inspiration

featured spaces inspiration interior styling New press projects renovation

ZEN DEN: Laerskool Jan Van Riebeek

Every now and again a project comes along that combines all your Christmases at once, and being asked to be one of the design consultants for the new Neuro diversity center at JVR had all the angels singing in harmony for me.

This was a project incredibly close to my heart as my daughter is neuro divergent and its been an interesting journey for us to say the least. What excited me the most was having the need for a space catering for neurodiverse children recognized, and this space becoming a game changing case study for mainstream schooling. The space became a showcase of the way design can be both playful and impactful, making a huge difference in how we respond, feel and relate to each other.

A relatively small space in the school was allocated to us for this project and together with Stretch architects and Mari Kushner, we devised ways to open and create a connection back to the mountain, with windows that pop out over the courtyard. Little sky nests were created from which the children can look out at the world below, and a top treehouse space was created for safe spaces for the children to unwind from sensory or emotional overload.

Due to the space being quite contained, everything had to have multi purposes. The furniture was designed to be able to move around and suit both individual and group needs. Spaces can open and close and the staircase doubles as a hiding spot with both storage and cute little alcoves to nap and escape from the exterior world for a while.

It was crucial for the space to feel welcoming and safe and the double volume of the ceiling allows a feeling of space. A colour palette of calming neutrals and peaceful pastels were combined to support the playful serenity of the space, with each texture used being carefully considered.

The result of this project was a space where learners experiencing sensory overload or feeling overwhelmed can go to feel safe and calm. This Zen Den will remain one of my favorite projects to date. Not only due to the team dynamic working well but mostly being able to witness the impact of the design working for the children it was intended for.

As designers we speak often of impactful design, but to actually be able to create a space that does just that is the ultimate cherry on top.

The Brief:

Create a space where learners experiencing sensory overload or feeling overwhelmed can go to feel safe and calm. Combine this space to house both the main school therapist and speech therapist, with spaces that can house large and small groups at a time.

BEFORE:

Biggest challenge:

I think the hardest part of this project was ensuring that the expectations we had set for ourselves were met. When you are creating a safe calming space for children that needs to function and work in a very specific way, each element needs to be scrutinized. Kids will always be your harshest critic and the greatest joy was seeing kids come in and enjoy the space!

Best feature:

The view from the treehouse looking through the beautiful ball lantern lights.

AFTER:

August 15, 2025 0 comment

featured spaces inspiration interior styling New projects renovation

Mr and Mrs Patience Makes Perfect

2023 kicked off with a much anticipated project for Mr and Mrs Patience Makes Perfect, redoing 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, scullery and creating a new sun room.

We had worked together a few years prior, renovating the granny flat apartment on the bottom floor, which resulted in her jokingly becoming my unofficial marketing manager, kindly referring many clients my way.

The BIG upstairs renovation now involved relocating the kitchen to create a better flow and use of space, and with planning permission being such a fast and efficient process (note the sarcasm), it was some time before we got the go ahead to begin.

The beauty of taking time is that good decision making gets done, and we tackled the hurdles and embraced the problem solving of this project with thought and discussion. It also meant we started the project with great excitement and I was thrilled to see their beautiful dog again who became a firm favorite on site.

Whilst we always work to a schedule, not having the intense deadline looming enabled the team to work efficiently. Renovation is not an exact science and daily challenges are present which we need to overcome. Some are big and some are small, all are solvable with some thought and care taken, but it’s a constant pressure. You are working in an environment with an insane amount of moving parts and the more you enter the process with patience and rational thought, I think enables the end result to become more and more successful. For this reason, working with clients who are kind, considerate and rational, makes the process far more enjoyable, which it really should be.

Entering the process really understanding what you want the non negotiables to be and allowing some room in the process for the project to evolve, enables exciting design to take place. The home itself is a very old Oranjezicht property and so working with skilled craftsmen who could take the care necessary to restore aspects of the woodwork onsite was key to the finishing off of this project to a high spec. Their master en suite remains one of my favorite bathrooms ever done!

The Brief:

Renovate the top floor of the home, relocating a kitchen to new position, and redoing 2 bathrooms.

BEFORE:

The Transformation:

redesign and renovate 2 bathrooms with new tiles, fixtures, custom joinery and fittings.
redesign and renovate kitchen with new joinery
redesign and renovate scullery with new joinery
removal of walls and nibs to enlarge space kitchen space and enable new positions
sand and seal parquet flooring
new sunroom, tiling of floor and glazing work
updating electricals and replacing existing light fittings with new
paintwork throughout
new wineroom
new lighting, furniture and window treatments

Biggest Challenge:

Protecting those parquet floors and choosing the right glass for their sun room. To this day I now know more about the intricacies of energy efficient glass than I feel I should!

Best feature:

Again, so many. Master en suite for sure, ombre tiling of sunroom floor as well as the port hole window in passage.

AFTER:

November 30, 2024 0 comment

featured spaces inspiration interior styling New projects renovation

Before and After: MAMA MONEY

These delicious humans came into my life over a year ago and we have been working together ever since to create a dynamic working office environment. Each time we finish a floor the company has grown so immensely that we have to start on a new space, and even as we publish this we are currently working on their latest level (4th in total thus far)!

It goes without saying that it has been fantastic working with a group of young smart individuals who have created an incredibly successful start up. What has been the most rewarding though is seeing the company culture they have created and nurtured and being able to play a small part in that by creating a beautiful space for them to work in. These type of personalities that have the vision to create companies of this nature are hard to come by and when they do, you make sure they stay in your life for a long time.

Ill never forget waiting to meet one of the founders at our initial meeting and being greeted by literally ever employee that walked passed me. I was quite taken aback by just how happy everyone was that worked here. Who are these people, I thought, and what the hell do they do!

A huge part of the brief was creating the right flow and space planning for a rapidly growing company. The company eats lunch together every day, so creating a restaurant and kitchen that functioned well was vital. Colour and comfort were key elements in choosing the furniture and decor. This was hugely refreshing to me to be briefed with removing grey and adding a fresh vibrant palette instead. Many of the pieces we selected come with a story or some quirk; handwoven pendant lights, custom made copper pendants, 70 style armchairs and funky art to name a few. Atlantic blue, teal, pinks and greens fill the spaces, creating a joyous unexpected arrival for any new visitor. Custom screens were designed and developed to create some level of flexibility in their growth too. Across all the floors, plants fill all the nooks and crannies, adding life and vibrancy. With some of the teams being call centre focused, plants were a very necessary tool in creating clean air and creating a happy space that people wanted to sit in for 8 hours a day.

One of the quirkiest aspects of the brief were the 2 oversized “yes we can” artwalls of Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai, designed and installed by Cara Saven. One hell of a motivational driver for the staff and a perfect summary of this company’s unique flair and creative drive.

February 26, 2020 0 comment

inspiration interior styling styling tips

Becoming a basket case

The simple basket, an object of pure perfection.

I think I may a love a basket more than most, and have been to some incredible factories both locally and in Vietnam before where it truly is an art form.

Its quite remarkable watching how some simple fibres are transformed into vessels of sheer beauty. Much like watching someone plaster a wall, it definately looks easier than it actually is.

August 2, 2017 0 comment

inspiration interior styling styling tips

Curating your art walls with care

You can tell a lot about a person by the art or decor they choose to showcase on their walls. When it comes to decor in the home, art is the most tricky to get right. Subjective and unique for each person, it really is that final finessing touch, the thread that brings the space together, that talking point or playful piece…so what does your art say about you and your home?

There are many different ways to curate your walls with care – big bold statement artworks to create a strong focal point in the room, a vehicle for bringing colour to the space, or just a playful collection of your favorite pieces.

We have collected some of our favorite walls from spaces we have curated to inspire your own curation skills at work or home. Have fun, art should always bring great joy or at least stir some emotion within.

1. The statement piece

2. Colour pops

3. The collection

May 24, 2017 0 comment

green fingers inspiration interior styling styling tips

The broke girls guide to styling with plants

Oooh the sun is shining and the newly painted toes are out. With Summer now in full swing, using plants in your home is a great way to freshen up you space and quite literally, inject some life into it. With the plant obsession trend not going away anytime fast, this is a quick and easy way to make your space look loved and cared for.

Here are my 5 top ways to style with plants:

Let them hang

2. Off the wall

3. The ultimate shelfie

4. Create a statement

5. Use fronds or branches

See full board here

November 2, 2016 2 comments

inspiration style trends

Rug (ged) Interiors

Like any half decent Capetonian, I have spent the most part of the last few weeks complaining bitterly about the cold. So time to shake off that frost bite and find some serious inspiration in the textural deliciousness of rugs.

They not only bring warmth to a space (quite literally, warmth is ALL I can think about), but they add texture and visual interest, taking even the dullest of spaces to the next level.

Like with all things interior based, there is indeed a simple art to buying rugs and decorating with them. Follow some tips below to find your perfect match to transform your space to perfection.

Size

This is the obvious part, right? Take measurements for your rug based on the space you wish to fill.

If wanting to add a rug to your seating area, the size of rug you choose should sit comfortably within the size of your seating area. It is not necessary to fill the entire floor space or room, although if you have the space it’s never regrettable to be as generous as possible.

Ideally, all furniture should be placed on the rug, even it’s just on the edge – front-legs-only is generally the rule of thumb here. The basic idea is when sitting on the armchair or couch, your feet are on a rug, not the floor.

Under a dining table you ideally want to stretch as wide as possible, so your chairs are all sitting on the rug when pulled out.

However, sometimes you find the most beautiful rug, but its not in the right shape or size, especially when it comes to vintage or antique rugs. When faced with these situations, consider layering your rugs. Choose a basic larger rug for underneath in a neutral weave like a jute, hemp or sisal and then place your patterned smaller rug on top.

Colour and Pattern

This is of the most important aspects to get right, a real make or break decision. Chosen right, a rug brings a space to life. Chosen wrong, it’s quite simply the biggest eye sore (no pressure!).

Fail safe options and always a winner are neutral heavily textured natural fibre rugs. They always look great, are inexpensive and hard wearing.

Although a rug “reads” as your biggest piece of furniture in the space, don’t always play it safe. Choosing the right colour combinations and playful patterns, can really bring the space to the next level, especially if placed in a fairly neutral environment. Dhurries and kilims are known for their bright graphic prints and bright colours, and tend to work in just about any space.

If the space has a few colour combinations on the go already, then ensure you choose a rug that further enhances the main tones of the space, and acts as a thread tying them all together.

Texture – making the material work for you

One generally tends to forget about this feature when choosing a rug, and yet it adds a different dimension to the space. Bringing texture to a space makes it feel dynamic and complete, and a rug is the easiest tool to achieve this with. Let existing finishes in the space be your guide for what’s needed in the rug, sleek leathers team well with a richer softer pile rug, whereas a rich luxurious sofa looks magnificent on a harder jute or hemp base.

As always, be practical with this purchase and think about cleaning. If you have pets and or kids or if it’s a high traffic area, go for the easy to clean, hard wearing, durable types and leave the beautiful and delicate rugs for the calm of your bedroom.

See full inspiration board on Pinterest.

July 12, 2016 0 comment

inspiration

Digging Deep: A guide to finding motivation in business (and life)

This post was supposed to be about colour trends in interiors but to be completely frank, for the past two weeks I just couldn’t find the inspiration to talk about brown making a comeback (it’s true, I’m afraid) or all the fantastic shades of marshmallow pink (boys, be warned).

I consult with a number of young ambitious teams, and I see the reality daily of pressure and stress, and how it affects our motivation and quality of work. I have felt it too, in fact, far too many times over the course of my career. When I worked corporate it was immense pressure of targets and a need to succeed and trade. Whilst the mentorship and infrastructure was there, you need to have the will to want to do it, and not burn out somewhere along the path.

Working for a start-up is different (you’ve seen “The Intern”?) and whilst it’s not all fixies, beards and sriracha on your lunch, it was a different kind of pressure with a series of highs and lows. The highs were amazing, but the lows were hard and relentless. With one constantly carving out a path, and the other fighting off the naysayers on the outside.

Now I work for myself, and whilst it’s where I always wanted to be, with the pros far outweighing the cons, the down days are lonely with no team to lift you up and drag you along. YOU have to find that inner strength, that drive, that energy, and make it through the day, week, and month to reach your goals.

Life is designed (I believe) to be truly exciting with so many opportunities and options available to us. So let’s enjoy the process, take the risks, feel stimulated, and drive forward. This is not a love campaign, but the more we can feel motivated and inspired, the more we can make positive change to our own environments. Then those around us and so forth and so on.

So, let’s not say this is a definitive guide by any means, but I hope how I find my motivation and inner inspiration will provide some insight to you finding yours.

Making it happen

Whoa, thought I would ease you in? No, doesn’t work like that I’m afraid, jump onto that bandwagon and roll with it. By making it happen, I mean have a plan, a structure that you can work within.

What’s often the most overwhelming is the quantity of work that needs to get done, or lack of expertise (trying to code my own site comes to mind!) making a simple task seem insurmountable. Write a list of what needs to happen to the best of your ability and then START SMALL. I mean, minuscule, like colour coordinating your post-its and pens.

On a bad day, make your goal for the day as simple and achievable as possible so that you can actually get ONE thing done. On good days, have higher goals and hit maybe 10 things off your list, but literally take it one small step at a time.

Be positive

Negativity breeds contempt right? Right! So focus on everything and anything positive…write it down if you have to. If you can’t be positive then find those that can. Surround yourself with people that have great energy and attitude and try get it to rub off. Pinterest positive inspirational quotes all over your Facebook page if you have to, who cares, just find the happy sunny outlook. Switch off from news, and negative social media for a while…I promise it will still all be there when you come back again. Watch an inspiring TedX talk rather than crime investigation.

You have to invest in yourself and understand your own wiring so that you can give yourself the right fuel. Being positive saps a lot less energy than being negative does.

Walk away

On the days when you are rolling that boulder uphill, sometimes it’s best to take a break.

No, I am not condoning a life of mediocrity and of giving in, I’m saying on days where the energy is off, go get it back. Go for a run, go for surf, go watch a movie, go have a laugh for goodness sake, and then tomorrow hit it hard.

Seek solace

Not the crying yourself to sleep kind. Seek support. Build a strong foundation of support around you. Find individuals who can offer expertise, kind words, guidance or perhaps a shoulder to cry on. Do not surround yourself with those that want to find the easy path, pass the buck, seek blame or have a moan…remember negativity breeds contempt! Surround yourself with those that are solution driven, power houses and clever sausages.

Learn, teach, share.

Inspire

Start with knowing what actually gets you inspired. I get excited over beautifully packaged olive oils for example, but then that’s me. My more intellectual friends get inspired by reading Business Insider, others by music, some by nature and so forth and so on.

Just to be clear, your actual work might not inspire you on a daily level (oh, shock horror) so make sure your inspiration comes elsewhere so that you can be better, and do better.

Fill the gaps in your day with more things that puts you on a high and reduce those that shut you down.

Business “self-help” books often use the mantra of “you can do hard things” and you can, but sometimes you need a little compassion.

Don’t be so hard on yourself…it’s a killer. Don’t rely on others to constantly be giving you reassurances or praise.

On down days be kind to yourself.

Make some coffee and take a breath, then walk over to that record player, throwback to the 80s on full volume and sing with me…..” you are GOOOOOLD, GOLD, always believe in your soooooul, you have the power to know, you’re indestructible, aaaaalwways believe innnnnnnn (thanks Spandau Ballet) …..and well, you know the rest!

June 8, 2016 0 comment

inspiration

Bathroom simplicity

I have a massive crush on a certain local tile manufacturer and just can’t get enough of their tiling range.

Clean and simple, it brings the Scandinavian dream to life, making one want to camp out in the loo forever. Ok, that’s a bit extreme, especially with when I have 2 little kids, but a sleek, chic bathroom can make even the most jumbled of days seem like a zen retreat.

For the metro tile lover, here’s my bathroom eye candy.

See board on Pinterest.

March 17, 2016 0 comment

inspiration

Orange is the new Black?

So, one thing I have always got to declare pretty early on when meeting with a new client is my utter disdain for the colour orange (gasp!).

Yes, it’s true, orange in all its (un) glorious shades…tangerine, burnt (possibly my worst), melon, salmon (shriek!!), peach and of course rust, to name but a few.

However, in a bid to make this the year of embracing new things and seeking out the best in everyone, I have decided to let bygones be what they may and seek out inspiring interiors that use orange.

Red is after all my absolute best friend in the world and I love to sneak it into any space that I possibly can, so why not embrace it’s not so distant cousin?