10. We chat to Steven Whiteman of PEZULA INTERIORS about their eclectic mix of wares
The creative duo behind Cape Town's Pezula Interiors excels in blending laid-back homeware pieces and intriguing collectables from around the world.
Interior retail gurus and married couple Camilla and Steven Whiteman credit their respective mothers with their natural flair for sourcing and curating homewares. Steven’s mom, Gail Behr, is the incomparable force behind the Dorp hotel in the Bo-Kaap while Camilla’s mother, Ineke Henderson, is the founder of the Pezula Interiors brand.
“It feels as if we grew up in a movie set,” Steven says of his mother’s and mother-in-law’s ability to throw together contrasting pieces of furniture, cushions, fabrics and rugs in an artful and utterly effortless way. “And we seem to have inherited this skill.” The Pezula brand originated from Ineke’s family-run rattan weaving business on their farm in Zimbabwe. The shop first opened in Plettenberg Bay, and when Camilla and Steven took the reins in 2007, it moved to the epicentre of the Mother City. Today, Cape Town’s style setters know Pezula Interiors for its breezy, whimsical collection of pieces sourced from all over the globe. “Both Camilla and I are inveterate travellers and now that travel is on hold, we constantly dip into books, magazines and explore Instagram for inspiration and ideas,” Steven says.
And if something unique and beautiful catches their eye, chances are it will be sourced and stocked. “We have prints from Denmark, rugs from Swaziland, scented candles from Los Angeles, vintage bamboo furniture from France, beachwear from the Gold Coast of Sydney and fabrics from Ghana,” he adds.
The true genius of the brand is in the cool, eclectic way the mix comes together. From slip-covered armchairs to vintage prints, rattan screens and hurricane lamps, there’s nothing staged or rigid in the ensembles. It’s about creating a lived-in home bursting with soul, history and romance.
“We’re no longer just a decor store, we’ve evolved into a lifestyle brand,” Steven says, explaining that Pezula now stocks the largest selection of interior and design coffee table books in South Africa. “We welcome a range of customers
– from those looking for an unusual children’s puzzle for a gift to those seeking a bespoke leather sofa.” Two years ago, Pezula Interiors reopened its retail outlet in Plettenberg Bay, which focuses equally on home decor and lifestyle items, such as holiday-style clothing, coffee table books, stationery, gifts, bath and beauty products – and even a pastel-pink surfboard. With a name derived from a Shona expression meaning
“high up with the gods”, the brand remains a favourite with aesthetes everywhere. pezulainteriors.co.za