What is your next BIG project?
Treat yourself before winter
Greek word of the day: κακοθερής (kakotherēs)
It means “unsuited to endure summer heat” (literally, bad at summer).
Storytime:
This is me. I am exceptionally bad at summer. I am a natural redhead, prone to freckles and overheating like an old Renault. In summer, my signature scent is potent antiperspirant and SPF 100. I basically dress like a beekeeper when I have to venture out at midday, and I have a flask with me at all times. Not for chardonnay, but for ice water.
Another confession:
I live in an ooooooooold house. I still have thick, uninsulated copper pipes running from my geyser to my kitchen. (I promise myself each July that I’ll get up there to wrap them and then forget for the next 12 months.) This means that the first hint I get that the season is turning, is when the water for the early morning dishes takes about two minutes to heat up. Once that happens, its out with my sundresses, on with my black jeans and sweaters. Add to this a ridiculous grin and wide eyes looking out for those first signs of Autumn foliage. This morning, the tap was still running cold by the time my coffee was made…(I was ecstatic!)
Top Tip: No, I do not let the cold water run down the drain, I always catch it in a bucket I then use to water all 72 of my own houseplants.
Leaves start falling when the cold wind blows…
We have spoken endlessly about how to make your space cosy without going for a big renovation. Blankets, lighting and earthy tones are still lovely, but sometimes, winter calls for a BIG project. Luckily, if you start right away, you’ll still have time to finish it before the first true frost strikes.
This year, our favourite BIG renovation projects to prep your space for winter are:
Building a Pyjama Lounge
A big thing that’s been trending for a while now is the idea of quiet luxury (stealth wealth). Nothing whispers quiet luxury like the indulgence of a pyjama lounge. As the name suggests, it is a smaller, informal, but most importantly PRIVATE lounge, away from your main living area. It is also sometimes called the “feastings room” (we can’t find an explanation for this – maybe midnight feasting?) or the “healing chambers” which makes more sense. The prefect Pyjama lounge is next to your bedrooms. Furnished with deep soft couches, lounging chairs, bookshelves and the all-important coffee station, this is the perfect spot for those slow winter weekend mornings.
What we love most about the idea of a pyjama lounge is that it will force you to slow down, and take a break from rushed mornings. It is also the perfect spot to unwind before you get in bed, and we strongly suggest that you make the space a screen free zone. Unplugging is the best way to unwind!
For pyjama lounge inspo, see here:
Creating a sunroom
This is a fancy way to say you should enclose your patio…but with a twist. Instead of just defaulting to that South African staple of a braai room with a bar and a stuffed Kudu on the wall, think sunny, think indoor tropical, ferns, orchids, wicker chairs and broad strokes of watery winter sunlight to warm and lighten your spirits.
Large parts of South Africa are NOT winter rainfall areas, which means that days are cold, yes, but many winter days are bright, with blue skies and sunshine. Yes, that sunshine won’t be baking and you’ll still need a sweater if you head out, but what this means is that a sunroom is the perfect spot to celebrate our good climate and catch some rays.
The main elements of a sunroom are:
Big windows
The very best sunrooms have huge north facing windows to let in every last lumen of sunlight. If possible these windows should be able to open up wide, slide or stack, so that your sunroom can be a breezy, fresh summer space as well.
BUT: Strictly NO braais! 😊
Light colours
This is not the place for leather and dark wood. We love a sunroom in light earthy tones with fresh lemon and butter yellows as well as green and stone or white. W love the idea of classic light-coloured wicker or rattan furniture. (Both of these are sustainable furniture materials, so Yay!)
Lots of plants
The final thing that takes your boring enclosed patio to the next level is plants. Large planters of ferns, palms, baskets of fragrant dendrobium orchids and smaller delicate plants like maiden hair ferns…Anything green and growing. Because of the direct sunlight these plants should thrive in your sunroom and be amazing as natural air purifiers.
For inspiration for your sunroom plants, lose yourself in this orchid growing guide
Not a cigar lounge.
This is not supposed to be a dark, plush space full of furs and blankets. This is where you spend those sunny winter afternoons, have friends over for lunch or sit and work on your out of office days.
Lastly, old faithful: Installing a Fireplace
One of the easiest ways to add value to your home, and your quality of life, we have written extensively about the different fireplace options available to you. See our Weekly Fix about this subject for more information.
Whatever you choose to treat yourself to for winter, just remember the Homemakers golden rule:
It’s your home, you make the rules, and you get to have fun!
