Zesty art and design solutions

Joburg-based Lemon Décor is a customised artwork business that creates and installs artwork and design items on a number of surfaces. Owned by brothers Ricky and Kevin Frankental, they’ve found a market for customising artwork and design.

Since July 2007, Lemon Décor has been assisting architects, interior designers and private clients in sourcing bespoke art and design pieces that are then reworked into larger-than-life wall coverings, wall papers, canvases, Perspex prints and frames. These customised designs are always created to work with specific colour palettes, while also having the potential to be sized to fit a specific area.

“We’ve developed a range of products that will fit into most budgets and we have the ability to create one-of-a-kind pieces with the client’s preference in mind,” Kevin says.

Lemon Décor is a turnkey solution: they design, print and do installation for interior use, rather than the designer running around to various suppliers trying to source everything themselves. With the client’s vision in mind, there are no limits: they can source, resize and install almost any image or design, resulting in truly unique and personalised decor.

What is your design ethos?

In a world of mass production, standardisation and globalisation, there’s an urge to individualise and tailor-make what we can, when we can. People want that unique stamp, which we offer through our designs and products. I think it’s important to make the whole experience more personal, and therefore more real, to those who aren’t interested in the off the shelf “oh, my mother has one just like that” type of design solution.

How do you keep your designs fresh?

By constantly observing and finding new ways to distill and interpret our findings (a piece of writing, a photograph, something we’ve once seen on the side of the road, or a dull brief). Using our gut also helps, though it doesn’t always go down well with our customers. But hey, ons probeer.

Tell us more about your ability to turn everyday objects into works of art?

Most things, taken out of context, have the ability to become completely transformed and take on a life of their own. The same applies when these objects are blown up to a very large scale – a 40 square metre custom-printed wallpaper, for example. The subject matter becomes abstract.

This makes you look differently at the seemingly insignificant and, all of a sudden, you find that there’s potential everywhere. The idea of having an image of a hurricane, or even rubbish bags, on your living room wall then becomes quite desirable.

What are some the most exciting projects you have worked on?

No 1 Biccard Apartments for Southpoint in Braamfontein was a great project, as it showcased some unique designs and the majority of our products are on display.

What do you love most about South African design?

That it reflects this country’s rich diversity of cultures, languages and points of view.

How do you think beauty in a home or workplace can change someone’s mood or outlook?

Our visual capacity is vast and how we feel has a lot to do with our surroundings. Walking into a beautiful space sets the standard for the rest of the day and, for me, hugely influences the way in which I interact or don’t interact. The aesthetics of my surroundings can be the cause of me either being a generous, charming individual or being a cold, cynical bitch.

Anything else you would like to share with us?

I finally feel that Johannesburg is starting to make great progress with exciting spots such as Arts on Main, 70 Juta Street, Randlords and many more interesting developments. I think VISI has played a huge role in this and it’s clear to your readers that you guys never sit back and rest on your laurels. You continue to learn and inspire. Thanks for being part of giving everyone something to do on the weekend.

More information: www.lemondecor.co.za