Fresh ideas: Less is more

Photographs Francois Oberholster and Sally Chance

On the back bench

The easiest way to increase available seating at a long dining table is with a bench – there’s always room for one more and this way you avoid a bunch of bulky chairs crowding one another! But one long bench can become impractical in terms of mobility. The Beinart family of Cape Town came up with a clever solution: they had two separate but identical benches made by Wiid Design; these are neatly positioned next to each other but can easily be separated so guests can get in and out. The best use of space!

Have a heart

When asked what colour she wanted her playroom door to be painted, little Anri Human (7) of Durban immediately chose yellow. She also requested a heart-shaped window to let in the light. Dad André used a jigsaw to cut out a heart shape in the wooden door and then installed glass to finish the look. So cute!

Break a leg

When the Beinarts moved to their new house, they didn’t want to part with their old dining table. So mom Liat came up with an ingenious plan: a section of the table, including one of the legs, was sawn off so that it could be integrated into the new kitchen island. These days, it’s still an integral part of family life. “This table is the centre of our home,” says Liat.