Q&A with Philip and Esmi

Any cost-cutting tips? The five large windows on the stoep were a big expense but we purchased them one at a time as our funds allowed, so when the building finally started we didn’t need to fork out one huge amount. We also recycled what we could, such as the old wooden beams that we used as lintels. What would you do differently next time? We wouldn’t replace all five windows in the front of the house at once – in winter!

Any other tips? First live in the house before you start renovating. So many of the plans we had at first were changed as we got to know the house better. For an old house like this, use a builder who knows how to work with stone and clay; not everyone has those skills. What’s next? We’d like to fix up the main bedroom and bathroom. This space desperately needs a new floor, but it is built around a huge four-poster bed that can’t be moved out, so the floor has to be redone with the bed in situ.