featured spaces

Nothing in this world gives me greater pleasure than working with nice people.

By nice, I mean the kind of people that are genuinely good to their inner core. You know the expression “a person who isn’t nice to the waiter, isn’t a nice person”, well, in the reverse analogy of this you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat those around them. I can design and create and transform spaces, but ultimately a home is truly only created by the precious souls within it.

I had such pleasure working with Mr and Mrs Manhatten Mojo and every detail we incorporated. Their love for each other and their three kids is sacred and I enjoyed every second of truly making their new house a true home for all those that step within its walls.

The relationship started when I got a very energised call out of the blue from Mrs MM, as she was about to leave on holiday, to see if I had capacity to work with her. She had already appointed a builder so needed me to focus on the interiors and guide some of the decisions being made. Her energy, drive and general lust for life is infectious and I knew that this was going to be goodie.

Her Friday night dinners had become somewhat of a legend in certain circles (I had the pleasure of attending one of her feasts, and believe me it lived up to the legendary heights!) I speak of her catering only because the dining room became a key focus during the design process. Together, we wanted to create a space that felt designed, like you had entered your very own secret restaurant on the Atlantic Seaboard.

The rest of the elements we worked together on was making sure the space reflected them as a couple and incorporated family living in a practical way. With twin boys and a feisty little sister, this space needed to be gorgeous but not too precious, so that everyone who entered could relax and unwind in seamless indoor/ outdoor living.

Whilst I would love to spend some time harping on, eloquently of course, about how much I hated 2018, I’m a big believer in facing forward. (Plus I couldn’t find a way to be eloquent about my feelings for last year!)

So its here, year of the Pig, and its going to be a goody! Why you ask? Well, because the Chinese know a lot about a lot and I love bacon, so there you have it….a great year lies ahead.

2018 of course wasn’t all bad of course. There was a lot of positive growth and change (blah blah) but most importantly some beautiful little gems of projects along the way that make it all worthwhile. Mrs Create and Calculate contacted me earlier on in the year to come and have a look at her space and advise on a few changes. When I parked out front and saw the stoep, I knew it was going to be a match made in heaven. I have no idea why I love a stoep so much, perhaps its the romantic notion of staring off into the sunset with music playing softly in the background, while I slowly sip on a G & T and dream about the future. The reality these days is that I’ll actually happily sit anywhere peacefully and quietly but with two very active kids and a very demanding job, I have more chance of falling pregnant by immaculate conception. Anyway, I digress.

I’ve been going through a reflection (aka meltdown) phase recently, really looking at my family, our priorities and focus, and challenging if we are going down the right path. My ‘reflection’ may or may not have been sparked by a 3 tiered dinosaur cake I spent an entire day making, the 100^th piece of miniature lego parts I found that doesn’t seem to belong to anything, or a challenging client that just pushed me one step too far. Its too soon to say, but I am now deep in the throws of a life spring clean.

Too often life overwhelms us and we get swept up into the chaos without taking the time to stop, reflect, analyse, question, and carry on. Time is too often spent on the wrong things, or beautiful moments are missed or ignored because we are distracted or tired. Whilst this is a long trail of thoughts that I am currently boring my loved ones with, this post is really about celebrating the project we completed earlier this year with Mr and Mrs Experience and Conquer.

This is a couple that is fun loving and adventure seeking, yet still meticulous in detail and planning. Both extremely sharp and brilliant at what they do, they are the kind of couple that seeks to find the joy in life and living, and I really admire that. Working with Mr and Mrs Experience and Conquer was just that….a multitude of various experiences, but we conquered their grand old dame in the end!  We were cursed with a number of blows. Walls were brittle and crumbling, floorboards rotten through, and wiring as old as the hills. Being the couple that they are though they were considered in their approach to all elements of the project, making the process enjoyable despite the challenges. They are really the kind of couple you want to get stuck in a lift with, good under pressure, and energising to be around.

They say life works in very mysterious ways…ever heard that? Well, little did I know that one day the massive CUSHTY logo my then boyfriend, now husband, had emblazoned across his H&M bought top when we lived in the UK would one day be the name of the deli I helped design and project manage.

Last year we were lucky enough to work with Mr and Mrs Game Changer on their small food market stall in the Mojo market, in Seapoint, called Raclette. When they asked us to conceptualise and be part of this next project with them, it was hard to say anything but a resounding YES.

After getting a small nibble of the restaurant scene, they decided once again to take a massive leap of faith and open a gorgeous little deli in Greenpoint…a place the neighbours can call home. A place where everyone knows your name, or pretends to anyway. It’s the perfect spot to meet friends, catch up on emails, or just be the nosy neighbour watching the world walk by. Cushty, rather good and pleasing!

This little gem embodies all the passion their owners have for good quality food and ingredients. With a smoothie menu to die for, Eggs Benedict that may just knock your socks clean off, and some deli goods to fill your hipster basket, this is one spot not to miss.