A non-conformist follows her heart in this vibrant bohemian space

Not one to conform, Bryony Webster followed her heart when creating her bohemian haven – and ended up with a successful online business in the process.

“I’m a collector,” she says. “I like patterns and love to put random objects together to create a cohesive look.” She shares this colourful home with her husband Johnny Scholtz and has put her heart and soul into creating a vibrant space. It’s been a little under a year since the couple moved in and since no structural changes were necessary, Bryony could get going with the interior immediately.

“Bohemian décor is an emotional journey for me. It’s about what feels good in your space, what speaks to you, what makes you happy. It’s about not conforming!”

These days, Bryony has mastered the art of bohemian style but readily admits it wasn’t always so well defined. “I already had a bohemian style of sorts but after reading Justina Blakeney’s The New Bohemians Handbook and following her blogs and Twitter feed, my aesthetic really came into focus,” she says. “It helped me to fully engage with what I see as beautiful and pleasing to the eye.”

A fine art

Bryony set out to create a space that reflects her personality. “I had a very clear idea of the types of fabrics and scatters and variety of colours I wanted to use when decorating our home.” But finding the right items to fulfil her vision was more of a challenge.

“I love the textiles and palettes from Morocco, India, Turkey, Mexico and Peru. I found bohemian pieces all over Pinterest, Instagram and Etsy but a lot of them just aren’t available, or affordable, in South Africa. That’s what gave me the idea to start my own online shop, Furbelow.”

Furbelow is a 17th century word that means “to adorn with trimmings” – something that Bryony has very much taken to heart in her own space. In fact, she uses their home to showcase products she sells online. “It’s a bit like a studio and it gives my customers ideas on how to style their own spaces – it can be quite overwhelming if you’re new to it.” >>

Bryony consolidates her thrift shop finds into collections; baskets and mirrors, hats and botanical prints all have a place in this home. The Kutch floor cushions in the lounge (above, right) are from India and the Ghlamkar block-printed throw over the...