Interior design is a calling and a creative outlet for those with a keen eye for interesting designs and concepts. The industry is also about risks and following your passion for achieving success. Sumari Krige is a testament to this. Her passion for interiors was the reason she launched La Grange Interiors in 1996, originally set up in a 200-year-old barn in Franschhoek.
Two years later Sumari expanded the brand to a second outlet in Pretoria, later establishing a sprawling La Grange Interiors store in the décor hub of Kramerville, Johannesburg and now another in the supremely vibey area of Woodstock, Cape Town. The La Grange brand is unique in that every single item is handpicked or designed by Sumari herself and invariably has an exotic story attached to it.
It is this passion for the extraordinary that takes her all over the world – to little-known crafters’ workshops, to artisan families who have been plying their crafts for generations, and into dusty antique stores – all in a quest to uncover unique, handmade items that speak to her and that she knows her clientele will love. Stock changes on a weekly basis, ensuring visitors to the La Grange showrooms are always greeted with a surprise, a new find and something that delights the eye.
The brand effortlessly blends old with new, straddles classic and contemporary style and above all promotes easy, elegant living. From soft furnishings in 100% linens to timeworn antiques, custom designed wooden furniture, lamps, accessories and glassware that will still be admired by the next generation and that blend easily with La Grange’s signature casual yet elegant rattan furniture, Sumari’s eye for timeless and exclusive items for the home is superb.
La Grange is crammed with inspiration for décor loving shoppers and plays host to a handpicked team of professionals well versed in providing inspiration and decorating solutions for homeowners, from the smaller finishing details to statement furniture items. They are also on hand to provide advice on ‘pulling a look together’ and are available to consult on interior concepts and helping clients to hone their spaces to reveal their full potential. In addition, Sumari herself works on select, exclusive projects such as lodges, hotels and private homes, giving them the unique La Grange stamp. One such project Sumari recently worked on was a very exciting new build in magnificent Bantry Bay, Cape Town, with views that will make you never want to leave! The architecture is a bold, contemporary masterpiece. Sumari was involved from the start, not only in conceptualising the house, but also specifying all the interior finishes. Keeping with the very contemporary language of the structure, La Grange was excited to create something quite different with the décor… contemporary yet homely and down to earth.
