Click here for our décor gallery.
South Africans enjoy socialising outside when they are on holiday, and a wonderful patio or wooden deck that enlarges the living area goes hand-in-hand with a holiday home.
Large sliding or French doors ensure a sociable flow from inside to
outside so that it is possible to manage the patio and indoor living area as one large entertainment area. If you position indoor furniture to maximise the view, this will contribute towards the sense of flow. Also take foot traffic into account when arranging furniture, as good planning will reduce the likelihood of someone tripping with a dish of meat on the way back from the braai.
It is also important to reduce the amount of work required while on
holiday and this is something worth considering when choosing building materials and finishes. A wooden deck made of a hardwood such as balau will be extremely durable and weather resistant, requiring little maintenance.
When choosing outdoor furniture, remember that it must be packed
away when you return home. For this reason, if you have to carry it over a distance, or even up and down stairs, try to avoid heavy, chunky furniture.
A mobile braai unit is a good idea if you don't have much space.
Contact Weber, Chado-O-Chef or Thuros Trading for a variety of options that operate with gas, wood or coal.
Live and eat
Keep it easy and affordable
It isn't necessary to build an expensive
kitchen. Counters from ColTimbers
(available from major hardware stores such
as Mica, Timbercity and De La Rey) and
open shelves, as seen in our photographs,
are ideal for a holiday home. Cane baskets
are a good way to keep the kitchen neat
and can easily be stored under a counter.
A work island on wheels can be moved
outdoors when you braai.
Furniture and accessories
The décor in your holiday home should
inspire relaxation. Coarse textures such
as wood and cane, accessories such
as driftwood frames, and a cool blue-and-
white or tropical colour scheme
immediately says, 'It's holiday time and we
are relaxing.'
While on holiday you don't want to worry
about your furniture becoming damaged by
dirty feet and hands. Second-hand furniture
can be reupholstered and painted to create
a fresh look. Also consider loose covers that
can be washed in a machine. Biggie Best
and Halogen International stock designs
that work well in beach houses.
Multipurpose furniture such as a sleeper
couch, stackable chairs and a nest of tables
are useful if the children bring along a group
of friends.
Marina Furniture stocks furniture
similar in style to the pieces seen in our
photographs. This month one lucky Home
reader will win a table and six chairs
from Marina Furniture.
Holiday colours
Seaside colours such as the blue and
white seen in our living-room photographs
are not only traditional beach-house colours,
but also a timeless combination for ordinary
homes, creating a cool, restful atmosphere
on hot summer days.
Tropical colours such as bright orange
and pink are reminiscent of island holidays
and a fun, festive atmosphere. They can be
used as bright accent colours in a neutral
colour scheme, as seen in our bathroom
photographs in this month's issue.
Sleep
Storage ideas
If you are too broke to build in cupboards,
consider affordable options such as the
Woolworths Get It Sorted products shown
in our photographs. Pepperplum also
manufactures attractive stackable shoe boxes
made of polypropylene.
Bath
Holiday homes usually have only one
bathroom. One of the simplest and most
affordable ways around this is to install an
outdoor shower – also a good way to remove
the last of the sea salt and sand before you
enter the house.
Give the whole family easy access to clean
bath and beach towels by storing them on
open shelves in the bathroom. Also ensure
that there is enough hanging space for
damp facecloths.
Tiled floors are affordable and easy to keep
clean. Genuine wood can also be a good
choice as long as you protect the wood from
water by using bathmats. Laminated wooden
floors won't fare well in damp areas.
Safety
Most holiday homes stand empty for long
periods. Richard McGhee, sales and
marketing manager for ADT Security, offers
this security advice:
Notify your security company when
your house is going to be empty. Provide
the company with contact details of
someone who lives nearby who is in
possession of a key.
Don't keep your alarm code near the
alarm keypad.
Ask the neighbours to keep an eye on
your property when you aren't there.
Be discreet when packing up your
belongings to return home. If possible,
load your car in the garage.
Ensure that all windows and doors are
locked when you leave.
Secure sliding doors by placing a piece
of wood in the sliding track. Ensure that
the doors can't be lifted out.
Install safety gates in front of outer doors.
Never leave a key in the lock of a door
that has glass panels.
Install outdoor lights that operate
on a timer.
Click here for our décor gallery.
