlighters – being largely determined by the shape and size of the space.” But, with so many lighting options to choose from, how do you go about determining this? “There are various forms of essential lighting, and the first to begin with is task lighting, ensuring that all the major zones in the kitchen are catered for,” recommends…

Channelling the design aesthetics of celebrated Italian architect and designer Antonio Citterio, the Geberit Citterio bathroom collection offers organic shapes and timeless quality. www.geberit.co.za Keep your bathroom warm, bright and steam-free this winter with a three-in-one heater/light/extractor fan from The Lighting Warehouse. www.lightingwarehouse.co.za You’ll want to linger a little longer in the bathroom with WOMAG’s latest range of polished and matte textured marble slabs. www.womag.co.za Infusing minimalism with warmth is no easy feat, but that’s exactly what Danish designer Cecilie Manz has accomplished with her Duravit Luv range. www.duravit.co.za Soft to the touch and innovative too, the latest range of quick-drying towels from @home is designed to retain less water, meaning they’ll stay fresher for longer. www.home.co.za…

“By bringing the outdoors in or vice versa, you don’t have to compromise on beauty in the hopes of being functional.” There was a time when having the living room of your dreams meant waiting until the last of the brood had left the nest, or creating an entirely separate space off-limits to anyone under the age of 35. Practicality and style were never really friends. Thanks to recent innovations in fabric and flooring technology, creating and maintaining a living room that is as fabulous as it is functional has never been easier – with none of those protective plastic covers required. “The popularity of transitional living spaces has encouraged home owners to create a complementary design both indoors and out. This surge encourages us at Sunbrella to educate on…

Products combine ingredients such as mango butter, avocado butter, cacao butter, marshmallow root, shea oil and essential oils BETTER HAIRCARE When it comes to natural, proudly African haircare products, look no further than Suki Suki Naturals. This 100% natural and free-of-artificial-ingredients range celebrates Africa’s rich heritage and plant life with products that combine ingredients such as mango butter, avocado butter, cacao butter, marshmallow root, shea oil and essential oils, to leave hair soft, shiny and incredibly strong. www.sukisukinaturals.co.za STYLE AND FUNCTION The Bern Briefcase is a statement as much in style and function as in attitude. Dark Horse’s modern take on the classic briefcase, it boasts strong exterior lines, multiple pockets and a custom-lining padded compartment for your electronic valuables. This is a must-have for the urban traveller who is…

If you are passionate and have determination, you can achieve anything you want. KERRY DE BRUYN PHOTOGRAPHER Kerry de Bruyn is a travel photographer working mainly in east and southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, capturing the beauty of her surrounds. Her artwork is to be found in a number of hotels and homes, transporting the viewer to a dusty village road in Zanzibar or the plains of the Serengeti. African artwork is my creative outlet. I wanted to make my artwork easy to view and buy, and, of course, available to people at an affordable price, so I decided to make an online store that gets updated regularly whenever I am back from a shoot or whenever inspiration strikes. My photography is inspired by travel, mostly. My aim…

ECO INTERIORS 021 300 0418 Eco Interiors supplied and installed the artificial grass. Ideal for a busy family, the lawn is easily maintained and is all about convenience. Without the need for watering, mowing or fertilising, it’s a money and time-saver. The product is also pet and eco-friendly, and it’s great for kids. There is a strong sense of community in the estate, and the children have total freedom to play with other children. Upstairs, the bedrooms and bathrooms are all in keeping with the neutral, relaxed palette. Having relocated from a quaint seaside town, this family of four chose something completely different: an estate among the Cape Winelands. “We moved here as my husband works in the area, and we wanted an open feel,” the home owner says. The…

blu_line, specialist kitchen architects, offer locally designed and manufactured kitchens. The company focuses on meeting the functional demands of modern living, while shaping an authentic interpretation of the living space. www.blu-line.co.za Lorenzetti’s Versatil Heater gives you instant hot water. It connects to your existing fittings and will save you 20% – 50% on water and electrical usage. www.dzines.co.za Miele has partnered with Nespresso and with illy coffee to bring its clients the best and most exquisite coffee available today. www.miele.co.za Add warmth to your open-plan kitchen and dining spaces with the genuine plantation-grown hardwood pieces in Rochester’s Bexley. www.rochester.co.za Made to AGA’s exacting standards, this collection of stainless steel cookware holds the promise of creating the perfect dish every time thanks to a heavy thermal base and flat lids for…

Your home is an expression of yourself, so fill it with objects that you love, and that represent your style and personality. “When we hang a painting, it doesn’t just enhance the appearance of the environment; it brings life and dimension to a space,” says Italian artist Francesca Gnagnarella. “It says something about you and makes the space more interesting for a family.” Although the first things that usually come to mind when you think about art might be paintings, drawings or sculpture, there are no limits when it comes to self-expression. Frame your child’s drawings or collect and display different-shaped bottles. But whatever you choose, choose wisely... “Art is such a personal choice, and once it’s in your home, you will look at it every day, so you have…

Man caves became popular because, more often than not, it was the women who were in charge of decorating and running a household, and men wanted their own space. They were typically characterised as havens for stereotypically masculine activities. Nowadays, however, women also have their own personalised spaces, called she-sheds, which can take many different shapes and forms. Ivan Potter, managing director of iLED Holdings, says a man-cave provides a personal space that can be decorated to a man’s liking. “It’s a separate space that can be used, then closed after a session, with no mess in the house. He adds that no single style defines a man cave. There are many options, and it is up to the individual to choose something that reflects their personality, their aspirations and…

Having children in this day and age is expensive as it is, and creating a bedroom for children can prove to be an even costlier affair if you do not make it adaptable for the growth of the child. The first mistake many parents make is to run out and buy an affordable cot that can be used from the moment the newborn is brought home. What many tend to forget is that this will last them only up to the age of one, or at a push two, when they will be needing a proper bed. Many companies are producing cots with built-in compactums that can easily be transformed into other configurations, including a full-sized single bed with storage and, in some cases, even a toy box. The downside…

French-inspired minimalist design, exquisitely crafted from the finest materials, makes for exceptional performance and durability in the latest kitchen mixer range. This is exactly what you’ve come to expect from Bijiou. www.bijiou.co.za With the capability to prepare almost 20 types of beverages, Miele’s countertop CM7 range has a little something for everyone. The CM7500 model even descales automatically. www.miele.co.za Whether you choose the full polypropylene body for outdoor use or go for the beechwood legs for indoors, you’ll be sitting pretty in Chair Crazy’s new range of bucket chairs. www.chaircrazy.co.za Made from composite fibreglass, the Ola Suspended Lamp by Karboxx emits an opulent filtered light. And the minimalist design makes it an ideal fit for contemporary kitchens. www.euronouveau.co.za There’s no better time than mid-winter to inject a bit of colour…

Having the luxury of being spoilt for choice when it comes to pairing tiles or finishes with the right hardware may not be the worst problem in the world, but knowing where (and how) to start makes all the difference. We’ve rounded up those in the know to give us the ultimate dos and don’ts when it comes to marrying the perfect fixtures and bathroom finishes. “YOUR BATHROOM IS ULTIMATELY YOUR PERSONAL SANCTUARY.” GO WITH YOUR GUT “We all want our home to make a statement and to reflect our individual, internal quirkiness,” says Gina Walsh, marketing manager at Tiletoria. “Even though the reigning trend has centred around streamlining the look of our homes and maintaining neutral, matching colours, a rising trend within home design is to include aspects that…

HOW DO YOU PREVENT DOGS FROM BEING DESTRUCTIVE IN THE GARDEN? Some dogs are diggers – they dig to bury bones, to get under a fence, or just because they love digging! In the process, they tend to uproot plants and damage lawn. The problem is not easy to prevent, but there are a few ways to discourage the habit. Creative hedging using bamboo poles, or a living hedge made with willows, can be a protective boundary around areas you want to keep dog-free. Growing thorny edging plants along a boundary fence should ward off under-fence digging. Most dogs love the smell of bone meal and will dig up your newly planted shrubs to find it. The only solution is to substitute bone meal with a slow-release organic fertiliser. Epsom…

“If the screen is too small, the kids lose interest, too big and the whole experience may become overwhelming.” “Make sure there is enough space per child, as if they are restricted, it will lead to fidgeting and arguing.” Children today are digital natives – born into an age of digital technology, comfortable and acquainted with computers and the Internet. You can’t get away from it, so parents are setting out to ensure that their kids’ playrooms are as pleasurable as possible for a technologically savvy world. So, what are the latest essentials? Eugene Oosthuizen from HFX advises: “In terms of design specification, installation and calibration, all the basics need to be adhered to. Start with the seating, both in terms of how many and what type, then the visual…

ENTER & WIN! Stand a chance to win a luxurious overnight stay for two at the five-star Tintswalo at Waterfall, valued at R5 830. www.tintswalo.com/waterfall PANTRY PERFECTION 10 top tips for organising your pantry. SPANISH SENSIBILITY The clients of this 1950s building in Madrid wanted to create a home that also acted as an art gallery for their treasured collection. Design studio Lucas Y Hernández took on the task. GET THE GREEN LIGHT Imbue your home with the fresh, modern look of green. We show you how. GREEN FINGERS Are you an avid gardener? You’ll want to get your hands on these funky new gardening tools. GET IN TOUCH! @SAHomeOwner…

Those lucky enough to have one will know that few things can warm up a home as efficiently as a fireplace. Not only is it a beautiful feature that increases the value of your home, it also brings people together, creating the perfect ambience for socialising in winter. But one often takes for granted the safety precautions that come with having and using a fireplace. Charles Scott, founder and MD of Beauty Fires, says it’s important to remember that any fire, whether gas, wood or bioethanol, needs to be treated with caution. The safety measures, he says, should start prior to installation, by selecting the right type of fireplace for the location. “For example, you wouldn’t put an open wood fire next to curtains,” he says. “Then, people need to…