Dossier

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When John Jacob Zwiegelaar set up his interior design practice in 2005, he catapulted to success. He has become known as the Cape Tonian ‘Tom Ford’ of interiors. His style is characterised by cross references from French Neo-classical to Belgian Haute-decoration.

He has won numerous awards but his biggest accolade has been to be featured in the grand Andrew Martin Directory in 2020, 2018, 2017 and 2010.

John Jacob has been awarded The SA Style Awards Icon in 2015, SA Style Awards South African Designer of the Year 2013 and Style Icons South Africa’s Top 12 Interior Designers in 2011.

About The Andrew Martin Directory

Martin Waller is the founder of Andrew Martin and he remains at the heart of the brand to this day. Originally starting in 1978 in Richmond, London, Andrew Martin moved to Walton Street in South Kensington in 1987, where it became Mecca for the world’s design cognoscenti.

Waller’s fabric and wallpaper designs, based around global cultures, became the template for Fusion Interiors, which was the title of his best-selling design book in 2000.

In 1996, Waller started the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award. The Award has become the ‘Oscars of the design world’ (Sunday Times) and the accompanying annual Interior Design Review ‘The Bible of Interior Design.’ Every year the award is judged by a panel of celebrity opinion makers. Past judges have included Gordon Ramsey, Thandie Newton, Twiggy, Jo Malone and Anya Hindmarch. Previous winners have included Kelly Hoppen, Nicky Haslam and Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

Waller has been involved in a wide spectrum of design projects all over the world from, movies (James Bond, Gladiators, Harry Potter to hotels (Mandarin, Firmdale, El lodge) and corporate headquarters of Standard Chartered Bank on four continents. Much of his inspiration is derived from his travels and adventures. Dubbed ‘the Indiana Jones of design’, Waller has hunted for mammoths in Siberia, traded with head hunters in Nagaland and searched for lost cities in the jungles of Guatemala. In 2007, he captained the England team to the Elephant Polo World Championships in Nepal.

Hence, a wonderful accomplishment for John Jacob to be published in this directory.

We asked John Jacob to tell us of his favourite personal things:

Favourite travel destination?

Positano for mid 20th century glamour in June-July and Bali for Christmas for its refreshingly contemporary feel.

Favourite hotel locally and internationally?

Locally, Singita Lebombo for its African contemporary style. Internationally, Le Sirenuse Positano.

Favourite clothing brand?

Muji.

Skincare?

Skincare has evolved so dramatically over the years. A good customised retinol cream is the best thing you can do for your skin.

Fragrance?

Byredo’s Sellier or Salle Privee’s Le Temps Perdu.

Restaurant?

La Combe or La Perla for its mid-century glamour.

Best way to unwind?

I’m not really a leisure kind of guy. My best way to unwind is probably my morning training routine.

Wish for 2021?

My wish for 2021 is for life to revert back to normal so we can travel and live life more freely again.

Lesson learnt in the pandemic?

I think we all learnt that we can be happy without distracting ourselves as much as we used to. I would rather stay home more frequently now than head out to entertain myself.

If  you can own any painting, which one would it be?

A Fernand Léger.

What music do you listen to?

Keith Jarret.

Favourite books/authors?

Any autobiography.

Life motto?

Don’t judge. Let people decide what is best for their own lives.

The article is available for reading here…