A farm feel in the city
Home South Africa|April 2023
This 100-year-old house in Johannesburg is a tranquil haven for the De Wets.
Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel
A farm feel in the city

Many people who grew up on a farm will tell you they have huge respect for where things come from. And this holds true for Lee de Wet too, even though she has lived most of her life in an urban environment.

This ethos is clearly evident in Lee and hubby Hanko’s 100-year-old house in Auckland Park. “I appreciate imperfections; those things that add character,” says Lee.

“The simplicity and tranquillity of the farm, as well as the natural surroundings, have stayed with me all these years and I try to recreate the same atmosphere here.”

The De Wets’ house is artistic but unfussy, with clever solutions and a number of repurposed items. Since moving in 12 years ago, they have painstakingly renovated their home to improve flow and let in more light.

“Hanko has a brilliant engineering mind and a sharp eye for what works and what doesn’t,” explains Lee, a fashion design lecturer. “He is well versed in technical planning and managing a building project. If it weren’t for him and Americo Macamo, a local handyman, we would never have been able to undertake an ambitious project such as this!”

Let there be light

As is typical of older homes, the rooms were quite dark. Consequently, some of the interior walls were broken out to create a light, airy feel, as well as to improve the flow of the house.

This story is from the April 2023 edition of Home South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2023 edition of Home South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HOME SOUTH AFRICAView All
Pestilence Domestica
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Quick as a flash!
Home South Africa

Quick as a flash!

These 15 dinners can be whipped up in a jiffy - before the power goes out!

time-read
10+ mins  |
May/June 2023
The gift that keeps on giving
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
6 mins  |
May/June 2023
Upcycle it!
Home South Africa

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!

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Little house in the forest
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
4 mins  |
May/June 2023
Living large, inside and out
Home South Africa

Living large, inside and out

South Africans love a space where indoors and outdoors come together.

time-read
8 mins  |
May/June 2023
Modern CLASSIC
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Peace & quiet...
Home South Africa

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
ART AND SOUL
Home South Africa

ART AND SOUL

Five years ago, the Krugers transformed a tired city bungalow into a unique and modern family home.

time-read
3 mins  |
May/June 2023
Group therapy
Home South Africa

Group therapy

Add impact and create rhythm using repetition and collections, as these Home readers have done.

time-read
1 min  |
May/June 2023