Designer Fanie van Zyl & Sunday Times' CoLab will get pulses racing

Design Joburg featuring Rooms on View is raising the bar with this year's show, in which the Sunday Times has teamed up with interior designer Fanie van Zyl to create a CoLab feature (room set) that promises to get pulses racing.

Van Zyl tells us more:

Describe your CoLab feature in one sentence, and why this concept?

A well-designed space that exudes confidence and sophistication for the eligible bachelor.

Why?

We wanted to have some fun.

Who is working with you on your CoLab?

We're working with Ken Leiman Furniture to design a kitchen that shows their skill and craftsmanship. The idea was to design a living room where a bachelor might entertain.

What is your dream project?

The thing I enjoy most are the clients. It's fascinating gaining an understanding of what the business does for a commercial project and how to design in a way that enhances the user experience. The same applies to residential projects; getting to know the client and understanding their needs. In that sense, a lot of my projects are dream projects.

What are you hoping to get out of the show?

It hasn't even launched and I've already had so many takeaways from the experience. I've partnered with a variety of industry leaders for the first time. I'm a people's person, so I look forward to the one-on-one interaction.

Who's inspired your signature style?

Tonic has had a massive influence on my style; they were my first employers and I learnt so much from them. The high standard they set made it almost impossible to work for anyone else, which is why I chose to go it alone and maintain similar standards in my own interiors. Lunetta Bartz from Maker Studio has also had a profound influence on my style.

3 THINGS NOT TO MISS AT DESIGN JOBURG 2019

1. SA Furniture Collective is the brainchild of the show's creative directors and will highlight the latest creations from some of the country's top furniture luminaries. Expect to see names like Bofred, Pedersen & Lennard, Jacobs Collection, Kino Furniture, Sifiso Shange and James Mudge.

2. SPA ZAR is an exciting addition, bringing together over 30 local brands that will encapsulate what's hot on the design scene.

3. This year's restaurant sees Design Joburg team up with chef Wandile Mabaso, who will bring something fresh - les créatifs - to the show's food-design table. Wandile's pared-down menu promises to be a celebration of local African fusion, served in a setting created by interior designer Donald Nxumalo.

• Visit Design Joburg 2019 from May 24-26 at the Sandton Convention Centre.