Anne-apolis

  I have just spent a few days with my aunt and uncle on their farm in Limpopo Province in their most beautiful guest cottage. My aunt is a wonderful hostess and ensures that everyone who stays with them has absolutely everything they need to enjoy a perfect visit.  A guest cottage on a farm If you are fortunate to have a guest cottage, or are thinking of building one, there are a few things you can do to ensure maximum comfort. An en-suite bathroom is essential in a detached cottage, even if it is just a shower, basin and toilet: your guests should not have to wander around your property with a sponge-bag!  When furnishing the room, think about how it may be used in summer and winter - is there a shady, cool spot to read and relax in summer and a sunny, sheltered space in winter? Your guests will enjoy being able to spend some time on their own to be able to wind down and relax. When my aunt first set up her guest cottage, she slept there for a night in each season to ma...

  Often when adapting or re-planning a garden by adding new trees or shrubs, we are so focused in on the garden that we do not think how this may impact on the performance and comfort within the building. An example would be the planting of a tree too close to the house. As the tree grows, its roots expand and may cause damage to the foundations, resulting in extensive structural problems that are very expensive to fix.  A  tree that grows too big also may start blocking out the sun, making the room behind cold and gloomy. It is always worth checking how tall the tree will grow, from a good gardening or tree book, or by browsing the net. Your plant nursery may also be able to advise on the final size of the tree. As a rule of thumb, plant the tree the same distance from the building as its height - This should allow sufficient sun to come in during winter. It is also worth looking into deciduous trees for planting nearer the house, as these will block the sun in summer, k...

  DIY is a great idea, whether assembling a flat-pack or doing more complex construction work, but is it always the most cost-effective route? Flat pack is a truly great invention and an excellent way of acquiring furniture, usually at a much more reasonable cost than buying a ready-made piece. They are specially designed to be put together by people with limited skills in joinery and carpentry, with limited tools. Often they arrive with an Alan-key which is the only piece of equipment you will need, but I have found that some simple equipment is a good idea if you plan to make up several items. These are also useful for many other tasks around your home. My most basic tools are two screwdrivers, one flat and the other star or Phillips head, and a rubber mallet. You can hire more sophisticated equipment or use them in-store eg. at Leroy Merlin. With a bit of experience of using hired tools, you can decide what to buy in the long-term. For example, I find a power drill very useful, ...

When you are planning a building project, you may need the services of a range of possible professionals, especially if the project is large and/or complex. Last week we looked at the appointment of an architect , who will usually be the first person to be brought on board unless it is a very large-scale industrial project. The architect will be able to advise you on the need for any other professionals as the project parameters become clear. If there is any structural work - either putting up a new building or addition, or removing one or more walls that are supporting walls above them on an upper floor, you will need a civil engineer. She or he will be able to assist with several aspects of the project: water supply; foundations and retaining walls; stormwater; roads within the property; etc. Most engineers specialise in just one of these branches of civil engineering, but they will often be in a firm that covers all aspects. For a small project, a purely structural engineer will nor...

If you are thinking of building a new house, or altering your existing one, choosing an architect is a very personal decision, one that will impact you and your family for many years. There are always many design solutions, some of which will appeal to you and suit your lifestyle, and others that are not such a good fit. If a friend or relative has recently completed a building project, do you find it suits your taste? Try to imagine the spaces with your furniture and artwork - does this create a harmonious feel, is it too formal, maybe too minimalist, maybe too "cutsie-cozy"? A good architect will be very versatile, but even so, they will have a repertoire of preferred design solutions that they will tend to use when interpreting your needs. A small house in a Victorian style If you don't know of an architect, have a look on the South African Council for Architects website, where you will find a list of registered architects . You can search by name (you may have seen a ...

  Most people know that you need to get plans passed by your municipality if you want to build a new house, but are not sure when you need this for alterations. Increasingly, people are finding, when they want to sell their property, that the plans lodged at the municipal offices are not up-to-date with all the alterations that have happened in the building's history. The buyer should insist on getting a set of approved plans before taking transfer, as there may have been alterations that do not comply with the Building Regulations, the municipal by-laws or the title deeds. This could result in very costly alterations, and could even require demolition of part of the house, for example if it was built over the building line next to the neighbouring property. As a general rule, any changes to the structure of the house need plans, whether this is the addition of a new room, or the removal of a wall that is part of the structure, say to make an open-plan kitchen. If you are changing ...

  Whether you have just moved into a new place, or have rearranged your living spaces, or simply want to refresh the look of your place, pictures play a vital role in giving life and interest to a room. You probably already have some pictures or framed photos that you want to display, so let's start with these. The first thing is to decide which room - think about the colour of the walls, curtains and furniture and the style of furniture and use of the room. You don't have to be too rigid - I once saw an original Andy Warhol Campbells Soup Can silkscreen in a kitchen! On the other hand, graduation certificates look great in a study, but don't work so well in a living room,  where you would want something with more visual interest. Also think of grouping pictures - bold colours on one wall can be balanced by monochrome or black-and-white on the other walls. Also look at combining big and smaller pieces. Two large pictures balance a set of four smaller ones I like to lay out ...