Vintage-etc Design Blog

What wood type should I choose for my custom furniture, and what colours are trending?
From a cosy farm kitchen in KZN, to the dry heat of game farms in Namibia, to a cool shady lounge nestled under Table Mountain in Newlands, no two spaces... Read more...
The Ultimate Guide to Custom Furniture for Luxury Game Lodges, Safari Camps, Boutique Hospitality Spaces in South Afric
There’s a noticeable shift happening in luxury hospitality design, particularly across safari lodges, boutique hotels and bush camps, where experiental design counts. Guests are moving away from overly polished, showroom-style... Read more...
Why your solid wood table may get small splits... and why that’s completely normal
 Tables should be for life... let’s make sure you make the right choices for your space.We’re honest with our clients, and our wish is to equip you with all the... Read more...
Custom Dining Tables in South Africa: How to Choose the Right Size, Material and Design (Vintage-etc Expert Guide)
Choosing the right dining table is about more than style, it’s about getting the size, proportions, and materials right for how you live or operate. In this expert guide from... Read more...
Building the Molly Cabinet A Five Stage Look at Our Most Loved Display Unit
  Take a look at how we build our most popular custom display unit the Mara Molly Cabinet. Built in oak or reclaimed Oregon, this cabinet is a favorite across... Read more...
8 Interior Design Trend Forecast for 2025
Welcome, trendsetters and decor enthusiasts! As we charge headfirst into another year, I've risen to the annual challenge,  to predict what's going to shake up the world of interior design in... Read more...
Reclaimed Wood furniture items custom-made for a new tented game farm in Africa
This order was destined for a high end game farm in mid-Africa, owned by a South African operation, we were briefed on making all the 45 items in reclaimed wood, to achieve... Read more...
Black & White Scandi Trend - 8 tips for chic, clean & clear spaces that ooze style
Scandinavian design is chic, timeless and stylish, but perfecting this sought-after home décor trend is not as easy as it looks. It is also perfect for Air BnB spaces or... Read more...
Tan Leather is making a big come back ( with great examples...)
Tan leather teamed with clean walls, natural rugs, textured coffee tables and big leafy plants, is making an uber come back.   The glass and steel backdrop completes this look,... Read more...
10 Trends for Home Interiors in 2022 (ideas worth stealing)
There is nothing like a two year global pandemic to turn our little worlds upside down to make us rethink our priorities. We work from home, have zoom meetings, home-school... Read more...
How to cheat the cost of raw timber
As a post (and current) pandemic effect in South Africa, we are seeing the price of raw timber sky rocket. So how can save the the cost of timber for bespoke... Read more...
9 MUST KNOW tips to save you time and money, when ordering custom or bespoke furniture in South Africa
When it comes to ordering custom made furniture solutions or bespoke tables , desks, islands  or any custom solutions - these are the top 9 most frequently asked questions (and mistakes clients... Read more...
Warm and welcoming living rooms
If you need a simple solution to refresh your space and get a living room with a warm and welcoming ambience, take a look at this space and how you can... Read more...
Keep Entrance Hallways Clutter-free
The balance of colours and textures in this warm and welcoming entrance hallway is what makes this space so relaxed and charming. The utilitarian design of this consol means that all of the... Read more...
3 inexpensive ways to bring your kitchen to life instantly
So here we are, not quite post pandemic yet - and ss we spend more time than ever in our homes, in our kitchens in particular - perhaps you feel it's... Read more...
Get this look with Vintage-etc
This living room has mastered the balance between leafy greenery, the warm hues of natural wood and the luxurious cream and white textures of linen – this is the perfect... Read more...
Get this look with Vintage-etc
Make your home the ultimate hub of relaxation by finding the perfect pieces to organize your space. Read more to see how we can help you de-clutter your space in... Read more...
Top tips on how to successfully order custom furniture in SA
Ordering custom order furniture is exciting, but it can be easily ruined by overwhelm - especially without the services of an interior designer.  This is a summary of our client's... Read more...
NEWS: new upholstery service!
Vintage-etc is now taking orders for custom-made upholstered furniture!   We can make sectional sofa's, day beds, sectional sofas, outdoor furniture, headboards, ottomans. We can also help with shop fittings, office... Read more...
Vintage-etc Expands into Johannesburg
We have exciting news, we have spread our wings into Johannesburg.  We can build your custom order furniture and fixtures from the ground up, and provide a fitting and turn-key... Read more...
Go big - an urban jungle in your home
It is hard to ignore the beautiful images popping up in our feeds, as social media explodes with big, dark green leafy plants in every corner of homes, from bigger... Read more...
How they do accent colours in Europe - and it works!
Things are getting colourful - and we are not talking about the walls (and in Europe, they’ve done it for years) .  We are talking about doors and ceilings, skirting... Read more...
Design Tip: White Kitchens
White kitchens seem to be making a come back as we move back into simplicity in design, but white kitchens need not be a harsh space.  By complimenting them with... Read more...
7 top tips from the Netflix series Dream Home Makeover
Love interiors? So do we and we are obsessed with Studio McGee's new Netflix show - Dream Home Makeover.  Filmed as before and after make-overs as the likeable couple renovate and transform... Read more...
Wood Paneling: the next big trend
Made hugely popular by the new series on Netflix called Dream House Makeover, nearly all the episodes feature these accent walls. Liven up  dull hallways by converting it into a utility area,... Read more...
Working from home- 6 office ideas to inspire you
Lockdown has forever changed the work environment - and now that  we tend to spend so much time of our working and studying at home, I hope that this will give... Read more...
Home Office on a budget ? 5 simple hacks to keep costs down
For many of us, Covid-19 has necessitated we reinvent our careers and environment.  Working from home becoming a permanent reality for many South Africans, yet at a time where cash is scarce.... Read more...
7 Affordable tips and trends for outdoor living - small changes, big difference
Here are seven quick wins for creating beautiful, whimsical outdoor living areas that are an extension of your indoor space.  Here we focus on small changes, that have a big... Read more...
Colour trends in interiors & design
As 2019 comes to an end, its time to take a look at some of the hottest 2020 colour trends that are expected to make a splash in the new... Read more...
Are bathrooms the new sanctuary spaces?
Long considered a purely practical space, the bathroom is now coming into its own as a sanctuary from the stresses of modern life. And we sure are loving this new... Read more...
The glass & steel room divider trend – Chic, versatile & bold
Glass and steel room dividers is a hot new trend that has taken the interior design world by storm, and we’re here for it! Due to the rise in popularity... Read more...
Trending: Moss Green - and big bold botanical prints
We have been watching this trendy colour palette creep in slowly but surely over the past few months and all of a sudden - Moss Green is everywhere and we... Read more...
We're changing, see our custom made tables
You spoke and we listened! The custom-order side of our business has grown significantly over the last two years and will become our main focus going forward. See some of... Read more...
Island Style - Design Inspiration in Ibiza (10 out of 10)
This beautiful home in Ibiza was decorated by none other than a South African design team. Beautifully upgraded, keeping with the local flavours - and enviably on trend all at the... Read more...
Try these 4 tips to totally change a look in any room!
So, you want a new look or style in your room but think to yourself "it's going to be too expensive", or "it is such hard work". Think again!  We... Read more...
Decorex SA 2019
We visited Decorex SA on Friday to see all the upcoming trends and to meet some new designers and trades.  Some noticeable trends we saw were deep forrest greens and... Read more...
Black Metal Trend
As you may have noticed, our recent posts have been more inspirational posts. From showing you the trends we are loving to colour palette trends to tips and tricks.. So... Read more...
3 Tips to keep your outdoor living area warm this Winter
Just because we are going into Winter and the days are getting a little cooler, that doesn't mean we can't still use our outdoor entertainment areas! Here are some tips... Read more...
What to remember when choosing the right sofa
We recently got in some beautiful sofas & thought we would write a little post on picking the right sofa for your home. Remember, a sofa is an investment so you... Read more...
Children's Bedroom Storage
We all know, kids collect everything and it can get messy!  But, we can help them to keep things tidy by creating enough storage space for them to pack away their... Read more...
Adding warmth to your living areas
Easily add warmth to your kitchen or living areas with this divine rattan trend.  If you like a neutral space but are lacking that "soul" feeling in your living area... Read more...
Add some soul to your kitchen area
One way to add a pop of colour and some soul into your kitchen area, particularly when you are limited for space under windows, is to create an eclectic eating... Read more...
Get the look - Modular Living Rooms
How to create a Modular Living Room. We love the new trend of bold black metal and wood paired with a neutral colour palette for the walls, rugs and sofas.... Read more...
Deep blues with a hint of mustard - winter colours
We are loving this color pallet of deep blues and shades of mustard set against neutral grey. If you are not keen to repaint your walls, there are many other ways... Read more...
Brand new arrivals
Just docked, these are our very latest new arrivals - photographed and added to our website today. We deliver nationwide within 3-7 days.   Please feel free to email info@vintage-etc.com for quotes... Read more...
New chairs & Nesting tables for July
Just docked, these are our very latest armchairs and nesting tables - photographed and added to our website today.  Read more...
Time-lapse video of a teenage bedroom make-over in 10 days
Nina is my youngest daughter and she has had to be very patient as her room is the last room in the house to be renovated.  Here are the 10... Read more...
June's new arrivals - with lots of character
Our most recent collection of just unpacked imports is made from reclaimed wood from disused favourites and warehouses in mainland China - creating a space where old meets new. Featuring Oak... Read more...
Grey, Blush and Copper Trend
Consider this beautiful, calming palette of colours this winter for your home:  grey, blush and copper.  Team this up with clusters of posters in thin black, white or bamboo frames,... Read more...
Get this look: Sienna Dining Table
The Sienna Dining Table is the perfect solution to family dining. Made from reclaimed teak, there is no stressing about stains, scrapes or knocks. Live and let live!  Read more...