about our proudly south african homeware store
Our homeware store celebrates everything that a home should be. A ZAZAAN home is the warming sight of vibrant, technicoloured woolen blankets folded in a handwoven basket. It is the eclectic selection of ceramics brought home from soul-stirring travels; framed artwork expressive of the homeowner’s artistic vogue; cherished coffee table books; and carved wooden ornaments bought while haggling at bustling South African street markets.
Home is the gathering on the back stoep of friends and family sharing stories, rubbing shoulders, and clinking glasses in celebration. It’s looking out the window at a golden-red sunset; breathing in the energy of a bustling street below with its passerby and lively vendors. It’s the hearty echo of Gogo’s laughter. It is the sights, sounds, and textures of Africa bought indoors. Home is self-expression. Home is people. Home is ZAZAAN – where stories bind the spirits of rooms like threads interwoven by looms.
Our furniture store in Johannesburg expertly selects and designs collections of uniquely designed furniture pieces and functional accessories suitable for the contemporary homeowner to enjoy all moments of home life; moments of both unwinding in solitude and hosting gatherings of friends and family in a burst of colourful celebration of life and togetherness.
ZAZAAN is truly one of the best homeware stores out there. We provide homemakers of all kinds access to our curated collection of furniture; originally designed for the homes of Sarah Watermeyer Design’s clients, ZAZAAN pieces are now curated specifically for homeowners and interior decorators.
meet the team
"Live the life you want to live."
Sarah
Sarah Watermeyer is founder, artistic director and the driving force behind ZAZAAN. Her home is her sanctuary where people come to meet, homemade food is shared and gifted homeware items are cherished. A lover of the South African outdoors and open spaces, Sarah takes life head on – then keeps going. Tenacious, energetic and quietly OCD (her pyjamas must be under her pillow; the kitchen just so), Sarah’s energy can lift a room with a single, hearty laugh.
"Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely."
Mandy
Mandy Joyce is our community creator and local product curator. She could very well have coined the term ‘Local is Lekker’. Okay, she didn’t come up with the term but it’s close to her heart so let’s just roll with it, shall we? Grateful, giving and a lover of open spaces, Mountain-Goat Mandy is most often seen mountain biking or running. If at home, she’ll curl up on a comfortable linen sofa to rest up after a long day of activities.
"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try!"
Mmapula
Mmapula manages projects and heads up our behind-the-scenes activities like a boss-woman. She loves soft textures and pink, and she uses the same bowl every day. If she isn’t taking a quiet moment to herself to read, Mmapula is out breaking dance moves you didn’t know she had! You might liken her as a classic martini: a much-loved favourite, subtle in strength and a little bit glam.
"A fool learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the fool’s mistakes."
Annie
Annie Cordier, our resident fairy godmother, exercises OCD tendencies to manage projects and keep the team in check. At the weekend, home-body Annie can be found in the kitchen whipping up a curry in her grannie’s pots or planning a winter escape to Alaska.
"The only interesting answers are those which destroy the questions."
Alex
Alex van Eeden is our yoga-bum brand manager and social media guru on a quest to perfect the balancing act of flowing between downward-facing dog and bridge pose while beating her next batch of organic body butter. Alex daydreams of armchairs in reading nooks, fresh herbs in a planter box and environmentally-friendly alternatives to, well, everything.
"Be a sponge. When you are curious you find lots of interesting things to do."
Emily
Emily Challis takes care of marketing and production; she is the glue that holds us together. Curious, generous and a multi-tasker crafter. Emily can be found cozied up in a soft blanket with a glass of red wine, Lonely Planet travel guide in hand. Secretly (now not so secretly) she picks at her nail polish while in thought. She’s probably picking at them right now.
"Be Proud. Be Brave."
Jordan
Jordan Pascoe is our head of visual, in-house mechanic and ad hoc office handyman. Jordan dreams of sitting in a ‘specific kind’ of modern armchair – the ones where “it looks like if you sit in there you’ll feel powerful” (oh, do tell us more, Jordan) – tea in one hand and coffee in the other, staring into the abyss that is New York City. You might like to know that his Harry Potter Patronus is a hedgehog. Do with that information what you will.
"If you weren’t ready, you wouldn’t have the opportunity."
Lindsay
Lindsay Llewellyn is our house-plant keeper and wordsmith, bringing our story to life in the written word. An aesthete and an obsessive independent print magazine collector, Lindsay is happiest when meandering around a sustainable living market with her camera, sipping on herbal tea. Throw a friendly street cat in the mix and she won’t be seen for days.