6 Spectacular Stoeps

Whether you’re keen to have the whole family over or just want to create a cosy nook for two, these spaces are sure to inspire you to make the most of your outdoor entertainment area.

- Kim Arendse

1 Inside out

When Cathryn and Warwick McCleland bought their Port Elizabeth home in 2014, a beautiful big tree in the middle of a grassy patch in the yard sealed the deal.

“It created such a lovely atmosphere, regardless of the fact that it was an alien syringa!” says Cathryn. “But there was no outdoor area in which to make use of our city’s year-round temperate climate and the stoep was only 1.5m deep; any work we wanted to do would involve cutting down the tree, which we really didn’t want to do.”

So they made the most of the space until 2018 when a storm caused the syringa to split in half. This was the push they needed to create the outdoor space they wanted: an enclosed entertainment/dining area of 28m² leading out onto a 30m² deck.

“At the moment, our family consists of just the two of us and our two dogs but the stoep has already served us well – whether it’s a braai for two (a weekly occurrence) or a party of friends,” Cathryn says.

“We haven’t enjoyed a summer with this new addition yet but it’s safe to say we’ll be living in this part of the house for most of the sunny season!”

[A CLEAN SLATE]

As in the McClelands’ new dining room, grey remains a popular floor colour, says Joanne Sykes of Cemcrete. “Neutral floor colours such as grey, beige and cream create a timeless, harmonious canvas to give centre stage to more changeable shades and textures when it comes to furniture and décor,” she explains.

The McClelands opted for a screed floor finished with Cemcrete Colour Hardener in Grey. “This product is a cement incorporating hard-wearing aggregates, light-fast pigments and additives that set rock-hard,” says Joanne.