Tuesday, March 24

Unexpected Guests: Neville Trickett & Family.

I'd like to say I discovered Neville Trickett, but I am afraid he discovered me. I am so grateful for that. Neville sent me a link to his wondrous flickr photostream and I became instantly fascinated by his photographs. You could just tell this was one interesting person by looking at them. I shared his work a few weeks ago and now I'm thrilled to share his home with you, too. Neville and his very creative family have lived on a farm in the Dargle, Kwazulu-Natal South Africa for the last 19 years, with an assortment of dogs, including five pugs with odd names inspired by cool little shops they visited in Japan (like '6% Okie Dokie').

Neville's wife Sharon collects and grows rare succulent plants, and Neville is the creative director of a large fashion retailer and has recently started the lovely blog, Saint Verde. They have, over time had unique stores that curate botanical products, and their last store was bought by Liberty of London and shipped to their London, Regent Street flagship store. They even bought all the fixtures...I mean like everything, so you must imagine, this was one pretty cool store. Neville and Sharon are are about to reopen a permanent installation of everything botanical on their farm. Their 26-year old daughter, Sara owns Luckyou and makes felt, ribbon and button fashion accessories, and their son Lex is a motion graphics film designer. As Neville explains it, "I guess we are just people who do things our way and hope people like it." I like it...I like it a lot.

What city do you live in?
On a farm in the Dargle Valley which is 50 miles inland from Durban on the East coast of South Africa.


What is your idea of a perfect day in your city?
When I find a hidden treasure I wasn’t expecting.



What don't you leave home without?
Camera, MacBook, cigars, and an iPod.


What are some of your favorite local shops?
Grey Street (Indian market district in Durban), Independent Trading Stores, Secondhand shops, antique stores.


What is your biggest interior design nightmare?
When stylists re-arrange our stuff for shoots and make it look to organized.

Who are your favorite artists? And why?
Art: Elizabeth Peyton because it sheer beauty; Music: Tom Waits an American living treasure.

Where do you find inspiration?
I’m observant, I sleep with my eyes open.

Who do you admire and why?
My family and my Pug , 'Billy Bob Thornton'.

Do you collect anything?
Is this a trick question....'Does a duck with one leg swim in a circle'?


What's your favorite feature in your home?
The plant collection.


If you could photograph anyone in the world, who might that be?
Mary Ellen Mark.

Who would you like to sit down to drinks with?
Barack Obama, I could serve him all night long.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
Cigars.

What is your most treasured belonging?
My wife.


What's souvenir did you bring back from your last trip?
Six Pachypodium plants from Madagascar.

What is your greatest indulgence?
Flying to Tokyo for the weekend.


What is your idea of living hell?
Unwanted visitors or group tours.

What are some of your favorites websites and blogs to visit?
The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Selby, The Sartorialist, JJJJound, and of course, yours. :)

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely images and a great interview!

Liane said...

Oh, I just stumbled upon his flickr stream the other day and was in complete awe!! can't wait to see more of his home/work.
(and PS, thanks so much for the feature today! loved it.)

RLMEnglish said...

This is why I want to live somewhere other than my typical American plastic-box suburban town. That is absolutely awe-inspiring.
Thank you for this interview and a peek into that amazing life. : )

cerulean said...

How refreshing! I feel as if I've just dipped in the ocean. Everything tactile. A love story in each room.
I'm very inspired. Thank you for sharing.

casey_julia said...

Makes me so happy to see South Africans getting out there. Been following Mr Trickett since I read about him a few years ago in an SA deco mag. Definitely 'Proudly South African'.

Jessica said...

Oh! Love that tiled bathroom with an open shower. Wish that we saw that in America more often (aside from the typical pool/outdoor showers, that is). Thx for sharing. Can't wait to ck out his blog.

minouette said...

Such a lovely home! Amazing.

Laura said...

Great interview!

LOVE your blog!!

honeydonthink said...

One of my favorite entries in your blog so far Victoria! Great interview, beautiful home(and I want that bathroom:-) - I'm a sucker for showers without walls around them... must go to South Africa soon.

kbd said...

Thank you for this inspiring post, Victoria! South African creativity is just bursting at the seams right now, and this is a fab example! If you don't mind, would you let anyone who is interested in more South African design know about southofthesahara? It covers art, design and craft from southern Africa, but also has links to other very talented individuals. I'll be adding Saint Verde to the list! Thank you again!!

Karyn said...

I love these pictures! They make me want to get off of the computer and go make some happy changes to my own space!

Anonymous said...

wow that house is fantastic and all those plants. i am in love! :)

molly said...

such a trip! my sister just posted about neville today, too. he walked into our shop in nyc years ago and we just loved him and all he created. funny coincidence.
here's my sis: frenchgeneral.blogspot.com

he is awesome though and so is his design style. wow.

Anonymous said...

So marvellous to read about somebody so talented! I also live in KwaZulu Natal (Durban) and Neville is a living legend in our part of the world! You make us proud, Neville!

Anonymous said...

hello, popping by your blog for the first time, and i'm in love! great post imo, i love the way each room in his house is decorated (the walls, the paintings, the ceiling, the lights, the little bits and pieces of household familiarity) in the most unintentionally fabulous way. :)

-BC

Anonymous said...

I love the poster above's comment "a love story in each room". That's a perfect description of how I feel looking at these photos. Very inspiring all around.

Tracy Lorna Nors said...

Great article, love the guys humor, such an unusual and glorious house, the bathroom is fabulous.

Anonymous said...

Oh I love their style, wonderful. And those succulents wow!

emma said...

thank you, great interview, this house is amazing... Dream family!

Unknown said...

Hi There,
just wondering if there is any way to find out the name of the artist who painted that gorgeous painting of the snake?

Unknown said...

Hi I have been trying to find Sharon for ages. She may remember me - I went to pottery classes with her. She made some amazing things including some voluptuous ladies. I went to your house once for tea - it was a Victorian place. Please contact me on Facebook Sharon it would be great to catch up - Heather Jane Griffiths.