‘Kenyans prefer decor with an ethnic touch’

Kenya: How did your company start?

We started an interior design and construction company in 1991 to sell architectural mouldings. At the time, mouldings were rare and were made from substantial material, which was used to hide bad joints between the ceiling and walls.

We brought in products made from polyurethane and started marketing them. Architects are using our products to fulfil their fantasies.

Having been a dyslexic child with reading and writing difficulties, my teachers had given up on me but I took up art and sculpting and ended up doing interiors.

What are some of the big projects you have recently undertaken?

We have recently undertaken projects like the new Kenya Airways Lounge, Sankara Hotel Nairobi, Norfolk Hotel Nairobi, Hotel Intercontinental Nairobi, Villa Rosa Hotel Nairobi and Serena Hotels in Nairobi, Kampala and Kigali.

We have also handled other high profile entertainment spots such as casinos in East Africa and were awarded first position in the Construction category of the Kenya Top 100 Mid-sized Companies 2013-2014.

What interior design products have you introduced in the market?

We began with architectural mouldings, then introduced decorative paints into East and Central Africa, which brought in texture and colour as opposed to the plain colours that the market was accustomed to.

It was a slow start but the uptake by the middle-class has increased the demand as they seek a more refined look.

We also introduced decorative gypsum ceilings and products into the market as well as natural stone and wall covering products such as bamboo wall covering and wall papers.

What have you done to improve the quality of interior finishes in this country?

We have introduced superior quality of finishes and shown our clients that it is possible to achieve clean interior finishes, rather than shady finishes with uneven smears.

Our products require good surface foundations with clean plaster work and precise edges.

We sell materials that create the appropriate foundations such as skirting, ceilings and architectural mouldings, which we source from Italy, Germany as well as from the Middle East.

What can be done to empower skilled and semi-skilled workers who do interior work?

Training is key if we are to improve the quality of their output. Through our Professional Applicators Club, we train painters for free on the correct use of our products and they do not need any pre-qualification to join. This has created over 50 success stories where painters move from being casual workers waiting for a day job assignment to becoming employers.

We are also working in partnership with the Government’s Uwezo Fund to teach them entrepreneurship skills and to finance their businesses.

How important is it for a development to have good finishes?

Good interiors promote a better living culture and mental wellness. They also add value to a property.

A lot of our clients have doubled the price of their homes after doing the interiors.

Revamping the interiors can help a property sell faster even in less attractive locations. Re-doing bathrooms and kitchens is important and adds value and attraction to a house.

What are the global trends in interior design today?

The era of using white is melting away and is being replaced by purples, pastel colours and neutral colours, which are highlighted by textures.

Use of natural stone is now trending with techniques of processing the stone highlighting antique-like, natural finishes rather than a shiny finish. Stones with holes are preferred to smooth ones. And global trends favour products that are closer to nature and creation.

Today, we use rust and corrosion as a friend, creating amazingly beautiful walls by attracting corrosion to take place. We even have a paint that resembles a rusty surface.

However, even with imperfect, stone natural finishes, we still install them neatly with rhythms and clean quality that harmoniously holds together.

How can an interior company efficiently carry out project management?

Our project management process is thoroughly documented. From the site visit, the initial creative process is followed by thorough documentation and design implementation.

We work with other professionals such as quantity surveyors. We have site supervisors, foremen, area supervisors and project managers who ensure that the project up to the required standard.

What challenges have you experienced?

Kenyans do not accept changes easily so it took long for them to warm up and accept our products and new trends.

At one time, it created a huge financial strain on the company but that has now changed and we are able to move our stock a lot faster.

What are Kenyan interior décor preferences?

In their subconscious, Kenyans want an ethnic touch with elegant, modern and westernised finishes. When selecting interior products, look for something that reflects your character, that also makes a statement such as one bold-coloured, accent wall with quieter colours on the rest of the walls.

Your space should be comfortable and liveable rather than sterile and picture perfect.

If you are working in a creative department such as graphics design or an advertising firm then the décor should exhibit an unusual concept that displays courage, creativity and a wow effect.