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Wicus and Sansha
“When I redo a room, I do not compromise at all. First, I visualise what I want to do and then I search for exactly what I need. Everything is costly, and that is why my husband, Wicus, and I do almost all the handiwork ourselves.”
When you arrive at the home of Wicus and Sansha Meyer, a retired couple of Ludwigsdorf, you see that everything, from the pavers to the renovations, bears witness to neatness and precision. The interior of the house is being redone by themselves in phases. In this edition, we look at the dining room, TV room and hallway.
Dining Room (Before)
Dining Room (After 1)
Dining Room (After 2)
Dining Room (After 3)
3. The hallway underwent a large transformation too. What did you change here?
Again, we installed the wooden panels from Timbercity ourselves. I got the gold wallpaper from Hertex and cut it to fit above and below the mirror. It was also used on the other side of the hallway. You will see that mirrors are my favourite décor element; I find they expand a space beautifully. The small wall-mounted wooden cabinets on either side of the door in the hallway were chosen to complement each other.
4. Please explain how to install the cladwalls?
You buy the cladding in strips from Timbercity, and you must saw the lengths correctly with a hack saw, after which you stick each length separately with a white pump-type glue. It takes a long time to do but looks neat. I patiently removed the glue with a pin when we accidentally spread too much. You need to use just the right amount of glue per panel.
5. Did you complete the makeover in phases or all at once, and what advice would you give homeowners working within a budget?
We knew we were going to start with just these three rooms – and that took over two months. We will redo the rest of the house in due course. If you normally live frugally on a budget, you should be able to have the funds for that must-have item.
6. Were there any challenges or unexpected obstacles during the renovation process, and how did you overcome them?
No, no major crisis, but when searching for gold wallpaper I was nearly discouraged. Thankfully I discovered exactly what I wanted in a catalogue at Hertex. To my great shock, it was far above our budget, but we then agreed to each pay 50% of the extra costs.
7. You painted the mosaic bowl and vase in the TV room. Can you explain the steps?
First decide the colour and then use acetone to clean the item well. After that, you spray one layer of Rust-Oleum spray paint. Let it dry well and spray another layer if necessary, after which you apply the sealer. You buy this at Magnifique Gifts at Auas Valley, Windhoek – the sealer is called Armour (from Granny B). Then decide between matt or gloss. With the bowl, I applied gold leaf onto the black and then sealed it again with the Armour.
Hallway 1
Hallway 3
Hallway 5
Hallway 2
Hallway 4
Mosaic Bowl
Before
After
8. Which part of the finished project are you most proud of, and why?
Not really any part, but the process itself. I am most proud that we could do the project together. It is "our" project. It was wonderful. Usually, I take the measurements (two to four times), and I believe in "Measure twice, cut once." Wicus then helps with the installation. Sometimes one of us measures incorrectly, but we always make doubly sure before we start cutting anything.
9. How has the transformation changed the way you and your family experience and enjoy your home?
We have always enjoyed our home very much, whether it was redone or not... We have lived here for 23 years and we never tire of watching the sun set from our sundeck - and we still find ourselves reaching for the camera to take photos of its beauty.
10. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering a similar makeover, what would it be?
Download Pinterest from the internet and pin what you like. There are thousands of ideas. Examine them, determine what feels right to you and for your home. Then adapt that look to fit your style and personality.
Share your pics: remodelling, revamping, overhauling, refurbishing, reconsidering or whatever! We are looking for a home or garden project or merely an item from your home such as painted cushions. We want to see your Before and After photos and if you are short-listed, expect a call from us. After a few questions we will determine the winner of the next issue.
This entry is simply your creativity in any space!
Send your entry via email to us at: gerty@housefindernam.com as soon as possible.