Home February 2022

This issue is put together at the end of December, and the final Monday of last year got off to a bad start. My cellphone disappeared. It was definitely lying next to my bed when my alarm clock went off early that morning, but by eight o’clock it was nowhere to be found. And I had yet to set foot out of the house. As always, the phone’s sound was off because I’d had enough of the constant ping-ping-pinging. I searched high and low, but to no avail. I even looked in the fridge, and checked the shelf in the shower. Maybe I was still half asleep and had the phone in my hand when I turned on the tap? Early that morning, I’d put on a load of washing as it was also…

WINNING LETTER Your home is your muse Thabitha Maphalle of Roodepoort writes I’m a first-time homeowner and the idea of having to decorate and make my apartment my own was daunting until I found your magazine on the shelf at my local supermarket. This is a gratitude letter; thank you for your continuous excellence in striving to ensure that individuals such as myself are inspired by different homes, décor and designs. This has made my journey so much easier. It’s amazing to see all the information put together in such a great way. We’re living in a new era, given the pandemic and protocols. The magazine has ensured that while adapting to new times, one can still afford to spoil oneself and dream. The magazine is value for money, given all the inspirational content.…

Open and closed Artist Vicky Zigras lives in a studio apartment just a short walk from the Sea Point promenade in Cape town. “The studio is tiny – a mere 36m² – but it’s an L-shape which meant that I could easily separate the bedroom area from the living space,” says Vicky. “My sister Nikki, an interior designer, suggested that we do this by building a ‘wall’ of cabinetry which would create a display area for all my plants and ornaments and allow me to store, and conceal, more utilitarian items behind the cupboard doors along the bottom. And all this without taking up a lot of floor space!” The double, soft-close pocket doors allow plenty of light into the rest of the studio when they’re open, but when they’re shut, the bedroom…

CREATE, INNOVATE! WHO Henriette Fröhlich WHERE Centurion, Gauteng BUSINESS HF Design HER WORK HF Design creates simple, flexible, locally manufactured children’s workspace products for the next generation of home-schoolers and online learners. The modular systems can adapt to the needs of children as they grow. “Our Enzokuhle children’s desk (R1 950) and bench (R890) can be adjusted to three different heights, starting at pre-school level up to high school,” explains Henriette. The Enzokuhle workspace collection is also modular, so it evolves to suit your circumstances, while protecting the environment and your pocket. Transparent storage boxes (15L) with clip-closing lids fit perfectly under the desk and can be removed and replaced as needed. Clever! Visit hfdesign.co.za and follow them on Instagram and Facebook @hfdesign.workspace. BE BOLD Spoil your sofa with a pop of colour from the…

HOMEOWNERS Pierre Antoine and Francois Nel WHERE Riebeek-Kasteel, Swartland SIZE 200m² When visiting Riebeek-Kasteel a few years ago, Pierre Antoine, who lives in Cape Town, came across what he calls “an ugly duckling”. “We’d been looking for a place in the country for many years,” recalls Pierre. “But the problem with a lot of country towns in the Cape is that they’ve either become too touristy or far too upmarket. Riebeek-Kasteel is the exception. It’s also close to Cape Town and the airport, it has great food, excellent wines and olive oils and the valley is spectacular.” Originally the stables and barn of the neighbouring wine farm, the house had been given a cosmetic update. “Initially, we rented it out, but it was vandalised while it was unoccupied. Last year, we decided to ‘bite…

Architect Bertie Schreuder shares the following tips for small spaces: • Keep the colours and finishes simple and to a minimum; too many can create visual clutter. • Ensure that each room has only one focal point and keep the layout simple. • Lighting is essential to create atmosphere and interest in small spaces. Make use of different sources such as table lamps, spotlights and pendants. • Open rooms to the outside with glazed doors or tall windows with low sill heights where possible. CONTACT 082 898 8074, bertie@schreudersquared.co.za…