Upstairs, downstairs, and every magical moment in between … Karina Marais’ love story isn’t conventional, and neither is her memoir. From daring to dream big to cooking, singing, and creating a fairytale dome restaurant, she proves that love, adventure, and independence can thrive side by side.
When Karina Marais set out to write Upstairs Downstairs, she quickly realised that words alone wouldn’t capture the life she had lived. “I needed music, video, design, food, and drink to express myself fully.” One bath-time day, music softly playing in the background, the idea struck … why not create a multi-sensory memoir, one that brings emotion, memory, and imagination to life in ways words alone cannot?
The result is Upstairs Downstairs, a memoir that doesn’t just tell Karina’s story; it invites readers to experience it. It isn’t just about love; it’s also about passion and daring to dream. Some of her dreams took flight, others fell short, but she didn’t want to leave this world without chasing them. From tales of personal heartbreak and triumph to playful video snippets from her faceless Instagram influencer days, the book combines song, storytelling, and design to create something completely original.
Chasing dreams
For Karina, the memoir isn’t only about reflection. It’s about courage. She revisits her divorce in 2003, a painful chapter that inspired the song Wings of Words. “My ex-husband gave me a poem and an abstract bird sculpture … a symbol of freedom. That’s when I realised I was free to pursue the life I’d always dreamed of.”
Entrepreneurial spirit pulses through every chapter. From board games pitched on Wall Street to running daring projects, Karina’s mantra is simple: “Failure isn’t the end. It’s a chance to reassess, learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.”
Love that thrives apart
Perhaps the most intriguing thread in Karina’s story is her 20-year Living Apart Together (LAT) relationship. Her husband, Hendrik, lives in his bachelor pad upstairs, she in her retreat downstairs, and they’re connected by a whimsical pink staircase. No unannounced visits, no dull routines, just passion, freedom and a love story shaped on their terms. “We’re emotionally connected and completely devoted to each other, but we value personal space and independence,” Karina explains.
When asked why she chose LAT, she laughs softly. “People ask, ‘Why not move in? Why not marry?’ I’d already lived through the challenges of when my parents got divorced. I didn’t want to repeat their mistakes. Even after we got married 18 years in, nothing changed.”
What makes this kind of relationship remarkable is its ability to keep monotomy at bay. “It keeps the romance alive because we don’t see each othere everyday. He has been dating me for over two decades and we invite one another for romantic dinners at our places,” Karina says. Their LAT model has not only preserved their love but also created space for growth, creativity, and independence. “We raised our children separately, supported each other without control, and learned that respect is the secret ingredient,” she adds.
A dome of dreams and romance
The love story continues in the Dare2Dream Dome restaurant, a “story you can eat” experience at Forum Homini Boutique Hotel. Karina envisioned a fairytale forest inside the conference venue – alcoves for couples, lush greenery, chandeliers, and colour-changing lights. But her husband, ever the dreamer and doer, took her to a fallen tree clearing across a little bridge and said, “This is your fantasy forest. Let’s build your dome restaurant here.”
Four months later, Dare2Dream opened it doors for the Upstairs Downstairs show which features an 11-course fun-dining menu, enjoyed in different locations — from the lounge area of Forum Homini, to the entrance of the fantasy forest, to a red-lit spot deep in the forest, before crossing a bridge to the new Dome restaurant.
Each dish is inspired by her memoir and presented as a tale, a song, and a taste — with matching colours to heighten the mood. For example, guests enjoy the “Purple Pears” dessert under purple lighting, accompanied by an original song about the dish. All five senses are engaged — touch, taste, hearing, smell, and sight — creating an immersive experience that’s truly one of a kind.
The heartbeat of her story
For Karina, the memoir is also about joy, empowerment, and the courage to chase dreams. Chapter 11, Chasing Entrepreneurial Dreams, recounts her successes, failures, and lessons learned along the way. “I’d rather die with a hundred failures than never have tried,” she says. And the Dare2Dream Dome restaurant is a natural extension of that philosophy, inviting guests to step into a space that celebrates imagination, love, and bold action.
Music and cuisine are her love languages. On mornings together, she spoils her husband with coffee and homemade rusks in their custom swan cups.
Dreams, love and inspiration
Karina’s story is a reminder that love doesn’t have to conform to convention. Whether it’s daring to dream big, chasing entrepreneurial passions, or crafting a marriage that thrives apart yet together, the memoir and Dare2Dream Dome restaurant are testaments to a life fully lived. “Chasing a dream is what makes life worth living. If you fail, learn and try again. Don’t be afraid of failure. Just do it.”
At its heart, Upstairs Downstairs is a love story, unconventional, playful, and deeply committed. Karina and her husband’s journey shows that romance isn’t just about living under the same roof. Sometimes, it’s about building pink staircases, dreaming together, and letting love flourish in every space you inhabit. Together, yet apart.
Step into the Dare2Dream Dome restaurant at Forum Homini Boutique Hotel for a dining experience inspired by the memoir, complete with songs, stories, and immersive settings, by heading over to forumhomini.com
Upstairs Downstairs: A Musical Memoir, R295 from karinamarais.com. Reach Publishers
The Dare2Dream Dome restaurant at Forum Homini.
Article by Rialien Furstenberg. Images by Hendrik Marais.
