The more dilapidated, the better. That’s the Caalsens’ philosophy when buying a home – and these seasoned renovators know how to recognise potential among the pitfalls.
Few things get Darryl and Amelia Caalsen’s fingers itching more than a neglected house that has stood empty for a long time – so it’s no wonder they fell in love with an old, dilapidated home with an overgrown garden when they spent a holiday in the Riebeek Valley in 2013.
“We seized the opportunity to live here,” says Amelia. Back then, the couple were living in England but now Darryl, a legal adviser, commutes between Cape Town and their home.
“We prefer to buy an old house so we can furnish it to our own taste,” explains Amelia. This mother-of-three is busy with their renovation projects full-time – the couple buy a house, move in, fix it up and sell it again. And these two have restored quite a few homes to their former glory: two in England and four in South Africa.
The Caalsens saw plenty of potential among the dated finishes and unsightly additions in this historic home that once belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church. Its high ceilings, wooden floors, charming wooden shutters and magnificent views of the Kasteelberg mountain at the back and the church and tall plane trees in front caught their attention.
Denne historien er fra December 2017-utgaven av Home South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra December 2017-utgaven av Home South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Pestilence Domestica
We usually call them dirty, dangerous and utterly gross. But what if we looked at domestic pests through a different lens, asks Karin Brynard.
Quick as a flash!
These 15 dinners can be whipped up in a jiffy - before the power goes out!
The gift that keeps on giving
By taking cuttings and dividing existing plants and those from friends, Anne Turner and her son David have created a stunning garden that takes on a whole new personality as the seasons change.
Upcycle it!
Tuis Home food editor Johané Neilson and her husband Allister revamped a second-hand melamine wall unit to create a bespoke wall-to-wall display cabinet, for less than R3 500!
Little house in the forest
Thanks to her capable father, Neilke Pretorius and her partner enjoy an idyllic lifestyle in a custom-made home hidden in the trees.
Living large, inside and out
South Africans love a space where indoors and outdoors come together.
Modern CLASSIC
With authenticity as a guiding design principle, a young family has created their happy space in a 105-year-old house in the heart of vibrant Sea Point.
Peace & quiet...
A cinematographer and a set designer found the perfect bolt-hole in the Eastern Cape Karoo where they can truly relax and unwind.
ART AND SOUL
Five years ago, the Krugers transformed a tired city bungalow into a unique and modern family home.
Group therapy
Add impact and create rhythm using repetition and collections, as these Home readers have done.
