House&Leisure - December 2010
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iKhaya finds a new home…
Design store iKhaya has become synonymous with creative contemporary design in Durban, so the news that the store was moving to bigger premises in Lilian Ngoyi Road was received with great excitement.
‘We have been working on designs for a range of new furniture and kiddies furniture but needed more space to accommodate all these ideas,’ says owner Rhenda Allan about the move.
The original store was famed for its ever-popular wooden Jac sculptures, box frames and one of the best collections of South African design around, so Rhenda and her husband have kept the formula the same in the new space but added a whole host of quirky new items and ideas to the shop. ‘We try to keep our products as simple and natural as possible. Both my husband and I love working with wood and incorporating some element of recycling into our designs.’
Most of the products in the store are actually designed and manufactured by the couple. ‘I love having a place to try out new ideas and get feedback from customers,’ says Rhenda. ‘We also work with quite a few local artists, incorporating their skills with our designs – it’s great fun! Our products are my version of “South African” design that hopefully appeals to people, no matter where they are from.’ Rhenda is also a huge fan of all things retro, so there are always a few restored retro furniture pieces in store. ‘I actually can’t help myself,’ she says.
Find iKhaya’s new space at 451 Lilian Ngoyi Road (formerly Windermere) or visit their website to shop online.
Text: Candice Botha
Q&A with Rhenda Allan from Ikhaya
Today we chat to Rhenda Allan, founder and owner of Ikhaya, Durban’s go-to shop for home décor and must-have art and design pieces.
When did you first have the idea to open Ikhaya? Ikhaya was a dream for many years. After studying I worked in finance for a few years, but always wanted to do something creative. Our first actual shop opened about 4 years ago. I love having a place to try out new ideas!
What is your design philosophy? Keep things simple and natural.
Favourite local designer? Durban-based illustrator Kim Longhurst for her “There’s Never Enough Time” print, and Dokter and Misses for their lights.
Favourite international designer? Charles & Ray Eames. I love their philosophy that anyone doing what really interests them could be great at it, and of course for their gorgeous chairs! I’m also a huge fan of Orla Kiely – I love her use of colour and pattern.
What is your most valued possession/favourite object? My favourite object is definitely the small chandelier in my guest bathroom. It’s from a condemned Tango house in Buenos Aires. I had it for a few years before I actually had a house to put it in. Makes me happy just looking at it!
Most desired item? I would love to have a few of the original Eames plywood dining chairs. Maybe one day.
Favourite children’s book? TinTin – I’m a big Snowy fan!
Do you collect? I LOVE buying retro pieces, chairs, lights cupboards, anything really! Unfortunately don’t always get to keep it for myself.
Favourite Travel destination? Definitely Buenos Aires, Argentina. The most amazing people and places. They have a wonderful way of looking at life and what’s important.
Secret Durban spot? Captain Fine’s for the best fish caught fresh every day.
Ideal Sunday? A lazy Sunday morning, French toast with my boys and dog-child, Morgan, under the huge trees in our garden.
Shopping tip for our readers? Buy things that you really love. Take time to scour around little 2nd hand stores and you’ll be sure to find a few treasures!
Ikhaya: 197b Brand Road, Glenwood, Durban. 084 360 2246/084 564 1854
These repurposed vintage books have just landed at Vamp – love them – especially as i see so many favourite titles from my nose-in-Enid-Blyton-book youth
Kim Longhurst prints at iKhaya
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HANDMADE MONDAYS: iKhaya Store
Today’s handmade designer is Rhenda Allan of iKhaya Store (meaning: a place where something flourishes,…is most typically found,… or from which it originates). iKhaya is a shop which is based in Durban, and sells some seriously gorgeous handmade, and vintage pieces.
Rhenda is also involved in designing and manufacturing beautiful things made from timber (mostly kiaat, it seems). Unfortunately their online shop is down for maintenance (and their physical one in Durban is too far for me to pop into today!), but I managed to find images of some of her timber goodies on the fantastic iKhaya blog. Take a look.
I WANT THAT
I WANT THAT
- If you went to the Design Indaba Expo you would probably have seen the
Ikhaya stand – when i got to them i became one of those gushy shrieky
types.I love their products, the humour that’s imbued in them and have coveted
a lady person for a while.And don’t even get me started on the wooden
lamp shades.
loved their stand. loved, loved their stand.
And now my very own Ikhaya lady (her name is Jill by the way) fits
right in on top of my grocery cupboard with the rest of the menagerie.
Happy Days.PS. Check out Ikhaya’s blog with info on their products and the
things that make them tickhere
