Mar 21 - Ballito Umhl

Design with meaning
Talented Salt Rock interior designer Lisa Twyman has always been a creator at heart.
Despite having an honours degree in psychology, she found her true calling in creating
beautiful spaces and now furniture and homeware décor pieces. She shares a few
design tips with us.
Originally a Zululand girl, Lisa started her interior business in 2007. Design is
much more than just a job to her, she says. “I see it as a vocation that saved me
because it brings me such purpose and joy.” The homeware side of her business
came alive when Lisa started ceramics about eight years ago. “It didn’t come
naturally to me at first,” she says, “but then suddenly it seemed like overnight
my mind was saturated with ideas for objects and then later for bigger pieces
like lights and furniture.” After years spent refining her ideas and finding the
right craftsmen and manufacturers for the job, she finally launched her range in
October 2020.
Please tell us about your range. The range includes all sorts of
materials - wood, textured glass, concrete, metal, ceramic, stained glass and
textile. Colour is pivotal. I would say the collection has a bold femininity and
worldly sensibility. The furniture range is comprised of pieces that are made
to order and one-off pieces that will never be repeated. I see the one-off
pieces as functional art, statement pieces that will become modern day family
heirlooms. I also add some of my hand-crafted ceramic pieces to the online store
occasionally and am currently designing some smaller objects for the home.
What are some common interior mistakes people often make in
their homes? Too much stuff! Too many pieces of furniture. A good interior
has negative space, just like a good painting. You need a place for the eye to rest.
What is your biggest interior design must-have/nonnegotiable?
A well thought out colour palette. Colour can make or break a
space. It needs to be sensitive to the surroundings, the architecture, the quality
of light, and, mostly, to the emotional effect it will have on those in the space. I
love using pared back colours and unexpected combinations.
What homeware or furniture
trend can we expect to see
emerging in the year ahead?
Buying once and buying well. I think
the pandemic has shed light on
reckless consumerism. People are
going to make more considered
decisions and connect with the
stories behind the products. I think
people are going to want their
furniture and homeware to reflect
who they are, and they will no longer
want what is mass-produced. They will
especially buy locally produced items,
and support local small businesses.
Resins, recycled plastics and other
innovative materials will be seen more
and more in furniture and homewares
in the coming years.
Details: lisa@lisatwyman.com,
079 931 6902
March 2021 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga 29