A journey...

aA long-standing love affair with the markets and alleyways of mystical Morocco, and its expression in her popular Cape Town store Moroccan Warehouse, have made Kundra Bowley the go-to girl for exotic décor lovingly sourced from Marrakesh. It’s little wonder her home, a century-old cottage in Tamboerskloof on the slopes of Lion’s Head, is also an enchanting reflection of this creative relationship. The moment you arrive at Kundra’s house, these days an AirBnb rental, you feel utterly transported – from the studded front door framed with engraved white plaster of Paris strips to the beautiful back courtyard, an oasis of vibrant blue tiles; a gorgeous, flowing fountain; bountiful bougainvillea and an olive tree.

“Nothing in my house is perfect,” Kundra says. “And nothing is expensive. I love that kind of beauty.”

The inside of the house was once dark and poky but Kundra opened up the small space with glass doors that lead from the bedrooms and living area to the two outside areas: there’s a backyard with a view of Table Mountain and a front courtyard with a splash pool overlooking the CBD – all perfectly complementing the Moroccan vibe she has created inside. the screeded and waxed walls, a calming colour reminiscent of a desert landscape.

“When it comes to décor, there are two Moroccan styles,” Kundra explains. “There’s the grander opulent gold, copper and dark wood of modern urban Morocco and then there’s the more rustic handiwork of the native Berbers that you can find in the markets or souks. They’re the ones who make the so-called “imperfect” items I love: the cane chairs; stools with carved, tapered wooden legs; mosaic-topped tables; goatskin lampshades; rugs and kitchenware. What I love is that there’s almost always a story attached to the item or the design – and that makes it so special.” Kundra’s love of Moroccan architecture and décor, which led to opening her store 25 years ago, began with a fortuitous fashion shoot in France. Back in the day, Kundra was a fashion stylist and the French photographer she was working with suggested a quick shoot in Morocco, just a two-hour flight away.

“So off we went; it was the middle of summer and 55˚C! Just before leaving, I realised I didn’t have anything to take back home with me to remind me of this beautiful place. So I rushed off to the nearest souk and bought six small bowls before racing back to the bus that took us to the airport. I knew I would be back.”

Mesmerised by Moroccan style, Kundra’s dream was to introduce these interesting, authentic crafts to everyone back home; she decided to import a shipment of Moroccan ware and sold the lot from a friend’s double garage within a matter of hours! There and then, she knew she had a successful business in her future.

While she now has an agent based in Marrakesh, some things never change: every year, Kundra visits to source items herself. She heads into the dusty streets on the back of her agent’s trusty scooter to find those gems, bartering in broken French and Arabic to bring back the items she adores. >>