Rain
The days may be getting longer, but the prevailing sentiment is of winter going on for much too long now. I could not agree more, finding myself feeling tired, sluggish, and longing to shake of the layers of hibernation. This calls for a spot of rejuvenation and pampering; and what better way than using products with the best ingredients Mother Nature can offer. Based in Swellendam, South Africa, Rain is a natural skincare and home accessories line inspired by the life-giving sustenance of its namesake; a philosophy that marks everything the company does from the products created to the people the company works with.

Rain’s line of products are formulated from naturally sourced ingredients from Southern Africa’s indigenous plant life, and include the likes of: avocado, apricot seed, baobab, cedar wood, coconut, grapeseed oil, Kalahari melon, marula, palm oil, neroli, sunflower, rooibos and shea butter to name a few. These ingredients go into producing bath and body products such as soaps and body scrubs, in addition to home fragrances in the form of candles and reed diffuser perfumes. All the products are tested to ensure they meet international safety and toxicology standards, and are not tested on animals. To help create a luxurious spa experience at home, Rain also have a line of personal accessories including; slippers, robes, towels and blankets.

Everything produced at Rain is handmade, from the products to the packaging by a team of approx sixty men and women from the local community who are affectionately known as the ‘Rain-makers’. Beautifully packaged, all packaging is biodegradable made from either recycled or raw materials and can be reused. The company has retail stores in South Africa, the Netherlands, and the US; which all serve to bring the brand to life, offering customers a highly interactive experience where products like body scrubs can be customised, bath salts mix and matched, products tested. Rain also encourages customers do their bit for the environment by bringing their own containers from home to fill with foam bath or liquid soap to help towards cutting down on waste.

… natural African skincare

Additional details:
Products priced at approx.: ZAR12-ZAR3,995/€2.53-€40.62/USD$3.50-USD$125
For further information about Rain and to purchase visit: http://rainafrica.com
Online shopping is also available    

Singita - Mara River Tented Camp
Luxury game reserve specialist, Singita are introducing a new camp to their safari camp and lodges portfolio. The Singita Mara River Tented camp will be in Tanzania, located in the remote Lamai Triangle region, the northern most tip of the Serengeti National Park. In keeping with the laidback luxury style of their other properties in South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, see the Singita Pamushana Lodge featured here, preview pictures of the new camp reveal a refreshing, modern take on the safari chic aesthetic.

What I like most about this new camp is how it celebrates contemporary African design and craftsmanship, showcasing the work to beautiful effect. I instantly spotted the work of some designers I have previously featured on African Daydreams, including South African designer Haldane Martin's crocheted Zulu Mama chairs, a personal design favourite. Throughout the camp pattern and texture abound in a mostly soothing neutral palette that is contrasted here and there with splashes of bold red and blue, in a nod to Maasai patterns, all of which are incorporated into the decor through tasteful design accents such as basketry, natural polished wood for tables and stools, and woven fabrics.

Singita is focused on promoting sustainable living, and operates on a philosophy of offering 'fewer beds in larger areas', a practice that continues with the Mara River Tented Camp, which is a sixteen-bed camp set in 98,000 acres of untouched wilderness, home to a wide plain of game, elephant, crocodile and hippo in the Mara River, and big cats. A setting, which offers guests an intimate, secluded getaway. 

Designed to make the most of the natural surroundings whilst taking care to leave a lighter footprint, sustainability extends to the use of natural and recyclable materials, employed in the building the camp, these include raw leather, wood, stone and canvas. The camp is 100% of the grid, meaning that it is reliable on a central solar power system to convert sunlight into the electricity required.

...beautifully designed, it all looks so peaceful and homely

Lucas Risé
I stumbled upon these amazingly decorated, hand-painted cabinets by Argentinean artist, Lucas Risé. Visually stimulating, the cabinets are a riot of colour, pattern and texture, with several of the designs drawing inspiration from elements of African design and culture; from basketry to motifs. 'Somewhere in Africa', brings together elements of the different countries and regions visited during Lucas' travels to the Continent; whilst 'African Whimsical' pays homage to the traditional neck ornaments worn by women in the Continent's mid-western regions. The 'Carrousel' cabinet, in particular reminds me of the Yoruba beaded chairs I have featured previously. The design sees the application of 21,000 metal studs covering the entire surface, creating an engaging tactile object. In addition to decorating cabinets, Lucas brings his intricate style to textiles, and other forms of furniture, like tables.

An award-winning artist, Lucas developed his unique decorative style during his travels around the globe. Interested in interactive art, Lucas uses furniture as a vehicle for self-expression, in the process turning an everyday functional object into a work of art that in turn allows the user to interact with art on a more personal level. These cabinets are collectable conversation pieces; and would be just the thing to bring character to an area such as an unloved hallway.

Taher Chemirik
Fluid, sculptural pieces formed out of shimmering gold and silver metals are defining characteristics of Algerian designer, Taher Chemirik’s striking jewellery pieces, which include bold, oversized cuffs and giant links that form statement chokers. Hailing from a family of designers, Taher describes his upbringing as ‘unconventional’, and cites his sources of inspiration as being his African roots, Oriental sophistication, modern art, and the antiques he collects in Paris’ famed flea markets; the city he now calls home.

After studying architecture in Algeria, Taher left his home country for Paris where he studied Fine Art. Upon graduation the Designer worked for the Opera de Paris designing costumes and accessories. A desire to learn more about jewellery making saw Taher leave the comfort of another respected design job to become an apprentice at a traditional Parisian jewellery atelier, where he learnt many secrets of the highly-skilled trade. Following his apprenticeship Taher’s work was noticed by Karl Largerfeld, who invited him to collaborate on a project, marking the first of many such collaborations with leading international designers. Handcrafted by Taher himself, every piece produced is stamped with a signature mark to ensure authenticity, and is crafted using precious metals: gold, sterling silver and platinum; and materials such as ebony wood, which are all then set with Tahitian pearls, and gemstones including tourmalines, rubies, emeralds, quartz and chalcedony in an array of vivid colours, with a sprinkling of diamonds added for extra sophistication.

In addition to his own eponymous brand, Taher also designs jewellery, accessories and silverware collections for Parisian Maisons. Taher’s jewellery is also part of the permanent collection at the Musee National des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, and in 2007 the designer was honoured with a listing in Time magazine’s ‘The Design 100’. In another nod to his architectural training Taher Chemirik has recently designed an elegant range of interior furniture, which echoes his sculptural jewellery designs in form and structure and includes a brass screen, and a coffee table made from brass, and topped with sardonyx hard stone.

Wegner Shell Chair
I have seen this chair pop up on many a pinterest board channelling 'African Style', and whilst I cannot say whether the upholstery of the chair was inspired by Africa, the use of cowhide is obviously what has made it a favourite selection for many gathering African style inspiration. Low-seating, defined by a form-pressed plywood shell, and padded upholstered seat and back rest, the chair is a modern classic; known as the Hans J Wegner Shell Chair, designed in 1963 and named after the designer. At the time, only a few limited runs were created before production ceased, later to be revived with a relaunch in 1997. The iconic design had since grown in popularity, resulting in many authentic replicas, making it available in a range of shell finishes, and upholstery colours and patterns to suit. This particular reproduction, available on the Advanced Interior Designs website, is made in America and features American Walnut veneer on plywood, with the upholstery available in black/white or brown/white cowhide. Australian online furniture store Matt Blatt offers the chair in a black coloured veneer with a bolder black/white cowhide upholstery finish.

...a very chic little chair, for contemporary African interiors

The Ohemaa LXI
Cruise the waters of Lake Volta by setting sail in the luxury confines of the Ohemaa LXI, Ghana's premier private yacht. Ohemaa means queen; a title appropriate for the stately yacht that mixes contemporary luxury with traditional Ghanaian culture; whilst the numerals, LXI represent the year in which the Volta River Project began- 1961. Having undergone renovation and refurbishment, the Ohemaa LXI is now offering its clientele a truly special experience from the moment you step on-board.

Tastefully decorated, the Ohemaa LXI promises a personailsed, relaxing retreat, accommodating up to twenty guests. Ranging from hourly or overnight bookings, each cruise is bespoke, tailored for individuals or groups, and caters for family holidays, romantic getaways, and business meetings should you be thinking of somewhere different to hold your next team-building conference! 

The hull is made of fibreglass and was built in 1988 in Germany, then transported to Ghana, where it was fitted with local materials, chosen to reflect the local culture, land and waters that would surround it. Guests on-board the Ohemaa LXI can take in the natural beauty and sights, that comes with life around the Lake. Lake Volta is a source of fishing and irrigation for local farmers, as well as having an important role for ferries and water transportation.  

Odds & Ends Kenya
What can be more decadent than spending the day lounging on a daybed or chaise lounge, especially in warm sunny weather? Daybeds/Chaise Longues are my favourite piece of furniture, and when I had my flat I opted for a daybed/chaise longue footstool combo, rather than the traditional three-piece sofa and arm chair set-up; and it proved to be the perfect piece of furniture to unwind after a hard days work. Unfortunately for me, my guests thought so too, and to this day regularly 'hijack' my daybed/chaise, not that I am complaining; if I had my way I would fill my home with daybeds! A recent random search for daybeds led me to Odds & Ends in Kenya, who have a range of majestic looking designs, just waiting to be piled high with comfy cushions, or if you are feeling especially indulgent, draped with fabric and placed in the garden to create a private oasis. 

Daybeads are so appealing because they invite you chilli-out, and do absolutely nothing, a luxury in our busy lives. The Odds & Ends range of daybeds are solid pieces of furniture, and feature skilfully carved detailing, and intricate patterns, that remind me of ancient Indian Maharajah times, not surprising given the contribution Indian culture has had on aspects of Swahili culture.

Odds & Ends is based in Nairobi, and has been serving the market for twenty-five years, offering its customers, in their own words, 'the most amazing and unique range of furniture in Kenya'. With pieces that range from contemporary designs to antiques, the business comes across as one of those places you could spend all day in finding things that you never knew you were looking for!

Khumbulani Collection
Hand-sculpted by The Khumbulani Collection in collaboration with artist Julie Leakey, ostrich egg shells are turned into decorative tea light holders, that when lit up with a candle give off a warm soft glow, and would be perfect as table centrepieces, or placed on ledges and in recesses to light up dark nooks. Beautiful in its simplicity the tactile shape and natural texture of the shell outer, is enhanced with the smooth shaped edge. The Ostrich egg laying season is a short one, and combined with the fact that ostrich numbers have declined in recent years, the shells are harder to find making them all the more precious. An ostrich egg is about twenty-four times bigger than a hen's egg, and the shell is extremely strong, said to be able to take the weight of an adult without breaking.

The Khumbulani Collection is an initiative of the Siyazisiza Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that was founded in 1987, and is focused on developing sustainable enterprise in South Africa's rural areas. Originally called Khumbulani Craft, the business merged with The Siyazisiza Trust in 2012 becoming the craft division of the organisation, with the objective of creating independent, sustainable craft enterprises. Other products produced include decorative stone ornaments, beaded items, ceramics, wooden items and jewellery.

AphroChic – Juju Wallpaper Collection
US-based textile company, AphroChic recently launched a new wallpaper collection entitled ‘Juju’. Named for the feathered ceremonial headdress traditionally worn by the royal dancers of Cameroon’s Bamileke Tribe, Juju features a striking organic starburst pattern, reminiscent of the shape of the headdress, which is known as the Juju hat, hence the title of the collection. The design was created as part of a challenge marking the 10th Anniversary of Project Runway, a US TV show that aims to find the next big fashion design talent. The Juju hat inspiration has been worked to give the overall design a bold floral look, which helps link it to the fashion aspect of the brief. Digitally printed on an eco canvas material, the wallpaper is available in the following colourways; black and gold; pink and silver; blue and green.

...brings a touch of glamour to your walls

Our Talking Hands
A couple of weeks ago the view from the window was one of brilliant white following the snow that fell across much of the UK. A pretty picture perfect landscape at first, soon started to get a bit monotonous and I found myself subconsciously drawn to colour, pattern and texture in the form of cushions covers from Our Talking Hands. From brightly coloured Kente strips, to vibrant, clashing batik and wax cloth patterns it took me from one extreme to another, providing a colourful pick-me-up. I am more familiar with the Ashanti pattern style of Kente cloth than I am of the Ewe, which is the weaving style used here, and is characterised by colourful stripes. Kente is traditionally hand woven in narrow strips, and then stitched together as these have been, to form the cushion covers. The backs of some of the cushions feature another style of Kente weaving, that results in a tweed effect. The cushions would be great for brightening up patio and lounge furniture, they give a relaxing holiday vibe; and if you find the batik and wax cloth patterns in particular, too busy in one grouping, simply pick out a complementary colour from the palette and find some matching solid colour cushion covers to interspace and balance things out.

The cushions covers are handmade by the vocational students of the Volta School for the Deaf in Hohoe, Ghana, and the name chosen for the project- Our Talking Hands- refers not only to the handmade nature of the products, but also to the art and necessity of communicating through signage language. Our Talking Hands was founded by Promise Navina Mensah; and Scott Anderson, a Peace Corps volunteer on a long-term teaching placement at the Volta School for the Deaf. The cushion covers are just one part of a range of products made by the students, aided by a school mentor who is helping to develop the skills of the tailors and seamstresses at the school. Other products produced include quilts, wall hangings, scarves, aprons, purses, and backpacks. Proceeds from the sale of the products go towards the development of the Volta School for the Deaf.