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Lowveld fantasy : The Medusa mirror by Karella Carving immediately grabs the attention of anyone entering the store. -
Lowveld fantasy : Springbok horns made by Ceramic Matters have been given a resting place on the lounger. -
Lowveld fantasy : Above the doorway, an enlarged photograph called 'Uganda Cow Horn' by Irma Wilson transports visitors to raw African landscape. Joe chose yellow upholstery for the seats of the wooden chairs as a way to add a splash of colour to the Waxbill interior. -
Lowveld fantasy : Joe Jacob and his assistant Tembi Ndluvo peer around on of the enormous clay pots at the entrance to the store. -
Lowveld fantasy : a bowl is fillled with the fruit of the Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera) that have been dyed turquoise - a good way to add an accent colour to your interior.
PHOTOS: Dook | PRODUCTION: Annemarie Meintjes | WORDS: Mirelle Leyden
Interior designer and waxbill owner Joe Jacob likens the art of decorating a home to that of creating a fairy tale.
The South African Lowveld is home to many of nature’s juxtapositions, from the sloping white peaks of the Drakensberg in winter, to the rolling hills of the grasslands where the lion and antelope roam. Rich shades of green and brown adorn the landscape in the cooler months, while the scarlet flowers of the coral tree boldly paint the town of Nelspruit red in summer.
It comes as no surprise, then, that interior designer Joe Jacob, who is an avid lover of nature, versatility and the changing of the seasons, decided to flee from the monotonous rat race of Johannesburg to Nelspruit, where he has opened a new decor and furniture store called Waxbill.
‘Although most of my adult life was spent in Johannesburg, I grew up in Mpumalanga and always knew that one day I would return to life in the bush,’ he recalls.
After working with partner and architectural designer Julian van der Linde for over six years, Joe has become familiar with all the industry pitfalls, how to handle clients, and where to find precisely what he is looking for.
‘We would start from the ground up,’ he explains. ‘Julian would design the house and I would decorate the interior. Opening a shop that stocks my favourite pieces of furniture and decor accessories was the next logical step.’
Unusual treasures
Two enormous clay pots stoutly guarding the entrance to the store are a good indicator of the unusual treasures awaiting inside. By using an old house as the canvas upon which to create his interior masterpiece, Joe cleverly displays every piece’s functionality and aesthetic quality.
The Medusa mirror by Karella Carving, which is mounted on the wall of the entrance hall, evokes the subject’s diva-like qualities and demands one’s full attention. Ronel Jordaan’s felt throws draped over the sofas and armchairs designed by Joe draw the fingertips like a magnet attracts steel, enthralling both visual and tactile senses.
A sheet of glass placed on a large cluster of woven twigs and branches merges contemporary elegance with the unrefined rawness of nature – an interesting spin on the conventional coffee table, designed by High Thorne. And who would have thought that a vertebra designed by Ceramic Matters would become the latest in fashionable dinner-table conversation pieces?
Pieces of the same puzzle
‘I have a theory that all South African designers secretly belong to an underground society because, although their designs, choice of materials and subject matter are all totally different, they work together as though they are pieces of the same puzzle,’ says Joe.
This is why he prides himself on showcasing as many examples of South African design as he can get his hands on. ‘The level of innovation, skill and quality emerging from the South African design landscape is outstanding.
Designers are finally finding their feet and I want to give them a platform on which to dance,’ he proudly states. ‘I also want to show homeowners that by cleverly combining different decor treasures in your living space, you can, like Peter Pan, create your own Neverland.’
• Waxbill: 083 452 9771, info@waxbill.co.za
