Putting the fun in functional

Durbanites Kathryn Rose du Toit and Sam Boylan are the creative minds behind the Nest Homegrown range of quirky, functional home accessories, as well as the curator-hoarders driving the 2COOL2BKITSCH collection. We uncover their fresh talent.

Who are you?   

Kathryn Rose du Toit – Jill of many trades  

Sam Boylan – Jack of many trades (and hopefully a master of some)

Where were you born?  

Kathryn: Good ol’ Durbs, Parklands Hospital to be exact.   

Sam: Gauteng and here’s a fact most people don’t know, I am actually a twin.

What is the most exciting place you’ve ever lived?     

Kathryn: London, right above Phillipe Starck’s Yoo Office (except at the time I didn’t know who he was, how sad am I).                   

What do you do?  

Kathryn: Apart from running Nest with Sam, I also run my own graphic design company in Ballito called SUD, and am really into thrifting at the moment (curating items for our 2COOL2BKITSCH range).   

Sam: I design fun & functional homeware products under our label Nest and do interior design work for private clients, which is my other business – Re-store. 

How did that happen?  

Kathryn: I guess I didn’t have space anymore for all my stuff, so decided to pass some on.   

Sam: I’ve always loved design and it is something I’m passionate about so I started designing functional items with a fun twist. Something that’s different, works and make people smile or just ask, “What is that?” 

What are some of your biggest accomplishments as a designer?  

Kathryn: Every accomplishment feels big, but walking into Spar and seeing row upon row of the Christmas crackers I designed for them gave me a really great warm and fuzzy feeling.  

Sam: Every design has been a great accomplishment. Seeing a clients face light up with joy when they see a new product or the completion of an interior design project is the biggest accomplishment you could ever wish for.

What would you decree if you were appointed Minister of Design in the national government?

Kathryn: I am loving the pink lighting on prominent local landmarks at the moment, in support of cancer awareness. Simply effective and makes a great statement. “I decree” we need to do more of this, using what we have to make a great statement.

Sam: Support for all local designers and products with higher taxes on cheap imported goods, which kills the market and is responsible for unemployment in this country.

How awesome are you really?  

Kathryn: Individually, not so much… together, you can’t get more awesome then this!  

Sam: We try!

http://nesthomegrown.wordpress.com

More of VISI’s hot design talents featured at www.visi.co.za/fresh