Spring has sprung, and we are well into September…
In the South African design industry, spring means that the silly season is upon as we race, full throttle toward our December break.
I personally don’t know where the year has gone, and it felt like just the other day that I was packing away the Christmas decorations and getting ready for the start of what has been another crazy year.
The days and the weeks seem to blur into the next and before we know it, we are going to be walking into the supermarket to be hit by a wall of red and green Christmas décor. But…. we still have a few months and for me, I find the run up to the holidays an exciting time to start getting my creative juices flowing.
Spring in Africa is a marvellous time when the dry brown of the landscape starts to see sneaks of green peeping through as soon as we have our first big rain. A time when the landscape is transformed into a lush green.
All four seasons in SA have their own perks but its been a very cold winter for us Durbanites and I am ready for days painted with green on its sunny backdrop and the sound of lawns being cut…. the smell too. There is something about freshly cut grass that reminds me of the summers of my childhood and that gets me really excited for the holidays that await and the fun we will have.
But… as we approach the new season its also a time to reflect on the last few months. Its been a very busy few months indeed. Being married to a pro mountain biker certainly keeps us busy. My hubby travels a lot which means I jam pack my days as much as possible, so I don’t feel the void so much. I try and make myself as busy a possible and before I know it, he is home and life is back to normal.
I like to get out and do things. Markets, friends, family, going places and doing things. I have also recently started trail running. Its been a way to see the country side when going along with hubby to events. Most mountain bike events of late have started catering for runners with the odd trail event alongside the main biking event. It’s a great way for me to be with him, to see some of what he sees and get out and explore our beautiful country on foot.
It’s not easy and while I am slogging it out on the trail, I often ask myself “what the heck are you doing girl?” but then you look up and take a breath and the view is unbelievable and we live in a beautiful country that is for sure. That feeling when you cross the line, dirty, sweaty, tired but you have achieved and pushed yourself beyond what you thought was possible leaves you with the most incredible feeling of accomplishment and you find yourself out on the trail again, hungry for more.
As a family, we take a drip down south African East coast and holiday for a week on what we call the Wild coast. It is wild and rugged and unbelievably beautiful! At every turn there is a view worthy of travel documentary and for a blissful week, we call this place home. Although the accommodation is rustic, the experience is well worth it and its least times that help you to step back reflect on one’s life, lifestyle and design. Design is everywhere we look. It may not be in the conventional sense, but as God as the creator, how can it not be perfect, and we can take a lot from the world around us and I find myself returning from our travels refreshed, rejuvenated and inspired for all my interior projects and I can look at things in a new, clear light.
Its after a break like this that I felt that my followers, and those who stumble across this humble post, may like to share in the things that inspire me. Colour is such a huge part of what inspires me, although I may be more inclined to use muted colour in my designs, it’s something that really gets me going and forms the starting point for most of my design work.
My colour pick for September is deep, dark moody blues, colours crystal clean of the ocean bubbles and richness of its depths with a splash of coral inspired by our beautiful African sunsets.
Image courtesy of William Brinson
I am always keeping an eye out for beautiful, inspiring interiors not only to push me but to share with all of you. in the age of social media, there is so much available to tease us and get us thinking outside the box. I am personally enjoying a combination of natural elements such as timber, animal hides or leather, woven grass elements with deep, moody charcoals, marbles and that all too beautiful metallic accent. You can follow my instagram feed to see my daily posts of what I find truly beautiful.
I hope that I have managed to share a glimpse into my world and my life and please keep following for updates on projects, what we are busy with and how it will all come together.
until next time!