‘We love our braai room’

With a little TLC and a lot of DIY, this living space was transformed into the heart of the home.

Francois Oberholster Styling Marian van Wyk

Amonth before getting married in December 2015, Daneel and Lydia found their dream fixer-upper. The house had already been partially renovated, but more work had to be done, so the couple immediately set about making it their own.

The braai room was on the top of their list. “Braaiing is an important aspect of our lives,” Lydia says. “We find it’s the best way to prepare food and it’s a great way to entertain. We braai at least once a week!”

Their first step was to knock down the wall separating the braai room and living room. But with a wedding on the horizon, the couple needed help, so family and friends took time out of their festive schedules to assist with all the DIY which included painting, putting in the new ceiling, adding new skirtings, fixing downlights and cornices, and waterproofing the roof.

“Luckily, my husband is very good at DIY,” says Lydia. “And if there’s something he doesn’t know how to do, he takes it on as a challenge. He might not think so, but he is definitely my hero.

“He did most of it on his own – he even designed and made the gorgeous dining table!”

Today, the couple enjoy the “rustic with a hint of farm-style” braai room of their dreams.

And there’s always time to light a fire!