small world
Roxi and David Zeeman have created a fresh version of country style that reflects their love of artisan-made products from around the globe
This cosy Kent cottage combines country style with global influences for a truly eclectic look
Roxi and Dave Zeeman live in a pretty white cottage at the end of an unmarked, bumpy lane, surrounded by woodland. Deer regularly take a shortcut through their front garden and cows graze in the field behind. The setting couldn’t be more quintessentially English. But inside, Roxi has created a rustic style that draws on her South African roots and her love of hand-crafted objects from around the world.
The family, including children Scarlett, nine, and Noah, five, feels right at home with the look that Roxi has created. Her version of country style includes furniture sourced from distant lands, with textures of bleached mango wood and raw linen. Further interest is added with lighting, baskets, rugs and cushions that are woven, stitched and appliquéd in age-old patterns. ‘ We love the traditional feel of the cottage, but wanted to add a global aesthetic,’ says Roxi.
Together with Dave, Roxi co-runs interiors company Dassie Artisan, bringing homewares crafted in Africa and Asia to the UK. ‘The business began in a very low-key way, as something for me to do while the children were little,’ says Roxi, who had previously worked as an interior designer in South Africa. ‘I started selling a big batch of picture frames made by people I knew in Cape Town at a one-week pop-up shop in London. By the fourth day, I’d sold all my stock, and I had to pack up my trestle tables and go home.’
Right from the start customers loved hearing stories about the makers behind the products, and this connection to the artisans – and a commitment to fair trade – remain central to the couple’s ethos. Dassie Artisan now sells via its own website as well as through an impressive roster of stores around the UK and abroad.
In their home, the couple’s favourite finds are shown to their best advantage and the hand of the maker is visible in everything, right down to the ceramic tableware with deliberately wobbly rims and wavy glazes. ‘I prefer objects with texture and character, rather than pieces that are production-line perfect,’ says Roxi. ‘ Whether it’s a simple row of stitching, intricate embroidery on a cushion or the dense weave of a basket, crafted details add so much personality.’
When they moved in, the couple’s first step was to paint all the walls white, as a fresh backdrop for their style. But Roxi has recently repainted one wall of the sitting room in a warm pink. ‘I became slightly obsessed with finding the perfect shade of faded mulberry,’ says Roxi. ‘After several tester pots, we settled on this one. I love how it works with our linen and velvet sofa and chairs.’
Alongside this mix of beautifully crafted pieces, Roxi has added several vintage finds. These include a pair of beautifully battered doors, propped up on either side of the entrance to the kitchen – one of several clever touches Roxi has added to their rented home. She spotted the doors in an Indian reclamation yard, where she also bought a brilliant blue cabinet that now stores craft materials in the playroom. ‘I love seeing these pieces in this very different setting,’ she says. ‘They’re perfect for our global rustic home.’
inspiration‘ We wanted to create a characterful family home that reflects the places we’ve lived and visited’