The building materials industry globally has been booming since lockdown restrictions took effect. The main reason is that working from home became normalised and homeowners from all walks of life decided to take the time to improve their living spaces.

With the effects of Covid-19 on our lives and working arrangements seemingly going nowhere any time soon, here are some décor tips and tricks for those who either did not have the funds or the time to make some much-needed home improvements last year.

If a change is as good as a holiday, a home refresh can make working time between holidays that much more enjoyable in 2021. The onset of winter is the perfect time to reassess the comfort and liveability of your home so that you can effortlessly spend time in either a designated workspace or relaxation zone.

“Not every change has to introduce new building materials, furniture or finishes. There are many ways to both rearrange and rejuvenate the components of our living spaces that can change their atmosphere or appeal. Blending in some new items, if they’re within budget, can bring life to rooms our outdoor spaces,” says Eva-Last’s director of marketing, Shelley Galliver.

“Upholstering old couches, chairs or even headboards can usher in a breath of fresh air into stale rooms and provide the perfect way to achieve the greatest decorating bang for your buck alongside a new coat of paint,” she adds.

According to Galliver, one of the key drivers of the building materials market in 2020 was DIY, and that trend seems set to continue. “DIY is the best way to ensure that living spaces are transformed exactly how you’d like them and we’ve noticed a significant rise in DIY customers buying both our Tier Flooring range and our decking products to create statement pieces that reflect their personality and style. Alternatively our contractors have been on hand to assist where the homeowner is not as DIY proficient.”

Murals are another way to stamp your personality on a space and they can serve a variety of purposes, from livening up a child’s bedroom to creating the illusion of space and texture in a room that needs to ‘open up’. While white brightens and refreshes any space, using colour to play off furnishings, floors and décor can radically change the ‘temperature’ of a room – from cool blue hues to warm and cosy oranges and reds.

Light is an important part of indoor appeal, with modern track lighting or freestanding lamp options providing many ways of visually opening up previously darkened areas of a living space. It’s easy to create different moods throughout a home through tasteful lighting selection.

Mirrors are an excellent way to create the illusion of depth and space. Used tastefully, they can be an extremely stylish substitute for art or windows in situations where neither are available.

“Looking at the latest trends, two old friends have become new acquaintances in this year’s uses of wicker and metal. Mixing and matching metal finishes is a popular and quick way to make a space look curated and bespoke, according to Shelley Johnston from Northshore Luxury Interior Design.

“Pillows and scatter cushions can provide the highly personalised finishing touches to any seating area and provide a handy contrast with smoother, harder furniture materials. It’s also another quick and cost effective way to refresh a room, with a new colour palette.” says Galliver.

If your budget extends to antique furniture, there’s nothing like antiques to add instant charm and lived-in character to a living space. The benefit of antiques is that they are much like great paintings – they serve as investments which can be sold on for a profit at a later stage, while you get to enjoy them in your living space for as long as you have them.

The ultimate change to a home is the installation of an entertainment area, providing a place to step away from work. This doesn’t necessarily mean building the usual bar – it could be any dedicated area for entertainment and unwinding, either for family time or functions. The simple incorporation of a drinks or statement coffee table with some picture-biased books can turn a room into a social area with a focal feature.

Figuring out a floor plan is vital: good furniture positioning creates good visual flow and energy in a room. For outdoor areas like patios, an outdoor rug can lift the living space and extend the comfort of indoors to the outdoors. Just like indoors, rugs can be anchored under furniture feet to prevent them turning into tripping hazards.

“Finally, simplicity is key: keeping any living space uncluttered and clear in the ethos of its décor is the right way to make a space look curated for enjoyment and inviting for both guests and residents alike. Using this time to rationalise and spruce up our living spaces is the ideal time to both deal with the potential monotony of spending our work and living hours at home, while also being ready for the coming summer and, hopefully, the gradual resumption of our social lives,” Galliver says.

Nando’s joins the Loeries to celebrate design Design from Africa and the Middle East finally gets the recognition it deserves with the expanded Nando’s Design category at the Loeries in 2019. This year’s category has been extended to recognise design from a much broader range of creative professionals. “We’ve expanded the design category beyond only brand communication to include areas of design such as retail furniture and product design, fabric, wallpaper, lighting, architecture and interior design, and even the design of signage programmes,” says Loeries CEO Andrew Human. He adds that the Loeries has long been recognised as the highest accolade in advertising and brand communication.

“A strong design award has been lacking for our region and this is a great opportunity for all designers to showcase their work and achieve recognition.” Design is woven into the Nando’s DNA, making Nando’s a natural partner for the Design category. “Design and creativity have been an intrinsic part of the Nando’s way of doing business.

Nando’s is the first local brand to collaborate with local designers at the scale it does,” says Deirdre King, Nando’s Brand Experience GM. She adds: “Putting our support behind the design community is important to doing business well. Our PERi-PERi power has charted new paths and careers for many local artists and their art. Putting that same fire behind the extended Design category for the 2019 Loeries gives us a chance to spice things up for the wonderful designers who will imprint their names onto this exciting category. According to Gaby de Abreu, Loeries board member and creative head of Switch Design, the awards are invaluable because they offer a chance for designers to showcase their work to a far greater audience.

“The Nando’s Design category at the Loeries is an opportunity to showcase excellence across disciplines in countries throughout Africa and the Middle East. For independent designers, it’s a unique chance to achieve recognition across the industry, reaching creatives internationally,” says de Abreu. “For a furniture designer working in an independent workshop or a graphic designer outside of the agency network, this year’s Loeries offers a chance to show the world what you’ve achieved,” he adds. The Nando’s Design category at the Loeries is open to designers across all the main disciplines. The entry deadline is 15 May and more information can be found on loeries.com.

About Nando's: While proudly South African, Nando’s is an international flame-grilling, PERi-PERi chicken restaurant group. We offer a twist of Afro-Portuguese with an upmarket and comfortable dining experience. Two friends, Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte, opened the first Nando’s in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa. All Nando's PERi-PERi chicken is marinated for 24 hours, locally sourced and never frozen, ensuring our customers only get the finest flavours.

Our unique PERi-PERi recipe includes herbs, spices, garlic, lemon juice and bird’s eye chilli. Nando's authentic PERi -PERi has captivated its customers all over the world, making it the largest South African restaurant group to expand internationally. DEADLINE FOR 2019 LOERIES ENTRIES EXTENDED TO MAY 31 About Loeries Africa Middle East: The Loeries, a non-profit company, is Africa and the Middle East’s premiere initiative that recognises, rewards, inspires and fosters creative excellence in the brand communication industry.

As the highest accolade for creativity and innovation across our region, the Loeries promotes and supports creativity by helping marketers, agencies and consumers appreciate the value of ideas and fresh thinking.

Culminating in the biggest creative gathering in Africa and the Middle East, Loeries Creative Week Durban brings together the best innovative minds from our industry for a festival of networking, inspiring minds and recognising great work. Our region's creative economy is world-class and has great potential to grow and to offer employment both to our talented youth. The growth occurring throughout Africa and the Middle East is very exciting, and a major focus of the Loeries is to increase the standard of brand communication in the region.

Major Partners of the Loeries: DStv Media Sales, Gearhouse Category Partners: AB InBev, Barron, Brand South Africa, Facebook, Gagasi FM, Google, JCDecaux, Nando’s, Tsogo Sun, Woolworths Additional Partners and Official Suppliers: AAA School of Advertising, Antalis South Africa, Aon South Africa, Backsberg, BEE Online, First Source, Fresh RSVP Guest Logistics, Funk Productions, Gallo Images, Grid Worldwide, Hetzner, Mama Creative, Newsclip, Paygate, Rocketseed, Shared Value Initiative, Shift Social Development, Vega School, VQI Communications Nigeria Endorsed by: Association of Communication and Design, Brand Council South Africa, Commercial Producers Association, Creative Circle, EXCA, IAB, South African Institute of Architects, IID Official Media Partners Between 10and5, Bizcommunity.com, Book of Swag, Brand Communicator Nigeria, Business Insider by Pulse, Campaign Middle East, Film & Event Media, Modern Marketing The Redzone. Twitter: @loeries Instagram: Loerieawards Facebook: The Loeries

Distributed on behalf of the Loeries by: Riana Greenblo Communications: 011 3256006

For more information, interview requests or high-res images please contact: Gina McLoughlin: 0113256006 (mornings only)or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Riana Greenblo: +27 82 5675159 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

When you're designing an office for your business, there are often an overwhelming number of options available for décor and it becomes difficult to make a decision.

Most suppliers offer not only furniture, but stationery and other office supplies too. When you visit their website or physical store, the sales people can't offer much more guidance than colour choices or information about what is in stock, because they themselves aren't entirely sure about the details of every individual item.Office Stock has changed all that.

They are the new market leaders in office furniture and specialise in giving tailor-made advice to their clients for their varying needs. Their manufacturers and suppliers are all experts in the furniture world, and the Office Stock consultants know the difference between veneer and laminate. They can also explain to you why a particular desk will work better in a particular space, not simply based on aesthetics, but also taking your unique needs and staff preferences into account.

You will be able to furnish your entire office, with a fully blended and consistent design, while still ensuring that there is an executive suite for board meetings, a specific chair for the boss who has a back problem, and a smooth-lined desk for the receptionist so that she doesn't hook her dress on the corners.

These are the kinds of finer details that Office Stock considers, and why they are miles ahead of the competition.

Office Stock are the experts in ergonomics, smart office design, and high quality furniture that can be custom-made. Can't find a desk to fit into that odd-shaped corner? No problem. Office Stock will ensure you find the perfect piece at the price you can afford, and if they don't have it in stock, they will manufacture it for you according to exact specifications.

The Office Stock website is the go-to hub for corporate furniture information and office decor. Read their online articles to learn more about ergonomic design, insider knowledge about furniture manufacturing, and how to choose the right pieces for your needs. Their extensive catalogue is easy to navigate and you are able to purchase your entire office layout online. Payment terms are flexible and there are a number of options to ensure you have a fully fitted office in no time. 

Visit: Office Stock South Africa

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Johannesburg, Thursday January 12th, 2017-- Today, Furnitureshop.co.za introduced a revolutionary new way to connect furniture shoppers and craftsmen all across South Africa. Through Furniturespot, artisanal craftsmen get access to an online platform and shoppers finally are able to order their one-of-a-kind furniture with incredible ease. Why compromise, and buy expensive imported furniture from a big company, when you can have your furniture custom-made by local artisans at a fair price? Because local is lekker!

Only the best craftsmen are given access to the platform. Furniturespot’s makers make all types of furniture including tables, cabinets, chandeliers and even custom made braais.  

Furniturespot.co.za helps customers realise their furniture ideas by connecting them to talented artisanal craftsmen. Customers can upload a picture of their desired furniture they have seen on Pinterest or somewhere else. Furniturespot will send the customer three different quotations. Based on price and previous reviews, the customer decides which craftsman to take for the job.  

The founders of Furniturespot, Wouter and Lizet, spent months to find the best craftsmen Johannesburg has to offer for their platform. Wouter: “It took much more time than expected. We drove hundreds of kilometres in the city of Johannesburg. These artisanal craftsmen are difficult to find because they don’t have a website and there is no rating system available where you can pick the best furniture makers.”  

The founders got the idea when they were redecorating their home but couldn’t find what they were looking for. “It was either too expensive, too big, too small or just not the right colour. To create exactly the pieces we had in mind, we went custom. But we couldn’t find furniture makers to be trusted. This is how we got the idea to start Furniturespot.co.za,” said Lizet.  

Stimulating the local economy

Furniturespot.co.za wants to stimulate the local economy by bringing more business to craftsmen. Lizet: “When you go shopping at one of the major furniture stores you will find that most furniture is imported, and with a quality that is average at best. We believe that the lack of trust and the inconvenience to order custom made furniture are important factors for people not using local talent. Our platform connects talented artisanal craftsmen with all those customers looking for that one-of-a-kind piece of furniture. Furniturespot.co.za supports the “Local is lekker” movement.  

The website takes away the fear of trust that so many people have when they are looking for a furniture maker. Furniturespot’s craftsmen have been screened by Furniturespot on quality and trustworthiness. Wouter: “Customers want to go to a one-stop-shop they can trust”. Custom made is much more affordable than what people would think. Wouter: “Everybody thinks that custom made pieces are expensive. I would say it is quite the opposite. Our makers are much more affordable than your mainstream furniture shops, because we have cut out the middlemen. And when it is custom made, the pieces meet our customers’ exact specifications. Why buy something not quite right when you can have it custom made?”  

About

Furniturespot.co.za is a new online marketplace in South Africa for custom made furniture. Furniturespot.co.za has built an exciting platform for turning customer furniture ideas into reality by connecting them to the best artisanal craftsmen South Africa has to offer. By delivering great customer service through creative and manufacturing expertise at an affordable price point, furniturespot.co.za is making custom made furniture accessible to everyone. At furniturespot.co.za we bring one-of-a-kind ideas to life.

TheBrandStore.co.za recently launched in the country and is rapidly increasing its product offering. Leading international brand products are now available for purchase online from TheBrandStore.co.za. Now you can shop for fashionable watch accessories from Sissy Boy and healthy eco-friendly cookware from GreenPan™ directly from the secure and easy-to-use shopping site.

TheBrandStore.co.za aims to bridge the gap between the consumer/brand, by affording the consumer the opportunity to interact directly with their preferred brands via its unique shopping platform. TheBrandStore.co.za makes it easy for the consumer to get a feel of visiting a physical store, just with the luxury of doing so from anywhere in the country.

By visiting the site, you can browse through Sissy Boy’s range of glamourous watch styles. The provocative woman can choose between the Couture, Glamour, Heritage, Petite and Signature watch styles. Finding the perfect fit adds sophistication to any outfit and oozes the right attitude that communicates “love yourself” to everyone you meet. 

If you are a foodie who is passionate about healthy cooking and sustaining the environment. You will be delighted with the vast array of GreenPan™ products now available to you on TheBrandStore.co.za. Their non-stick and easy-to-clean cookware is coated with Thermolon, an excellent conductor of heat, which helps you prepare mouth-watering healthy meals on low to medium temperatures. Foodies know it’s the best way to preserve nutrients in food.                    

Here are some reliable brands, but not limited to, you can find under the Major and Small Appliances category - Elo, Delonghi and Kenwood. In the Electronic & Electrical Goods category - Samsung, AKG and JBL. The Mobile & Personal Computing and Accessories category has Fellowes and Lenovo. While Bosch Power Tools is one of the major brands in the Power Tools category. Expect to come across big brands like Stanley in the DIY/Garden & Home category. Russell Hobbs in Personal Care. Timberland in Lifestyle and Weber in the Outdoor category.   

The executive founders of The Brand Store possess over 50 years of extensive knowledge and experience in the South African consumer market - all within major consumer brands. This knowledge is rooted in a deep understanding of consumer needs, purchasing decisions and service expectations and puts The Brand Store in a unique position to provide consumers with a  superior and pleasurable online shopping experience, every time.

You are invited to join the biggest durable brand conversation on Facebook: thebrandstore Twitter: @TheBrandStoreSA and on YouTube: TheBrandStore.     

Media Enquiries Contact:

Peet Van Rooyen - Director

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Tel: 082 570 9992