More is definitely more in the happy Bo-Kaap home of Tracy Rushmere, where riotous colours and patterns abound, and every carefully curated corner tells a story.

In the three decades that Tracy Rushmere has watched over Cape Town from this vantage point on the slopes of the historic Bo-Kaap, her Victorian home has seen almost as many alterations as the bustling city below. Initially, when she moved into the neighbourhood in 1995, she occupied one half of the semi-detached house with her photographer husband and baby son, while their architect friend, who bought the property with them and helped them renovate it, stayed in the other.

Walls were knocked down to open up poky rooms, original sash windows were re-installed, and bathrooms relocated (Victorian homes seldom had inside bathrooms). When Tracy’s daughter was born, the family took occupation of the entire property, getting rid of the dividing wall and turning the two houses into one. And, most recently, with the kids all grown up, the home’s staircase was moved to create another bedroom and bathroom downstairs. “At the age of 19, my daughter finally got her wish of her very own bathroom,” says Tracy with a laugh.

Through the years, one constant has always been the home’s warm and welcoming energy, largely brought about by Tracy’s gregarious, hospitable personality, but also thanks to its singular aesthetic infused with colour, humour and storytelling. At first glance, it might seem a lot – industrial meets vintage meets pop art meets curio – but there’s a clever curatorial eye at play. A vignette of pink flamingos in the front courtyard speaks to her family’s connection to the US (“Some people come back from America with clothes from GAP;I’ve always brought back flamingos…”), while a miscellany of hand-painted barbershop signs dotted throughout the house harks back to a period when she was a partner in a merchant store of African artefacts. Add to that a tableau of religious statuettes and iconography, from a jade Buddha and porcelain Mary Magdalene to vintage prints of Ganesh and Shiva, and you have an unconventional snapshot of some of her travels.

READ MORE: Monochromatic Cape Town Loft

“I have a strong aesthetic opinion, and I’m very specific about what I like – but I couldn’t tell you what it is,” says Tracy, smiling. “I think colour looks best on colour, and pattern on pattern. Yes, there’s a lot of stuff in my house, but I get what I love, you know what I mean?”

One could argue that the beating heart of this abode isn’t the kitchen, although it does cut an arresting figure with its vermilion lacquered cupboards, stainless-steel countertops, retro appliances and collection of curios. But it’s the space off to its side that has a stronger claim – a work-from-home office from which Tracy runs her African-inspired textile business Shine Shine.

Crowding around an altogether unassuming desk are bolts of fabric, scatter cushions, bucket hats and tea trays in riotous colours, emblazoned with pop-arty illustrations inspired by her travels throughout the continent. “I’ve always loved the textiles, wherever I travelled in Africa – the political cloths, the commemorative cloths, the religious cloths,” she explains. “And the work of Malian portrait photographers Malick Sidibé and Seydou Keïta has also been highly influential.”

Shine Shine’s design DNA is undeniably – you might even say inextricably – spliced with that of the home’s interior. The volume of both aesthetics is turned all the way up to 11, and unapologetically so. But there’s nothing deafening about it. In fact, it’s quite a joyful symphony – and Tracy is one masterful conductor.

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Africa is a melting pot of rich and diverse cultures, a continent filled with design talent and incomparable skills. Out of Africa Living, celebrates Africa’s exceptional design originality and dynamic energy, unique style, reflecting the immense continent.

The vitality of the African colour palette simply bursts with rich yellows, burnt oranges and reds paying homage to the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, the deep indigo blues of the Atlantic Ocean, the ominous greys of an African thunderstorm to the rich earthy browns reminiscent of the lands inspire their collections.

Gorgeous textures and bold patterns are the signatures of beautiful African design and can be found in many of the traditional and locally woven or printed textiles that they source. From vibrant patterns that create bold vivid statements to crisp white textures that pair comfortably with most furniture finishes.

Embracing the natural beauty of the African landscape and love for natural materials; clay, grass, wood, botanicals & essential oils…these elements are reflected in the product selections; basketry from across the African continent, handmade ceramic tableware, exquisite photographic images, sumptuous bath and body care and captivating aromatic candles.

Out of Africa Living collectables and objet d’art are sourced from across the African continent, authentic and rare pieces that will add a touch of originality to your home or office, combining exceptionally well with both classic and contemporary design style. The store is the ideal place to visit for extraordinary home décor items and unique gifts, from the affordable to the luxurious.

For more information, visit Out of Africa Living Facebook and Instagram.

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Inspired by the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, the Danakil Towel is the latest product offering from local textile studio African Jacquard.

Christine, founder and Creative Director of African Jacquard, visited Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with her family back in early 2020 and was in awe of the beauty of the shimmering salt plains and the vast valleys and canyons.

The piles of salt blocks mined by the Afar people of this region inspired the tiny ‘waffle blocks’ in the brand’s new bath and hand towels. The mesmerising greens and blues of the Sulphur fields, and the shimmery whites and greys of the salt plains directly inspired the colourways in the collection.

Woven from 100% cotton, African Jacquard’s new Danakil Towel collection is available in five soft colourways (Oasis, Desert Sun, Icy Blue, Lunar Grey and Salt).

Using the traditional French Jacquard technique, and natural fibres such as French Linen and African Cotton, African Jacquard combines a variety of weaving styles, such as their signature waffle weave, together with traditional African geometric designs to develop unique and extraordinary textiles.

VISI recently teamed up with African Jacquard on the Kuba Beach Mat. You can shop the exclusive collab via the VISI Shop, which is available in two limited colourways – Lagoon and Coral.

VISI Collab: African Jacquard Kuba Beach Mat

The Kuba Beach Mat is a versatile and lightweight textile inspired by Kuba designs found in Congolese fabrics.

These mats are 130X210cm and woven with 100% African Cotton. Perfect for the beach, pool or picnic.

R1275 | VISI Shop

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Looking for more design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here, or take a look at African Jacquard’s Metallic Collection.

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African Jacquard has given their new Metallic Collection the ‘Midas touch’.

Often referred to as ‘The Cloth of Gold’, the use of precious metals for decoration and embellishment in textiles literally goes back thousands of years.

As a civilization, we have come a long way since then, and although African Jacquard‘s latest collection of artistry and skill may not include actual gold threads, the symbolism behind the colours of the different precious metals is certainly intended. Silver; representing clarity and self-reflection, Copper, symbolizing charisma and artistic creativity, and Gold, the emblem of prosperity.

At the very core of the collection is the Metallic Bogolan throw in Gold and Copper. This luxurious and complex piece of textile is the result of months of technical design and testing. It combines intricate waffle structures mixed with African symbols and patterns, woven together with the alluring colours of precious metals.

This new collection of throws, cushions, and tableware is a must-have for any textile lover. Here are our favourites from the collection:

Metallic Leopard Lounge Throw (from R2955)

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Metallic Bogolan Napkins (R230)

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Shop the new Metallic Collection online, or visit their showroom in Woodstock, Cape Town.

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Following a successful launch at Design Indaba 2014, the homeware, stationery and apparel brand aLoveSupreme is still going strong. Its latest range, Lionise, is inspired by African animals and patterns.

Leanne and Ryan Botha ran a design consultancy for 15 years before deciding to take the leap and launch their own brand. “Skirting the edge of a mid-life crisis and frustrated by the restrictions of client briefs, Ryan wanted creative carte blanche to design a range he was truly proud of. It was cheaper than buying a Porsche, so I was happy to join him for the ride!” says Leanne, who runs the business and manages their 10 staff members, leaving Ryan to get on with his whimsical designs.

“Whimsical” is an apt word to describe the motifs in all aLoveSupreme collections, including Lionise. Vibrant colours and African inspired prints adorn lifestyle and homeware products, including scatter-cushion covers, place mats, coasters, trays, pencil cases and – our favourite – notebooks.

“I illustrate – by hand – an array of elements within a broad theme, and then select what I feel will work the best. I play around with the various parts until a design falls together,” Ryan says of his creative process. “A range usually includes about four designs and two colour ways, and is often a series of happy accidents.” There is a lot more to look forward to from aLoveSupreme, most notably a range of T-shirts and trucker caps, which, say Ryan and Leanne, will make affordable gifts for those who appreciate local design.

There is also a heritage collection in the making, which will include new bags and picnic blankets.

For more information, visit alovesupreme.co.za.

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Tanzanian born, UK raised architect David Adjaye’s work spans the planet. His more recent work includes the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver, the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo and the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management.

Now he has turned his creativity towards The Adjaye Collection, a new range of African-inspired textiles for American design firm, Knoll. The range was unveiled in Chicago in June 2015.

“I never knew that I was interested in textiles. The collection for Knoll is inspired by a fascination I’ve had with geometry, form and texture. I actually didn’t know that it was something that could translate into textiles until I met Knoll’s Creative Director Dorothy Cosonas and her team,” says David in a video posted on Knoll’s website.

The different fabrics are named after different places on the African continent, such as Djenne (Mali), Meroë (Sudan) and Harare (Zimbabwe). “Essentially, these are names some of my favourite places. I hope that the names speak to people in a way that makes them want to know more about those places,” adds David. The range consists of upholstery, wall coverings and drapery, across nine prints. It will be officially launched in September 2015.

 For more information, visit knoll.com.

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