# 1 A versatile space
Karien and Gerhard Basson’s stoep in Midstream, Pretoria is the setting for many wonderful occasions: Christmas feasts, children’s birthday parties and late-night candlelit get-togethers when the world’s problems are resolved over a glass of wine. “Our stoep is where we make our best memories!” says Karien.
“We love all that South Africa has to offer and when we built our house in 2009, we asked the architect to make everything as open as possible, and to merge the interior with the exterior.”
Today, the family and their friends can enjoy a Bushveld vibe around the boma fire, share a glass of wine in the cellar in true Cape style, spend time on the adjoining deck under the pergola or nibble on snacks on the stoep. “This is why we love our entertainment area so much – we have so many options,” says Karien.
The couple’s meticulous planning eight years ago has resulted in this gorgeous space that their three busy boys, twins Hein and Regardt (5) and Alexander (3), just love. “The kids think that the inside of the house is only good for one thing: sleeping,” says Karien with a chuckle.
These days, breakfast is a highlight because there’s huge competition as to who will be the first to see or hear the woodpecker! – Karien
[ BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES]
Awnings are a simple solution if you’d like to temporarily enclose an outdoor area. “When the awnings are rolled up, this becomes our outdoor dining area but on cold days we lower them, creating a separate space,” says Karien.
These awnings can be hooked at the bottom to prevent them from flapping in the wind. In winter, a gas heater provides so much warmth that the stoep is even more toasty than the inside of the house. “If we feel like hosting a more formal dinner, we lower the awnings, set a fancy table with candlesticks and put on the fairy lights – and it feels just like a cosy restaurant in the heart of Paris!” >>
# 2 Under the trees
When San-Marie and Derick Vogel first viewed the house across the road from Durbanville Preparatory School, which their kids Ben (8) and Kara (7) now attend, the huge trees on the spacious 1 500m² property immediately stole their hearts.
“I take delight in these amazing trees every day,” says San-Marie. “This entertainment area makes me feel as wealthy as a king!”
When the couple moved in, the swimming pool and slate floor were already there but other than that, there wasn’t much of an entertainment area to speak of – just grass and a herb garden.
Derick got stuck in and built the braai and pergola. “It might have taken a little longer than it would have if we’d hired contractors, but now it’s his personal ‘monumental’ achievement!” jokes San-Marie.
“The freestanding stoep is a comfortable space where our entire family, friends and their kids can hang out. It gets glorious morning sun and in late summer it’s lovely and cool.”
The Vogels use the spacious built-in braai (1m tall and 1.7m wide) in a number of ways – from braaiing and making potjies to a slow-cooked lamb on the spit. “Derick incorporated hooks in the braai and we use them to cook chicken-on-a-string. All you do is tie a whole chicken to a piece of string and then it turns over the coals until it’s cooked – delicious!”
He also built an oven next to the braai. “Long before Derick even built the braai, we bought the oven door from a man in Barrydale,” says San-Marie. “The mini oven was planned around that door. We’ve used it to cook pizza, roast lamb and pork loin, and we’ve baked bread in it.”
[ PERGOLA WITH GREENERY]
Ordinary wooden beams were used for the pergola and then covered with corrugated-iron sheeting; it is waterproof and provides plenty of shade. “It was easy to install and relatively cost-effective,” says San-Marie. “Our pool is heated by means of pipes laid on top of the roof. Because of all the trees, the water used to be freezing.” To soften the structure and provide greenery in summer, three grapevines have been planted and are slowly creeping beneath the roof sheeting.
[ LIGHT RELIEF]
If you build on a new covered stoep, it’s essential to take into account how the roof will affect the adjacent indoor areas. A solid roof will make the house quite dark. Transparent roof sheeting is the perfect solution: it not only ensures that the stoep is lighter, but the interior of the house too. On this stoep, a single strip of transparent sheeting on top of the beams provides sufficient natural light for indoors.
#3 Farm style
Francois and Emsie Roets of the well-known Groeneweide Strawberry Farm outside George like to spend their evenings relaxing on their spacious stoep after a hard day’s work. The house is ‘framed’ by three stoeps: the main one (above) – 80m² in size – lies at the back of the house and is connected to two narrow stoeps (10 x 2.4m each) on either side.
“In summer, we sit on the east-facing side; in winter, the main north-facing stoep is the best spot,” says Francois. “In late summer, the west-facing stoep is our favourite place to be. We get quite strong berg winds and south-easters here in George, so it’s great to have the option of moving to a more sheltered area.”
The couple say the stoep perfectly suits their lifestyle. Besides being used for entertaining and relaxing, the stoep has also been the venue for musical performances and weddings – what more could one ask for than a view of the beautiful Southern Cape mountains and game such as springbok, nyala and zebra roaming just metres away? “In the late afternoon, when we light the fire, it’s the tranquillity of our surroundings that we savour most,” says Francois. >>
# 4 An open-plan dream
Carina and Jurie Prins’s stoep in Paarl formed an integral part of the planning for their home.
“We wanted the stoep to be an indooroutdoor living space, a place that we could close up if needed but where we could also sit in the sun,” says Carina. “It’s our entertainment area and I also love to relax here and recharge my batteries.”
What the pair love most about the space is that everything can be opened up – the
frameless glass doors not only link the stoep to the garden, but the stacking doors between the stoep and the living room also fold away completely. This is open-plan living to the max!
A wrought-iron pergola that extends from the roof of the stoep softens the transition between the interior and exterior as it has a white bougainvillea and a Port St Johns creeper (Podranea ricasoliana) growing over it. Together with the shutters and the red clinker brick with the white cement in-between, the detailed pergola creates a romantic atmosphere. “The plants also provide extra shade and complement the aesthetic of the house,” says Carina.
In terms of décor, Carina wanted to keep the stoep informal. “The creepers are there to give it a ‘summerhouse’ feel and the untreated blue gum beams on the inside were chosen to bring a natural look indoors.” >>
[ A GLASS ACT]
Carina and Jurie reckon the frameless glass doors were definitely worth the extra expense. However, they advise that homeowners allow for extra space when choosing stacking doors – when folded open, the doors take up 75cm on either side. There must also be no obstructions. These doors have a track above and below. Although the frameless glass is very strong, it must be handled very carefully. Each panel is usually 500mm to 800mm wide and the maximum height for these types of doors is about 2 700mm.
#5 Close to nature
Day or night, you will find Jill and Craig Marion on their stoep – and who can blame them when they’re surrounded by a section of the Garden Route National Park with its rich birdlife and scenery? “Our bedroom opens out onto the veranda and we eat all our meals here, except dinner in winter!” says Jill.
“Parties here are such fun because there’s even enough space to dance. We also use the stoep as a temporary office – while we work we can watch the drongos diving into the pool!”
Jill describes the décor as South African with a Mediterranean twist – a look they love as they regularly travel to Greece.
“I’ve been an avid collector of décor accessories all my life and a lot of my pieces come from Australia, where we previously lived,” she explains.
The corrugated-iron roof – painted white underneath for a lighter feel – ensures that the stoep is completely sheltered from the elements. “We initially wanted to install an Isoboard ceiling to guard against the heat but we felt that we would lose that typically South African cottage look if we did,” explains Craig. “Fortunately, we can open the shutters on one side to create a lovely breeze.”
[ OPEN AND CLOSED]
This side of the stoep was initially open but because of the cold sea air in winter and moisture damage to the upholstered furniture, the Marions decided to close it up. However, an opening was left in the middle for ventilation and green shutters were added.
We have a rule in our house: everyone can come and go as they please but when it’s time for sundowners, they must all gather on the veranda! – Jill
The veranda looks out over the courtyard, which houses the swimming pool and pergola. This space is mostly used for summer parties and dinners and they sometimes convert the table into a bar area. The huge Indonesian mirror was bought from the original Wetherleys in Jo’burg about 25 years ago. It had always been used indoors but Jill says when they returned from Australia, she decided it would look perfect by the pool. “The Knysna loeries also seem to enjoy it as they spend loads of time admiring themselves!” says Jill.