The love for elegance and luxury is what fuelled businesswoman Bilala Mabuza's passion for interior design and décor.
We met up with Mabuza during the Hotel & Hospitality Show 2022, where all things design, hospitality and food were being discussed and on display .
The show, held at the Sandton Convention Centre, featured everything from fashion, art to homeware.
All talks were held in a pavilion designed by Cocoon Lifestyle, a Kramerville design and interior décor business, founded by Mabuza.
Mabuza is also a member of Design Joburg 2022’s creative panel and a known supporter of local artists, designers and the greater creative community. “I think from the time that I started in the industry it’s been interesting to see the growth of black designers.
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“One of the really proud things that I’m seeing is that we’ve worked really hard as a panel member of the 2022 Design Joburg to give opportunity to as many black designers as possible. Either for collaborations or to take up their own stands.
“For me it was also important to look at creatives broadly, not just interior designers. I do believe the creative world is more richer by having people from different disciplines in the creative space, rather than focusing on interior designers and architects. And I hope this show has done that, that people can walk around and experience that,” she said .
Mabuza, from Sebokeng in the Vaal, has been running her business since 2009. She started in corporate but she’s also had a “special attachment to space”’ and she knew she wanted to explore that.
“I grew up with a mother and grandmother who were very house proud, who really kept beautiful homes. So I grew up understanding that a home had to look a certain way. I grew up looking at the love, passion, time and attention they paid to how the homes looked and felt. So I started doing what came naturally to me,” she said.
Mabuza started by designing friends' homes and eventually got commercial clients, and then she decided to get her diploma in interior décor.
She was particularly interested in the business of design, from manufacturing to sourcing and procurement.
Mabuza has many projects under her belt: boutique offices, homes and restaurants. You can see her work at upscale dining establishment, Level 7 at the OR Tambo Radission Blu Hotel in Kempton Park.
For design enthusiasts, she had this to say: “A space is a living, breathing, thing and homes are never really done because you know, come different seasons... you will tweak what you have.
“But I also believe in buying good investment pieces, so you can just change your accessories to play with your space. Do your research, don’t shop in a hurry, it’s already your home but pick up pieces that mean something to you."
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