WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Developed by the Al Capone Group, Maison Deux is a new retail store housing a curated selection of international luxury fashion houses, homeware and the Marc Jacobs Café.

The concept for Maison Deux began with an exploration of how to create a retail environment that feels unique within the South African context. The idea was to create a destination offering an experience comparable to international luxury retail environments – the kind of spaces one would typically encounter in Italy and Paris, or within iconic department stores abroad. “Achieving this required careful planning, particularly as the project needed to accommodate nine distinct brands across eleven individual retail zones within a single cohesive architectural environment,” says the Al Capone design team.

From the outset, the design team spent considerable time testing different concepts and spatial layouts to determine how multiple brands could coexist while maintaining their individual identities. This process refined circulation patterns, brand adjacencies and spatial hierarchies, ensuring each brand maintained its own presence while contributing to the overall cohesion of the store.

The concept of duality, signaled in the name ‘Maison Deux’, became a central driver of the design. “The spatial layout gently guides visitors through the environment, encouraging movement from one brand experience to the next while maintaining a strong sense of cohesion,” explains the Al Capone design team.

Rather than separating all the brands into completely isolated stores, the design introduces a grand marble passage that acts as the central spine of the space. This passage both divides and connects the retail zones, creating a curated journey for the shopper. “Visitors have already begun describing Maison Deux as ‘a mall within a mall’, a phrase that reflects the intention of creating multiple design expressions within a single destination,” notes the Al Capone design team.

At the centre of the store sits the Marc Jacobs Café. Designed to feel integrated rather than separate, the space introduces the brand’s bold yellow identity, while the joinery, materials and detailing remain consistent with the wider store language. “The café was envisioned as the social heart of the space, blending the vibrant energy of New York with the refined atmosphere of Paris while being adapted to reflect local tastes and culture,” says the Al Capone design team.

The retail space and café are visually linked through the flowing, wavy ceiling detail that continues from the store into the café, creating a seamless architectural connection rather than a shop-in-shop experience. “This continuity in ceiling design, colour palette and craftsmanship allows both identities to coexist naturally within the space,” adds the Al Capone design team.

As customers move through the space, the bright yellow palette, pendant lighting and greenery above the counter create strong visual cues that draw the eye towards the café and subtly invite people in. “Layered textures, such as upholstery, timber furniture, plants, curtains and wall treatments, help absorb sound and maintain a calm, conversational atmosphere despite the retail setting. The result is a space that captures the lively spirit of New York while still feeling intimate and comfortable, encouraging guests to spend time, relax and engage with the environment,” says the Al Capone design team | maisondeux.co.za

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WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

For over a century, Le Creuset has been the cooking companion in kitchens across the globe. Its latest collection makes a nature-inspired statement in shades that capture the delicate tones of anemone petals.

This curated selection of bloom-inspired cookware brings a touch of soft elegance to the home, transforming everyday kitchens and tablescapes into effortless works of art.

The collection

The new collection includes Le Creuset’s iconic cast-iron casseroles, mugs, bowls, egg cups and accessories.

Cast Iron Petal Casseroles

The range includes a Signature Petal Soup Pot, Signature Petal Shallow Casserole and Signature Petal Casserole, all complete with petal-shaped lids in a range of pastel colours.

Stoneware Petal Mug

With their embossed floral design, durable stoneware body and vibrant glaze, the Stoneware Petal Mugs bring a sense of calm, comfort and quiet elegance to everyday rituals.

Stoneware Petal Set of 4 Mini Bowls

Echoing the gentle form of a blooming flower petal, the Stoneware Petal Set of 4 Mini Bowls is perfect for entertaining or storing snacks and treats.

Stoneware Petal Set of 4 Footed Egg Cups

Perfectly petite and petal-inspired, the pastel egg cups are designed to brighten every morning.

Stoneware Pie Vents

Bring a playful touch to every bake.

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WORDS AND PRODUCTION Steve Smith PHOTOS Jan Ras

Keurbos manages the clever trick of being both conspicuous and concealed. It stands out in the architectural sense: this Gawie Fagan-designed Modernist bungalow-style home bears no resemblance to the Neo-Georgian squares and contemporary concrete rectangles that occupy Bishopscourt’s streets. And it’s hidden both physically and conceptually: built on a steep slope, Keurbos sits well below street level on a verdant hillside. It’s a discrete structure in a discrete location, accessed via a descending panhandle driveway that requires very specific directional instructions to find. If you know anything about the late architect’s approach, you’ll know that’s all intentional. This giant of South African Modernist architecture had sense of place as one of his key design principles, and his structures all show a sensitivity to the landscape – Keurbos nestles into the hill, rather than dominating it.

These were all elements that held great appeal for the house’s owner of the past 48 years, Lana Hudson. Gawie had designed Keurbos in 1951 for his parents – Chief Justice H A Fagan and his wife Jessie – while he was a final-year student. After Justice Fagan’s passing in 1963, the home stayed in the family until it was put up for sale in 1978.

“We were interested in a house in Nettleton Road above Clifton, but our bid was R5 000 short,” recalls Lana. “It was a lot of money for a house back then, so before we put in another bid, I thought I’d have one more look around. I knew about Keurbos – it had been on the market for a while and there had been an auction, but the family had deemed the bids too low. They put it back on the market, where it sat for a few months again. We then put in an offer that was accepted.”

That final short statement holds much within it. It speaks to great foresight and more than a small degree of bravery to be spending a large sum of money on a house whose architecture was not just progressive for its time, but also an aesthetic challenge to others in the neighbourhood.

But then, Lana does have an impressively canny eye: just cast your own over her wonderful collection of modern art. Her bookcase is filled with works on art and architecture, but her choice of home (and of art) was never an intellectual one. “I buy art because I fall in love with it. If I walk into a gallery and a piece makes my heart beat faster, I know that’s the one to get. I only buy one piece of art per year, so my collection has been gradually built up over the time I’ve lived here.”

Lana’s heart also happens to be astute; her emotionally driven purchases have turned out to be shrewd investments. You don’t want to know what she paid for the Erik Laubscher abstract – my favourite piece in the house – in the ’90s. It’s that same instant emotional connection that made her choose Keurbos. With an innate, instinctual sense for design that is both progressive and timeless, Lana’s radar is joy – and Keurbos elevated her heartbeat more than anything the lofty Clifton sea views had to offer. And it continues to do so. As she walks us through her home, sharing the last five decades of living here, her love for Keurbos and her appreciation for the impact it’s had on her is wonderfully evident. “Great architecture never dates, and I honestly believe that a thoughtfully designed space improves the experience of your life. I appreciate living at Keurbos every day.”

Along with this joy, though, comes an element of responsibility – one she has held close since owning the house. A deep awareness of its architectural provenance means that Keurbos’s bones have been meticulously maintained. Everything from the beautiful brass-edged front door to the wooden ceilings and bespoke built-in furniture that Gawie designed remains; even the kitchen cabinetry, with its yellow wood drawers and brass handles, is original.

One thing that Lana has modified is what used to be an open stoepkamer to the right of the entrance hall. It was a change inherently sympathetic to the home’s architecture, and one that has improved her experience of living here. “Because it was open to the outside, the weather had to be right to use it. At night, it tended to be a bit chilly, and obviously you couldn’t sit out there when it rained. By taking out the breeze blocks and enclosing it with sliding doors, it became a sunroom – and the space in the house that I’ve used the most. It’s warm, it has a wonderful view of the mountain, it’s close to the kitchen and, if I do want to sit outside, it leads straight to the little courtyard.”

It’s in this courtyard, sitting on mauve-and-purple-striped cushions, that Lana and I are chatting. The conversation flows between the story of the house, her love of art and travel, and The Rest Is History podcast that we’re both avid listeners of. She looks happy and content – something Lana attributes much of to living at Keurbos.

Gabriël “Gawie” Fagan (1925-2020)

Gawie Fagan was celebrated for blending Modernist principles with a deep respect for local climate, landscape and vernacular building traditions. Together with his wife and partner Gwen Fagan, he founded Gabriël Fagan Architects in 1963, producing influential work across Cape Town, from Die Es, his own home in Camps Bay, to sensitive heritage restorations, including the Castle of Good Hope. His architecture is marked by warm materials, human-scaled spaces and elegant simplicity, leaving a lasting imprint on South Africa’s built environment. gabrielfaganarchitects.com

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PHOTOS Natelee Cocks

It joins Tightline and Tyler’s grill house in eMdloti on Durban’s North Coast as part of restauranter Tyler Loome’s stable. Located below Tightline, it’s simply called The Room … think part bar, part listening room, part 1970’s music scene vibes.

Tristan gave us some insights into the design process behind The Room.

The brief

“The brief was to transform a subterranean space, previously 16 parking bays beneath an existing restaurant in Durban, into Durban’s coolest bar and lounge. With a personality as strong as its owner Tyler Loomes Tightline, Tyler’s) 

The concept

“It drew inspiration from the atmosphere, materiality and cultural excess of 1970s recording studios, aiming to create an immersive, music-driven environment that balances intimacy, energy and a strong, contemporary sense of place.”

Design challenges

“The primary challenge was time. We were tasked with designing and delivering the project within six weeks, requiring the enclosure of existing parking bays while simultaneously developing a resolved design and executing construction.

“This compressed timeline demanded decisive thinking and rapid coordination, but ultimately created a sense of creative freedom, allowing the project to evolve instinctively without over-analysis. It’s a process I likely won’t do again, but it was surprisingly so much fun … just throwing the kitchen sink at the design without time for any second guessing.”

Design results

“The result is a deeply immersive, atmospheric bar and lounge that translates the spirit of a 1970s recording studio into a contemporary experience. It has a soulfulness and it’s a space to be discovered through texture and detail, with some naughtier details scattered throughout [not in any of the print-ready imagery :) ]

“I love how we were given the creative freedom to create an acid trip-inspired (metaphorically) retro-futuristic space with no guard rails,  it has also been so motivating for our studio to create work in South Africa, something which we are allowing more studio time for.” | tristanduplessis.com

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COMPILED BY Martin Jacobs PHOTOS Elton Rocha, Elsa Young, Utkan Gunerkan, Michael Allen, Atelier Photography, Courtesy of Jeeves

Comforting tactile surfaces – marble, plaster, natural stone, textured paint, glazed tiles and raw timber – are key to today’s sanctuary bathroom, while natural and biscuit tones lend an authentic touch.

In a Barcelona warehouse conversion (pictured above), interior designer Noé Prades extends brick paving used on the adjacent patio into the bathroom, connecting the open shower to the outdoors. Exposed brick walls pair with untreated woods for an earthy look, while matt black fixtures nod to the apartment’s industrial beams. Source similar fixtures from Meir. noeprades.com | meirsa.co.za

Ballito-based interior designer Michele Throssell off sets the sleek surface of a freestanding tub with textured whitewashed rock walls in this KwaZulu-Natal project. Other tactile surfaces in the bathroom drive home the look. Source similar bathtubs at Duravit. michelethrossell.com | duravit.com

A fluted stone vanity and hammered sconce add the luxe factor to an already textured bathroom by South Africa’s Gregory Mellor Design. Tactile extremes are exaggerated by off setting these surfaces with a woven grasscloth, cork ceiling and bamboo blind. gregorymellor.com

“We layered raw stone, handcraft ed tiles and natural wood to create a tactile experience that’s both organic and refined,” says Kelsey Boyce of Durban-based Fyfe Boyce Interior Design about this bathroom. “The artwork adds softness, balancing the materiality with a sense of warmth and depth.” For a handcraft ed look, consider tiles from Wolkberg Casting Studio. fyfeboyce.co.za | wolkbergcs.com

Natural stone – like this Persian tumbled red travertine used by architect Utkan Gunerkan in a Milan apartment – applied from floor to ceiling on as many walls as possible will introduce a spa-like element to a bathroom. He paired it with micro-cement flooring. “To keep the look clean, I didn’t want shutters or curtains,” he says, “so the windows are smart glass, frosting at a click.” utkangunerkan.com

In this striking marble bathroom, interior designer Ryan Saghian drives home the cocooning and luxurious drama that using a single material can bring. Natural-stone specialists, including WOMAG, can offer invaluable advice when considering a stone bathtub. ryansaghian.com | womag.co.za

Black fixtures, including a Spartan F heated towel rail by Jeeves, pair well with concrete for a Zen-like industrial look. The material used for the flooring is sculpted into a bath, its curved lines introducing softness to an otherwise austere space. For a similar effect, contact Cemcrete about the brand’s RenoCrete. jeeves.co.za | cemcrete.co.za

The grey colour of this freestanding bathtub makes it a point of focus in Australian interior stylist Tim Neve’s tone- on-tone bathroom. “It’s the textures that really enliven this space, introducing a comforting and earthy ambience,” he explains. “Adding matt bronze tapware makes it even more luxurious.” timneve.com

An oversized wooden tub is a statement-making addition to this rustic bathroom by Gregory Mellor Design. Placing it in the centre of the room not only draws attention to its uniqueness, but also connects it with views of the outdoors. The tub is half of a large oak wine barrel, procured by the client on a whim. It had to be sanded very smooth to remove all splinters, and then thoroughly sealed with a waterproof product. Unlacquered brass tapware elevates the look. gregorymellor.com

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WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS Marijke Willems, Sarah de Pina, Supplied

Joburg-based design studio TheUrbanative is known for contemporary furniture and products that mix modern, minimalist shapes with rich African stories. Mpho Vackier and her team create designs that feel rooted, fresh, stylish – and deeply personal. Read the stories behind her most treasured objects, and you’ll understand exactly why.

My grandmother’s 1960s Coffee pot

“This coffee pot belonged to my grandmother Lydia, who I am named aft er. It is the only piece of hers that I have. The spout once broke, and we repaired it with glue and a touch of gold leaf, which feels fi tting because her strength always shone through the cracks. I oft en look at it and wonder when she bought it. Was it from the time she lived in Sophiatown before she was forced to move? Did she pack it carefully and take it with her because it mattered to her? I used to think it was such an odd and slightly ugly thing, but as I have grown older, I have come to love it more – and I’m grateful that I held on to it.

“My grandmother was gentle but sure of herself. I did not always understand her, but I learnt a great deal by watching how she moved through the world. This coffee pot reminds me of where I come from, and of the woman I learnt so much from about showing up as your most authentic self, every single time.”

Haberdashery Warrior by Anastasia Pather

“This artwork is one of my most treasured. Anastasia’s work explores the balancing act women are expected to perform. We must be everything to everyone all at once while navigating a world shaped by patriarchy. In her ‘Pretty Face’ collection, she plays with the idea of confidence as a kind of armour. She wraps strength in beauty. Prettiness becomes a shield that allows us to move through spaces that are not always kind to us. There is a quiet resistance in that approach.

“Haberdashery Warrior was one of the first artworks I ever purchased for my own collection. Buying it felt like a declaration that I was starting a life that would hold beauty, art and intention. It still brings me joy every day, and it holds pride of place in my home as a reminder of feminine power, creativity and the parts of ourselves that deserve to be seen and celebrated.”

My telescope

“When I was young and proudly nerdy growing up in Soweto, I dreamed of being an astronaut. Before engineering. Before design felt possible. I was obsessed with space, the idea of seeing worlds beyond our own. I wished I could have a telescope so I could feel a little closer to the stars.

“When I met my husband, I told him about that childhood dream of nerdy little Mpho who wanted to explore far away galaxies. While we were still dating, he remembered that story – and, on one of my birthdays, he surprised me with this telescope. He delivered a dream I had carried for decades. This telescope represents the way he supports every idea I dream up – even the ones that seem wild, unlikely or sometimes forgotten. He shows up with his whole heart, and he has done that since the beginning. When I look at this telescope, I think of the girl who wished for the stars, and the love that reminds her she can still reach for them.”

Moeke’s knitted baby toy and birth announcement bear

“When my son was born, my mother- in-law, and his Moeke’chocolat as she’s fondly known, brought a handmade wool baby toy and a customised birth- announcement bear filled with Belgian- chocolate-covered almonds (suikerboon), which is a traditional way of celebrating a baby in Belgium. The almond symbolises new life and fertility and, since the almond tree blooms early and its kernel is hidden inside its shell, it became a metaphor for the promise of growth. It was thoughtful, and personal.

“These two keepsakes sit where motherhood, heritage and belonging first came together for me. They remind me that, from his very first day, my son belonged to more than one world – and both were ready to love him.”

My son’s bracelets

“When my son was in Grade 9 and 10, he travelled to Nepal and Japan on school trips, and each trip came home with two bracelets. He chose them himself, carefully, and handed them to me with a mix of pride and awkwardness that made it even sweeter. That small moment was the beginning of a tradition. When he travels, he brings me a bracelet; when I travel without him, I bring him cheesy touristy keepsakes that crack him up. It has become our inside joke and our way of staying connected.

“I cherish these bracelets because they carry a piece of him. They remind me that even when he is on the other side of the world, he is thinking of me. They hold the feeling of watching him grow more independent while still wanting me to be part of his adventures. Whenever I wear them, which is oft en, they keep him present in my day-to-day life, even when he is far from home.”

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

“My favourite book and the one I return to almost every year is The Night Circus. It inspires my imagination in a way few other stories do. Every time I open it, I’m transported to a world that is magical and mysterious, but also somehow familiar. I know the characters and the scenes vividly in my mind, like they live there. It feels like stepping into a space where creativity is allowed to run free.

“I tell everyone about this book because it reminds me of the power of storytelling. It explores big themes like love, sacrifice, creativity, time and community, which continue to resonate with me each time I reread it. The story unfolds visually and emotionally, and I fi nd myself imagining the circus in my own way. That feels close to the way African stories are oft en told, where you build the characters in your mind and the magic exists partly in what is left unsaid. It reminds me to stay curious and to keep imagination at the centre of what I do.”

The kilted skirt

“I grew up in a matriarchal family filled with strong women. All my aunts and my mom have worn this kilted skirt. As a girl, I used to watch them heading out into the world in it, and I would wonder when it would be my turn. Now it is mine and I treasure it.

“The fabric is worn down in places, and the pleats do not sit quite as sharply as they once did, but that makes its history feel even richer. I have no idea who it belonged to first, but each woman who’sworn it has added something of herself to it. Some of the strongest women I know chased their dreams in this skirt. They made big decisions. They built families. They found their voices. And now it has become part of my story too.

“Every winter I bring it out and put it on. It feels like an heirloom passed down through generations, even though it was never formally declared as one. When I wear this skirt, I feel all of them with me. It reminds me of where I come from, and of the women who raised me to stand firm in who I am.”

My thrifted Vivienne Westwood boots

“I fell in love with these boots the first time I saw them. Thrifted, slightly worn and bursting with personality, they are joy in shoe form. I love how whimsical they are. Whenever I wear them, I feel a little spark of freedom. Vivienne Westwood believed fashion could be a statement. She used design to challenge norms, stir imagination and celebrate individuality. Her work was rooted in craft , heritage and a touch of rebellion. These boots feel connected to that same spirit in their own way.

“They take pride of place in my dressing room. They reflect how I see creativity – bold yet grounded, playful yet real. They remind me to embrace whimsy in my work; to trust my ideas and stay curious about what design can become. I wear them for the style… and for the story they carry, one of discovery and fearless expression.”

The Nyika overcoat

“The Nyika overcoat is the result of a collaboration between TheUrbanative and Romaria Knitwear. It’s part of the Kusafiri collection, which opened a new creative door for me. It allowed me to explore clothing design, something that has always been close to my heart. My mom was a seamstress, and for many years I believed I would become a fashion designer. This piece feels like a quiet nod to that early dream.

“The name Nyika is a Swahili word meaning wilderness or hinterland. The design draws from the patterns and textures found on the Nyika Plateau in Malawi, known for its wildlife and rolling whaleback hills. Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good kimono-inspired silhouette, so this piece feels like the perfect fit for my personal style and for my creative journey. The Nyika overcoat represents the power of collaboration, the joy of storytelling through fashion, and the belief that old dreams can evolve into new realities.”

The Wambo pod chair

“The Wambo pod chair is part of our Outdoor Collection, yet its story and roots reach into both the African Crowns Collection and my grandmother’s garden, where I spent my childhood summers. Its woven mesh reminds me of her world – the textures of outdoor living, chickens roaming and afternoons under the trees. The form, with its long, curved ribs, draws from the remarkable eembuvi plaits worn by the women of the Mbalantu people of the Ovawambo tribe in Namibia, where hair could grow into elegant lengths that became a symbol of beauty and identity.

“The Wambo pod is special to me because it shows how stories can live in material things. It carries the memory of the women who shaped me, and a celebration of African heritage that continues to inspire my work. It proves that design can be functional and rooted, contemporary and full of history, personal and proudly communal all at once.” | theurbanative.com

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COMPLIED BY VISI PHOTOS Elsa Young/La Grange Interiors, Supplied, Francis Dzikowski/OTTO/v2comnewswire (New York Apartment), Warren HeaTH/Bureaux (Mossel Bay House), Paris Brummer (Camps Bay Villa)

The Essential Elements

Tiles have long been a great choice for bathrooms because of their hard- wearing and easy-to-clean qualities – but somewhere along the line, the rather ubiquitous use of glossy 20cm squares or beige rectangles with white grouting meant they weren’t always seen as the most appealing from an aesthetic point of view. Over the past few years, however, that’s all changed. Tiles are now beautiful and versatile as well as practical, making them the ideal bathroom material pick.

The current trends in tiles are so wide-ranging that you’re sure to find something that appeals to you among them. As seen on these pages, from wood-effect, stone-effect and the latest concrete-effect finishes to swathes of colour – or colour-blocking – created using sheets of mosaic, the possibilities are endless when it comes to both texture and colour.

Also worth noting is the plethora of boutique tile studios that have sprung up locally. If you’re looking for a truly special tile to form the focal point of your bathroom, check out the current offerings from Wolkberg Casting Studios, Veelvlak, Akashic Tiles and Rialheim.

Using well-established tile shapes in eye-catching patterns is also big right now: think a classic subway tile laid vertically rather than in the more conventional horizontal manner, or herringbone tiled walls and floors. KitKat tiles, old-school penny tiles and large-format tiles all work well in the right context too, especially when combined with other types of tiles (or natural materials such as stone or glass) to create textural and visual contrast. This is an area where advice from an expert will be especially valuable, so consider consulting an interior designer or specialist tiling store before making your final selection.

Make a Plan

“Ensure you have a designer, to assist with the placement of fittings,” says director of Victorian Bathrooms Jonathan Goodale. “Water supply and waste are very particular, so plotting them correctly in your space is vital, especially for the plumber to work from.”

His other key piece of advice? “Make sure you have a good plumber. I have seen stunning products installed shockingly. So many plumbers ignore the installation guides and assume they know better, then when it all goes wrong, we (the supplier) are blamed. All that headache can be avoided by having a competent plumber.”

Overall, planning a bathroom is a complex undertaking. Asked by international sanitaryware manufacturers Duravit for her step-by-step approach, Ulrike Fantoli-Senn of leading prefab home-building company WeberHaus recommends the following process.

1. Do an honest requirements analysis. Do you really need the bathtub, or do you prefer to shower?
2. Be flexible about your idea. The most beautiful bathroom ideas can fail due to structural circumstances or prevailing standards. Keep an open mind.
3. Stay decisive about the floor plan. It defines the entire project and cannot be fundamentally changed. Be realistic!
4. Trust your expert consultant. You don’t build or renovate a bathroom every day, but the experts do.
5. Think about tomorrow, today. A bathroom that meets your requirements today and in the future will support you in a wide range of life circumstances. A multigenerational, accessible bathroom design today ensures that you’ll be able to live independently and autonomously later.
6. Follow trends with proven staying power. A bathroom is built to have a useful lifespan of about 20 years – which means not every current fad is worth following.
7. Consider what is always “current”. For Ulrike, a timeless and classic design is the central factor – and she makes sure to instil this idea into everyone involved in the construction or renovation project. victorianbathrooms.co.za | duravit.com | weberhaus.co.uk

Go Bold

“I’m seeing bold patterns on bathroom tiles, and textured tiles too, which is a trend I love. Some even feel like velvet,” says Bilala Mabuza, founder and creative director at Cocoon Lifestyle, of tile trends. As the entirely different bathroom spaces on these pages demonstrate, whether you’re keen to transform your shower into a slice of sunshine or create artfully patterned monochrome eff ects, the right tile to help you realise your chosen look is definitely out there.

A word of warning in terms of falling in love with a look you see online: as with every element of an interior decor scheme, it’s important to see the bathroom finishes and fixtures you have your eye on in person before taking the plunge and placing an order. “I always advise my clients to touch and feel the product they are interested in purchasing,” says Kirsten Stigling, interior designer at Lavo Bathroom Concepts. “Going to showrooms to touch and try products will give you a better sense of the product quality and proportions, which you don’t get with online purchases. Everybody is different, with unique requirements – which makes lying in bathtubs and sitting on toilets essential before making a purchase.” cocoonlifestyle.co.za | lavo.co.za

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The Hex River pass is an exhalation. Climbing out of the verdant Hex River valley, you crest the escarpment, and suddenly the landscape changes. It’s where the Karoo begins – and whenever I round the pass’s final right-hand bend and the road straightens into those beautiful Karoo vistas, I can feel myself breathe out and relax. It’s only then that it really feels like I’ve properly escaped into the country.

The last time I drove it was to shoot the house on our cover. In late January, photographer Jan Ras and I set off for Prince Albert, aiming to spend a few days there shooting interesting new homes in one of my favourite South African country towns. The first of those homes is on pages 106 to 117. Designed by Casper Lundi and Yvonne Brecher of Studio Biru, it’s the perfect representation of this issue’s New Rustic theme, combing modern minimalism with the traditional Karoo brakdak aesthetic.

It’s a theme that’s pulled right through VISI 143, with beautiful country homes from Dullstroom to Canada’s Thirty Thousand Islands district; refurbed country hotels in the Cape Winelands and on the slopes of the Tsitsikamma mountains; get-the-look interiors ideas on page 56; and our trends guru Chris Reid’s look at the emerging rustic trend.

We’re always trying to showcase new local talent, and this month the spotlight falls on Sipho Khwebula Twala of Khwebula Arts, as well as five emerging artists from the recent Investec Cape Town Art Fair: Tshepiso Moropa, Guy Simpson, Kamva Matuis, Amy Rusch and Warren Maroon.

Also on during the same week in February was Cape Town Furniture Week, now in its fourth year. VISI was again the official media partner, and the prestigious CTFW x VISI Design Prize unearthed yet another promising talent in Tom Lead, who collaborated with Stripped Studio to create 2026’s winning entry: the Koppie chair (see page 86).

Topping off a packed issue of VISI is a 30-page Bathrooms special section where your home’s often-overlooked space steals the spotlight. Our interiors expert Martin Jacobs selects new trends, from brave colour to luxe natural stone, to spark your next revamp.

There you have it, VISI 143: full of beautiful images, engaging storytelling and inspiring interior design ideas – and all made by human hands, not by some sketchy AI algorithm. Enjoy the read. And the exhale.

– Steve Smith, Editor | info@visi.co.za

Finally… thanks, Jo!

It’s also the final issue that has the talented Jo Buitendach as contributing editor. Jo’s been curating and writing our Stories section since issue #125, and we’ll miss her wonderfully quirky eye and insightful features. Jo, your contribution to VISI has been immense, and you’ve definitely set the high-water mark. I’m hoping we’ll still see your byline appear on the pages of future issues, as one of our writers!

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WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Gina Dionisio; Cape Town Furniture Week / Hannah St Clair 

A totemic field is not merely a collection of objects but a charged system organised around symbols that carry presence and gravity. Meaning emerges through proximity, repetition, and exchange. In The Totemic Field – a collaborative exhibition by Joburg-based furniture designers Mash.T Design Studio, TheUrbanative, and multidisciplinary design studio Hoven – these ideas found compelling material expression.

Curated by Nisha van Hoven, the showcase was an artful exploration of the contemporary totemic – where waste, error, and experimentation are not by-products of design but generative forces, producing functional forms that quietly hold collective meaning. “They are definitely not static objects, they are very much adaptive systems. So you will see part lamp, part structure, part object. They refuse fixed identities,” says Nisha.

Featuring new pieces and prototypes, the exhibition positioned modularity not only as a functional strategy but also as a philosophy grounded in circularity, collaboration, and expressive African design. Each piece became a vessel of memory and intention, shaped by material, labour, and the many hands involved in its making.

For Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T Design Studio, the showcase highlighted the brand’s continued journey of generational artisanship, collaboration, and learning. “This story revolves around our metal spinner, Grandpa Jackson. We asked him to teach one of our young artists how to spin. And so this is the result of a year-long apprenticeship,” she says, pointing to the prototypes.

As the apprentice worked towards mastering the spinning process – a technique that resulted in the new Axis Collection – many components naturally didn’t make the cut. These were assembled into imperfect prototypes, such as the Mad Hatter, a standing lamp that embraces the imperfections of its materials, revealing a new aesthetic in which waste tells a story.

Mpho Vackier, founder and designer of TheUrbanative, presented new and reimagined pieces from the African Crowns, Homecoming, and Ndebele collections. “We wanted to push the materials and push ourselves,” she says. Among the pieces on display was the Fula Chair, upholstered in Mungo double-cloth fabric with a blue-stained natural ash seat – a progression from the Fulani Chair. “This chair has lived many, many lives. I think there are five versions. It was first made in steel, then charred red oak, and now we’ve revisited it in colour,” explains Mpho.

Crafted from solid kiaat and stained a deep rosewood, the Phondo Mirror is another addition to the 2018 African Crowns Collection. “This piece is exciting for us because we are known for working in steel, not timber,” says Mpho. “As novices in timber work, we wanted to push ourselves to see if we could integrate the things that we’ve learned from metalworking into working in timber.”

Each piece on display in The Totemic Field reflected the fluid and negotiated nature of contemporary making and collective life. Through time, labour, and exchange, the exhibition revealed the totemic field not as a fixed object to be observed, but as a living practice shaped collectively. mashtdesignstudio.com | theurbanative.com | hoven.co.za

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The post The Totemic Field Brings Collective Design to Life appeared first on Visi.

The moment you realise a space is beautifully designed is rarely the moment you notice the individual materials. It is the quiet rhythm of grout lines across a floor. The way a basin sits naturally against a wall. The way light moves across a surface and catches the finish of a tap.

This is where design reveals itself. Between the lines.

In a thoughtfully designed interior, the visible surface is only part of the story. The real character of a room lives in the relationships between materials: tiles accented by paint, basins paired with tapware. Using texture and lighting to create a space that feels calm, balanced and considered.

The Styling Between the Lines promotion from Stiles celebrates these subtle design moments. Launching on 25 March 2026 across eleven showrooms nationwide, this event offers up to 40% off a curated selection of tiles, sanitaryware and tapware.

Whether you are renovating a bathroom, refreshing a kitchen or planning a new build, this promotion offers an opportunity to bring thoughtful design into every surface of your home.

Beautiful interiors are rarely accidental. They are built one careful decision at a time.

Products to Explore

For bathrooms, discover selected Duravit sanitaryware, including the refined D-Neo Counter Top Basin and the Happy 2D rimless wall-mounted toilet pan, available in both white and anthracite finishes.

Tapware options include the sleek Blutide Neo stainless steel basin mixers, available in tall and standard formats, alongside concealed shower mixers, diverter mixers and bath mixers. The Blutide Sage accessory range adds practical elegance with brushed stainless steel robe hooks, shower shelves, soap baskets, towel rails and towel rings.

In the kitchen, the Blutide Neo sink mixer and the pull-out sink mixer combine clean design with everyday functionality.

The promotion also includes exceptional value on the Hansgrohe Talis E range, featuring basin mixers, bath diverter mixers and shower arms, together with co-ordinated accessories.

As cooler months approach, the Jeeves Spartan Heated Towel Rail and the Etienne Sanware Oval LED Demister Mirror offer thoughtful comfort and convenience.

Tiles remain at the heart of the collection. Discover special pricing on Etienne Tiles Highveld Greige and White, as well as Griqua Stone Grey and White tiles. Inspired by South African landscapes and crafted in durable porcelain, the Etienne range brings calm texture and natural elegance into the home.

Further highlights include the AB Tiles Industrial Hall range, Enon Conglomerate, selected designs from the exclusive Funky Tiles collection, and large-format Florim slabs including the I Classici and Les Origines options.

Discover the full Styling Between the Lines promotion at Stiles showrooms nationwide, or explore inspiration and product selections online.

Beautiful spaces are created in the details. Sometimes, the most important design decisions happen between the lines.

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