Dining with Charl

Words: Sanri Pienaar | Images: Supplied 

It's official: traditional practices have made a solid comeback, sweeping over our social media feeds as they are. Since slow living and slow cooking aren’t going anywhere any time soon, the best thing you can do for yourself right now is to make sourdough, banana bread or a delicious little dish from scratch and wine and dine yourself at home. And while you're at it, why not turn it into something charming and special? We chat to editor and stylist Charl Edwards about style, dining and loving your home.

How would you describe your home decor style?

Afro-scandi – a mix of local and Danish design sensibilities. My space is perhaps best described as an eclectic mix of items with history, stories and character, aka a literal walk-in cabinet of curiosities.

When it comes to your at-home design approach, would you say it's more experimental or uniform?

I'm quite experimental and I like to mix and match. I'm a lover of colour, so sticking to one style or palette is impossible (and so boring)! I love gathering objects and I'm always creating displays out of all my finds and trinkets. To me, style is inherent.

What’s the best styling advice you’ve ever received?

"Styling should feel like a summer's breeze blowing across a brunch table," said Laureen Rossouw, my mentor and previous editor of Elle Decoration SA while I worked on the brand a few years back. Whenever I'm creating images or spaces, it's the one thing I always remind myself. I've found that I'm always drawn towards places that have this sense of realness and life, rather than static and life-less arrangements.

Who has the best style?

French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus – he's my style crush. I'm obsessed with his sense of colour, playfulness and spirit. We need more of him in life.

What is the style quote you’d want to be remembered for?

“When in doubt, colour-code! It’s an instant styling solve.”

Your top five styling tips?

1. Group items. Gather objects to create clusters or areas of focus.
2. Colour code. This ties things together and is a simple and effective way to unify.
3. Add personality. Create a sense of object play – humour or character goes a long way.
4. Go effortless for a more welcoming space or image.
5. Keep it simple and don't go overboard.

What is the one item in your home that defines your style?

Baskets! I have so many of them. I've collected them along all of my travels in Europe and Africa and each tells its own unique story. I'm obsessed with handmade items, but more specifically the Mediterranean aesthetic, so I'm always looking out for items that speak to this kind of look and life.

What is your favourite space or corner in your apartment?

The wooden Scandi daybed in my living room, specifically when the late afternoon sun makes its way across it. The mattress is covered in a bright yellow slip-sleeve cover and it's also where I can sink into my cluster of ocean blue scatter cushions.

What is the one item that everyone should have in their home?

Baskets. You can never have enough of them.

Finding your home decor style starts with?

The architecture of your space and the surroundings. All things should start with the setting and your backdrop for the scene you're trying to set.

What did you pick from Superbalist to make your dining table special?

I started with a beautiful printed Hertex tablecloth to set the scene. It's a definitive showstopper with such an eye-catching surface pattern, so this informed everything else, as well as the ensuing narrative.

What narrative were you going for?

An indoor picnic setup and still life, with a relaxed and autumnal mood – nothing too neat or serious. To complement the Hertex print, I also added quite a few food items: wild prickly pears, lemons, figs, grapes, wine, cheese and bread. Oh, and of course some beautiful poppies to colour code and round out the look.

What elements are important to you when you host people at home?

Ease of flow and comfort.

We know you love colour. Does everything always need to match on a table?

Obviously! It just depends on how far you want to push it.