Inside a Home That Dares to Be Different
B-Zine Interiors transforms a family house into a vibrant statement of personality. When Johannesburg homeowner Lariste decided to refresh her family’s residence, she had a kaleidoscope of ideas but needed someone to thread them together. Enter Sonja Formanek, founder of B-Zine Interiors, celebrated for her fearless eye and bold embrace of color and pattern. Together, they crafted a home that is not only stylish and functional, but also an exuberant portrait of the family who lives within its walls.
First Impressions, Lasting Impact
From the outset, the home makes a statement. A soaring double-volume entrance sets the stage, dramatic yet restrained. Sonja chose to keep the space uncluttered, focusing instead on a powerful mix: a striking wallpaper artwork, a sleek console, and sculptural lighting. The result is a welcome that is both commanding and inviting grand with just the right touch of warmth.
Where Music Meets Magic
The piano lounge hits a bold note, with the family’s piano painted in unapologetic green. It anchors a space designed for rhythm, relaxation, and connection. Two seating areas invite lingering conversation one by the fireplace, the other spilling out to the garden. Grass mats, lush greenery, and eclectic furnishings dial up the energy, creating a room that feels effortlessly alive.
The flow continues onto the stoep, transformed into a year-round retreat with stacking doors that blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors. With its seagrass rugs, layered coffee tables, and breezy greenery, the space adapts seamlessly perfect for intimate family evenings or lively gatherings of twenty.
Bold Moves, Personal Stories
Throughout the home, personality takes center stage. The children’s playroom bursts with fun video games, table tennis, and a pool table while the kitchen balances calm with character. Muted tones and textured finishes like fluted glass and limestone are brought to life with locally crafted furniture and bold artworks. Upstairs, the main bedroom channels boutique luxury: golden mustard walls, whimsical linens, and soft natural light combine to create a dreamy sanctuary.
The pièce de résistance is the wine cellar and entertainment lounge. Once a cinema room, it now pulses with life, inspired by the family’s travels to Mexico. A striking “Day of the Dead” mural by artist Graham Hyde commands attention, while artifacts and skulls collected abroad infuse the space with a playful, social energy. It’s become the home’s ultimate gathering point a place where stories and laughter flow as freely as the wine.
Sonja’s guiding principle runs through it all: reimagine, don’t erase. Old furniture is refinished, treasured artworks are reintegrated, and color and pattern are used fearlessly. “Don’t take away the client’s character for the sake of design,” she says. “Show them how to be a little braver with color and pattern it makes all the difference.”
The result is a home that refuses to blend into the background. It is bold, warm, and unapologetically personal every room a chapter in a larger story, every corner alive with color, pattern, and personality.
