From dreams to DIY
The farm on which the lodge is located is family land – the Oosthuyses have been farming here since 1995.
“Our previous home, further up the pass, was a rented house. It was old-fashioned and so dark,” recalls Karen. These factors were the Oosthuyses’ main motivation for making their permanent home as open and airy as possible. They were also keen for it to blend in with its surroundings.
The planning for their new home began “with big – sometimes unrealistic – dreams,” says Rudi. “But the closer the time came to make those dreams a reality, the more realistic our plans became on paper. Of course, this suited our budget better!”
Rudi drew up the plans himself and got an architect to submit them for approval. And although he has no experience in the building industry, he’s good at research, he’s extremely handy and believes in doing things himself.
“That’s how you discover your creativity,” he says. “Rather build and make things yourself, then you can always adapt them as you go along.”
Karen says being owner-builders was always part of the plan, even before they were married. “We never considered anything else. It’s definitely more affordable and you have more freedom to make changes. You also have the bigger picture of the design in mind, since it was conceptualised in your own head.” >>