Burnt Earth Designs redefines the art of tiling

Ceramic tiles have largely been used in modern-day structures and have proved important in the manner they improve a property’s tasteful quality. They play a vital role in interior design, setting the look and feel of the house.

Over the years, many have sought for beautiful pre-manufactured tiles from outside Zimbabwe to have a unique ambiance in their homes, swimming pools, ceilings, walls, fireplaces and floors just to mention but a few.

This medieval perception that exquisite home fittings and ornaments like tiles and ceramics can only be imported, should be transformed as local companies have proved beyond reasonable doubt that they have what it takes in designing, manufacturing and supplying high-quality tiles and ceramics.

Burnt Earth Designs – a company that specializes in ceramics and tiles - has proved its mettle both in the country and beyond.

The company is adding glamour to various housing projects where they are designing and fitting tiles to the house floors, staircases as well as the swimming pools giving them an alluring finish.

What makes Burnt Earth Designs products unique is that, besides the standard products on offer, they have gone on to design ceramic tiles as per the tastes and touch of individual people. These tiles often reflect a wide range of influences and styles which are inspired by natural and original patterns of savannah plains and age-old symbols as well as contemporary tastes and styles.

What inspires them?

Burnt Earth Designs say that they are inspired to design by what is around them, the rich insignia and cryptogram of Africa, its vibrancy, and wonderful informality. This means they do not need to travel far and wide in search of raw materials; they use what is availed by Zimbabwean nature. All their pieces are then handcrafted and this makes each piece they manufacture matchless.

Burnt Earth Designs have their own studio where each tile is hand-painted as per order by the artists employed by the company and these are fired to earthenware temperatures durable for both walls and floors.

Besides tiles, Burnt Earth Designs also do a range of designed pieces of elegant ceramics which are also designed to personal specifications. The ceramic pieces harness the natural creative minds of people to create pieces that will suit the fashion and mission of individuals the world over.

Their pieces of collection include cups, saucers, mugs, jugs, serving bowls, milk jugs, teapots and vases among others.

Burnt Earth Designs can be contacted on https://www.facebook.com/burntearthdesigns/?fref=ts
http://www.burntearthdesigns.com/

The Eating Plan: - A new way of health consciousness

There is a new way of healthy eating in town – to stay off carbohydrates and have a high intake of protein – and one of the restaurants to introduce it in Zimbabwe is Miller’s Café in Semi Levy’s Village in Borrowdale. 

The concept was borrowed from Professor Tim Noakes, a South African based Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town and has authored a number of books on exercise or diet.

Basically, low carbohydrates diets or low carb diets are dietary programmes that restrict carbohydrate consumption, often for the treatment of obesity or diabetes. Foods high in easily digestible carbohydrates (e.g. sugar, bread, pasta) are limited or totally replaced with foods containing fats and proteins for example meat poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, cheese nuts and seeds and other foods low in carbohydrates like most salad vegetables although other vegetables and fruits are often allowed.

Although low-carbohydrate diets are most commonly discussed as a weight loss approach, some experts have proposed using it to mitigate or prevent some chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure and diabetes as well as epilepsy.

Miler’s Café is working on a diet which is best on this phenomenon by Professor Noakes and have already started introducing the dish to their clients where they sample the dishes and get feedback from clients. The Homes and Styles Magazine had a chance to sample their lunch which was prepared on the High Protein Low Carb banner.

Borrowing from Professor Noakes’s popular book – Lose It, which also have a list of foods which are healthy and those that are not recommended under this eating plan – Miler’s Café have also prepared a menu which they have named “Llews It” after the co-director of the restaurant - Mr Llew Hughes.  

A standard menu designed by the restaurant has dishes mentioned below:

Breakfast

·         Fruit and muesli yogurt

·         Pancakes with berries and cream

·         3 egg omelet with mozzarella/feta and spinach

·         2 eggs, bacon tomato, sausage, mince and mushrooms

Starters

·         Chicken salad with avocado dressing

·         Mushrooms stuffed with herbs

·         Llews green salad

Main Course

·         Fish with olive oil, soy lemon

·         Fillet with rosemary and lemon

·         Orange and ginger chicken breast or pork chop

·         Warm paprika, pork fillet(or Chop) with apple salad

·         All main meals served with steamed or fried vegetables

Sweets

·         Mixed berry yogurt dessert

·         Chocolate mousse

·         Apple banana and mango crumble with cream

Drinks

·         Rise and Shine juice

·         Middle east lemonade

·         Llews veggies smoothie

·         Gin and juice

·         Vodka optional with juices….extra

Speaking to the magazine, Ms Anna-Marie Lamprecht who is helping make the dish a success told the magazine that the high protein low carb diet was really effective and was not meant to deprive a person. She says she has lost up to 15 kilos during the four years she has been on the diet.

“Looking at the menu, you are not depriving yourself of anything. You still have the meals you usually have the eggs, fish, meat, chicken and the only difference is that we have completely removed carbs on the menu,” she said.

Mr. Hughes is enthused by the response he has been receiving from patrons on the dish. “The response we are getting has been tremendous,” he says. 

S’MENT SMALLS; the versatility of traditional cement

There is a new product in town - S’MENT SMALLS which is a unique adventure into the versatility for cement to make small products and objects used in the homes, offices, gardens and lodges.

The products were launched at a private function held in the suburb of Vainona in Harare recently which was attended by various players in the building and construction industry.

On display during the launch were various S’MENT SMALLS products big and small all made from cement by the innovative team under the supervision of the Director, Laura Tofts who is the brains behind the unique project.

Among the smaller products were flower pots which came in different shapes and sizes with succulent plants, decorative balls, coasters, soap dishes, polished garden pavers, polished tiles and concrete planters.

The other bigger items included concrete counters, concrete dining table, cocktail tables made from cement pipes and a coffee table made from a manhole pipe with a special high quality glass. The concrete counters, according to Laura, can even be polished according to the customer’s specifications.

The cement products are acting as replacement of granite which in itself is expensive. They have manufactured tombstones and headstones. This is more affordable as compared to granite.

According to Laura, the idea was to repurpose things which the cement guys already manufacture for the civil engineering like manholes, concrete windows, concrete pipes among others.

The use of cement came about after a realisation that cement is more eco-friendly and sustainable than we think, as it lasts for a long time.

“I have been selling paint for 16 years, including decorative paint for houses and later I began selling the brand – Cemcrete, which is coloured cement for walls, floors, waterproofing and pools, and from that experience, I realised that cement was very versatile. I then decided to make these products. This is just the beginning and we will see where it goes,” she said.

The launch was the fulfillment of an idea which started in January this year where they have been designing various products. They have already received lots of orders on special days like Valentines Day and Mother’s Day and they are continuing to sell more.

On the launch, a number of products were sold out to individuals including the coffee table, which is one of the biggest products on the show.

Laura says most of her designs are inspired by people and their own ideas - they can manufacture as per specification of the customer and make their vision come true.

Having launched her range of products, Laura is thinking big.

“I wish to have a creative outlet and secondly I want to work with designers for homes and offices, architects and take their expertise and designs and create things for them. In the end I want to have a full production team, create employment and create local products.”

She is currently operating from home where she has a workshop for small cement products and she has also partnered Homestyle Bricks where she has the workshop for the huge products.

Laura has a word for Zimbabweans.

“Nothing ventured nothing gained. If you don’t try, you will never know. It’s better to make a decision and go for something than not to make a decision and do nothing.

“I want the creative sector of Zimbabweans to take courage and be bold so that the consumer market starts focusing local,” she said adding that she was tired of people who always sought products from South Africa yet Zimbabwe has such amazing talent.

Fiction-The Cunning Uncle Tom

He had a penchant for silky and trendy cars and this day, Uncle Tom drove a distinct BMW X5 into the college yard.

Some Kwaito hits blasted blatantly from the car and the music made college students poke their heads through lecture rooms and hostel windows. Those passing through could not help but throw long fateful glances at us.

We rushed to the boot, which he had thrown open for us to take some groceries and we all emerged from it munching a chocolate bar.

That had become a norm with Uncle Tom during his many Saturday visits to the college.

He alighted from his car, a plastic smile precariously hanging on his age-beaten face. He hugged Sharon passionately and also gave me a warm hug.

I had known Uncle Tom since the time Sharon, my roommate, had introduced him to me during our first year at college. He sometimes offered us a lift whenever we had the need especially at the end of each semester.

While other students had sleepless nights over how they would travel back home, it was all easy for Sharon and I. Uncle made sure he was always in time to pick us up. As time went on, we would actually choose the car to travel in among his fleet of luxury cars.

After vacation, Sharon had always told me of her mouth-watering escapades with Uncle Tom, leaving me in anguish of fantasy and envy.

In my third year at college, I was now very close to Uncle Tom such that even in the absence of Sharon, I would fill in her gap.

As fate would have it, Sharon woke up with a fever one morning and could not get out of bed. I decided to call Uncle Tom whom I had known to be her confidant and in no time he was at college.

He quickly suggested that we take Sharon to a local doctor and I escorted her. She was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and was given bed rest during which we would check on her later in the day.

Meanwhile, Uncle Tom decided we cruise around town window shopping then lunch afterward.

 “Do you want that outfit?’ Uncle Tom suddenly said, shaking my whole self into some trance,

“Oh!! Sure that’s a gorgeous dress,” I said, unable to control my abrupt shock.

“I will buy it for you,” he said, fishing out a thick ward of crispy greenbacks from his pocket.

“Do take that one too,” he said pointing to another dress which was on display in the boutique that we had entered.

“In fact, this is the outfit that I would want you to put on when we go for lunch in the afternoon; he added already handing the cash to me to pay for the dresses and a matching pair of heels.

I did not hesitate to take the money as Sharon and I had received huge amounts of money from Uncle Tom on many occasions.

After that Uncle Tom took me to a local salon for a hairdo after which I changed into a new dress and high heeled shoes.

Thank you very much Uncle T. I don’t know how to exactly show my appreciation for your generosity. You have been of so much help to us,” I muttered my gratitude.

“Don’t worry my little dove; you will always have more of these gifts. It’s high time we go for lunch,” he said, opening for me the passenger door to his dark Land Rover Discovery 04.

The engine coughed and spurts of blue smoke escaped from the exhaust as we left for a local hotel. Selbourne Hotel situated in the peripheries of the city centre was our destination.

The dress that I was adorning was just exquisite and it suited me like a second skin shaping the contours of my curved bottom. I was soon transformed such that Uncle Tom threw naughty sneaky picks at me and at one moment, he nearly lost control of the steering wheel.

He parked the vehicle near the five-star-hotel lobby and we ambled inside. Uncle Tom was by my side, his hand slightly touching my waistline. Patrons in the hotel ogled at us but I did not give a hoot.

“A good meal goes well with a glass of wine,” Uncle Tom said as he ordered our meal.

I protested at having a glass of wine but he insisted saying it wasn’t that much a strong drink at all. Not intending to disappoint him, I took down the meal with gusto.

College had indeed infused a sense of adulthood and independence into my life. I was away from the snooping eyes of boarding masters, matrons and, teachers whose presence was a pain in the neck during my high school days.

I gulped down a glass of the sweet wine and asked for a refill. It was very refreshing and I felt at ease.

After the meal, I was no longer myself, a burning sensation erupted from my chest, my body became weak and my vision blurred. I leaned on Uncle Tom’s shoulders and he tenderly stroked my face with his bearded chin and that sent a shiver of excitement down my spine.

“Do you know how much I love you Charlene?” his voice broke the momentary silence.

Uncle Tom had called me sweet dove, sweetheart, and Love on many occasions even in the presence of Sharon and I love you did not mean much to me.

“Yes I do, I cannot deny that after all that you have done for me,” I said drowsily.

On hearing these words, Uncle Tom snuggled closer to me and whispered in my ear;

“I have always admired you since the day Sharon introduced you to me and I have always longed to have you by my side.”

He looked at me and I turned my eyes away from him at his imposing gawk.

“I really cherish and admire what you do to Sharon. She tells me quite a lot of events you have had together. I always wish you would treat me the same,” I said drowsily, and felt a tinge of jealousy creeping into me.

“You can always have better times than her if you love me as I do,” he said his husky voice piercing through my heart.

Uncle Tom’s words were as real as his facial expressions. I was really moved, drawn to him like the moon draws the tides. At that dint of a moment, I, out of the blue, cared less of our friendship with Sharon who had introduced him to me.

I was now feeling groggy with each passing minute and I requested to have a rest in his car while he finished his wine. But Uncle Tom had all this planned.

“Actually, I always have a room booked for me at this hotel in cases of emergency and you can rest there for a moment as we wait to take your friend from the doctor,” he said as he helped me to my feet and led the way to the room.

I threw myself on the bed and everything seemed to be going upside down and he struck. His promises were as sweet as nectar, which I sucked in ravenously - promises of marriage, a house of my own, luxurious cars, a white wedding, honeymoon in Mauritius, worldwide tours in the belly of a bird, traversing the streets of Hollywood and rubbing shoulders with my movie and musical idols.

Hugs became caresses, light kisses developed into deep sensual kisses and murmurs of disapproval turned into mourns and groans of pleasure as I felt his huge and sweaty shivering body on me. By the time he asked me to ensconce myself on the settee, I had already opened myself to him. At that very moment, I sensed something slid down me, and I knew he had done it and without protection.

Suddenly the words of an advertisement on national TV back in the days rang at the back of my mind:

“Mukadzi chaiye haamanikidzwi kuenda pabonde kuti anzi mukadzi chaiye. Mukadzi chaiye anoramba kuita zvepabonde kusvika nguva yakwana. Mukadzi chaiye anomirira….”

I had not waited for my real-time and two months later, I found out that I was pregnant. I then told my friend Sharon about the ‘good’ news.

“I am pregnant for Uncle Tom. He made me take a strong drink and slept with me. I will make your uncle a good wife and you become my niece,” I told her one day as we rested in our room.

 “W-h-a-a-at!” Sharon stood in amazement. Never trust a person to that extent ooh gosh, I am not related to Uncle Tom; I don’t even know where he stays. He is just one of those people whom I call during times of need.

“He tried to lure me into his bed on several occasions but I have stood by my principles and he has been trying ever since. And when I call he comes because he thinks one day, he will win my heart. I was going to tell you about him one day after I saw that he was now interested in you,” she said.

I shivered and felt my legs become weaker and could not bear the weight of my body. I passed out.