This home by the sea is complemented by a garden that is both practical and gorgeous.
What turns a house into a home? It may start with a house and a dream, but so much has to happen before you can call your house a home.
I realised this after visiting the House de Bruyn in Brackenridge, Plettenberg Bay. With nearly 360° vistas, my breath was taken away by the contemporary design of the home and the clever use of space, incorporating the surrounding landscape in every area of the garden.
The garden really begins with the beautifully planted verge, followed by soft perennials that greeted us as we entered the driveway, a mass of pelargonium tumbling over the retaining wall, interplanted with groundcovers and spots of colour.
As an architect with a vision, and who has an expert understanding of space and nature, Stephen Westraadt set about designing this beautiful home. Being an avid collector of botanical stamps, and researching the plants portrayed on each of his stamps, he has an extensive knowledge on flora. It was this understanding that allowed him to appreciate the importance of merging a building with its surrounding habitat, forming a dwelling that will complement the landscape and not seem overly intrusive. Having being involved in the industry for over a decade and designing many homes in the area, Stephen took aspects of estate living into consideration, as well as the climate, and also headed up the build as project manager.
Denne historien er fra December 2018-utgaven av The Gardener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra December 2018-utgaven av The Gardener.
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
FIRE AND Feathers!
On a dreary winter's day, a screen of fiery and feathery leaves puts up a fight against dullness!
GET THE ladies in!
At this time of year, early-flowering shrubs vie with each other to get the most attention. We say: Trust those with female names for frills and butterflies. They go the extra mile to flower their hearts out.
Vegetable Soups and dumplings
Vegetables make the most delicious soups and classic combinations are always a winner.
Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health
Boiled, baked or braaied, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a delicious and healthy winter comfort food. Just a dollop of butter, a little seasoning and you are good to go.
Pretty and functional
If cooking is your main thing, you would probably be more interested in the culinary value of the three herbs and some of their varieties we are describing.
Dried Seedheads & Pods
Autumn and winter are the best times to see what flowers produce the best seedheads that can be left on the plants to feed the birds and bugs and for harvesting for dried arrangements.
SO MANY FACES and so many choices...
Whoever associated a Cotyledon orbiculata (pig's ear) with the ear of a pig obviously did not know about all the varieties and cultivars this species in the genus Cotyledon has.
COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!
If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons...
What makes a garden sustainable?
It is interesting to note that the United Nations defines sustainable development as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation
Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.
