Chris Zimberlin is one of the guys you can thank for making sure South Africa gets the chance to enjoy top European furniture brands. The founder and managing director of Limeline has a passion for design that has influenced his entire life.
Born in the Netherlands, Chris qualified as a building engineer in Holland before furthering his studies in architecture and property development in Pretoria. He began his career in the luxury housing market in Sandton and Pretoria before concentrating on low-cost housing and the social issues surrounding it in the Gauteng region.
After a 25-year long career in the building industry, Chris made the move to the Mother City, which spurred another change in his career path. He quickly started to add an interior element to his high-end architectural projects, specialising in designer products and imports. And in 1997 Limeline was born out of the need to offer something new and fresh to the South African market.
In those 14-odd years, Limeline has become an exclusive importer of premium brands like Edra, Minotti, MDF Italia, and Cassina. And the Cape Town-based stockist is not just a go-to destination for locals: international brands are now approaching Limeline to stock their furniture, a worthy response to Chris’s hard work.
When it comes to interiors and updating a space, Chris believes that less is not always more. “Often a place needs and deserves a full makeover rather than wasting money on small changes that are actually not going to solve the problem,” he says. And yet Limeline still holds a minimalist philosophy, striving to utilise spaces to their maximum potential.
Chris has brought this philosophy into his own house. His Oranjezicht family home proudly displays furniture pieces by Philippe Starck, Charles Eames and Rodolfo Dordoni, yet retains a down-to-earth essence thanks to the busy teenagers who also reside there.
When he is not enjoying a book in his lounge, Chris spends a fair amount of time overseas, sourcing designer furniture at international design fairs, showrooms and design offices. And thank goodness for this proactive approach because without it many of us would not get to see the work of some of our favourite designers up close and personal.
More information: www.limeline.co.za, +27 (0)21 424 8682
