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Showing posts from December, 2025

The Timeless Luxury of Granite: A Designer’s Guide to Premium Countertops

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Granite has long held a venerated place in the pantheon of luxury interiors — and for good reason. As noted by StoneCo in their “Granite Countertops Durban: Find Cost of Granite Top” guide, granite’s enduring appeal lies not only in its natural beauty, but also in its practical virtues.  A granite countertop offers homeowners a surface that is hard, heat-resistant, and remarkably scratch-resistant — a surface on which hot pots can be placed directly and where even chopping can be done without fear of damage. Properly maintained and sealed, granite remains relatively stain-resistant: a benefit that renders it both indulgent and pragmatic.  In South Africa, granite remains a sought-after material, prized by homeowners who value longevity, elegance, and a natural aesthetic that evolves gracefully over time. A Palette of Possibilities: Granite Varieties & Their Character The granite market offers homeowners a wealth of choices, ranging from locally quarried stone to lux...

Why Lacunza Is My Festive Essential This Year

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Merry Christmas, darlings. Yes, I can hear you already:  a fireplace in December, Marcia? Really?  And you’re right, we’re far more familiar with sun hats, rosé, and last-minute salads than we are with winter woollies. But after all my years in décor and design, I’ve learnt that a fireplace is about much more than just warmth. It’s about atmosphere, mood, and that unmistakable sense of home we all long for at this time of year. This is where a Lacunza fireplace takes centre stage. Their closed-combustion units, especially the sleek Silver and Atlantic models, have become my go-to festive focal points. They’re sculptural, modern, and sturdy enough to make an impression even when there isn’t a flame in sight. Consider them as functional art with a festive touch. Because here’s the truth: as the sun sets on Christmas Eve, or when the Cape breeze unexpectedly cools, nothing softens a room quite like the gentle flame behind Lacunza’s wide glass doors. Even a small, controlled fi...

Neolith introduces ARCHITECTURAL, a new surface line for large-scale projects

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  Neolith’s latest ARCHITECTURAL Vol.1 / Textures collection steps into the spotlight with two striking new finishes—Rigato and Cava—alongside three standout models: Serpeggiante, Azahar, and Obsidian. Offered in a sleek 6 mm thickness, this launch invites designers and homeowners to explore fresh creative possibilities across both interior and exterior spaces. Neolith takes another step forward in its commitment to innovation and aesthetic excellence with the launch of Neolith ARCHITECTURAL, a new 6 mm surface line created for interior wall claddings and ventilated facade projects. This new product range represents the perfect balance between technical precision and creative expression, offering large-format materials with high resistance and a natural aesthetic that defines a new language in architectural surfacing. This first release, under the name Neolith ARCHITECTURAL Vol.1 / Textures, introduces two new textures—Rigato and Cava—which bring an unprecedented tactile lang...

Clay Brick: The Enduring Benchmark for Sustainable South African Construction

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In a building landscape increasingly shaped by trends and technology, clay brick continues to stand apart — not just as a traditional choice, but as a high-performance, low-maintenance, and truly sustainable building material. For property developers and homeowners alike, its proven long-term investment value and environmental performance remain unparalleled. Recent comparative research, both locally and internationally, continues to reaffirm why clay brick is considered the benchmark for thermally efficient and sustainable residential construction, particularly suited to South Africa’s diverse climatic conditions. Thermal Performance Proven Across Continents Exhaustive studies in Australia — conducted under real-world conditions and encompassing different walling systems — demonstrated that high thermal mass clay brick walls deliver superior thermal comfort in climates closely resembling South Africa’s. Similar findings were reached by the CTL Group in the United States, confirmin...

Timeless Wooden Furniture for the Way You Really Live

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Summer is practically on our doorstep…the long evenings, the braais, the cousins dropping in with side dishes, and the quiet moments of true downtime we wait for all year. As the days stretch out, our homes become the centre of the season. Whether you’re hosting friends, feeding family, or simply settling into a slower rhythm, now is the time to make the most of the spaces where summer memories happen. Now, a quick disclaimer, our 2025 order book is officially full, BUT now’s your time to ensure you’re first in line come factory re-open in January to make the most of those late-summer, early Autumn evenings. Start Outside In South Africa, outdoor living is practically a national sport, and the right wooden furniture becomes the heart of it all. A handcrafted table like the Boyi Table for Outdoor Dining sets the scene for just-braaied lamb chops, shared salads, sunset drinks, board games, and kids’ crafts. Pair it with the beautifully textured, woven Imbiza Chairs   to crea...

Because every room deserves to feel better

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Great design doesn’t just decorate a room; it defines how it feels to live in it. With Eurolux’s new collection of ceiling and mist fans, ambience becomes an effortless part of the aesthetic. In rich, dark tones and refined, bold silhouettes, Eurolux’s ceiling fans introduce both presence and poise. The Eon (F101) and Edge (F102) models balance quiet performance with thoughtful functionality, offering six speeds, seasonal modes, and integrated 24W LED lighting. Their 3CCT colour temperature settings ranging from warm 3000K to crisp 6500K allow the mood of a space to shift with a single touch of a button. And with generous diameters of 1520mm and 1360mm, they comfortably suit rooms from of up to 35m² and 25m² respectively. For larger interiors, the F75DWSC brings satin chrome detailing and dark wood elegance across a 1330mm span, comfortably serving spaces up to 20m² . The Colonial F40BBO , with its classic four-blade design in matt black and dark wood, offers a 1200mm diameter an...

Metal Windows: Think Big, Frame Slim: How Custom Steel and Aluminium Maximise Your View and Natural Light

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    In today’s world, space is the ultimate luxury. Yet, expanding your home doesn’t always require knocking out walls and pouring new foundations. The secret to adding a sense of ‘square footage’—and elevating your quality of life—lies in one simple principle: maximising natural light and connecting to the outdoors. For over six decades, Metal Windows has specialised in crafting the elements that make this possible: custom-designed steel and aluminium windows and doors. These are not merely functional components; they are architectural tools that dramatically redefine the boundaries of your living space. The Power of the Slim Sightline Traditional construction materials, like timber or uPVC, require thicker frames to maintain structural integrity. This eats into the glass area, effectively putting a border around your view and blocking valuable light. The fundamental advantage of using high-quality steel and aluminium is their superior structural strength . This ro...