WORDS Robyn Alexander PHOTOS Supplied

Gardens and Landscapes: 10 Spaces of Beauty

by Anna Scaravella, with photographs by Matteo Carassale and text by Sala Bartolomeo (Rizzoli, 2025)

Driven by breathtaking photography – always the case with titles published by Rizzoli – Gardens and Landscapes takes you on a journey through 10 magnifi cent private Italian gardens. And as author and renowned expert in landscape architecture Anna Scaravella suggests in her text, each one of them has its own unique beauty. There is much for the amateur gardener to be inspired by here, from the lush elegance of Villa Albera in Lombardy to the striking contrasts in the design of a Mediterranean garden on the island of Elba. Varied as they are, all remain oases of peace and beauty – and the book is a window into virtually visiting and admiring them. | rizzoliusa.com

Gardens That Can Save The World

by Lottie Delamain, with a foreword by Isabella Tree (Thames & Hudson, 2026)

One of the key ways urbanised human beings remain in touch with the natural world is via growing and tending plants. And going outside to do so, this inspiring new book argues, is one very good way to counteract feelings of powerlessness in a fractured world. Gardens That Can Save the World brings together 65 projects that revolve around plants, showing how they can have a big impact on people, their loved ones and the environment. It also demonstrates that green spaces can repair damage previously done to soil and water, empower communities struggling with conflict and hardship, and help to heal stress, isolation and trauma. This is an immensely uplift ing book that also encourages everyone to try easy-to-replicate strategies in their own garden, balcony or windowsill plant pot. | thamesandhudson.com

The Coastal Garden

by Phaidon Editors, with an introduction by Nigel Dunnett and texts by Sorrel Everton (Phaidon, 2026)

As anyone who has ever created a garden on the coast learns quickly, this sort of landscape requires working in harmony with the environment rather than attempting to compel it to conform to your will. This is the point made repeatedly by The Coastal Garden, which features landscapes as varied as a Mediterranean cliff side, a sheltered bay on the UK’s south coast, and the edge of a sandy beach in Australia. What all these gardens have in common is a sense of being rooted in their location, as well as beautiful views of the sea, an atmosphere of tranquillity, and an intense connection with nature. With gorgeous imagery and detailed explanatory text about each of the 48 extraordinary private gardens featured, there’s plenty to discover in terms of terrains, climates and garden styles here too. | phaidon.com

The Modern Japanese Garden

by Stephen Mansfield, Kengo Kuma, Mira Locher, Tim Richardson, Masuno Shunmyo and Pico Iyer (Thames & Hudson, 2025)

Japanese garden design has a lengthy history, which this major study of the subject begins by tracing, from pre-Shinto stone arrangements to the 19th century and into the present. The book also includes profiles of some of the most iconic and influential gardens in locations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka, and examines the work of several renowned Japanese garden designers. In addition – and much in the style of Japanese landscape design itself – interspersed throughout are short interludes on topics such as the ancient garden of Ryoan-jiin Kyoto, and essays by high-profile contributors such as architect Kengo Kuma and monk and garden designer Masuno Shunmyo, which consider various themes in Japanese gardening. | thamesandhudson.com

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With a reputation built on innovation, reliability, and a genuine passion for bringing warmth and comfort into homes across the region, Calore Fireplaces has established itself as the leading importer and distributor of world-class fireplaces in Southern Africa.

Thanks to an extensive network of retail showrooms throughout South Africa and Namibia, the fireplace specialists ensure customers have convenient access to premium heating solutions and expert guidance. For those building a new home or renovating an existing space, Calore’s experienced team is committed to helping clients select the ideal fireplace to suit their lifestyle, design preferences, and performance needs.

Quality is the cornerstone of everything Calore does. The brand partners with internationally respected manufacturers who use only the highest-grade materials and subject their products to rigorous quality testing to ensure outstanding durability, efficiency, and safety in every unit. By combining superior craftsmanship with advanced technology, Calore delivers heating solutions that meet the highest global standards.

Engineered for living

In 2013, Calore became the first company to introduce pellet fireplace technology to the South African market. Since then, Calore has remained a leader in this energy-efficient category. Pellet fireplaces represent a modern evolution in home heating – fully automated, programmable systems that burn natural wood pellets, a clean and sustainable fuel source.

Recognising the importance of a reliable fuel supply, Calore also established its own pellet production plant, becoming the first local company to guarantee pellet availability. Calore supplies only premium A1-grade pellets, ensuring optimal performance, low ash content, and maximum efficiency for customers.

Designed with convenience in mind, pellet fireplaces can be switched on or off at the touch of a button. Fuel is automatically fed from an integrated hopper, eliminating constant manual refuelling. Built-in sensors maintain the selected room temperature by adjusting heat output as needed, providing consistent, comfortable warmth with minimal effort.

Calore’s flagship range from Piazzetta further enhances performance with the patented Multifire System®. This innovative system distributes warm air through floor-level vents, ensuring even temperatures from floor to ceiling. Unlike traditional convection systems, which allow heat to rise and create cooler areas below, the Multifire System® delivers balanced, enveloping warmth throughout the room.

This clever system enables heat to be ducted into adjacent rooms, effectively transforming a single fireplace into a central heating solution. Warm air can be distributed up to 16 metres, making it ideal for larger homes and open-plan living spaces.

Modern pellet fireplaces also offer advanced control features. Units can be pre-programmed to operate according to a set schedule, and many models include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote operation via smartphone or tablet. This allows homeowners to arrive home to a perfectly warmed environment, effortlessly controlled from anywhere.

Available in a variety of styles, finishes, and colours – including custom options – Calore fireplaces complement any interior aesthetic. For those who prefer the traditional charm of a wood-burning fire, select wood-burning models from Piazzetta also incorporate the Multifire System®, combining timeless ambience with enhanced heat distribution.

Visit calore.co.za to locate you closest store nationwide.

The post A New Language of Warmth appeared first on Visi.

The way South Africans live at home has changed dramatically over the past decade. Our homes have become more than places to eat and sleep – they’re where we entertain, work, unwind and reconnect with the people who matter most. It’s little wonder that contemporary homes are increasingly designed around shared experiences, with open-plan living, seamless indoor-outdoor flow and thoughtfully curated entertainment spaces taking centre stage.

As winter slowly gives way to spring and summer, many homeowners are thinking beyond seasonal updates and investing in design features that add lasting value throughout the year. Few elements achieve this quite like fire.

Whether it’s the comforting glow of a fireplace on a crisp evening or the unmistakable ritual of gathering around a braai with friends, fire has an enduring ability to transform a space. It creates atmosphere, encourages conversation and turns everyday moments into memorable ones.

Today, fireplaces and braais have evolved far beyond their practical purpose. They have increasingly become defining architectural features that shape the way we experience our homes.

Fire as a design statement

Rather than being added as an afterthought, modern fireplaces are now often considered from the earliest stages of a home’s design. They help anchor living spaces, introduce visual balance and create a natural focal point within a room.

Whether integrated into a striking feature wall, suspended as a sculptural centrepiece or used to subtly divide open-plan spaces, a well-designed fireplace contributes both warmth and architectural interest.

For those who appreciate the authenticity of a real wood fire, closed-combustion fireplaces offer an elegant balance between performance and aesthetics. Unlike traditional open fireplaces, these designs maximise heat efficiency while reducing emissions, making them a smarter solution for modern homes that value both comfort and sustainability.

Extending life outdoors

South Africans have always embraced outdoor living, and today’s homes increasingly blur the line between indoors and out.

A thoughtfully designed braai area has become a natural extension of the home – a place where cooking, conversation and connection happen simultaneously. Whether overlooking a garden, integrated into a covered patio or forming part of an outdoor kitchen, a premium braai area becomes both a functional appliance and a beautifully crafted design feature.

Much like a fireplace indoors, it anchors the space, encouraging people to gather long after the meal has been served

Investing in timeless living

The most successful design choices are those that remain relevant long after trends have passed. Fireplaces and braais offer exactly that: they combine everyday functionality with enduring visual appeal while adding value to the home.

Create a space that feels welcoming in winter, inviting in summer and effortlessly suited to every season in between.

After all, great design isn’t simply about how a home looks – it’s about how it makes people feel. And few features create warmth, connection and a sense of belonging quite like fire.

Whether you’re renovating, building from scratch or simply reimagining your living spaces, designing around the fire is an investment in a home that’s made for gathering, celebrating and creating memories all year round. | infinitifires.co.za 

The post Spaces That Bring People Together appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Robyn Alexander PHOTOS Ethan Herrington/Cottagecore, Elliot Sheppard/Life Inside a Cottage, Alex Baxter/Wild Isle Style, Supplied

Cottagecore: New Countryside Living

by Gestalten Editors (Gestalten, 2025)

From a remote, converted goat shelter in Ireland to a 19th-century farmhouse in France and a revived 1842 sandstone dwelling in Tasmania, the cottages featured in this visually driven book carry the imprint of both their rural environs and their inhabitants’ highly cultivated sensibilities. Beguiling in a variety of ways, the spaces range in aesthetic from airy, minimalist and contemporary to more layered and cosy. What they have in common is a similar approach to living in the countryside – one that prioritises mood and atmosphere over a single visual style. gestalten.com

Life Inside a Cottage

by Nell Card and Rachel Vere (Hardie Grant, 2026)

Subtitled “Interior inspiration from today’s cottage dwellers”, this beautiful compendium of cottages from around the world does exactly what it says on the tin – and we’ll be surprised if you don’t immediately wish to depart your urban dwelling for something cottage- like while perusing it. Life Inside a Cottage also delivers on the promise in its title by exploring practical things such as thatching, the making of a cottage garden and the everyday challenges of living in this sort of space. But of course, it’s really all about the spectacular visuals of cottage-style buildings, which run the gamut from award-winning designs in Wales to Japanese woodland escapes. publishing.hardiegrant.com

Wild Isle Style: Resourceful and Sustainable Interior Design Ideas

by Banjo Beale (Quadrille, 2023)

Banjo Beale won the BBC reality show Interior Design Masters in 2021, and lives on the remote Scottish island of Mull. This (his first book) is more of a guide to finding your own interior styling preferences than it is an instruction manual showing you how to recreate his look. That said, fans of the foraged, the second-hand and the upcycled will discover a kindred spirit here, and there’s plenty of inspiration for anyone looking to make their home feel cosier and more cottage-like. Plus, Beale has a wonderful way with texture in interiors and a keen eye for memorable detail, so you’ll find loads of ideas for both those elements too. penguin.co.uk

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WORDS Bianca Coleman

Whether it’s ketchup on chips or a jus that’s taken days to make, poured tableside at a restaurant, the right sauce is intrinsic to food. It enhances and elevates every dish to which it is invited, bringing flair to the flavour.

Sweet, savoury, tangy or spicy; béchamel, velouté, hollandaise or béarnaise; good old gravy, mayonnaise or aioli; crème anglaise, fruit coulis, salad dressing, mint sauce on roast lamb, brown sauces, butter sauces, emulsified sauces, hot sauces, cold sauces… The only limit is imagination. While chefs keep sauces in their arsenal of secrets, if you manage your expectations and skills, there’s no reason not to up your game at home.

For inspiration, we asked Eat Out-starred chefs to tell us about their favourites and how they use them – and the variety they brought to the table (sorry, not sorry) is astounding.

Garlicky goodness

“Favourite sauce? It’s difficult to pinpoint one, but it has to have heat,” says Mathew Armbruster, chef-proprietor at The Chefs’ Table in Umhlanga, which won one star at the 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards. “Durban life trained me well – chilli’s basically my everyday seasoning now. A simple, well-made peri-peri, the kind I’ve had in Mozambique, is up there. Chilli, garlic, herbs, lemon juice and oil – I can slap that on anything.”

A sauce that stands the test of time has to be an aioli. Kitchens are nothing without it, says Mathew. “You can eat it as it is or use it as a base to create endless sauces – its simplicity and versatility are its magic.”

Big in Japan

Delaire Graff’s Hōseki, winner of two Eat Out stars and named after the Japanese word for jewel, is where Virgil Kahn’s in-house shoyu forms the backbone of the Japanese dining experience the Stellenbosch restaurant offers. “When I began developing this shoyu, the goal was simple – to create a sauce that truly elevates our sushi and honours our vision of showcasing the Cape coast without losing touch with our Japanese roots,” says Virgil. “By introducing local seaweed, most notably Cape kelp, and incorporating West Coast bokkoms, the shoyu developed a depth of salinity and flavour that’s unmistakably ‘Cape’ in character. This unique blend not only enriches the sushi but also ties in with our Koshihikari rice, bringing an added layer of nuance to every bite.”

Better with butter

Julia Hattingh of Eat Out one-starred Reverie Social Table in Cape Town debated for a week while considering savoury sauces. Green vs butter vs gravy… and butter was the winner.

“Beurre blanc is one of my absolute favourite sauces – incredibly versatile and not super-technical to get right,” she says. “It’s basically a vinegary base that’s emulsified with butter into a silky-smooth sauce that complements fish, eggs, shellfish and more, adding richness and acidity at the same time. Probably the biggest draw is that you can flavour a beurre blanc so easily – just infuse your base reduction, or use a flavoured butter. It’s a great wine-pairing sauce!”

From Jozi, with love

At Cyra in Johannesburg, also a one-star winner, sauces made with love matter to chef Candice Philip, because they transform something basic into something memorable. “A sauce isn’t just an addition; it’s the element that brings balance, depth and personality to a dish,” she says. “It adds character, comfort and excitement; richness, freshness and acidity.”

For Candice, sauces are a form of expression. They show intention – how a meal is meant to feel, not just how it tastes. “A good sauce will elevate the most humble of ingredients, but also tie everything together to create a complete experience,” she says. “Without sauce, food can sometimes feel unfinished; with the right sauce or dressing, the dish feels alive and thoughtfully made.”

One of her favourites is her leek-and-sesame crème (delicious with sea bass). Another, which is more of a dressing but remains a firm favourite regardless, is her version of a ceviche dressing.

Au lait!

Roxy Mudie of The Waterside at the V&A Waterfront, which has two Eat Out stars, says one of the best sauces she’s ever had the pleasure of making is café au lait. “It’s a classic I was taught to make at La Colombe, and I’ve loved it ever since,” she says. “We serve it with our wagyu, and the truffle with crushed black pepper is the perfect luxurious pairing for such a special protein. It’s rich and indulgent, slightly sweet and peppery, and it has the most wonderful balance.”

Visit these restaurants to try their secret sauces for yourself:

• The Chefs’ Table: 1st Floor Protea Mall, 1 Chartwell Drive, Umhlanga | thechefstable.co.za

• Hōseki: Delaire Graff Estate, Helshoogte Road, Stellenbosch | delaire.co.za

• Reverie Social Table: 226A Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town | reverie.capetown

• Cyra Restaurant: The Houghton Hotel, Lloys Ellis Avenue, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg | cyra.co.za

• The Waterside: Pierhead Building (next to the NSRI), V&A Waterfront, Cape Town | lacolombe.restaurant/waterside

This article first appeared in the 2026 Eat Out Magazine, a sumptuous, collectible coffee-table style book that celebrates South Africa’s vibrant dining scene. Inside you’ll find in-depth profiles of award-winning chefs, sommeliers and mixologists, a guide to the 66 Eat Out star restaurants and big-picture explorations of South African food identity, sustainability and design-led dining spaces. Buy your copy in the Media24 Shop.

This magazine can also be purchased at Woolworths.

The post SA’s Top Chefs Share the Secrets Behind their Signature Sauces appeared first on Visi.

No two homes tell the same story.

One family rises at dawn for school runs. Another works night shifts. Some households cook sumptuous weekend feasts. Others rely on quick weekday meals between activities. Yet for years, appliances were built with a one-size-fits-all mind-set.

Samsung is changing that narrative by building appliances that can learn your family’s habits.

Through its Bespoke AI ecosystem, Samsung is pioneering personalisation at scale, where technology adapts continuously to the rhythms, preferences and energy patterns of each household. This is the evolution of the AI Home Companion.

Built-in Intelligence

Personalisation is not an add-on feature. It is embedded within the appliance itself.

AI Wash¹ refines performance over time, learning how frequently laundry is done, what fabrics dominate and how much detergent is needed. It improves efficiency without requiring reprogramming. AI EcoBubble² uses intelligent fabric sensing and bubble technology to deliver up to 70% energy savings³ while removing 24% more soil⁴, even in cold water. They use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse fabric types and load weight, optimising detergent, water and bubble usage for high quality care and efficiency.

In climate control, AI Fast and Comfort Cooling⁵ ensures rapid temperature adjustments without an unexpected draft. The system learns occupancy patterns, adjusting cooling performance to deliver comfort only when and where it is needed.

This is personalisation that evolves. The more you live, the more your appliances understand.

An Ecosystem with a Bird’s Eye View

True personalisation happens when devices communicate. Through SmartThings⁶, Samsung connects refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, air conditioners, TVs and mobile devices into a unified ecosystem with contextual awareness.

SmartThings⁶ Energy provides visibility into household consumption patterns, helping families make informed decisions and encouraging more sustainable living. Over time, the system learns preferences and automatically optimises operations to reduce unnecessary consumption without sacrificing comfort.⁷

Secure, Reliable and Built for the Long Term

As homes become more intelligent, security becomes foundational. Samsung Knox⁸ safeguards connected appliances at both hardware and software levels, protecting data, access controls, and personal information. Personalisation should never mean a compromise on privacy.

Reliability also defines the AI Home Companion. Samsung appliances undergo rigorous durability testing and receive long-term software updates to remain secure and capable. With extended warranties, families invest in intelligence that lasts.

Why Personalisation Matters

Personalisation is not about novelty but about relevance. In a country as diverse as South Africa, homes vary widely in size, energy access and needs, climate conditions and lifestyle patterns. An adaptive AI ecosystem takes these differences into account and balances across apartments, suburban homes and all other household types in between.

When appliances respond to real-life behaviour, families spend less time configuring technology and more time benefiting from it. The technology fades into the background, allowing life to take centre stage.

The Future of the AI Living Companion

Samsung’s vision extends beyond smart appliances. It is about shaping a home that grows with you. Work patterns shift. Energy demands fluctuate. Through continuous learning and software updates, the Samsung AI ecosystem evolves with these transitions. More than connected, the home becomes attentive.

In this future, your refrigerator anticipates your weekly habits. Your washing machine aligns with your schedule. Your air conditioning understands seasonal nuances. Your energy consumption adapts automatically. And it’s all coordinated through one secure ecosystem. With this kind of personalisation happening at scale, it is not technology that demands attention, but technology that pays attention.

Samsung is not simply building appliances. It is building AI Living Companions designed to enrich life, strengthen families, and transform houses into responsive, intelligent homes that truly understand⁹ the people inside them.

Samsung is your companion in this new era, making the “home of the future” the reality of your today. For more details, visit samsung.com/za/

¹ Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.

² AI Ecobubble is only activated when specific courses are selected, including Cotton, Synthetics and AI Wash with loads less than 2kg.

³ Compared to washing in warm water. Tested in accordance with IEC 60456-2010 / 4kg Wash Load / Super Eco Wash cold (WF80F5E5U4W) vs. Cotton 40°C without Ecobubble (WF0702WKU). Individual results may vary.

⁴ Based on the Performance Lab Test report by Springboard Engineering on EMPA strips, comparing a normal detergent solution and bubble technology without mechanical action. Individual results may vary.

⁵ To use AI Fast & Comfort Cooling a Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account SmartThings are required. SmartThings server stores user data, preferences and usage patterns to suggest the most useful options

⁶ To use SmartThings, download the App from the Galaxy Store, Google Play Store, or Apple App Store. The supported OS specification, required storage space, and other usage environment for the SmartThings app can be found on the app download page in each app store. SmartThings has compatibility constraints, and the compatible environment may be updated periodically.  Supported OS specifications and app screen configuration may change with app updates.

⁷ Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions and patterns.

⁸ Applied to all appliances that have an Internet connection.

⁹ AI-based features are available on certain appliances, and based on our deep learning model, which is trained using a predefined set of data and may yield incomplete or incorrect information. New data sets maybe introduced to our learning model from time to time to enhance its accuracy.

The post The Era of the Living Companion: How Samsung is personalising AI in the Home appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS Supplied

With all the nations vying for global supremacy at the moment, I’m a bit disappointed the Swedes have not thrown their hat in the ring. They’d definitely get my vote. Visit this Scandinavian country and you’ll witness hordes of happy people (Sweden is consistently in the top five of the World Happiness Report) who are well off , well cared for and, oddly, not at all smug. I’d be smug as hell if I were Swedish.

The reason for this good cheer? You may think it’s because Swedes enjoy the benefits of a government whose excellent fiscal management makes proper use of all those highly taxed kronas. In part, that is true, but it’s not the fundamental reason. Sweden’s good fortune has actually been shaped by good design – and here’s how.

Scandi for the win

Around the turn of the 19th century, two Swedes penned two influential essays. First up was noted philosopher and critic Ellen Key, whose 1899 manifesto “Beauty in the Home” argued for the transformation of the domestic environment as a means of social reform. This, in turn, inspired influential art historian Gregor Paulsson to write “Better Things for Everyday Life”, adding weight to a growing movement that believed that when the aesthetic realm is attuned to contemporary realities, an environment will be a catalyst for social, cultural and economic improvement.

People listened, designers designed… And just look where Sweden is today.

This philosophy provided the fundamentals of Swedish design as we’d describe it now – a minimalist, functional and simple aesthetic, characterised by clean lines, a neutral colour palette and, wherever possible, natural materials such as wood. It’s an aesthetic – and a design philosophy – that’s been embraced by many Swedish brands, from Volvo, IKEA and H&M to Spotify and the one you’re looking at here: Thule. You’ll know Thule from its 13 stores across South Africa, where iconic roof racks, boxes and tents, bike racks, luggage and backpacks have gained a reputation as the apex examples of what you can buy in these categories.

Malmö and THEX 2025

Thule invited us to Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city aft er Stockholm and Gothenburg – home to Thule’s HQ, and the place where the brand’s annual THEX is held. This Thule Experience event is as much a showcase of Thule’s current and upcoming products as it is a celebration of the brand. And Thule really is loved – both by the people who purchase its products and the people who make them.

Having toured Thule’s waterfront HQ and the test centre in nearby Hillerstorp, it’s clear the company is peopled not just with happy Swedes, but very proud ones. It’s a heart-warmingly feel-good experience to witness a workspace in which humans are genuinely happy, and proud of the products they’re designing, prototyping, testing and manufacturing.

It was here that I also discovered the correct pronunciation of the word “Thule”. It is, in fact, tool-eh, delivered with the requisite singsong Swedish accent, and not my Madonsela-flavoured thuli.

The Hillerstorp facility is particularly interesting – it’s here that the brand was founded in 1942, and it remains the global development and testing centre. Various ingenious machines have been built to tumble, bounce, roll, drop and bump everything from strollers to luggage and bike racks. They even have a car-crash test facility with actual crash test dummies, where products are impact-tested to pass Sweden’s stringent safety laws.

The results of all these endeavours were on show at THEX. Held inside an industrial warehouse, the event combined a fashion runway-style product reveal (featuring the brand’s global ambassadors) with touch- and-feel displays where you could engage with the various ranges. It was also an opportunity to see how Thule’s design DNA threads through everything they make, and is clearly evident in items as varied as a kid’s car seat and a towbar-mounted bike rack. Both, for example, boast materials and manufacturing quality that will see them last for decades. And both carry design cues that so strongly signal Thule, you’d pick them out in any police lineup without seeing the logo. Purposely created for people with an active lifestyle, Thule’s aesthetic softens necessarily robust materials and fit-for-purpose functionality with organic forms. You can most obviously see it on the luggage, but a closer look at the products made of hard-wearing alloys and plastics reveals the signature curves even there.

After the show, I caught up with two of Thule’s design gurus to find out more about what underpins this celebrated aesthetic. Meet global design director Henrik Eriksson, and global chief designer for colour and material finish Ellen Frisch.

Tell us more about the recognisable Thule design DNA, and how you pull it through the different design categories.

Henrik: “It’s challenging when you need to work with the same attributes across different product categories, but we have things that we believe emphasise the familiarity even if you take the labels off a Thule product. Colour is a big part of it. It’s visual; you instantly capture it. But it’s also about other things built into a shape.

“We talk about accentuated edges and lines, emphasising shapes in the products. We talk about tension and restraint, getting energy into the shape, but also contradicting the shape, and giving it additional energy by angling. We talk about integration – making it as visually well put-together as we can.

“We also talk about our world as being tailored. We keep it simple, not adding things for the sake of adding them, but ensuring fitness for purpose – adding things when they are needed. In a way, our aesthetic is clean and honest.”

Thule’s design philosophy appears to be one of gradual evolution. Is that a conscious approach?

Henrik: “It’s about constantly evolving with new products, new categories and new ways of doing things – but we want to do it slowly. Thule products are built to last – so if you own one, it will remain useful and relevant over a long period of time. That means we won’t design anything that makes our other products look dated. We want to add that refined, gradual newness into the aesthetic. Sometimes, one category in our range can push the others a bit, especially the ones that have more freedom in their aesthetic possibilities. For example, children’s car seats were a new category that allowed us take a few steps forward in other, more established categories.”

How would you describe the Thule colour palette?

Ellen: “For the past few years, we’ve been working to use colour to unify the brand across all the different categories, because they really can speak to different consumers. Someone buying a kid’s stroller might be a very different user from someone buying a roof box – so how can we use colour to unify our storytelling as a brand?

“We have a few main goals in the colour palette. We definitely want to make sure it’s rooted in Scandinavian heritage, so we always look back to the traditions of Scandinavian design. From an aesthetic relevance perspective, we also want our colours to last as long as our products do, which means we tend to stay away from brighter, fast-trend colours, and look instead to nature to inspire our palette. Colours from nature feel a lot more dependable and reassuring. So people choosing a Thule product that’s going to last in terms of its quality have the assurance that the colour will stay fresh and up-to-date for just as long.”

Does that determine your choice It’s also about using fewer resources, of materials?

Ellen: “It guides us, yes. We definitely want to choose materials that have good long-term quality, and that will continue to perform year aft er year during the rigorous outdoor activities they’re being asked to take part in. Therefore, we tend to choose more robust materials in the majority of our products.”

What is Thule’s sustainability approach?

Ellen: “We’re very much focused on sustainability, and use many recycled materials in our manufacturing. But we also know the industry is evolving beyond just recycled PET plastic bottles. There’s eagerness for additional, more thorough sustainability stories and materials; there’s more research, and various materials are being developed, so we’re looking at what’s most feasible in terms of both availability and meeting our standards. We’re also using more solution dye in our colours, which utilises less CO2 and water than traditional dyeing methods – so it’s not just material choices that are influencing our sustainability drive.”

Henrik: “For every project we work on, we set ourselves targets to reduce our environmental footprint, always measuring and striving for a smaller footprint than previous projects. This relates to all materials, regardless of whether we’re using textiles or steel or aluminium or plastics. The footprint is always measured, and always carries great weight in our decision-making. It’s also about using fewer resources,
and trying to become more efficient.”

What inspires you as a designer?

Ellen: “I draw inspiration from many places. Nature is number one for me, but I also love museums, and I love trend research in street fashion. It’s really a mix – a blend across a wide spectrum. And sometimes different things call to you at different times… But nature is always my top inspiration. I live in Sweden now, but before that, I lived in Colorado in the US, which is obviously quite different. Sweden’s very green; Colorado is very red. It’s rocks versus moss… And all of it is wonderful. I think the diversity that we can find in nature is really what inspires me, more than a particular landscape.”

Henrik: “I’m inspired by people and the everyday challenges they face. Recently I watched a father take his child to kindergarten, in a child bike seat, observing the challenges that he seemed to be handling right at that moment. It’s those everyday behaviours of people, I think, that are inspiring in every context. Sure, that’s more from a usage perspective, but you’re always surrounded by it. A lot of our products are about meeting a wide range of needs for parents.

“So yes, that’s one of my key drivers – but aesthetically, there’s so much more that inspires me: gadgets, architecture, nature, musical instruments. I like stuff that showcases quality craftsmanship, like people doing intricate woodwork. I think that’s fascinating.”

And that would pretty much describe my fascinating three days in Sweden. It was an “Okay, now I get it” moment for me. I have a bunch of Thule products, from roof racks to bicycle carriers and luggage, some of them at least a decade old. All have been used extensively on various holidays and adventures – and all have decades of life left , both from a materials and an aesthetic point of view. I like to think of it as a validation of my own excellent purchasing decisions. I’m not Swedish… But I am smug. | thule.com

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The post Design for (Active) Life appeared first on Visi.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Alex Upton/Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

The opening of the temporary pop-up experience in London continues Louis Vuitton’s celebration of 130 years of the Monogram, with a series of immersive rooms dedicated to the Speedy, Keepall, Noé, Alma and Neverfull – all masterpieces of craftsmanship that have accompanied generations of travellers, creatives and collectors.

Every corner of the reimagined townhouse is designed to bring the Monogram and Art of Travel to life in unexpected ways.

Step into the Louis Vuitton Hotel through the Keepall Lobby, a space dedicated to the Keepall style, first introduced in 1930. The Keepall’s ingenious foldable design signalled a new chapter in the Art of Travel, ensuring every adventure, from check-in to souvenir-filled return, is effortlessly elegant.

A dedicated Care Services area enables visitors to bring their beloved Louis Vuitton pieces for a restorative “short stay” at the Hotel. Here, they can take advantage of the exclusive personalisation services, including the hot-stamping of distinctive patches available solely at the Louis Vuitton Hotel, allowing each piece to become truly one of a kind.

Here visitors can also browse a selection of travel accessories before making their way up the winding staircase to the first-floor where Café Alma waits.

Introduced in 1992 and named after the Place de l’Alma in Paris, the Alma became a symbol of the city’s refined modernity. Its gracefully structured silhouette and bold, architectural lines drew inspiration from the Art Deco movement, echoing the geometric precision and decorative purity that defined 1930s design. Open Monday to Sunday, Café Alma presents two veritable culinary experiences – a two-course signature luncheon and an afternoon tea.

The second floor is dedicated to the Speedy. Designed in the early 1930s, the Speedy was conceived as an expression of modernity, reflecting the era’s growing fascination with speed, movement and the freedom of travel. Designed as a luxurious guest suite, the Speedy Room is a cosy, light-filled space adorned with iconic Speedy bags, while the adjoining Speedy P9 Safe Room is drenched in metallic gold.

Dedicated to the classic carry-all through a playful lens, the Neverfull Gym completes the top floor of the Hotel. Introduced in 2007, the Neverfull quickly became an emblem of contemporary elegance. Weighing just 800 grams yet capable of carrying up to 100 kilograms, it is the perfect synthesis of resilience and refinement. In a nod to the bag’s origins, the Neverfull Gym features a whimsical, mirrored weight rack area.

Bar Noé sits on the lower-ground floor. The intimate champagne and cocktail bar pays tribute to the origins of the bag’s design. Created in 1932 at the request of a champagne producer, the Noé began as a simple yet brilliant idea: a bag to carry five bottles of bubbles – four upright and one inverted in the centre. By day, guests are invited to enjoy a crisp flute of champagne. As evening falls, Bar Noé transforms into a vibrant Mayfair destination, with curated DJs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The Louis Vuitton Hotel London pop-up experience will remain open until 21 June 2026. | eu.louisvuitton.com

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WORDS Steve Smith and Josie Huges PHOTOS Supplied

Very few vehicles can claim the kind of cult following enjoyed by the original Land Rover Defender – or the Series I, II and III, as it was originally called before the Defender nameplate was adopted in 1990. Especially impressive is the fact that it’s been prized and zealously defended despite a rep for breaking down, acting unreliably, gulping fuel, being slow, leaking, rusting, and a host of other equally condemning issues.

But since the first hand-built Series I rolled out of the Solihull factory in the UK’s West Midlands, no other utility vehicle has come close to the unique mix of form and function found in the Defender. And here we’re defining “function” to include the ability to temporarily jimmy a snapped accelerator pedal by stringing a shoelace from the engine bay to the driver’s window to rev the engine. Or popping an egg in the coolant reservoir to stop a leak…

Although there’s plenty under the hood and inside the cabin of the Defender, we’re most interested in the design elements – especially its shape and colour. The fit-for- purpose, boxy, utilitarian profile is nothing short of legendary, and the range of official Defender colours over the years seems to be a kind of accidental palette prophecy for the 20th and 21st centuries.

Back in 1983, the Defender came in red, white, beige, blue, green, or grey. In 1990, the County Edition came out in black and the first metallics – metallic red and metallic green. The colours were always rich. Fast-forward to today, and the list of official Land Rover colours is upwards of 50. Put them in a hat, pick one at random and chances are you’ll love it now… and even more in a few decades.

Take, for example, the recent boom of browns that have made something of an unexpected comeback. It was the 2025 Pantone Color of the Year – 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, which isn’t that far off the Nara Bronze Defender colour on a sunny day.

At Journeymen Works, a Land Rover Defender restoration workshop in Cape Town, the main thing is the main thing: rebuild Defenders to factory spec, adding as little modern interference as possible. When it comes to colour, the same applies: select from the palette of original shades, or even better, respray in the original colour to preserve the vehicle exactly as it came off the factory floor.

Adam Hughes, one of the partners, who is responsible for the builds, reveals the colours their customers are opting for in 2026: “Since we only rebuild four to six vehicles a year, the range of colours we’re seeing is pretty tight. Whites, muted greens and greys (or ‘greeny-greys’) are in. While we’re hoping for a customer brave enough for Sahara Dust, Portofino Red, or my favourite Arles Blue, in South Africa the market is definitely more conservative. Which is another way of saying, it’s easy to stand out if you go bold in colour…”

If you’re interested in a sympathetically restored original Land Rover Defender, it’s definitely worth having a conversation with Adam and his crew. The process (inevitably) starts with a lengthy and passionate discussion about Defenders. Then, it’s time to figure out what the customer’s needs are. Will it be a daily drive, or a holiday beach runner? Are theynlooking for something with a bit of growl and punch, or something smoother and more comfortable? Once the use-case is clear, Journeymen will source the donor vehicle (this is the most common option) or get to work on the client’s vehicle, taking it down to the chassis and rebuilding each component piece by piece. All rust is removed and steel replaced or repaired, and almost every part is replaced with a new part – except in instances where the original is in great condition.

You’ll also be able to view their pared- down Defender palette, among other build options, in the Build Configurator Room, where the swatches are displayed. No doubt Adam will try to convince you to go with their favourites – Arles Blue, Zermatt Silver, Sahara Dust, Keswick Green, Davas White, Bahama Gold. And given how appropriately authentic those hues look on a Defender, it’s very likely that you’ll be persuaded… journeymenworks.com | journeymen_

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This Easter, Samsung is inviting South Africans to embark on a Smart Treasure Hunt¹ as the company launches the Easter promotion with limited-time deals across its range of innovative home technologies. Running until 20 April 2026, the promotion offers consumers exciting deals across selected Samsung product categories that can help upgrade their homes with smarter, connected technology.

Created to bring value and innovation together during the Easter season, the promotion encourages shoppers to explore Samsung’s ecosystem of devices and discover deals across TVs, sound devices home appliances and monitors. Each category offers the chance to unlock smart living solutions that enhance entertainment, comfort, and everyday convenience.

During the promotional period, consumers can enjoy special offers across selected products, making it easier to transform their homes with technology designed to simplify modern life. From immersive home entertainment experiences and intelligent home appliances to productivity-enhancing monitors and climate control solutions, Samsung’s portfolio is built to support a smarter lifestyle.

Some of the deals include these;

• 98 Inch DU9000 Chrystal UHD TV UA98DU9000 – Now R39 999^*, save R10 000
• 85 Inch QN70F 4K Neo QLED Mini LED TV – Now R32 999^*, save R7 000
• Bespoke AI Side-by-side 21.5-inch Family Hub Screen, Black 594L – Now R39 999^*, save R10 000
• AI Wash Ecobubble AI Energy Mode Top Loader – Now R7 999^*, save R1 500
• Q- Series Soundbar HW-Q800F 5.1.2ch Subwoofer – Now R8 999^*, save R2 000

The Smart Treasure Hunt idea reflects the excitement of discovering hidden gems, with shoppers encouraged to explore Samsung’s innovations that bring connectivity into the home. By integrating cutting-edge technologies across its product range, Samsung continues to deliver solutions that work seamlessly together to create a more connected living environment.

Whether upgrading your living room entertainment setup, refreshing the kitchen with intelligent appliances, enhancing your home office with a high-performance monitor, or improving your indoor comfort with energy-efficient air conditioning, the Easter promotion offers consumers the chance to invest in technology that enhances everyday life.

Samsung’s broader vision of a connected home ecosystem means that its devices are designed to work together intuitively, enabling users to enjoy greater control, convenience and efficiency in their households.

The Samsung Easter Smart Treasure Hunt promotion will offer these great deals for only a limited time (23 March to 20 April 2026), at selected retailers and online platforms.

¹Terms and Conditions Apply shop.samsung.com/za/promotion-terms-and-conditions

*Recommended Resale Price. Prices may vary per participating retailer.

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