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A slice of heaven, Deepa Dosaja’s home is tucked in the suburbs of Nairobi. Her garden is an atmospheric sanctuary of flowers, trees, chirping birds, an artistic fish pond, a swimming pool and exotic plants. The path that leads to the house is punctuated with colourful and beautiful flowers.
Deepa’s outdoor space is exquisite. I found her enjoying the fireplace, adorned with art. The furniture and sculptures are unique and rustic. It blended with the look and feel of the verandah. The terrace is perfect for hosting guests and chilling.
Deepa and her husband bought the land years ago, and they already had a design of how they wanted it to look. “I wanted a house that looks old. We built a new house that looks old. We were intentional from the beginning,” says Deepa.
The house has a rustic wooden double ceiling, expansive arch windows, wooden floor, and white pristine walls. I was fascinated by a small indoor rustic balcony verandah in one of her rooms upstairs. Perfect for two, one can enjoy the beautiful view of the living room from the balcony.
The wooden floor is full of character and style, and each seat in the living room is a masterpiece, the details and design on each furniture pieces outstanding. The different chandeliers in each space suit the space to be either glamorous, rustic or custom-made, creating a touch of class and elegance.
Her bookshelf instantly gives you sentimental vibes, and the books and accessories are appealing. Colourful handmade luxurious cushions are striking, adorned with signature Deepa’s design. “Women from the slums stitched these cushion covers,” she says.
Deepa says she teaches women from the slums to stitch and design motif flowers on fabrics, and they earn a living from this. When people buy her clothes, they also support these women. Her dining room is all white with exquisite dining furniture. One of the pieces she cherishes is a church table handed down to her by her uncle. It was made in the 1920s. The chairs are covered with white lined fabric, so posh and classic.
Her intention to use environmentally friendly materials to build, decorate and accessorise her magnificent home gives it an authentic stamp. When asked her if she designed the house herself, she says, “I did this with my architect. He played a big role in creating this spectacular space. I also had a Fengshui expert come and help me with the layout and balance, hence the serenity you feel in the house.”
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She merged her style inspiration from Lamu and Tuscany in Italy, and the Earth tone colours against pristine white walls create a cohesive look. The sofa seats are covered in white posh covers, and each piece of antique furniture and distinctive art piece is outstanding.
Handcrafted artistic sculptures, quirky pieces and colourful masterpiece art pieces are themed and synchronised, adding a fresh, vibrant look to her living room and a light-hearted feel. Handcrafted rags, textures and colours complemented the space beautifully.
Her kitchen is humongous - airy and filled with light - with an island table and sink. The dining table and chairs in there are aesthetically pleasing. At times, she entertains here as she cooks.
“We do koroga here when we have visitors who want to be away from guests while cooking, hence the dining table in the kitchen. It’s very strategic,” says Deepa.
Her yoga room has a little window designed like a beautiful flower, adding a unique touch to the room. The custom free-stand bathtub is luxurious. “This is an original bathtub. Look at the legs… it is so heavy seven men carried it to this bathroom,” she says.
Indeed, Deepa’s Zen-like space speaks volumes, and her style extends to the Deepa Dosaja label, a Kenya-based fashion house that has dressed global stars. In 2015, Deepa, who is founder and CEO of the label, was honoured to have Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o wear a Deepa Dosaja outfit during her visit to Kenya.
She was also honoured to display her collection at Buckingham Palace, where she interacted with Catherine Middleton, who greatly admired her work.
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