Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2015 i South African Home Owner

We all love a bit of luxury in our lives – so SA Home Owner brings you the Luxury Issue, which is aimed at bringing you the inspiration you need to make your home indulgent, beautiful and luxurious. From the "breakaway kitchen", which includes the outdoor kitchen, tea/coffee corners, and pyjama-lounge kitchen; to exploring country estates and urban apartments which, although diverse, each have their own elements of luxury – this issue has everything you need to relax in style at home. Plus, this issue presents our annual A – Z Luxury Living Guide, with products that add a little something extra to your home. I hope you enjoy the November issue!…

With only eight months under their belt, this family is still in the honeymoon phase of enjoying their new home. Situated inland, approximately 40km from Durban, the house enjoys uninterrupted views from its elevated position within a gated estate. Initially not convinced about estate living, the family now embraces the freedom it provides, allowing the children to experience growing up as their parents did. Looking for a home that was child and pet-friendly, the owners were instrumental in the design process. Careful not to capture a cold, soulless feel that can sometimes be experienced in large, new homes, a warm and homely ambience was woven into the architecture by way of rich earth tones and natural materials. “I chose to decorate the house myself, as I have a passion for…

Building a home from foundation to finish requires vision, passion and patience. This home owner and his team tirelessly oversaw the construction of this home, from the early sketches to the final product, to create a modern, easy-living and spacious home with a sophisticated look. From the outside, a passer-by’s eye is caught by the home’s contemporary design – a neutral palette on the walls is interrupted by the first floor’s sheer glass facade. Acute angles incorporated into the home’s floor and ceiling give the building an exciting shape, making it interesting to look at, while maintaining a sophisticated quality. The home’s interior is tastefully decked and furnished in medium, light and white finished woods, with darker wood used to accent particular rooms or features. The stainless-steel staircase and landing…

Having lived overseas, this family returned to South Africa and to what was their holiday home in a picturesque equestrian estate in Hillcrest, inland from Durban. While abroad, where living space is limited, the owners embarked on a major renovation of their KwaZulu-Natal property, which saw this house more than double in size. Every room is generous in proportions. The deliberately large amount of glazing allows natural light to find its way in, accentuating the feeling of space. The feature staircase, with its subtle sweep, is adorned with oversized pendants that immediately warm the cooler elements, such as the screed floors. A distinct global influence is felt in the main and guest bedrooms, where expertly coordinated furnishings give off a polished, chic hotel flavour. The duck-egg-grey cork wallpaper behind the…

This flora side table is ideal for your bathing essentials, and can be carried in and out of the bathroom. Womag.co.za Soak up the ambience with this scented mist candle, housed in a beautifully etched glass holder. Woolworths.co.za A hanging Hoya carnosa will complete the natural look, and it’s easy to maintain. Opusstudio.co.za For a sensory escape, pamper your skin with a Crabtree and Evelyn Caribbean Island Wild Flowers body cream. Crabtree-evelyn.co.za This portable Bluetooth speaker from Bang and Olufsen can be hung up with your clothes to allow you to enjoy soothing sounds while taking a bath. Bang-olufsen.com…

With the holiday season around the corner, why not indulge in some table settings that will see you through the season and beyond? Layer prints and fabrics for a luxe look. Skinnylaminx.com Think beyond flat surfaces and upholstery when adding texture to your interior scheme. These crochet bottle covers add some fun and interest to any setting. Heartworks.co.za The Scandinavia-inspired Ella in sage green adds a pop of colour to neutral rooms and blends beautifully with modern interiors. Sofacompany.com Lux Panama scatter cushions bring luxury home with high-end fabrics such as velvet and cotton, as well as a large 60cm x 60cm size. Shop.handmadebyme.co.za Screen fabrics are the perfect complement to any interior decor. The simple, yet beautiful weaves add a rich, subtle texture, and the heat and glare of…

HOT POTS Local designer Gregor Jenkin created these Shaker-inspired Hancock planters, hand-crafted from steel, for Indigenus. Indigenus.co.za Made of fibreglass, the BubbleX planters can be painted in a variety of colours or finished in cement or mosaic. Obbligato.co.za The Toggle collection of planters is available in a variety of colours. These are in duck-egg blue. Pret-a-pot.com For windowsill gardens, the range of herb planters from Le Creuset makes a bright addition to the kitchen. Lecreuset.co.za TAKE THE KIDS… To Honeydew Mazes in Johannesburg. The main attraction is a giant maze, either made of reeds (June to December) or mielies (February to May), in which there are secret gardens and a quiz trail to solve. There is also a range of other activities, and refreshments on sale. Honeydewmazes.co.za NOVEMBER GARDEN TIPS…

A IS FOR ART IT IS Aiming to go beyond the norm and break the boundaries surrounding the idea of what a gallery is, Art It Is creates a platform for budding artists to showcase their work, in essence opening up a whole new channel through which art can be viewed, experienced and purchased. Contact: 011 447 9176, jandre@wnw.co.za, www.artitis.co.za B IS FOR BRAAI A South African favourite, braais make summer entertaining more enjoyable. The Chad-O-Chef stainless-steel gas braai is a sleek asset to anyone’s entertainment area. With multiple “hot-rock” burners of varying heat zones, this braai allows you to cook at different speeds simultaneously. Plus, with various accessories, you are able to customise your braai as desired. Contact: 011 794 3570, retail@chad-o-chef.co.za, www.chad-o-chef.co.za C IS FOR CALORE A glowing…

GINA WALDMAN -  BALKIND New to the SA Home Owner team, Gina has the fun job of selecting beautiful homes to be featured in the magazine. THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU: Creative, inspired and… busy. MY HOME IS... in progress. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ULTIMATE LUXURY? A bed with goose-down pillows, duvets with super-soft linen. WHAT’S YOUR DECOR STYLE? I am a collector of beautiful things that mesh together to create a quirky, eclectic mix. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ROOM IN YOUR HOME? My bedroom. It has a beautiful view of a jacaranda tree. A QUOTE I LIVE BY: ”What we think… we become.” A SEASIDE RETREAT OR A NEW YORK - STYLE PENTHOUSE? A seaside retreat. CHRIS ALLAN The man behind the camera, Chris describes himself as a beach-town…

“Minimal” is how the owner of this house, located in the south of Johannesburg, describes the style of her home. “We loved the clean look of modern interiors, which is clutter free, and stress free,” she says. “And it makes cleaning a lot easier, with two young kids running around!” Keeping to an ethos of simplicity, the interior is streamlined, but still inviting. “We included vividly coloured decorative objects and wood to add cheerfulness to the space,” she explains. Yellow gives zing to the kitchen’s neutral palette, and is continued in accents in the entertaining areas. Along with the energy and joy with which it is associated, it was chosen by the home owner in memory of her dad, who passed away during the building of the house, as it…

When a two-year search for their dream home yielded no results, these home owners decided that building was the way to go. But when they eventually found the home they could turn into what they wanted, in the perfect location – an estate in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg – they had no idea the project would turn into a full-time job. The estate rules added an interesting dimension to their plan. “We had 10 months to build or we would be charged a hefty penalty,” the home owner says. With the time constraints being so great, it was pivotal for the owners to be very involved throughout the process. “We had a plan regarding the home we wanted, and that changed quite a bit as we were in constant…

Owner of high-end retail flooring company John Dore Flooring, Carol Drepaniotis prides herself on her dedicated hands-on approach and attention to detail. “I have always had a keen interest in interior design, and John Dore allows me to apply my knowledge to provide clients with the appropriate service and advice when choosing flooring,” she says. The family-run business was started by Carol and her husband, Theodore, who worked together to build a company where every project is a masterpiece, not just another installation. “We managed to balance three children and the business for many years, which provided us with incredible insight into life and how important it is to have passion for what you do.” Tragically, Carol’s husband passed away when their children were young, and this further ignited her…

The winner will stay in a De-Luxe Suite, which comes with either twin beds and a shower or a double bed with a bathtub. With a choice of a trip from either Pretoria to Cape Town or vice versa, the winner’s journey is inclusive of all meals, snacks and drinks, an off-train excursion and a personal butler will be at hand to make the 27-hour trip a memorable one. The majestic Blue Train is the ultimate in luxury rail travel. For more information on The Blue Train, call 012 334 8459 or visit Bluetrain.co.za To enter, simply SMS BLUETRAIN followed by your full name, email address and physical address to the number 41892. SMS cost R1,50. Errors are billed; free SMSs do not apply. Terms and conditions apply.…

Every entertainer needs a great home bar. Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, the home bar is the hub of home entertaining – and it’s as much a feature of design as the rest of the home. Contemporary design, and natural elements such as timber and concrete are gaining popularity for home bars. As Bianca Ungerer of Marlanteak notes, the emphasis is on comfort and style when it comes to the choice of furniture in this space. With home owners increasingly embracing the outdoors, outdoor bars have come into their own. But if you would like the best of both, an indoor home bar with easy access to the outdoors, through stacking doors, will marry the two. As with anything in the home, the function of the space needs to be…

With property prices and interest rates rising, and living expenses at an all-time high, getting onto the property ladder is near impossible for most people. This is why many choose to undertake a self-build, or renovation, to increase the value of their property. This is not to say it comes cheap. Very few people have the capital available to fund a build or renovation, so a bank or bond originator company would provide a loan based on an assessment of the affordability of the household income. A bond, or borrowing on an existing bond with a good interest rate, would be the best way to obtain capital, so shop around for the best interest rate and terms – even from banks other than your current bank. There would be a…

Defining luxury can lead to beautiful thoughts of endless days on an exotic beach in the Maldives, or walking out onto a balcony from a penthouse apartment on the Atlantic seaboard. However you wish to define it, luxury living is all about being in a state of great comfort. HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO INCORPORATE LUXURY ELEMENTS INTO YOUR HOME: REFINED RUGS Not only do rugs add warmth and create an inviting space, they provide character. Whether they have a detailed design with authentic patterns or are hand knotted from a luxury fibre such as bamboo silk, like this graphite rug from The Rug Company, rugs also have the role of anchoring a room and providing definition. LIGHT UP One of the simplest ways to glam up any space…

From the exterior, this estate home is picturesque and bold. Striking in its uncomplicated design, the home is visually unobtrusive and exhibits a classical character, beautifully showcased in the top floor’s chocolate-box framed windows. In keeping with this motif and the surrounding natural expanse of the estate, the back of the house is equally as enticing. The lawn hugs the patio and pool, which adds texture to the garden with creative paving. Hands-on during the design, construction and finishing phases of the house, the home owner moved away from the classical theme of the exterior and opted for a modern, chic design in the interior. Pale tiles, neutral-coloured walls and light timber flooring offer a canvas for quirky accents, and stylish decor and furniture. Each room in the home is…

Your bedroom is one of the most important rooms in your home: the place you escape to at the end of a long day; your haven and place of rest. And having the right colour in this space, with a beautiful texture and finish, is vital to create the right mood for relaxation. That is why the home owners of this space chose Plascon Double Velvet for its luxurious, durable and easy-to-maintain qualities. With a 15-year quality guarantee, Plascon Double Velvet offers a velvet sheen finish for an indulgent effect, and is stain resistant and washable, too. This interior wall coating is also low odour, and due to a Breatheasy formula, it makes it suitable for bedrooms, and allows you to paint and move into the room the same night.…

With the summer season in full swing, many of us will be chasing the sun. What better way to allow the sanctuary of the home to embrace the great outdoors than by allowing both worlds to meet? The outdoor bath or shower makes a luxe and indulgent addition to the home. When creating an outdoor bathroom, getting the materials and finishes right is what will make the space effective. In terms of the layout, always consider an outdoor bathroom that can be accessed from the bedroom and leads out into a private garden. Your home’s current plumbing plan will also dictate where the outdoor shower or bath can be positioned, so a great deal of planning and scrutiny is needed when considering this option. The sanitaryware should be rust-resistant, while…

Little Luxury is one of South Africa’s leading home water filtration companies. On par with global standards, a Little Luxury walter filtration system should be in every concerned family’s household. With Little Luxury, it is not only easy, but also affordable. There is a wide range of filters to choose from, and there can be easily installed onto taps. With Little Luxury, you don’t need to have bottled water delivered to your house, as it is expensive and not environmentally friendly due to the truck emissions. The Little Luxury filters will give you water that is as safe and tastes great. The full range is available at Dis-chem and Checkers Hyper, and a limited range is available at Makro and selected Game stores. PRIZES INCLUDE: First prize: Five home water…