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Elena Kuoni is warm, welcoming and stylish. She arrived in Kenya with her architect husband 17 years ago. The mother of two, a Russian by birth, Elena runs two businesses at the Village Market; KSHMR by Kuoni and Oysters & More Restaurant. Her home is situated in an idyllic suburbs of Nairobi. A globetrotter, her home is a collection of treasures from all the nations she has visited. Most homes they have lived in - from Conakry, Guinea, to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania - have been by the beach. When they moved to Kenya, they found this fantastic mansion formerly built for the late former President Daniel arap Moi when he was a minister.
The six-bedroom house holds the living room, a dining area, kitchen, two guest rooms, dancing room and dining room. The balcony adjoined the dining area has a fireplace, and it is open for stargazers. The staircase leads to more bedrooms upstairs and the master. The garden leads to the pool, which houses a pool house, benches, gazebos and creeping plants. The view of the lake from her garden and ducks swimming is a mesmerising backdrop with the ever-changing weather patterns. "The reflection of the small lake changes with weather patterns," said Elena, adding, "The lake looks different during different times of the day."
Her home is a mish-mash of styles: chic, eclectic, yet classy, with huge windows that offer breathtaking views. It is pretty inspiring. Neutral colours, layering of textures and fabrics, indoor plants and orchid plants create a funky look and a great contrast, but they are connected visually. The living room is bright. The floorboard is oak, and the light fixtures are sleek and stylish, giving the space a sense of warmth and a classy feel. The beige luxury sofas, accent chairs, and ottoman with zebra animal print and the velvety beige fabric feels extremely comfy, intimate and relaxing. Her traditional fireplace is decorated with a collection of art from the Ivory Coast, among other countries. Mosaic art pieces displayed on the fireplace create the perfect look and effect for art connoisseurs.
The door that stands majestically next to her fireplace from Ivory Coast is quite fascinating. Carved to perfection, it echoes our forefathers' creativity and innovation of the olden days. I never cease to be amazed by the great craftsmanship of our forefathers. It is nothing short of genius. A display cabinet holds old music CDs and sculptures from Maasai Market and Dar es Salaam.
"This wooden sculpture is from a grave bought in Ivory Coast. I know it is a bit scary for you, but it is part of my decor pieces, and I have art pieces in the store," Elena said. I remained calm but had goosebumps all over me - in my culture, having such an item in our homes is taboo. Her charming dining area has more art. They are art connoisseurs, by the looks of it. The dining chair and tables were made in Conakry. They are solid in cream suede. They are comfy and classy.
A limited edition of four art pieces on the dining wall by a Russian architect found in Conakry captured a story of a woman who blew me away. One more outstanding art piece of an old man's face full of character and wisdom is by a Kenyan who lived in Eldoret whom Elena contracted as a photographer and rewarded her with the piece of art. The tour of her home felt like a gallery with meticulously displayed state-of-the-art pieces.
- Watch this episode on Sunday at 6:30 pm and more Art of Living episodes on the KTN YouTube channel.
