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. :)