Living Studio

HELLO OCTOBER // COFFEE AND CHAOS

October has arrived, and SILLY SEASON has officially entered LIVING Studio.

The fabric books are open, measurements are being triple checked, inboxes are full and the coffee is flowing. We are juggling site visits, installations, final orders and the growing list of things everyone would love completed before the end of the year.

Us: “Can we squeeze in just three more?”

The workshops: “No, LIVING Studio. The last three really were the last.”

We heard them. Mostly….

If new curtains, re-upholstered furnishings, custom scatter cushions or possibly even blinds are still on your 2026 list, now is the time to contact us. You could be one of the final few we manage to squeeze into production, depending on workshop availability.

Here is to an October filled with full calendars, exciting projects, plenty of caffeine (possibly some ch*****ne) and just the right amount of chaos.

Coffee can be refilled. 2026 production slots cannot.

BUBBLES AT TEN // When it comes to celebrating the success of others, we do not believe there is such a thing as, “Do you know what time it is?”

So yes, our first glass of bubbles may have been poured at 10am.

In August, we celebrated the opening of Eastcliff Nails & Wellness.

We had the pleasure of being part of the space from the planning stages, designing the salon in 3D, working through the layout, selecting paint colours and wallpaper, and sourcing the lighting, furniture and fabrics that would bring it all together.

Seeing everything move from plans and selections to a finished space made that first sip even sweeter.

Congratulations to the Eastcliff Nails & Wellness team. We loved being part of your journey.

Have you been yet?

SPRING IN THE STUDIO // A little Studio fun with Kyla, playing with fabric and getting far too excited about the pieces arriving for our current projects.

There is something very satisfying about seeing the colours, textures and combinations we selected return to the studio as finished pieces, ready to take their place in the homes we have been working on.

The Studio is feeling brighter, the new pieces are coming in and spring is most definitely in the air.

We are here for it.

DESIGNER CONFESSIONS // VANESSA

There are a few things Vanessa simply cannot unsee.

Curtains installed incorrectly. Pleats that are not sitting perfectly. Missing runners or hooks. Pancake flat scatter cushions. W**e glasses with thick glass and chunky stems. Cluttered kitchen and bathroom counters covered in vitamins, bottles, bread and jam jars.

If she is styling your home, there is a very good chance she will quietly hide the clutter without telling you where it went. Consider this your warning.

Her camera roll, however, is always filled with shoes, food, w**e, bubbly and her blond little boy.

And when she arrives at a client’s home? There is a very good chance she will connect with the dogs first and continue visiting them whenever she can, simply because it brings her so much joy.

In short, perfect curtain pleats, plump scatter cushions, clear counters, fine stemmed w**e glasses and a dog nearby. That is Vanessa.

THROWBACK THURSDAY // PROJECT HUGO

Some projects stay with you long after the final installation, and this is one of them.

Completed in 2021 for clients who are very close to our hearts, Project HUGO was about working with pieces that already held history and meaning, then carefully introducing new furniture and finishes to bring everything together.

The result was a home that still felt completely like theirs, with every existing and new element finding its place.

IT IS NEVER JUST THE FABRIC // “What fabric should I use to reupholster my sofa?”

It sounds like a simple question. The answer is not quite as simple.

Before selecting a fabric, we consider the overall style of the space and the base palette created by elements such as the flooring, wall colour, other accent items in the space. We look at how the fabric will work alongside existing curtains, furnishings, rugs, artwork and scatter cushions.

Then we consider how the home is lived in.

Does the fabric need to be child or pet friendly? Will the sofa be exposed to direct sunlight? Is this a permanent home or a holiday home? How often is the space used and ventilated?

Every one of these details influences the colour, texture, durability and performance of the fabric we recommend.

A fabric can look beautiful on a sample and still be completely wrong for the home. Our job is to make sure it works as part of the entire space and for the everyday life happening within it.

That is why it is never just the fabric.

A LITTLE REFRESH // V & CO

We spend a lot of time talking about full rooms, installations and all the decisions that go into putting a space together.

But sometimes, you really do just need a few new things.

A different combination of Scatter Cushions can completely change your sofa. A beautiful throw brings another layer to a bedroom or living space. And one well chosen decor piece can be exactly what that empty corner has been waiting for.

That is where V & CO comes in.

Our retail collection includes ready made Scatter Cushions, Throws and Decor pieces available directly from the Living Studio showroom.

Come in. Have a browse. Play with combinations. Take something home.

No project required.

FROM YOUR TEAM TO YOU // On your birthday, Vanessa, we want to celebrate you.

Laughter is never far away when you are around. Determination and motivation are part of your every day, but so are kindness, care and the way you make the people around you feel supported.

Today, we celebrate all that you are. The woman you are. The success you have created. The business you have built and continue to grow from strength to strength.

We are incredibly proud and privileged to be part of your team, to learn from you, laugh with you and share in everything LIVING Studio continues to become.

Today is about you.

Cheers to you, V. Happy birthday from all of us.

SAY NO MORE // Late on a Friday afternoon, we climbed onto a plane to Johannesburg to meet with one of our lovely returning clients.

We first worked with her on our Modern Coastal Oasis project in Bakoven. So, when she said her Johannesburg home needed some LIVING Studio, there was only one answer.

SAY NO MORE. WE ARE ON OUR WAY. ✈️😉

What started as one room quickly became a few. After a productive Saturday meeting, we flew back to Cape Town with just enough weekend left for a little R & R.

We have since put together the proposal and colour palettes for the project. Swipe to see what is taking shape.

The best part? Being asked back. Now, back to those plans.