home Archives | Visi https://visi.co.za/tag/home/ SA's most beautiful magazine Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:47:57 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://visi.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-ICO-32x32-Black-1-1-32x32.png home Archives | Visi https://visi.co.za/tag/home/ 32 32 Los Angeles Home https://visi.co.za/los-angeles-home/ Wed, 06 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=627575 A moody palette and exaggerated use of materials create drama in the self-designed clifftop home of two Los Angeles architects. Innovative artworks inspired by music complete the look.

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WORDS Martin Jacobs PHOTOS Jo Fletcher & Dan Arnold


A moody palette and exaggerated use of materials create drama in the self-designed clifftop home of two Los Angeles architects. Innovative artworks inspired by music complete the look.

“No homes. Just trees, landscape and wildlife with hundreds of bird species, including hummingbirds and hawks that guard over the ridge” is how architect Chris McCullough describes the view from the “back yard” of the home he shares with partner and architect Peggy Hsu. When asked what the primary inspiration for their striking new build was, the Los Angeles couple are quick to answer: the plot of land itself. “Our property frames an uninterrupted view of Fossil Ridge Park, a protected parkland that can never be developed.” Perched hillside above Sherman Oaks on the northern side of the Santa Monica Mountains, the palaeontological park is bordered by a community that dates back to the 1960s. “Many of the homes along the ridge were developed in the early ’60s, when the 405 freeway was first built,” explain the principal architects of Hsu McCullough. “They’re mostly Mid-century Modern, ranch-style, single-storey homes.”

It was in an equally dated house on their newly purchased plot that the couple took the time to fine-tune the design of what was to become their future home. “We lived in the former house on the property for more than two years, mapping the natural light and wind movement throughout the year and tweaking our design,” explains Peggy.

Los Angeles Home
“The site begged for a second-floor perch to read and relax with fantastic views,” says Peggy of the home’s upper level, which includes the master suite.

The Modernist vernacular that characterises their neighbourhood (low-slung rectilinear structures with walls of glass and seamless indoor-outdoor flow) served as inspiration. “We are students and fans of Los Angeles’s rich residential history,” Peggy says, pointing out the living-room fireplace, all that remains of the former structure and a nod to a bygone architectural era. “But we also drew influence from modern Brazilian homes, as well as a visit to Mexico City during early construction.” The latter provided material inspiration for the couple’s considered continuation of unusual surfaces from the outdoors in. “Because the home emerges from the ridge, there was a conscious effort to select darker earth tones for the exterior materials,” says Chris. “We wanted several of these to cross thresholds.”

One such material is an irregular-shaped slate flagstone, used as flooring on the entertainment level. Alongside it, equally interesting surfaces are used to similarly moody effect. A charcoal stucco exterior wall treatment is repeated on selected interior walls and ceilings, and a seeded stucco treatment extends into the entrance and dining area. “The reclaimed, painted wood cladding that wraps the street-side facade and continues into the entrance also folds into the kitchen, hiding the pantry,” explains Chris.

The darkness of the material palette is intentional;the couple view it as an exploration of architectural chiaroscuro. “Darker interiors can have a cosiness in a location such as Los Angeles, where available natural light is sometimes just too intense, overexposing material colours,” says Peggy.

If texture and colour were key to the design of the architects’ home, so too was music. “We collect and listen to a wide range of music, and have nearly 10 000 records,” explains Chris. “Our kitchen is heavily used, and when we cook, we play records. So, a cosy kitchen with a seamless flow into living spaces – all with great acoustics and views of the ridge – was important to us.” The couple’s passion for music is unmissable. A steel-and-black-walnut shelving system that’s home to their record collection is a feature of the living room, while numerous artworks created by Chris hang on the home’s walls. Inspired by the music he listens to, these were assembled from obsolete media formats, and include a pixellated portrait of The Notorious B.I.G in the dining space that was created from compact discs.

Furniture, too, offsets the dark interior. The architects paired the moody material palette with bold pieces. “We wanted to contrast sharp interior angles with bulbous, curvy and colourful furniture,” says Peggy. “The first piece we purchased was the pink sofa; we also gathered and commissioned pieces, or made them ourselves,” she adds, referencing a log bench and brass dining table the couple designed. The duo’s creativity is visibly multifaceted, and their home is its perfect showcase. “We hope that our house inspires future clients to embrace the use of materials in an equally creative manner.”


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Steenberg Home https://visi.co.za/steenberg-home-chris-van-niekerk/ Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=617118 A bold, sculptural holiday home on the slopes of the Steenberg mountains in Cape town is designed to frame a transformative experience of place.

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WORDS Graham Wood PHOTOS Greg Cox/ Bureaux PRODUCTION Sven Alberding


A bold, sculptural holiday home on the slopes of the Steenberg mountains in Cape town is designed to frame a transformative experience of place.

There are houses in beautiful settings that try to disappear into the landscape. Others like to perch on a prominent spot and lord over all they survey. This one – a holiday home on a big semi-rural plot on the side of the Steenberg mountains in Cape Town – does neither. Its weighty walls and solid masses seem to emerge from the ground and assert themselves unapologetically on the mountainside, yet the indigenous gardens around its edges blend with the natural fynbos, so it looks as if it is being reclaimed by nature. It is undeniably there, but somehow doesn’t seem like an imposition.

Parts of it form big, monolithic blocks, and others are almost pavilion-like – glass-sided, so you can see all the way through the house from one end to the other – but even they have heavy-looking roofs. An oversailing canopy seems to rest on one section but float above another, overlapping. In many ways, the house has no obvious “face”. It twists around, without a clear front or back. It’s a house that, from the moment you see it, prompts questions. Why does it have those angles? Why doesn’t the floating roof touch the roof below? Why is it even oversailing? But that’s the point. “It’s a bit of a mystery,” says its architect, Chris van Niekerk. There’s a randomness about the way parts of the house have been assembled, intuitively, “like a child playing with blocks”. It has a pleasing, comfortable composition, but it doesn’t explain itself or seem to comply with any rigid and ordered logic.

This arrangement was loosely inspired by the rocky crest of the mountains behind the house, which has a fragmented, almost geometric quality. “It almost looks like something that could have been built by a person,” says Chris. It was a concept he wanted to connect with – that look of something assembled but not premeditated. You might even say the house meets the landscape halfway, adding a new dimension to your experience of it.

The house appears as a series of blocks and pavilions emerging from the landscape – “half-buried, half-exposed”, says Chris.

The building is arranged in a horseshoe shape, which creates a courtyard with a swimming pool sheltered from the prevailing winds. “The living room is a big pavilion, with a heavy concrete roof,” says Chris. On either side of this central space, which includes the kitchen, are two bedrooms: one with a study alongside it, nestled into the mountain; and the main bedroom on the other side, projecting out where the site slopes downwards. Here, you will find the only section of the house that is double-storey, which adds to the impression that it is emerging from the landscape. You enter from below, following a gravel path to the front door and a staircase. There’s a guest bedroom downstairs, and various services.

Although Chris’s rather open brief asked for a concrete house, in the end he didn’t build it entirely from concrete. He used it just for the roof and columns, but went to great lengths to match the other materials, so the house looks as if it’s a single, unified object. The walls are brick, deliberately roughly laid to create an uneven surface, then covered with a lime mixture to create another finish which, while hard to identify – almost like “a new kind of material”, says Chris – is pretty much the same colour as the roof. The granite on the floors is “exactly the tone of the concrete and the walls”. Even where he designed a stone bathtub and basins, and wall cladding for the shower, Chris found a local sandstone that matched perfectly.

Especially from inside, having solid walls in such a beautiful landscape might seem counterintuitive. The site offers views towards False Bay and, in the other direction, towards Table Mountain, yet some of the rooms deliberately turn away from them. But there’s good reason for that: this kind of architecture concerns itself not with the view, necessarily, but with the experience of the view. “You have to go to a certain place to see the view,” explains Chris – which brings a more considered or concentrated quality to the experience of looking out. “When you want to see outside, you see outside in the most profound way.”

As a holiday home, it goes beyond simply providing respite and a change of scene. It takes you out of the realm of the everyday. It not only “makes” its setting, but also refreshes everyday life. In that sense, it is a bit like a secular spiritual retreat, powerfully connecting its inhabitants, the landscape and a sense of what it is to be alive.

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Swartland Family Home Renovation https://visi.co.za/swartland-family-home-renovation/ Wed, 28 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=613967 An old and neglected farmhouse, originally built in 1882, has been transformed from its current sad state back to its former glory by local design studio Onnah Design.

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WORDS Michaela Stehr PHOTOS Supplied


An old and neglected farmhouse, originally built in 1882, has been transformed from its current sad state back to its former glory by local design studio Onnah Design.

The purpose of the renovation was threefold: To act as a residence for the current farm foreman, to provide a future place of residence for any of the Kitshoff family members, and lastly, to provide a future prospect of being transformed into a functioning boutique guesthouse.

“The designers followed a sympathetic approach to the renovation, keeping intact the main facade front with the original roof, gable, sash windows and doors while having a more modern take on the remainder of the building, with emphasis on a modernised look and feel of the interiors,” explains Onnah owner Hanno de Swardt.

Previously, the house consisted of many dark, impractical rooms (with a few add-on rooms over the years) that were not conducive to the design brief and current modern-day living. The only way forward was to completely reconfigure the entire internal layout – adding open plan living, free-flowing spaces and room for flexibility.

READ MORE: Llandudno Beach House Renovation

The team started by opening up an enclosed kitchen and converting two smaller rooms into one large space, now the spacious laundry and scullery. Two bedrooms to one side of the house were joined and converted into the main bedroom with a generous, luxurious walk-in en suite.

Swartland Family Home Renovation by Onnah Design

The three bedrooms on the opposite end of the house were also reconfigured and now all boast en suite bathrooms, ideal for a guest house. A previous store room and a cold store are now beautiful bathrooms whilst one large room allowed ample space to add a third en suite.

The client was hoping to restore and retain the original wooden floors inside, but sadly, after lifting the carpets, these were found to be completely rotten. A combination of tiled and vinyl flooring proved the most suitable and practical replacement. In retrospect, these design interventions for the flooring turned out to be more in keeping with the desired contemporary interior and contributed positively to the lighter and brighter look and feel of the space.

READ MORE: Lazari Coffee Shop Redesign by Onnah Design

Original dark wooden ceilings were painted white, combined with new warm white coloured walls and light grey joinery transforming rooms into havens of light, bright calmness. In addition, larger windows were introduced to celebrate stunning views over the expansive countryside, allowing in much-needed natural light simultaneously. Strategically positioned downlights further enhance the required light levels inside all the rooms.

To accomplish the desired open plan concept it was necessary to knock down several walls which proved to be quite the challenge. After chipping off the plaster, the builders were confronted with extremely thick stone walls, some as thick as 800mm – an arm’s length! Removing these stones was no easy task for the crew.

And to add ‘oil to fire’, most walls were invaded by rice ants… which resulted in walls having to be demolished and built from scratch. Fortunately, a few stone walls were in good nick. It was decided to keep them raw and exposed, making for very effective, eye-catching interior features.

“As an architect, this made me extremely happy because these walls tell a beautiful, rich story — the story of a farm built in the 1800s. A story of traditional honest building methods with raw material sourced from the land,” explains Hanno. “A story of new beginnings for a farmer and his family once upon a time. A story now, of a beautiful and exciting future for the next generation. And what a huge privilege to be part of this transformation and protection of this important part of the Kitshoff family history and legacy.”

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.

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Host a Restored Sicilian Home with Airbnb https://visi.co.za/host-a-restored-sicilian-home-with-airbnb/ Thu, 20 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=605695 Airbnb has created an opportunity for an applicant to live in a restored Sicilian home in Sambuca absolutely rent-free for a year.

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WORDS Michaela Stehr PHOTOS Claudia Zalla, Davide Mandolini


Airbnb has created an opportunity for an applicant to live in a restored Sicilian home in Sambuca absolutely rent-free for a year.

The Italian heritage home, once in a state of decay, has received a beautiful upgrade, and adventurers are encouraged to apply to host the space. The concept behind the project is to boost tourism and bring temporary residents to the village of Sambuca.

With remote working on the rise, people have the opportunity to live abroad, and Airbnb saw this as the perfect opportunity to encourage people to take the chance to explore the world and lesser-known towns, villages and cities. Applicants needn’t go alone, they are welcome to bring a friend, family or partner to experience this once-in-a-lifetime dream with them.

The three-story heritage home in the heart of Samba – which is known for its “1 Euro House Campaign” – launched in 2018 to highlight the cultural heritage and encourage international investment after a hit by the declining population. The beautiful village is slowly being transformed into a vibrant hub and appealing to a younger market. The home was revived with help from the Italian architectural firm Studio Didea. The colours and textures work with the local village and landscape in a juxtaposition of contemporary and classic designs, showcasing handmade and artisan design elements.

The spacious building spans three floors, with plenty of room to work remotely and Host on Airbnb. The ground floor comprises a small living room, master bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite bathroom. The first floor includes a living room, kitchen, working space, bathroom and mezzanine bedroom with a king-size bed. The upper floor includes an additional living space with a queen-size sofa bed. 

“The beauty of this campaign is that it gives a second chance not just to an abandoned heritage home in the heart of our village – it’s also a second chance to the person who moves into it,” says Leonardo Ciaccio, Mayor of Sambuca di Sicilia. “We see it as a designer makeover for the house and the Host. We’re looking for someone who wants to live with the local population and participate in all the important moments of the community, from the grape harvest to olive picking and we can’t wait to welcome whoever gets selected!”

Candidates should be keen to contribute and host in the village and residency begins on 30th June 2022. the successful candidate will retain all of the earnings from Airbnb hosting.

Looking for more local escapes? Take a look at the Robertson Small Hotel.

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Never Too Small: 7 MCH https://visi.co.za/never-too-small-7-mch/ Thu, 21 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=603284 Transformed by studio bravo, this 5th-floor Parisian apartment – 7 MCH – was transformed to suit its new owners and maximise views of the surrounding cityscape.

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WORDS Michaela Stehr IMAGES Bertrand Noël VIDEO Never Too Small via YouTube


Transformed by studio bravo, this 5th-floor Parisian apartment – 7 MCH – was transformed to suit its new owners and maximise views of the surrounding cityscape.

Two hundred metres from the Opera Garnier, the revolution era building showed a lot of potential. The area is a business district by day and transforms into a cultural hub in the evening celebrating arts, music and food. 

7 MCH
7 MCH
7 MCH

Architect Thomas Pellerin reimagined the dark and cramped space into a light-filled, airy home. Opening up the space was important, and was achieved by relocating the bedroom into the former kitchen, with the bathroom acting as the only central divide.

The bathroom features illuminated glass walls, which allows light to travel throughout the room and into the bedroom. Bold blue paint defines the bedroom from the living areas.

7 MCH
7 MCH
7 MCH

Black and white tiles also help to further define individual spaces without the use of walls, with the bedroom and common areas a soft herringbone wood. “In a city like Paris making small apartments like 7 MCH comfortable, livable spaces will play an important role in ensuring homeownership is accessible into the future,” Never Too Small explains on their site.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Check out this micro apartment in Hong Kong.

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Bloemfontein Home https://visi.co.za/bloemfontein-home/ Wed, 29 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=602327 Philip and Lisa Nel have lived in this compact prefabricated home since 2009 - and by layering a quirky cosiness onto innovative design and construction, they've demonstrated the long-term value of this increasingly popular way to design and build.

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WORDS Robyn Alexander PRODUCTION Sven Alberding IMAGES Warren Heath/Bureaux


Philip and Lisa Nel have lived in this compact prefabricated home since 2009 – and by layering a quirky cosiness onto innovative design and construction, they’ve demonstrated the long-term value of this increasingly popular way to design and build.

Set in a burgeoning grove of indigenous Karee trees on the outskirts of Bloemfontein, Philip and Lisa Nel’s home anticipated the current trend of prefabricated dwellings by a decade. Back in 2009, having just renovated and sold a house, Philip finally took the plunge and built the prefabricated small dwelling he’d had in mind for a while. A piece of property adjacent to his parents’ home on the western edge of the city was the chosen site – and 12 years later, it’s where the couple still live.

prefabricated home in Bloemfontein
The owners take a walk with Raspberry.

Originally just 45m2 in size and manufactured in three sections that fit neatly between two of his beloved karee trees, the design for Philip’s own home became the basis for a design and construction business, Inizio Homes – a company that offers a turnkey solution including design, fabrication, project management and construction. The Nels’ prototype house had garnered local publicity from the start: it was published in ArchSA, the journal of the South African Institute of Architects, in 2009, while Inizio Homes was nominated for VISI’s emerging designer award in 2012.

READ MORE: Contemporary Bloemfontein Home

Every item of furniture and element of decoration in their abode is something specially selected that has been “found, collected, and is very much liked”, says Philip. The couple definitely have an eye for unique vintage furniture, while the large bookshelf – which used to do double duty as a room divider between the living and sleeping spaces – is packed with treasured titles, as well as being home to small artworks and part of a collection of indoor plants.

prefabricated home in Bloemfontein
Lisa and Philip Nel with their two wire-haired terriers, Rusty and Luna, on the outdoor deck that extends the house into the surrounding landscape. The table and benches were designed by Philip.

When Lisa was working on a master’s degree thesis in 2019, and required long periods of privacy and quiet, Philip decided the moment had come to extend the house. The result is a new bedroom and bathroom, completed in early 2020 – “Just before lockdown began, thank goodness,” he says – that adds a further 23m2 to the overall footprint of the home.

READ MORE: Dutch Houseboat

The new section was constructed using similar materials to the original, including the steel frame that forms the basis of all Inizio structures, but also utilising insights from Philip’s experience with his other builds. The result is a delightfully airy space with north-facing clerestory windows that allow just the right level of light and sun into the room, while on the opposite side, sliding glass doors lead out onto the extended outdoor deck. Other key features of the room include the exposed-truss interior roof configuration that Philip has discovered works much better than traditional board ceilings; and a large vintage steel bath, which “we’ve had for five years”, waiting for its ideal setting.

READ MORE: The Huddle on Rosemary Hill Farm

Now, it’s a showpiece, with the artfully rusted exterior kept intact and the interior fully restored. In Philip’s view, in the last 10 years there’s been a change to the “misconception that prefabrication is a less-permanent building solution, or something overly functional and unattractive”. And with Covid-19-related mind-shifts with regards to working remotely already having a clear effect on housing markets and options around the world, it seems many more of us will be thinking about the possibility of living in a new, custom-built house in a small town or peri-urban location – particularly if we can have a closer connection to nature.

All this, of course, makes Lisa and Philip visionary early adopters of the “close to town but out of town” lifestyle trend. Their delightfully cosy home is filled with collected treasures and populated by two very happy humans and their beloved wire-haired terriers – not to mention the pet donkey and rescued teenaged guinea fowl. In fact, rather like the evergreen, frost-hardy and drought-resistant karee trees that surround it, this is a future-proof home that has already stood the test of time.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.

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Never Too Small: Paris Micro Apartment https://visi.co.za/never-too-small-paris-micro-apartment/ Thu, 23 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=602066 Architect Matthieu Torres and his partner found a small Parisian apartment with amazing city views to transform into their dream home.

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WORDS Michaela Stehr IMAGES Matthieu Torres VIDEO Never Too Small on YouTube


Architect Matthieu Torres and his partner found a small Parisian apartment with amazing city views to transform into their dream home.

Situated in the quaint neighbourhood of Belleville, the 31sqm flat, designed by Matthieu became the residential home for him and his wife. What was a small, dark space, was offered a new lease on life through a complete renovation. The ceiling was removed and skylights inserted to give the feeling of space and openness. 

Never Too Small: Paris Micro Apartment
Never Too Small: Paris Micro Apartment

With the increased volume gained by the ceiling renovation, a mezzanine became a welcome addition, housing the master bedroom upstairs. French pine plywood was chosen as a durable and economic material, adding warmth to the space.

Never Too Small: Paris Micro Apartment

Linoleum flooring adds to the airiness of the home, with accents of white mirrored through the kitchen into the bathroom. A key element in the home is a space for entertaining in the open-plan kitchen and living area. Torres focused on having a minimalist approach to furniture, with a few stand-out pieces in the apartment that complement the wooden features.

Never Too Small: Paris Micro Apartment
Never Too Small: Paris Micro Apartment
Never Too Small: Paris Micro Apartment

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Check out this small studio in Buenos Aires.

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10 Bright Buys in Yellow https://visi.co.za/10-bright-buys-in-mustard-yellow/ Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=570517 Yellow continues to pop up all over, from kitchen accessories to homeware and fashion. Here are 10 buys we found online that celebrate this zingy hue.

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COMPILED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring


Yellow continues to pop up all over, from kitchen accessories to homeware and fashion. Here are 10 buys we found online that celebrate this zingy hue.

mustard yellow buys

Pac-Man Lamp | Mash.T

Inspired by the computer game Pac-Man Doodle and with a wide array of colours to choose from, these desk lamps are perfect for updating your home and home office.

R1840

mustard yellow buys

Soft Bucket in Sunshine Gold | Skinny laMinx

This Soft Bucket is completely reversible, which makes this all-purpose soft container twice as useful, with a pop of coloured piping to add zing. They’re great for balls of wool, stashing cotton balls on the changing table, or for keeping plants cosy…. and lots more!

From R210

mustard yellow buys

The Tina Unit | Vamp Furniture

A mid-century inspired wall unit with open display shelves and a space behind sliding doors. The shelf behind the sliding doors is adjustable. Fun pops of colour are added to the backing of the long open shelves and the doors. 

R7400

mustard yellow buys

Wellbeing Happy Diffuser | Mr.Price Home

Indulge with the rich aroma of soothing scents blended with a combination of spices.

R129.99

mustard yellow buys

Bold Stripe Throw | Woolworths

Cosy up to this extra snug throw, featuring bold stripe patterns and fringe border detail. 

R350

mustard yellow buys

Signature Oval Casserole | Le Creuset

Renowned for its excellent heat retention, this casserole requires no seasoning and is suitable for both stovetop and oven use. The ‘nectar’ colourway will add a zingy pop of colour to any kitchen.

R5199

mustard yellow buys

Monica Side Table | Knus

Made from steel and wire, this side table will brighten any space.

R1400

Yellow buys

Zeplin Sling Bag | Sealand Gear

Local sustainable brand Sealand Gear has created a limited-edition version of its Zeplin portrait sling bag in a brand-new colourway, exclusively for VISI.

R925

Yellow buys

Terrazza Outdoor Dining Chair | Block & Chisel

Made from PVC, this chair is lightweight yet durable, able to withstand exposure to sunlight, making it an ideal piece for your outdoor area. 

R1295

Yellow buys

The Gardens of Eden | Loot

The Gardens of Eden – New Residential Garden Concepts & Architecture for a Greener Planet is the perfect coffee table book for Plantophiles. Step into innovative little gardens of Eden created on small terraces and city rooftops, as well as out in the suburbs and countryside.

R767

Looking for more local buys? Check out these Rattan buys and our list of statement planters.

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Caracal Cabin https://visi.co.za/caracal-cabin/ Wed, 28 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=599723 A 100% off-the-grid eco-cabin offers respite from city life for its Cape Town owners and guests, as well as panoramic Montagu mountain views for switching off completely.

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WORDS Michaela Stehr PHOTOS Jan Ras PRODUCTION Mark Serra


A 100% off-the-grid eco-cabin offers respite from city life for its Cape Town owners and guests, as well as panoramic Montagu mountain views for switching off completely.

The landscape and the environment were the key design generators from the client’s brief,” say Miguel Ferreira-da-Silva and Andrew Payne of Migs + Drew about the build of the new Caracal Cabin. “Owners Samantha and William Rupert Mellor had identified a potential cabin site on the farm that they loved, which offered privacy from the existing Cabine du Cap accommodation, along with dramatic, jaw-dropping views. Once we saw it, we were sold.”

Intending to build from sustainably farmed wood that doesn’t come from natural forests or contribute to deforestation, the team consulted with Seamus Harcourt-Wood of Rare Woods before settling on Siberian larch for the majority of the exterior. “The lower portion of the dwelling is clad entirely in stone, all of which was collected on the site, by hand,” says William. “The work was spread across the property, to leave minimal impact on the landscape. This also allows the building to ‘disappear’ into the landscape.”

A natural saddle in the ridge profile of the koppie, characterised by beautiful rock formations, offered an almost flat platform for the main timber box that houses the living area and kitchen unit. This is the base for incredible valley views to the west and sweeping, almost 270-degree, views towards the northeast. “We designed the form to follow the axis of the ridge, with the building tapering as the koppie tapers, and the roofline descending as the koppie ridgeline descends, thus separating the main suite and living area from Suite 2 and the subterranean Suite 3 and bunk room,” explain the architects.

“We were able to not only preserve the most beautiful rock outcrops and vegetation but also to amplify the experience of bringing them into the design.” Each bedroom suite has a unique framed view, tailored to its place within the composition – and, at the same time, completely private. The pool positioning helped to determine the placement of the cabin, hovering over the edge of a cliff with a striking view of the valley below, and clad in local stone for an unobtrusive impact on the surrounding landscape. As a result, you can expect to spot rich birdlife, including a resident pair of Pale Chanting Goshawks, as well as rhebok, klipspringer, jackal and baboon from your bedroom.

Caracal Cabin
Built with indoor-outdoor flow in mind, the central lounge opens up fully to the deck area, where a firepit designed by The Fire Pit Company becomes a natural place to gather and socialise.

“Our favourite feature is the timber cladding, which wraps around the entire cabin building, inside and out, like a skin,” explain the architects. “The consistency of the single material and colour unifies the building, lending a sense of quiet and calm to the eye and the soul that’s reminiscent of every cosseting cabin childhood dream. The subtle differences in detailing between floor, ceiling, internal wall and external wall applications, as well as the shadow lines at junctions, remind us that this is not a rustic cabin but a more considered one, with attention paid to every detail.”

Inside, the decor has a contemporary bush feel that pays homage to the natural environment. It allows for some statement pieces, including the leather sofa, the trunk with a hidden TV and the live-edge wooden dining table. Some pieces were custom-made; others were finds that the family had restored. They then filled the gaps via their own furniture export company, Malawi Cane.

The core of the Caracal Cabin experience is one of being simply but luxuriously cocooned in a pared-back, beautiful timber box, in a breathtaking natural environment that evokes a sense of calm, contemplation and wonder.

Looking for more architectural inspiration? Take a look at the Kogelberg Cabins.

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26 Statement Planters For Your Home https://visi.co.za/26-planters-for-your-home/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://visi.co.za/?p=588424 Turning over a new leaf? Time to raise your jungle game with statement planters that will add almost as much personality to your space as the treasured plants do.

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COMPILED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring PHOTO Pexels


Turning over a new leaf? 🌿 Time to raise your jungle game with statement planters that will add almost as much personality to your space as the treasured plants do.

House plants add colour and interest to any space (not to mention oxygen). There are so many aesthetically-pleasing options when it comes to housing your new fronds, so we’ve put a definitive list together to help you choose – from tiny pots perfect for a small succulent to hanging planters, baskets and canvas buckets.

Planters

Potjie Pot Plant Holder (glass bowl included) | R433.91 Native Decor

Planters

Emerson Pots | R290 Plantify

Planters

Mia Mélange Planter Basket | From R290

Planters

Metal Planter on Stand | R649 @home

READ MORE: Where to Buy Indoor Plants Online in SA
Planters

Moonrock Planter | R169 Rialheim

Planters

Wild Wendy | R4000 Wildcat Plants

Planters

Raku Low Planter | from R675 Weylandts

Planters

Lantana Planter Collection Set | R1 199 Esque

Planters

Nan Bamboo Planter | R800 Superbalist

Planters

Splatter Pot | R845 Aura Furniture & Decor

READ MORE: 5 Water-wise Plants We Should All Have in Our Homes
Planters

Umbra Triflora Hanging Planter | R1 399 Yuppiechef

Planters

Pipe Planter | R4900 Dokter and Misses

Planters

Flat Weave Standing Planter | R599.99 MRP Home

Planters

Plantr X VISI Minilux Planter | from R399 VISI Shop

Planters

Tower Planter | R2 400 Joe Paine

Planters

ZANA Small Soft Pot | R210

Planters

Tiny Planter | R99.99 Typo

Planters

KitchenCraft Ceramic Winking Face Planter | R229 Faithful-to-Nature

planters

Plant Hemisphere | From R695 Pedersen + Lennard

Planters

Terrazzo Pot | R420 Plantify

planters

Galapagos | R9100 Joe Paine

Planters

Abstract Lines Mini Canvas Bucket | R180 Pleeko at Hello Pretty

Planters

Set of 3 Classic Herb Planters With Tray | R1 349 Le Creuset

Planters

Grow Bag Yellow Stripy Planter | R230 Knus

Planters

Skinny laMinx Reversible Bucket | From R210 VISI Shop

Planters

Metal Hanging Planter | R399 Woolworths

Looking for more local buys? Take a look at our definitive list of where you can buy plants online in South Africa or sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.

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