Under the direction of interior designer Brenda Hart, Soft&Co crafts bespoke furniture with emotional resonance – balancing restraint, texture, and a nuanced connection to its surroundings.
WORDS Gina Dionisio
With a refined eye for detail and a passion for design that resonates on an emotional level, Brenda Hart, founder of Cape Town-based bespoke furniture and interior design company Soft&Co, and her team are redefining what it means to furnish with intent.
“Design has the power to shift how we feel,” says Brenda. “Every line, every texture, every material we choose has a role in shaping the emotional tone of a space.” With this in mind, Soft&Co’s collections are an invitation to experience spaces more fully. Brenda shares some insights into Soft&Co’s approach and how to select pieces for your space.
Surrender to serenity
Disciplined minimalism is ideal for those craving calm. “It’s about visual quiet.” Think soft textures, clean lines, unadorned surfaces, and a light, nature-inspired palette of creams, chalky whites, and soft mist greys. “Serenity is often about restraint,” she says, “knowing what not to include is just as important.”
Deliberate dynamism
At the other end of the spectrum, dynamic spaces thrive on contrast. “We like to contrast smooth with rough, glossy and textured when we want to create a space that feels vital, leaning into polished metals against raw woods, glossy surfaces beside textured fabrics and a well-considered visually stimulating focal point, be it a furniture item designed with geometric precision like our Gio Shelving or a bold sculptural lamp,” says Brenda.
Ready to relax
Soft edges, deep seats, and sink-right-in upholstery – this is where Soft&Co’s Cozy Collection comes into its own. Colours draw from nature’s most comforting palettes warm terra cottas, soothing sage greens, and gentle amber tones that evoke a play of light. Functionality emphasises ease above all – pieces that can be easily moved, reconfigured, or adapted to activities within the space are vital. Soft&Co’s Cozy collection of furniture and the likes of the Rue Sofa epitomise this approach to living spaces with a focus on considered casual comfort.
Play with colour
For those who see their home as a canvas for play, colour becomes a love language. Pieces that celebrate whimsy and invite engagement through their form are bound to be a talking point and there’s no denying what a contrasting pop of colour can bring to an environment.
An ode to the past
Nostalgia brings with it emotional depth. Brenda explains “as an architect the past influences my approach and you will find references to a variety of eras in our collections; our leather-clad Axel Armchair is a case in point, as is our Ollie Coffee Table, both are fundamentally contemporary but with a distinct nod to the past.”
Clarity by design
In work-focused environments, clarity is key. Streamlined desks, ergonomic chairs with gentle adjustability, and clever storage help to minimise distraction. Textures remain understated with smooth, consistent finishes that don’t compete for attention while the colour approach favours monochromatic schemes with subtle variations in tone and saturation. | softandco.co.za
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