My place, my passion

While zebras roam around this Nelspruit house, the owner gives free rein to her own creative streak...
Surrounded by the Lowvelds rolling hills and grasslands punctuated with thorn trees, Anmarie Shaws charming cottage is crammed with character. Fondly named the Hansel and Gretel house by her grandchildren, it was planned brick for brick by Anmarie and her builder four years ago and is a smaller replica of the main house on a 4.5ha property on the La Roi Wildlife Estate in Mbombela, where Anmaries son, daughter - in - law and their seven children live. There are only 12 dwellings on the entire estate, which has roaming zebra, giraffe and blue wildebeest providing the ultimate backdrop to an exquisite location.
The earthy, khaki - coloured exterior walls reveal little of whats inside: everywhere you look in this vibrant home, youll see clear evidence of an artists eye, though Anmarie claims she cant draw an accurate picture of anything. Yet this former co - owner of a Melville boutique also used to paint tablecloths that were sold at the Irene Market in Centurion. And her creative flair and love of colour are reflected in every inch of her living space - which undergoes continual change.

The kitchen

Conveniently situated at the front door, the kitchen is given greater volume thanks to the open - beamed thatched roof. The freestanding cupboards were selected before construction even started, and wall space was planned around them.
Anmaries pantry catches the eye immediately. Its a replica of a corrugated - iron khaya, an idea she got from a township resident who enlarged her own home by building four walls around an existing corrugated - iron structure - which then became the bathroom in her new home!
The kitchen connects seamlessly with the rest of the house and the open plan design makes preparing meals a communal pleasure. Collections of treasures, vintage finds and heirlooms happily share space, just as they shared the long journey with her family. In fact, some of Anmaries household china formed part of her mothers trousseau.

The living area

Anmaries home is centred on a 12 - seater dining table that she regularly sets with collectibles such as good crystal, silver cutlery, and Birds of Paradise dinnerware for entertaining with friends. She doesnt believe in the maxim that everything should match and happily combines different styles and textures to create beautiful settings. Her love of candlelight is reflected in her exceptional collection of candleholders, which includes delicate porcelain bowls in which you only see the fine rice grain patterns in the shimmering candlelight.
A textured, rust - coloured wall separates the living area from Anmaries bedroom where two colourful easy chairs provide a focal point and space for relaxing.
In the television room, vertical space compensates for the lack of floor space with separate niches for books, a sound system, CDs and the TV. Here, too, the shelves have been painted a rust colour for visual impact, while the niche in which the TV sits is much darker, to help conceal the set.

The bedroom

Anmaries beautiful bedroom is an inspiration - its no wonder that this is where she dreams up the beautification plans for her home. The once sombre, dark wooden bed now looks crisp and fresh in white, as does the bedside table. A crystal chandelier creates a soft, feminine focal point above the bed and though its not wired for electricity, it contributes to the finish of the room. And instead of neat matching doors, Anmaries walk - in closet is fronted by a weathered gate. Part of a house in town that burned down, the owner gave it to her as a gift when she offered to buy it from him!
Step through the lace curtains into the bathroom and youre instantly transported to an old - fashioned powder room". Feminine, cosy and pleasantly crammed, its nevertheless a relaxing space where grooming can obviously be done in total comfort.
Its clear that Anmarie is very passionate about her home. And passion always has the power to inspire.