Wendy Dlomo has brought The Living Collective to Ballito.
There’s something instantly grounding about Wendy Dlomo. Maybe it’s the way she speaks of her daughters – her daily motivation – or the way she describes a living room as if it were a heartbeat. As Managing Director of The Living Collective (TLC), Wendy has built a hospitality brand that’s all about family and attention to detail.
FINDING A NICHE
Her business story began in the Midlands, where Wendy, an MBA graduate from UKZN and proud mother of two, struggled to find a fully furnished, short-term rental while relocating to be closer to her ailing parents. Hotels felt too restrictive for her young family, and she recognised a gap in the market: spaces that could feel like home, without compromising on style or convenience. From that challenge, The Living Collective was born in 2018.
IN LOVE WITH THE COAST
What started with a handful of homes in Hilton has since expanded to 24 apartments in Pietermaritzburg, welcoming everyone from families to business travellers and Comrades Marathon supporters. Now, Wendy has turned her gaze northward, bringing her vision to Ballito – a place she admits she has “fallen deeply in love with.” Her new flagship property on the North Coast is a showcase of her passion for interiors. Every chair, lamp, and cushion has been hand-picked by Wendy herself, chosen not just for aesthetics but for the way they make people feel.
A HEART FOR WOMEN
The Living Collective is about more than beautiful homes. Wendy has intentionally built her business around women. From property managers to stylists and hospitality staff, her team is predominantly female, and that’s no coincidence. “When women are empowered, families thrive,” she says. It’s an ethos that has not only created employment and skills development but also earned her recognition with a Standard Bank Top Women Leadership Award.
CURATING A LIFESTYLE
For Wendy, this expansion into Ballito is both a professional milestone and a personal love story. The ocean breeze, the energy of the community, the balance between vibrancy and calm – it all resonates with the lifestyle she wants to create for her guests. “The right space can shift your state of mind,” she explains. “It can make you feel at ease, inspired, at home.”
The Living Collective is fast becoming a name synonymous with warmth, design-forward living, and empowerment. And as Wendy opens her doors in Ballito, she’s inviting the North Coast community to share in her vision of what modern hospitality can be: soulful, stylish, and deeply human.
Details: www.thelivingcollective.co.za; @thelivingcollectivesa
