We recently visited Umhlali’s stunning new art and interior design studio and met the two passionate sisters behind the Lusted & Lamb brand (and name!)
French music croons softly in the background and all around you are beautiful things. Beautiful art and curated décor. Unique accessories and trendy fashion. Oh, and lots of potted plants.
Owned by sisters Nicoll Lamb and Janine Lusted, Lusted & Lamb is an art and interior design studio that is the culmination of both their creative skills and business minds. It is a welcoming space where people are encouraged to come in, sit and stay awhile.
Nicoll recently relocated to Simbithi after living and working as a buyer in the fashion industry in Cape Town for more than 10 years. She and her sister decided to start their own business a few months ago and opened the doors just a month ago.
Lusted & Lamb has already become a popular spot to find beautiful interior pieces and useful, affordable design services.
Both passionate about renovating and ‘sprucing up’ things and spaces, Nicoll and Janine (an accomplished artist and graphic designer), have always been creatives at heart. When Nicoll moved to the North Coast, she decided it was time for a career change.
“Initially I planned to study law and go into business with my husband, but I soon realised it wasn’t for me. I needed beauty and creativity in my life.”
Both sisters love interior design and often change and redecorate their homes. It was after a few late nights of brainstorming, and a few glasses of wine, that Nicoll says they decided to start an Instagram page to inspire others with what they were doing in their own homes. The feedback was phenomenal. “It really sparked something inside both of us and made us want to start creating again.”
With her many years’ experience as a fashion buyer, Nicoll realised she could use her skills to source the right item for the right space, and Janine, a talented artist in a number of different mediums, excitedly started putting together a selection of stunning art pieces for the business.
“We wanted to create a showroom, studio and workspace all in one. A place where you can come to feel inspired, or just enjoy a coffee and a chat. We didn’t want it to be intimidating at all.”
When they stopped by The Orange Tree at The Maker’s Yard in Umhlali for a coffee one day, they saw the empty shop next door and decided to take a look. “We fell in love immediately,” says Nicoll. “The industrial, loft-type space was all we needed to bring our vision to life.”
With beautiful large-scale prints adorning the walls and carefully curated décor items such as brightly-coloured scatters, greenery, stunning artwork and jewellery and fashion pieces, Lusted & Lamb has turned out to be exactly what the sisters hoped it would. “It’s basically all of our favourite things under one roof,” laughs Nicoll. “We hope to eventually be able to create opportunities for other artists to exhibit here, and would love to be involved with school exhibits and auctions too one day.”
With their vision, passion and expertise, Nicoll and Janine love helping their customers come up with ideas to ‘spruce up’ and renovate spaces and rooms in their homes. They also help with ‘staging’ homes to be sold, and can work within any budget. “We love a challenge,” says Nicoll, “and believe that everyone should be able to afford to have a beautiful home.”
A few tips for ‘sprucing up’ on a budget:
• A piece of art (like a beautiful, custom-chosen print) makes a huge statement;
• You’d be surprised at what a ‘lick of paint’ in a great colour can do to a room;
• A new floor, carpet or rug can really finish a room;
• Make small changes, like adding some carefully-placed scatter cushions and potted plants!
Details: Lusted & Lamb, 072 421 9860, [email protected], @lustedlamb
