Poetry’s new homeware range of relaxed modern furniture, decor and textiles is an ode to the ‘art of living well’. 

Poetry‘s new Poetry of Living Collection, which includes hard furnishings like tables, beds and cabinets as well as other large format soft upholstered furniture like sofas, armchairs and beds, has been carefully crafted with comfort, aesthetics, and individuality in mind.

The latest collection draws inspiration from far-off travels and diverse global traditions. The Poetry design team travelled the world seeking out artisans who share the brand’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

“In a world filled with mass-produced items, we believe in the importance of craftsmanship, the beauty of high-quality natural materials, the passing on of heritage and generational wisdom, and in celebrating the makers and artisans who bring these visions to life. This commitment extends to supporting craftsmanship communities both locally and abroad. With artisans, there is an energetic value in their creativity. Hands carving and then pressing block prints, working lathes to carve large shapes, and moulding clay. Natural raw materials are grown and nurtured, carved and shaped by hand,” notes the brand.

The Poetry design team looked at three design aesthetics for the new range:

• Modern Classic – a seamless blend of contemporary elements which bring a touch of elegance to a space.
•  The Romantic – a modern take on traditional design.
•  The Gypset – embraces artisanal craftsmanship and natural materials for a grounded, earthy setting.

Poetry has also expanded on its textile and kitchenware offering with this collection to include bedding, towels, scatters, crockery, bakeware and cutlery.

5 VISI Favourites from The New Collection:

UMA COFFEE TABLE

The sleek surface is perched on three parquet-inspired spheres that show off the beautiful tones of mango wood, boasting clever and meticulous craftsmanship. 

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MYLAH BOUCLE SQUARE OTTOMAN

The sculptural design of the legs creates visual interest, and the square top anchors the unit.

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NEETA STATEMENT CHAIR

Handmade and upholstered with hand-woven cotton stripe material on wooden legs with golden brass caps.

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MEDIUM LÉA PLANTER

The planter has a harmonious contrast to add depth and character to any space.

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MARINE MEDIUM PLATTER

Locally made, the ceramic dish features a gorgeous fish design to add a little charm and quirk to your kitchen table.

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With the launch of over 200 new products, Chris and Anna Weylandt share an inside look into the development of Weylandts’ latest collection. 

Unveiling Weylandts’ seasonal store revamp and biggest collection to date at the Weylandts Green Point store, Chris Weylandt shared an inside look into the development of each range. Designing and developing new unique pieces is often a process that takes several years. “Nothing good is created in a rush – it’s only through time, patience and perseverance that you arrive at an incredible end product,” says Chris.

Chris believes in designing products that tell a story. To create their new collection, the Weylandts team travelled the world to source the finest raw materials and meet with the most skilled makers and suppliers. “When I visit the suppliers, I don’t like to sit down in the office and talk about business – I like to go right through the back door into the yard, where things are happening because you’ll always discover the best product,” he says. “The value of our product is in the journey of creation.”

Honouring the beauty of natural textures and tones, the store revamp highlights the approach of the new collections, from material selection to local craftsmanship to the unique provenance of many of the pieces. The new collections are connected to nature through their use of earthy hues, organic and imperfect shapes, and the incorporation of tactile materials such as crude clay, volcanic lava, wood, and woven fibres that are finished by hand.

The new Tambora Dining Table features soft curved lines, a timber top, and a unique lava stone base, adding an element of adventure. “We got into the back of a bakkie and were taken to a bizarre rock field, next to a volcano, where we sourced the materials from the site,” explains Anna.

The Indian Unique Dining Table is another new piece, curated with the Mallorca Sofa and petrified wood coffee table. The one-of-a-kind dining table has been transformed from antique door frames, beautifully carved and detailed.

The new collection includes a locally-manufactured bedroom range, storage range, and a collection of outdoor pieces that includes three sofas, two dining tables and several chairs, stools and side tables.

Looking for more design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.

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Cape Town-based lighting, furniture and accessories store, CRÉMA welcomes a new brand to their collection – ENO Studio. 

ENO Studio, based in Paris, specialises in producing quality everyday objects, furniture, and lighting that embody sustainable, simple,  and poetic design. Their goal is to offer a diverse range of French designs that are suitable for every household, showcasing a sublime resurgence of French elegance.

CRÉMA will be focusing on ENO Studio’s lighting products, which are currently in stock in Paris and will be imported by courier within 2 to 4 weeks – a much faster turnaround time than any other brand they currently work with.

One of the distinguishing features of their lighting products is the variety of finishes and materials they offer. They’re carefully selected to complement the design of the light fixture and suit indoor and outdoor styles and preferences. 

ENO Studio offer a range of outdoor lighting fixtures for homeowners looking to enhance their outdoor spaces with high-quality, innovative lighting designs. 

Whether you’re looking for pendants, wall lamps, floor lamps or table lamps, the French brand has something to offer that will suit your needs and style. 

ENO Studio is now available at the CRÉMA showroom. The products can be viewed online at crema.co.za.

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The new jewel-toned furniture collection by Joburg-based designer Bilala Mabuza is a celebration of conscious design.

Bilala Mabuza, founder and creative director of interior design company Cocoon Lifestyle, recently debuted a plush new seating collection aptly titled Bubble Collection. The collection showcases Bilala’s expressive use of cocooning forms, high-comfort materials and organic, nurturing curves. We chat to the designer about her work and what inspired her new range.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

Our clients are collectors in their own right, and we collaborate with them to enhance their way of life through design. Each project is unique and demands a bespoke approach and a refined sensibility in execution. We translate our clients’ vision of their space and how they choose to live, then we thoughtfully ensure that their homes and spaces reflect their individual essence.

How did the Bubble Collection materialise/manifest?

We created this collection with a deep appreciation for detail and honest materials. The Bubble Collection is a decadent evolution of our existing Curve Collection, and this contour and comfort-embracing ensemble is indulgent in every way imaginable. Taking a cue from the concept of ‘Hygge’ – a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality – the pieces in this new collection are fittingly named:

• The Bubble armchair – a snug sculptured seat with an exceptional foam core to enhance comfort.
• The BonBon sofa – delicious in texture, cloud-like, and appears weightless with soft contours.
• The Soufle Ottoman – a curvaceous feminine silhouette moulded to feel organic and naturally finished.

In this season of mindfulness, our homes and living spaces are more central to life than ever before. Our home is where we find reverie and immerse ourselves in self-care. This desire for sanctuary demands soft forms that cocoon and bring us comfort.

What material did you use to create the collection?

The key materials used in this collection are travertine, oak, plush soft foams and decadent fabrics.

Is everything manufactured locally?

Every piece in this collection is manufactured locally with globally sourced fabrics.

Tell us why South African design is so important to you?

South African heritage inspires a wide genre of creatives around the world. We also live in a naturally beautiful part of the world abound with inspiration and evident in the level of creativity and incredible locally made products from South Africa.

What has been your most impactful interior design lesson? And how did you come to learn it?

The most impactful design lesson has been always stay conscious of who we are designing for and the deep understanding that clients have to live with the decisions that we have helped make long after the project wraps. Place people and their needs at the heart of the design story.

What is your single go-to piece of decorating advice?

Materials and details truly matter, you cannot hide sub-standard work by adding beautiful accessories in the space then photoshop images and hope to get away with it. Pay attention and deliver what you promised, every single time.

The Bubble Collection is exclusively available through cocoonlifestyle.co.za by order; each piece is customisable with plush fabrics.

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Inspired by nature and rooted in ergonomics, her brand murrmurr is making waves with its organic shapes and neo deco aesthetic.

Cape Town-based, Stellenbosch-raised former Design Indaba Emerging Creative Mia Senekal founded distinct interior and furniture design brand murrmurr after nine years of experience in retail interior design.

She is one of the local designers who contributed to adidas’s sustainability-centric flagship store in Sandton City, Johannesburg, opened late last year. The couch she designed for the store, New Moon, is inspired by the phases of the moon and reflects her main influence – nature and the outdoors – where she draws from elements in the world around us and brings them inside our homes. Murrmurr also places a strong emphasis on ergonomic design, ensuring alignment with the highest standards of comfort. We spoke to Mia about her design philosophy and more.

My typical day is filled with enquiries and sending out information on products – which I’m so grateful for. In between that, I visit my manufacturers to check up on the progress and quality of items. When I have free time, I constantly think about (and sketch) new ideas. It’s the part of the business I’m most passionate about, that creative bubble.

What makes a great piece of design, for me, is originality – and that stems from creating based
on a firm concept, having a story behind the design, and it being relatable to customers. Comfort is also key when designing a great piece of furniture.

Functionality comes first. When I first started exploring furniture design in 2019, I set out to understand the ergonomics of furniture – what makes it functional and comfortable. Once I had completed that research, I started to incorporate what I’d learnt into designs that are aesthetically pleasing, and that translate into pieces of art.

READ MORE: The Flourish Range by Murrmurr

Nature inspires all my designs. For me, a strong concept is hugely important in any range – it gives me a base to design from and room to play; a core to draw on whenever I get stuck or need a new idea. It also creates a story between pieces in a range – a story that is told through design.

The top trends in design that I see coming through in the next year or two will be about incorporating sustainable materials, and playing with various textures and finishes in one furniture piece. Texture and materials have become a big focus in the industry – consumers are looking for something different, something to set an item apart from commonly used materials.

I’ll incorporate these trends into my own brand by focusing on sourcing and integrating sustainable materials, and including a lot of texture – it ties in with our ethos of being inspired by nature.

Among all the pieces I’ve designed thus far, my personal favourite is the New Moon couch from the Moon collection. It was the first piece I ever created, and I’m still in love with its endless curves.

READ MORE: Rising Star: Siyanda Magaba

My advice on the quickest or easiest way to update a home’s interiors is paint. You can also try new plants, fresh linen or one signature couch. That way, you can change things up again in a few years when the urge to uplift a space strikes you.

My favourite room in my own home is definitely my bedroom. It’s a haven that I’ve filled with plants, and a mix of antique and modern pieces that exist in perfect balance. The big bed, with its soft white linen and floral scatter cushions, is so inviting!

My favourite destination for design inspiration is definitely Milan. The furniture industry and fairs are incredible. It’s a hub of design, and it’s filled with energy and creativity.

If money were no object, the piece of design or art I’d treat myself to is Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting. It has been my favourite piece since the age of 16, when I saw it in real life. I was mesmerised.

+ VISI Masterclasses

Mia is also one of our VISI X BHC School of Design interior design course industry experts. Each online course has a Masterclass where we chat to a celebrated professional interior designer, getting their insights and expertise gleaned from years of experience with real-world interior design projects.

• CLINTON SAVAGE – Clinton Savage Interiors and Architecture
• HENDRE BLOEM – Hendre Bloem Interior Design
• PLOY PHIROMNAM & GUY VAN DER WALT – Hoi P’loy lighting
• MIA SENEKAL – owner, murmur furniture design

Looking for more rising stars of South African design or design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.

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South African lighting and furniture design atelier Studio Lloyd is launching their first outdoor seating collection. 

Studio Lloyd, an internationally renowned design studio based in Cape Town, is bringing their innovative organic designs to outdoor spaces. Their exciting new luxurious Sayari Outdoor Collection is a contemporary yet functional outdoor seating range inspired by the beauty of the African continent.

Instead of using traditional shapes and patterns, the Sayari Outdoor Collection is a contemporary and physical ode to the place Studio Lloyd calls home. “Sayari” is Swahili, meaning “Planet” and is the extension of Studio Lloyd’s standard range. With conscious living and the planet in mind, the collection has been made using Eucalyptus Globulus – an alien species which has a negative impact on the biodiversity of South Africa.

READ MORE: Studio Lloyd Launches a Range of Ottomans

The simplistic yet eye-catching MAONI Daybed is versatile in its use and offers pairing with the uniquely shaped but functional KIMONDO Side Table with round marble inlay. 

This unfamiliar approach to outdoor seating lies in the use of organic shapes and a minimal yet significant combination of materials. The Studio Lloyd signature crochet detailing adds familiarity and affiliation to the significance of local handcraft.

The collection officially launches on the 16th of May 2022 and will be available to order via studiolloyd.com and design@studiolloyd.com. 

Looking for more design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here, or take a look at our Q&A with the design duo behind Deft.

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Incanda‘s new Barkly Couch is a contemporary yet classic staple that transforms any living area into a chic, effortless space.

The Barkly is the newest member of Incanda’s classic-inspired range of couches. The proudly South African furniture brand has re-imagined the classic and formal style of the Chesterfield couch for the next generation by combining super slim technology and clean lines with a hint of tradition. The Barkly is the Chesterfield for the new tech kid; the next generation in a fast-paced and modern world.

The Barkly is modern and bold, and is the perfect complement to a formal study or home office.

The Barkly, like all of Incanda’s pieces, is meticulously handcrafted in their factory. Each couch goes through a delicate construction process which includes the building of the frame, the cutting and stitching of leather, and finally the deep button work.

The Barkly can either be upholstered in beautiful bovine leather or upholstered in fabric to add layers of texture and colour to your interior space. It makes the perfect centrepiece to suit any style.

There is a wide range of fabric options to choose from.

Shop this distinct look and many more on our website at incanda.co.za, or visit any of our six showrooms to view it yourself. 

During February 2022 Incanda are offering a 10% discount on all orders of the Barkly in fabric.

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The new Homecoming collection by TheUrbanative reflects a renewed global focus on what the emotions, textures and colours that evoke a feeling of “home” mean to us all.

TheUrbanative’s founder, designer Mpho Vackier, says the Covid-19 pandemic led to a worldwide rediscovery of what home means to people. As a result, her design firm’s Homecoming collection was not just an exploration of colour, materials and form: it also included an olfactory experience through a set of collaborative candles with Okra Candle. We spoke to her about the new range.

Do you picture the pieces in the Homecoming collection being used to create a complete look, or do you see people adding one or two items to an existing scheme?

There are 24 individual pieces in the collection, and they can fill a room or simply add to it. We explored categories of products seen in our previous collections, such as seating and storage – but we also have many firsts in this collection. These include our handcrafted beaded Mudziira wall lights, created in collaboration with The Herd, and our beautifully crafted Selamawi ceramic vessels and candelabra, made in collaboration with Jan Ernst. The concept of bringing ideas together was further explored via collaborations with Okra Candle, Neimil, Wolkberg and The Mill Fabrics.

The rust and sienna tones of the range have a wonderfully earthy feel. Why was this particular palette chosen?

During the design process, we explored the architectural details of homes across the African continent as well as the colours of these structures. We considered shades that promote feelings of warmth, connectedness, optimism and cocooning. The main colour of the range – terracotta – is very much tied to the feel and messaging of this collection, although using other colours, especially for large projects, is something we could look into.

The Homecoming designs continue and also develop TheUrbanative’s previous aesthetic. Could you talk about this in a little more detail?

We believe in constant evolution, and that results in the consideration of our previous work to inform new work. In this range we still focus on the exploration of form, but we’ve also experimented with concepts of visual texture, created either by repetition of elements – as seen on our Dehinineti drinks server – or a play on technique, like the woven details of our Hlutha table.

For more visit theurbanative.com.

Looking for more on South African decor? Take a look at Douglas & Company’s new collection called PIPE DREAMS.

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PIPE DREAMS by Douglas & Company uses leftover material to create a new collection of furniture including a daybed, bench and stool.

What do you do when you have a surplus of CLT (cross laminated timber) and scrap high-density chip foam? Well, if you are the duo behind Douglas & Company you dream up a playful collection of furniture, aptly titled PIPE DREAMS.

The collection’s title suggests a state of reverie: “Conceiving of and launching a new collection amidst omnipresent uncertainty felt like a fanciful scheme at first,” says Liani Douglas, one half of the design duo. “But we decided to banish our current state of limbo in favour of a previously unimaginable new reality which is revealing itself. The pure geometric assembly and plump curves of the collection evokes a playful dreamlike state, fitting for a not-so-fleeting daydream.”

There are four pieces which make up the whimsical collection – each piece feature the repurposed CLT and high-density chip foam (leftovers from a recent construction project) complimented with a touch of blush pink leather.

The CLT, made up of high-pressured bonded 20-40mm timber boards in perpendicular layers, provides incredible stability and structural capacity to the coniferous softwoods used for the panels. This layered fabrication process inspired the form and construction of the new pieces. Simple geometric shapes are built up stacking uniform disks of wood and foam, left exposed to evidence the material strata.

The collection launched at THEFOURTH’s exhibition, House Party on 16 June 2021.

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Swedish furniture brand IKEA and Danish design studio HAY have collaborated on Ypperlig, a collection which was first announced during the IKEA Democratic Design Day event in Sweden last year.

The Ypperlig collection is made up of more than 30 products, including key pieces like a Scandi plank table and a sofa inspired by the 1950s, as well as items such as blankets, vases and candle holders.

The idea was to challenge the public perception of IKEA design and quality.

“We learned a lot of things from this collaboration that we can apply to our own company: the simplicity in the IKEA supply chain, and making something that’s complex more simple and therefore better and less expensive,” said Rolf Hay on dezeen.com, who founded the Hay brand with his wife, Mette in 2002. The IKEA influence was felt when they learned about creating the best tools, strong solutions and dealing with flat-pack challenges.

The collection will be released in October 2017.

(h/t) dezeen.com

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