Welcome, I’m Lana ~ creative, photographer and storyteller.
I’ve always had a love for interiors and homes filled with character, charm and personal touches. A love for interiors is probably my family’s strongest love language. From an early age, my sisters and I would accompany my parents to show houses on a Sunday. Browsing through the real estate section in the weekend newspaper while enjoying freshly baked croissants from the local bakery up the road was a weekly highlight. My parents were always on the hunt for a perfect fixer upper. They have a real knack for seeing potential and transforming houses into homes of beauty. I’m thankful to have inherited their sense of aesthetic and appreciation for art, nature and harmony.
This blog started in 2010 as a way to fill the quiet moments whilst working at one of Cape Town’s best interior stores. Without knowing, the blog quickly became a channel for creativity, expression and connection. At that time blogging was still new and there were hardly any South African interior blogs. It truly became a passion and my blog took the shape of an online lifestyle magazine and guide where I featured places to go, things to do in Cape Town and the latest interior trends.
I was fortunate enough to become a contributor for Apartment Therapy which gave me the opportunity to track down cool and quirky Cape Town homes. Photographing homes, hearing the stories behind the pieces as well the owner’s personal story always feels like a great privilege and honour.
When I turned 40, I started to feel a real need for internal focusing and as I did so, some of what I had previously been passionate about, all seemed superficial and lacking in depth and meaning. From being excited about the Pantone colour of the year and all it’s expressions, to suddenly having zero interest in such matters at all, was unexpected and at the same time made complete sense.
I paused the blogging to create time and space to reevaluate. Then Covid and lockdown arrived and I found myself spontaneously moving to McGregor, a tiny village in the Western Cape. A village where there are cows roaming freely, dirt roads, no traffic lights, very few shops and the most breathtaking starry night skies. It was one of the best decisions and a wonderful chapter ensued. Embracing a slower lifestyle opened new ways of being and seeing for me.
I now take even more time when photographing a project or space, savouring the process and also waiting for the ‘right’ moment or lighting to arrive. These are the details that you can’t plan, rush or force and when they arise, it’s what creates that magical touch. This is the kind of photography I enjoy, one that tells a story, hints at more and evokes a feeling.
Seeing beauty in unexpected places and appreciating the simple things in life brings me much joy.
And so the blog is at a pivot point and needing a new direction. I’m not yet sure what is next. What I do know is that I still love… finding and sharing authentic and quirky places of beauty, discovering and meeting creatives, getting to peek into their studios and hear about their lives as well as being invited into homes and sharing stories. Bold colour, exotic textiles, patterns and natural textures, architectural details, untouched nature, wild gardens, rituals and the sacred will always draw me in.
My hope is that there are many more travels on the horizon where I get to share some of what catches my eye with you.