Renovators’ notes

Get willing friends and family to lend a hand with your project. Fine finishes

Do as much as you can yourself, such as the painting and sealing of concrete floors. My brother-in-law, Friedl Reiter, is an electrician – he did all the electrical work for us at no cost.

Where did you get your ideas?

From magazines and décor shops to pawn shops, coffee shops and restaurants.

Use your own ideas. Each of us is unique and can make our own contribution to a project. What do you enjoy most about your renovation? Our living area is a lovely sunny space and a wonderful place to get together, especially on weekends when the children are home.

I’d like to paint a stencil design on the living area floor, paint the roof panels white and seal the roof trusses.

Builders (0860 284 533, builders.co.za); Hanas Mica (013 235 2674)

Zebbies Lighting (013 757 1200, zebbies.com) Skim finish plaster on walls and screeded floor Cemcrete (011 474 2415, cemcrete.co.za) Paint Stevensons Paints (012 653 4222, stevensons.co.za) Décor Design Team (012 653 1973, designteamfabrics.co.za); Garden Bleu (012 362 1664, gardenbleu.co.za) A friend, Roedolf Venter, built the staircase and the Reiters added the checker plates (right) on each step for extra detail. Stephan made the cornices and skirting from offcut wood. The walls and floors are ordinary cement sealed with a transparent Colour Hardener Sealer from Cemcrete.