Innholdsfortegnelse for Bloom i House and Leisure

If I’d just kept my ‘business’ called Funky Thangz going, I’d be cooking right now. Sure, there would have been those lean eons from say about 1997 to, erm, five minutes ago – but playing the long game would have been so worth it. You see, the fly-by-night start-up that I established in 1994 (my Standard 4 year) hocked a constellation of sun, moon, star and lizard-inspired items I fashioned out of FIMO clay. They were all the rage with my classmates for about a week. Then my enthusiasm waned, I fell behind on accounts and became obsessed with Boyz II Men. It was the end of something good and a turn I deeply regret. If I had just persisted with the fashioning of those thangz that were funky, I’d…

1 / Jan Ernst Ceramics x Merchants on Long Multidisciplinary artist Jan Ernst de Wet, who uses clay as his main medium and nature as inspiration, has again brought his imaginative art to life through a collaboration with acclaimed concept store, Merchants on Long. The Ocean POP collection is made up of various items, including vessels and candelabra – some purely decorative, others fun-yet-functional – each inspired by the kaleidoscopic world within our oceans and all the organisms that inhabit it. @jan_ernst_ @merchantsonlong 2 / Frances van Hasselt x Leandi Mulder The FVH x LM Woven Mohair Collection – Desert Homage – is an ode to nature (and irregularity), with no one item the same. With each piece, the irregularity of the yarns and weave convey the subtle shifts and…

Urban farming: Jozi Food Farmer Ashleigh Machete, or rather Joburg Ash as he is more recognisably known, is an urban landscaper who hails from Soweto. A third-generation farmer, Ash has made it his business to green the urban skyline (and other parts) of Jozi. Through his business, Jozi Food Farmer, he has transformed the rooftops of many buildings into micro farms, veggie patches and all-round green spaces. Ash and his small team of urban organic farmers are skilled in the design, installation and maintenance of food gardens, but also grow produce (veggies, herbs and teas) on behalf of their customers. @jozifoodfarmer Heritage tale: Sisters on Adderley One of many industries negatively impacted by Covid-19 include the very hard-working, independent flower sellers. Sisters Alison Snyders and Karin Bachmann – Sisters on…

Scents of Adventure by ARC Tom Ford Rose Prick Taking inspiration from Tom Ford’s private rose garden, this scent is an ode to the robust rose in all its glory. According to the designer himself, ‘Rose Prick is a wild bouquet of intoxicating and rare hybrids. A trilogy of Rose de Mai, Turkish and Bulgarian roses. Sharp and pristine. Warm and sensual. [It’s] a heady bouquet of blooms in pink perfection.’ arcstore.co.za @arcstoreofficial…

Friend, colleague and partner in style, Superbalist Fashion Director Chris Viljoen visits Sanri at her beautiful Woodstock home to learn more about her life and her space. ‘Sanri and I work on a lot of shoots together. We seem to fuel each other really nicely. She’s got a structured way of thinking where mine is substantially more haphazard. It’s almost like when we need to be haphazard, I can pull her in there, and when she sees we need some structure, she turns things that way. I find that really interesting. It’s an amazing process working with her,’ says Chris. Chris: So tell me, were you always a creative child? Sanri: Yes, very creative. My parents are very relaxed people luckily. I painted on the walls at home and my…

To be honest, when Sumien informed her group of younger friends (who, at one stage or another, had all worked with her on one of the many magazines she has been editor of ) that she, now living alone, had decided to move from a perfectly positioned and gorgeously styled small Victorian house in Tamboerskloof to a huge unconverted office in an old building, which neighboured an Adult World and overlooked the back of a once terribly grand hotel, in inner city Cape Town, they were slightly alarmed. And yet, one such friend (and colleague), writer Sam Woulidge now describes it as one of her favourite spaces. As Sam says, Sumien is always one step ahead… Sam: Why this place? Surely it was such a risk at the time? Sumien:…

‘In 2009, when we met, you became my number one cheerleader,’ says songwriter-turned-screenwriter Lindiwe Suttle Müller-Westernhagen, through the screen of her laptop, having just wrapped filming Desmond’s Not Here Anymore in Hollywood. ‘We were influencers before influencers existed; you were my photographer, my fake manager, you literally were the one pushing me, saying “go do your solo career”, you got me my first gig and I feel so privileged to now highlight you and your art – you’ve been working so hard on this. I looked up what bloom means – it says: come into or being in full beauty or health, to flourish, to become radiant or glowing. And I believe that, really, you have been blooming constantly and the art that you’re creating now is like an exotic…

Each of us arrived in a bit of a flurry, apologising for being late, cooing about each other’s outfits (lots of shoe envy!), whipping out phones to snap pics of the beautiful blooms in Botanicus, our round table location. Suddenly you could feel the big energy in the little flower shop – big personalities, with big hearts and big ideas. Our panel included: artist Lulama ‘Wolf ’ Mlambo, who works at the intersection of science, spirituality and history, and has been celebrated globally as an artist to watch; Keneilwe Mothoa, an artist and influential arbiter of style, with a strong focus on fashion and interiors; me in my capacity as House and Leisure’s contributing design editor, and our host and House and Leisure editor-at-large, Nandi Dlepu, who is a strategist,…

Balance and harmony are fundamental to the practice of ikebana, the 6th-century Japanese art of flower arrangement that originated with the laying of flowers at the altars of Buddhist temples. But ikebana’s balance is oblique, and harmony resides in irregularities and the empty spaces in between. Many parallels can be drawn to the offbeat balances and harmonies of Cynthia Fan’s life and work. Cynthia comes from a background in molecular biology and is currently completing the third year of her PhD about begonias or as she calls them, ‘naturally occurring weirdos’. In research labs, she studies the genetic controls behind this magnificent plant’s leaf shape. While the science of plants is stimulating, there is a side of her that also seeks out a different enjoyment of creativity and aesthetics: ‘Making…

In its storied lifetime, Cape Town’s Heritage Square was a warehouse, among other things. With its cobblestone floors and rustic exterior, it is a characterful redevelopment that was once destined to become a dull parking garage. Through a joint venture with Sam Montsi, the Cape Town Heritage Trust’s redevelopment became the first post-apartheid development in the Cape Town inner city that had the involvement of a black developer. The grapevine in the yard at Heritage Square is thought to be South Africa’s oldest surviving grapevine, having been planted in 1771. Before Penny Noire procured fruits of other vines at Heritage Square, its founder, Penelope Setti had her own storied past. Penelope began her career in hospitality as a student, to earn additional income. She says, ‘After my studies in politics,…

After seeing all the amazing people featured within this issue – reading about their journeys and getting a glimpse into their spaces – thinking about what your children might bloom into one day may be top of mind. Children dream big, and as parents and guardians, it’s our responsibility to make it a little easier for their dreams to become a reality. Enter: the new Sygnia Stargazer Tax-Free Savings Account, which makes it simple to do just that. In conversation with Ashka Corelli, Sygnia Global Head: Marketing, House and Leisure Deputy Editor and mom of two, Lynette Botha, finds out a bit more about Sygnia’s new offering, which provides a simple, flexible and powerful way to save for your child’s future. When’s the best time to open a Sygnia Stargazer…

Style Insider In line with her eccentric personal style, fashion designer Marianne Fassler’s coastal cabin (left) exudes warmth, creativity and smart use of colour.…

Style Insider Art curator Christopher Peter has let the colour do the talking in this whimsical bathroom (left). Accessories that both complement and clash add character to the lively space.…

I’m thrilled to welcome you to your new issue of House and Leisure. As you can tell by our cover, we’ve taken the season and theme quite literally. And why not? (Sorry, Meryl Streep*) Who doesn’t love a beautiful floral still life and a touch of pink for spring, right? We’re here for all of that, and to embrace the season with open arms (take a backseat for now beige). In our previous issue (Volume 1) we celebrated wide-open spaces (and lots of beige!) and reflected on what we felt was a longing or need to escape our surrounds as a result of lockdown; adventuring into the great outdoors – quite literally. For this issue, we’ve shifted to a place where we’re embracing our more immediate surrounds, our homes. No…

For plant molecular biologist and floral artist, Cynthia Fan, modern ikebana is deeply rooted in an understanding of the traditions of this ancient Japanese art of flower arrangement. Ikebana’s principles are perfectly captured in the first arrangement type she was ever taught – the Hana Isho Rising Form. Plant subjects and objects rise along vertical lines of movement in measured proportions and angles. From here, her unique approach shifts towards intuition and self-expression. Spindly stems, structured leaves and delicate flowers are composed in magnifications of glass and light ‘The art of ikebana is to listen to the spirits of flowers and plants. It is how to make the voice or sentiment of the flower a visual combination with your feelings. Ikebana allows the heart of the arranger to touch the…

Clashing colours, striking patterns and tantalising textures make for a vibrant tablescape that sets the scene for a gloriously, decadent feast. Lunch becomes a leisurely, languid affair as the sun slowly dips and the shadows lengthen across empty plates and platters. Scan the QR code to shop this feature online and to discover more inspiring decor content…

1 / Detransition, Baby (Penguin Random House) This fictional novel by Torrey Peters is about the entanglement of three lovers, transgender and cisgender, bringing us to the limits of binary thinking. An unexpected pregnancy is the catalyst for unfolding the layers of complex relationships towards womanhood and motherhood, brought to life by the innermost thoughts of trans women. 2 / Outside and In (Paperplane Publications) We love fellow South African publication, Outside and In, with its bold cover (we see you Khanyisa Klaas) and informative content. The seasonal magazine contains a curation of inspired interiors, gorgeous gardens and trusty tips, along with advice that sets out to demystify design, building and maintenance quandaries. This is a welcomed addition to the magazine stand. 3 / The Bad Seed (HarperCollins Publishers) He…

‘My dog-eared Ina Paarman cookbooks will tell you something of the love I have for this doyenne’s delicious recipes, and of the trust I have in her tried-and-tested methods. Ina herself has always been something of a legend, the very embodiment of a household name’, says chef, food writer and restaurateur, Karen Dudley. ‘Ina is a family business pioneer with a love for food and a passion for possibility – a woman creating a brand when there were no rule books or guidelines for such. And so it was with considerable eagerness that I found myself in a perfectly appointed building in the middle of Ina’s garden; a building radiating her neat, charming character, full of light. It is here where I fell under the spell of a little woman…

‘Who is Diane?’ asks House and Leisure contributing lifestyle editor Cassandra Twala as she begins the interview. ‘Am I saying it right? Is it Diane or Diaan?’ ‘It’s Diane in English but in French it’s pronounced Deeann,’ replies her impeccably stylish subject. ‘Well, I’m 57 years old. My father, a diplomat, is from Benin, and my mother is French-Malian. I grew up in Europe, and only returned to Africa late in my life, after my studies, but I always knew that I wanted to establish myself here. When I came to South Africa I had that need to anchor somewhere and I chose it for many reasons – it was a kind of melting pot of everywhere I had been in my life. I just felt naturally at ease here.’…

Some have called him a control freak but Chris Glass says he would describe it as ‘leading with intent’. And it’s self-evident in the way that he weaves the threads of his private and professional life to craft breathtaking tapestries – which find expression in everything he touches. Chris curates communities, spaces and experiences. He starts with a vision-and-feel of the end result and then works backwards to make specific choices that will lead to his desired outcome. His friend and fellow art enthusiast Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine catches up with him via Zoom the day before he’s due to fly to Ibiza (and then to Greece for a few weeks), before returning to Berlin – where his nest is. Zodwa: As someone who travels for a living, you have many bases…

British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall has many strings to his artfully directed bow – from designing the new Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris and launching ceramics with Richard Ginori to a collaboration with Gant, partnering with Diptyque on its new summer collection packaging design, and writing a weekly column for FT Weekend. But it’s on a lush Gloucestershire estate in the English countryside where Luke and his designer and creative consultant partner, Duncan Campbell, fell in love with a delightfully pastoral three-bedroom farmer’s cottage. On the phone from the Cotswolds, Luke and Duncan tell Vogue Arabia’s Christine van Deemter how they set about creating their sprightly rural escape – and what good taste means today. Christine: Tell us a bit about how you found your cottage. Luke:…

If you’ve visited the large private garden at Babylonstoren’s farmstead, you won’t be surprised to learn that master gardener Gundula Deutschländer is a fine art graduate. For 13 years she has helped grow a masterpiece using the framework designed by French landscape designer Patrice Taravella. While Patrice drew the outline, Gundula and her fellow gardeners colour it in with edible and medicinal organic plants. Gundula grew up in a beautiful garden in Somerset West, not far from where she now works, learning about gardens and plants from her landscaper mother, she describes having a connection with plants. ‘I’ve always lived with plants, living with the life found in nature everywhere,’ she says. Gundula spent many years apprenticing in British and Greek gardens. Back home in South Africa, she responded to…

In 2020, Royal College of Art graduate Hannah Rozenberg developed an online tool to find out how words related to the built environment – think boardroom, decorate, glass, construct – and how they were understood in terms of gender sentiment. While the word ‘decorate’ landed a whopping 108 score for feminine association, words like ‘concrete’ and ‘steel’ were almost exclusively related to the masculine. So, while universities have started to achieve equal enrolment in built environment courses, and more women architects and engineers are being offered employment, the fundamental understanding of who belongs, and who can be useful where, remains highly gendered. Offering its hand in shifting these dynamics is a local online initiative, Her Perspective. Initially set up as part of an exhibition for the South African Institute of…

Style Insider Style maven and editor Laureen Rossouw’s home (left) speaks to her love of natural light, greenery and just the right amount of detail to add interest. A neutral room is elevated with touch-me textures and bold tile work.…

‘I like to think that there are three key layers to work with in every room: the base, the dressing and the finishing touches. Your base is your room structure and furniture; next, consider your dressings and finishing touches and how they complement your base.’ – Ty THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME ‘For the finishing touches in each room, think: vases and foliage, candles and clocks, stacks of books and trinket dishes – don’t be afraid to mix the old with the new. I love to partner little moments and style items together, it’s a way to be considered yet rich in individuality.’ WHERE YOU REST YOUR HEAD ‘Invest in quality natural materials for everything from your bed linen to your cushions and throws. Textiles play a huge role in adding comfort…

Sumien Brink (1) A stalwart in the South African publishing industry, Sumien has a natural flair for creative energy and editorial vision. Her trajectory from fashion editor at Cosmopolitan to editor of House and Leisure (when it launched in 1993) and then on to Woolworths TASTE, Plascon SPACES and VISI speaks volumes of her brilliance. ‘My favourite flowers are Nasturtiums, always – I love the colour and buttery smell.’ Get a glimpse into Sumien’s home on p146. @sumienbrink Trevor Stuurman (2 & 3) From winning the ELLE South Africa Style Reporter title in 2012 to becoming a TIME Next Generation Leader 2021 almost a decade later, Trevor’s star continues to rise. His belief that ‘being African is his superpower’ is decidedly evident. As an award-winning, contemporary multimedia visual artist, Trevor…

@makerslanding makerslanding.co.za…

1 / Il Giardino Dei Tarocchi, Tuscany, Italy (left)  Also known as Tarot Garden, this enchanting sculpture park, located in a small province in Tuscany, is home to artist Niki de Saint Phalle’s intricately mosaiced and larger-than-life figures based on the esoteric tarot. Drawing her inspiration from Gaudí´s Parc Güell in Barcelona and Parco dei Mostri in Bomarzo, among other influences, Niki’s 22 monumental figures have drawn visitors to the park since it opened to the public in 1998. ilgiardinodeitarocchi.it 2 / Le Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech, Morocco (right) Established in 1920 by French painter Jacques Majorelle – an avid plant collector – this beautiful two-and-a-half-acre botanical garden is made up of marble pools, vividly painted surfaces, raised pathways and exotic plant life. What was once a flourishing and celebrated space…

The Bertrams Synagogue in Johannesburg – also known as the Kimberly Road Shul – closed down in 1982, but is now Nicholas’s private residence and studio. In conversation with Art Joburg Founding Director, Mandla Sibeko, Nicholas elaborates: ‘I heard about this space – the synagogue – while at a dinner with friends in 2008. I told them about my wish to one day work in a space that I owned, and it’s then that they told me about it. My partner and I considered the place and we were keen to explore the possibilities of the space at that time, but it was actually only in 2011 when things came to fruition. I called up the owner, Marianna Nielson, one day and asked her if she remembered me and if…

To prepare for this interview, Louise Park-Ross, wardrobe stylist, fashion designer and a very close friend to Michael, went online and found 36 questions to make someone fall in love with you. ‘I felt like that would make an interesting starting point, so let’s go through them and when one resonates with you, you can answer it,’ she says to Michael. ‘But, very importantly, we also need to talk about you as a collector. You could be on an episode of Hoarders with the amount of things you have…’ <Laughs> Louise: Now that we’ve started here, are there any rules for collecting? Michael: I think there are some rules that are worth keeping in mind – some concepts for your collection. For example, two is a pair, but from three you’re…

Textiles have framed Manina Baumann's world since she first studied textile design and worked as a colour and textile consultant in the '80s. Her love for cloth, colour and the history of motif and pattern has evolved since childhood. When Manina looks back at some of her textile designs from university, there are pattern motifs she was drawn to that you'll find in many of her Suzanis today. Whenever she travels, a piece of tapestry, a handwoven silk lappie or a special cushion cover will find its way into her luggage. Manina's City Bowl home in Cape Town is its own book of history, experience and emotion. Furniture, art and collectibles that have a narrative have invariably found their way into the family's home. Lifestyle editor and fabric lover Vicki…

It comes as no surprise that the topics of beauty products and design are hardly ever seen in the same social circles. I would also call it fair to dismiss beauty product packaging as simply the discardable conduit by which the stuff we slather on our faces is delivered in. But as self-care becomes a top priority – a mechanism for survival – beauty is less about what you look like and more about how you feel. We can’t ignore the habitual and immersive, multi-sensory experiences personal beauty routines bring us, and now more than ever, how design becomes part of that experience. About 100 years ago, as a young and excited beauty editor at a top fashion magazine, nothing would thrill me more than unboxing the latest beauty products…

One hundred epicurean items might sound like a lot but, as the person tasked with consulting countrywide, then researching and writing up Mzansi’s iconic eats, I can confirm this was nowhere near enough. Which was precisely the point. The aim of the 100 Flavours exhibition, curated by Hannerie Visser and Ilana Swanepoel of Studio H, was not to draw up a definitive list but rather to stimulate debate about our nation’s deliciously diverse culinary landscape. South Africa’s history is both bitter and sweet. 100 Flavours took place on the site of the pre-colonial Khoi Camissa trading station (at the V&A Waterfront’s Makers Landing). It was important to acknowledge the experiences of all those who farmed, cooked, ate and shared food before us in every region of our land. Our approach…

Self-actualised people accept who they are – despite their many limitations – and are courageous enough to unapologetically express their creativity and idiosyncratic ideas and styles. Despite how hard it can be, they recognise the importance of showing up – of daily practice, stillness and self-reflection in order to cultivate potential. They understand that, as Steven Pressfield explains in The War of Art, ‘Fear doesn’t go away. The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.’ Now, obviously, this quest is unique to each of us – there’s no one-size-fits-all. But, having recently read Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy, I suspect I’ve discovered a generic super power, which I must preach…

The eclectic and individualistic spaces in this issue provided our editors with plenty of inspiration to curate this shopping guide (aka lookbook), showcasing an array of products that have caught our eye. We’ve matched our finds with the four varied interior styles of fashion designer Marianne Fassler, style icon Laureen Rossouw, florists Dané Erwee and Chris Willemse, and art curator Christopher Peter. We are also very proud to introduce our exclusive ready-to-shop Bloom collection (left & cover). In collaboration with eco conscious online retailer Plain Tiger, it is inspired by ‘Bloom’, our spring issue, and is the first of many themed collections. Scan below to find out more… ON THE COVER Collage of our special Bloom Collection: Box Curve mirror (large) by Mooi Mirrors . Cushion cover in egg yolk…

Style Insider In this timeless bedroom (left), impeccable design and smart finishes leave only the accessories to be updated when needed. Master florists Chris Willemse and Dané Erwee’s Johannesdal Villa encapsulates classic with a modern twist.…

8 Degrees South eightdegreessouth.com Anatomy Design anatomydesign.co.za Abstinence Spirits abstinencespirits.com Acqua Panna acquapanna.com Adene’s Farm Flowers adeneflowers.co.za Akashic Tiles akashictiles.co.za Alex Coetzee ssoftstuff.co.za Antonia Steyn antonia.co.za Ardmore ardmore-design.com Arrange Studio arrangestudio.co.za Ashanti Design ashantidesign.com Ashbey’s Galleries ashbeysgalleries.co.za Babylonstoren babylonstoren.com Bare Home Decor @bare.home.decor Belinda Blignaut belinda.co.za BestWood Flooring bestwood.co.za BHH Boutiques bhhboutique.co.za BlankBottle blankbottle.co.za Block & Chisel blockandchisel.co.za Bloedlemoen bloedlemoengin.com Bordallo Pinheiro bordallopinheiro.co.za Bukhara to Cape Town bukharatocapetown.com Cameron Platter cameronplatter.com Cape Cobra capecobra.com Carin Dorrington Ceramics @carindorrington Cécile & Boyd cecileandboyds.com Cemcrete cemcrete.co.za Central Shop @central_ct Ceramic Matters @ceramicmatters Chair Crazy chaircrazy.co.za Chandler House chandlerhouse.co.za Clementina Ceramics clementina.co.za Clinton Friedman clintonfriedman.com Chloe Townsend @chloeseraphine CoralBloom coralbloom.co.za Coricraft coricraft.co.za Corinne de Haas corinnedehaas.com Country Road woolworths.co.za Créma Design cremadesign.co.za Cynthia Fan @_cynthiafan Dangereux lxxii @dangereux_lxxii David Brits davidbrits.com De Kleipot…