This 28m2 rustic-chic bar was once an herb garden. ‘We built up the outer walls, erected pillars using local sandstone to support the roof and left it open, facing the garden,’ says owner Ruth McHattie, who made hessian curtains for the openings to keep the elements at bay.

Co-owner Andrew Oosthuizen built the bar using MDF for the base and solid meranti for the countertop, while Ruth gave it some Old World charm with a simple paint technique. She rubbed candle wax on the raised areas and other spots she wanted the MDF to show through to give the bar a distressed look. She then painted two coats of Midas Gotham over the entire bar, after which she scraped off the wax and then sealed it with a water-based varnish. Ruth selected the various décor items according to their shape and colour, and selected complementary materials, such as weathered wood and old metal. The lighting was kept simple with Eurolux 60W Maxi Globes suspended from long electrical cables.

A fellow Paternoster resident, David Westbrook, built the wood-burning pizza oven with firebricks he left unplastered. ‘The design was based on old-fashioned wood-burning ovens,’ says the couple, who use it to cook pizzas, legs of lamb, bread and plenty of other delicious meals.

Why It Works
The white cement screeded floor is in keeping with the West Coast aesthetic; it’s also easy on the pocket and can handle a bit of dirt and water.

A new roof means furniture can be left out without worrying about it getting damaged by the elements.

The kelim not only offers exotic charm but also anchors the space so you feel as if you’re in an actual room, rather than just a covered patio.

Words and images: Home magazine