Man Oh Man – Donald Nxumalo
DONALD NXUMALO, 28, of DNX Interiors is a Soshanguve-born designer who is sought-after for his unique brand of African-influenced luxury and eye for decadent details.
Donald Nxumalo is a warm, friendly host who welcomes me into his showroom in Kramerville, Sandton, with a smile and a hug. As we sit down in the spectacular space, I discover he’s both an attentive listner and passionate communicator. He is focused on the conversation and insists on not having phones around. In fact, it’s his pet hate when people meet up and are constantly on their phones. “My mom taught me to be engaged and present. She’d ask things like how school was or what happened during the day, you know, because she was interested. She was a stay-at-home mom as she couldn’t find work. But, looking back now, raising us was a full-time job. This is why I have a deeper appreciation for presence. You’ll never find me having lunch with a friend and chatting on my phone,” he says. There are many other lessons Donald learnt from his parents while growing up in Soshanguve, Pretoria. “I can still wake up at 5am and honour my appointments. The most important thing is to show up. My mom taught me that. She didn’t work but she woke up every day at 5am to make sure that things were perfect for us. Another lesson was that being likeable is a superpower. My father is that person, I remember I’d walk into his workplace and everyone would come to say hi, from the cleaner to the CEO, because of my father. I learnt about humility and hard work from him. He worked his way up at the Post Office, from being a postman to one of the first black tellers to management,” he beams. Donald knew from the age of 15 that he wanted to do interior design – no other field would do. “Growing up, I used to watch the show Extreme Makeovers where they’d come with their big bus and change people’s lives. I had signed the application forms to go to the University of Pretoria
to study political science but didn’t submit it. I felt it wasn’t me.” We are glad he didn’t take up political science and deprive us of his remarkable talent. “Instead, I applied for Interior Design at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and didn’t tell my parents. When I didn’t get a status update, I went to the head of department to ask why, only to find out they had misplaced my sketches. I’d gone there to tell her why I deserved a spot!” he giggles. That go-getter attitude enabled him to build a state-of-the-art interior design company that is now a sought-after brand. Yet, it all started at a computer lab in TUT. He had had to repeat a year in varsity and also earn the money to pay for his tuition. “My parents couldn’t afford for my brother and I to both be in university, after they paid for my first three years. I had enough money for registration from promotions I had done. I was the Mr Min guy in stores, dressed up in the waistcoat and everything. In my third year, one of my lecturers offered me a chance to help out a Chinese gentleman who needed a store designed. I did their designs and was paid for my work. From there, I got more clients and found myself running this mini business in the computer lab, with help from other students. My company was born there, and I was able to pay for my fees,” he recalls.
After graduation, Donald did internships with various companies such as KI Designers, with Puleng Mahlaba as one of the first black design consultants, and Head Interiors, a leading giant in the game. But the budding intern wanted to stand on his own feet, and so DNX Interiors was born in 2012 from his bedroom. He then moved to a friend’s storeroom in Kramerville. “It hasn’ t been an easy journey. I started in my bedroom but then clients wanted to meet, so I needed space. A friend worked for a company that sells wallpaper; they had space in their storeroom. I literally started with just a small desk among boxes of wallpaper. I negotiated rent of R1 500 per month. Four months later they had space on their side. That’s how my showroom started,” he laughs.
The Win a Home TV design competition was the springboard his career needed. A friend alerted him that he’d be a perfect fit, and he won. The money felt like a million bucks to him and he was mentored by leading interior designers in the country. And, he got noticed.
Through his work, Donald showcases his African voice and the influences of the many places he has travelled. A signature DNX Interior space will always have a balance of Africa-infused, neat spaces with symmetry and clean lines. “If a client trusts me, I could fly for that person. I travel a lot to get inspiration, especially from hotels. Those elements come out when I’m creating. My inspiration comes from everywhere, but my handwriting will always be African-infused. I love texture and experimenting with fabrics.”
His work is world-class, something on which he prides himself. “I remember I did a stand in town and someone said it wasn’t ‘African enough’. I didn’t mind because my work isn’t for everyone. The fact that it’s done by me, is African to me. I also insist that all my suppliers are local. The people I work with are from here, I inspire people and that gives me great pleasure. I love how my work can stand on any global stage because the quality is that good. That is my narrative,” he says.
The 28-year-old clearly loves what he does. It’s become more than just transforming spaces, but changing lives. “Interior design does change you. The space you’re in affects you, your posture, how you dress and how you behave. I designed a women’s organisation’s offices in town and the CEO called me to says it’s a beautiful change because the staff was now dressing up to come to work, and wearing heels. It’s about the new environment they were in. Interior design affects our lives. You must create beautiful spaces with significance.”
My inspiration comes from everywhere but my handwriting will always be African-infused.