Interiors: Celebrating the Style, Taste, and Culture of Africa

Diane Tevoedjre [South Africa]

[Image credit: Diane Tevoedjre Home, Exterior – Habitat]

A blend of African, European, and Asian cultural influences underpins the elegant style of interior designer Diane Tevoedjre, whose contemporary design solutions draw on her upbringing, travels, and life experiences. The daughter of a diplomat, Diane is of Malian and Beninese heritage and was born in Ghana, and has lived in the US, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, the Far East, Central, and West Africa, and Switzerland to name a few. Starting her professional career as an art dealer and interior designer over 15 years ago after studying in Geneva, Dallas and Paris, in addition to a period living in Bangkok where she developed an interest in oriental design, Diane went on to open an interior design studio in Côte d’Ivoire and it is all these experiences that have left their mark on her creative style. In 2002 Diane relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa, where she still lives having set up her interior design studio, Mêha Art and Interiors. Embarking on a personal interior design challenge, 2008 saw the interior designer purchase property in the leafy suburb of Sandton which she subsequently demolished and rebuilt to her specifications.

Taking 18 months to build and six months to decorate, Diane’s home needed to cater to the needs of her growing family, whilst accommodating and inspiring her passion for entertaining. Enjoying outdoor and indoor living, Diane set about creating a space with seamless reception areas that could comfortably host large guest numbers indoors along with ample space for entertaining outdoors. Surrounding a large swimming pool, the house is L-shaped with large windows and glass doors allowing for lots of light to flood in, adding to the airiness. The interior dining areas are formal, whilst the more relaxed informal areas are provided outdoors in the form of large sheltered terraces that allow for the enjoyment of the warm sunshine whilst reclining on any one of the plentiful seating options provided. The open living spaces see a mix of contemporary furniture, African artefacts, and artwork that reflect Diane’s multicultural upbringing. One wing of the upper level of the house sees a semi courtyard that provides a recreational space for her two children, whilst another wing houses the master suite; a spacious sleeping/relaxation area for Diane that has some indulgent touches in the form of a private terrace and outdoor shower.

[Image credits: Diane Tevoedjre Home, Interior – Habitat]

Diane has a passion for African art, the distinctive characteristic that flows throughout her designs, sourcing the finest and rare African objects from statues, figurines, sculptures, ceramic pottery, basketry, iron art through to furniture, and drawing inspiration from the patterns, textures and designs which are translated across the neutral colour palettes and nature-friendly textiles Diane favours. This fusion of art and interior décor is the signature of her company. Mêha Art and Interiors is an award-winning studio that has worked with select residential and hospitality clients in Nigeria, Gambia, South Africa, Cameroon, Angola, the DRC and beyond. Mêha Art and Interiors was involved in Villa Monticello, Ghana’s chic boutique hotel featured previously on African Daydreams. Reflecting the elegance, comfort, and beauty her discerning clientele demand, Diane desires to create timeless interior spaces that provide a sensory experience for the owner, spaces that are not just visually stimulating interiors but ones that an owner can take complete comfort and pleasure in.