A Little Piece of Paradise in the City
Interior Design: An African Eye | Photography: Brian Siambi
Lamu, on the northern coast of Kenya, is one of my all-time, favourite places, I love the vibe and always feel so relaxed, energised and inspired when I’m there. So, I thought it would be kind of fun to pay homage to this enchanting slice of paradiso via my Nairobi cloakroom.
In terms of function, although the room was generously-sized, it wasn’t working as hard as it could. I toyed with the idea of installing a walk-in shower but with two ensuite bathrooms (in a two-bed apartment) this would have been serious overkill. Instead, I opted for a cloak/laundry room because I’m planning to extend my kitchen into the laundry space and so needed to relocate the washing machine. I also made room for a dryer, just in case I ever need one down the line, though this is unlikely (I don’t use dryers for environmental, as well as other reasons). There’s also space for a clothes airier, next to the wash basin, which can be folded away, as well as a retractable clothes line. I wanted a wash basin that looked good and was also deep enough to hand wash items of clothing. It also needed to rest on top of the counter to leave plenty of room underneath to house laundry and bathroom paraphernalia. Good interior design is about function alongside aesthetics.
Before beige and bland
My Africa-modern, eclectic style distills down to vibrant colours, African art, decorative accents, and a variety of textures and finishes. The star attraction and focal point is the wallpaper mural, which I absolutely love. It’s an image shot by yours truly, in Kiwayu, a small island in the eastern part of the Lamu. I adore the fact that it’s a little boy chasing his playful grandfather down a stunning, deserted beach. It was a totally unscripted, heartwarming moment. The same story (along with other vignettes of Lamu) continues on the Instagram-inspired grid above the WC. Decorative elements like the beaded chameleons, wooden figures, fish and the wire ‘Kodak’ camera are fun, artsy touches, that I’m all about.
Before and After
In keeping with my style, the mood in here had to be upbeat and joyous, so yellow plays a big part in channeling the feelgood factor. Coupled with turquoise, I was aiming to evoke sun, sea and sand – fun times and endless, happy days. I played on the fact that the room receives lots of natural light and so used white to enhance it. Negative space gives the eye somewhere to rest – it was important for the room not to feel busy, in keeping with a laid back, tropical, seaside feel.
My design approach is detail orientated. Details are like punctuation, they strengthen the style story and make a room easier to read. Decorative pieces, like the yoga figurine on the window sill, the beaded dragon fly on the mirror, and the glass fish next to the wash basin help the Lamu narrative to unfold organically. Textures including pale wood, mosaic tiles and a sprinkling of greenery, reinforce the relaxed, beachy ambience I wanted to create.
The challenge with eclecticism, as a style choice, is bringing it all together in a way that makes sense. This means the finished result has to be deliberate and yet not look rigid or contrived. Repeating elements such as colour, texture and shape is a very effective device for creating cohesion. In here, squares play out in the floor and wall tiles, artwork and window frames. The same thing goes for the circular mirrors and washing machine window. I used the colour palette throughout the space, in varying degrees, to foster a sense of harmony.
So, what are the main takeaways?
This particular renovation took way longer than I anticipated, mainly due to the fact that it was challenging to get the wallpaper mural right. I didn’t see this coming and it ended up being such a headache. Going forward, I’ll probably won’t use a photographic mural on an entire wall again: the margin for error is to big in Kenya. A pipe sprung a leak after the wall had been plastered, which meant breaking through the wall, repairing and replastering. So, when plumbing is involved you definitely have to factor in issues like rectifying leaks. There are few niggly details that annoy me, like the gap above the washing machine; my fault because I didn’t clearly articulate that I wanted the washing machine to fit snuggly under the counter.
I spent more than I originally budgeted. Bespoke, photographic wallpaper is not a cheap option, especially in Kenya. The wall light above the wash basin (below) was also surprisingly expensive. The quartz countertops were pricey and I’m not sure how much value they add. For my kitchen reno project, I’m going to experiment with a cheaper solution involving a concrete mix to get a similar but more textured effect.
In terms of advice: shop at home first. Look around and see what you can bring in from other rooms before hitting the stores. Flexibility is also key if you live in a country like Kenya, where you can’t get everything you see online or in magazines. I had my heart set on large, grey, rustic floor tiles but couldn’t find anything I liked. I was kind of frustrated until I stumbled upon these turquoise beauties, which were really good value too, but this meant rejigging my design concept to incorporate them.
How it all came together
Colour pop cloakroom
As I’ve explained in a in previous post, and on my YouTube channel (watch below) I’m really loving this transformation. I’ve got a gorgeous, dual functional space, and whenever I step inside, it takes me back to a magical location that has a special place in my heart.
