Dora’s home is testament to the fact that with just a little creativity, you can turn standard Nairobi landlord fare into a stunning space filled with all your favourite things. For the 35 year old public policy expert, aesthetics and beauty should never come at the expense of personality or meaning. And in choosing to not chase any aesthetic ideal and instead go with the things that bring her the most joy, she has created a space that’s uniquely hers.
When Dora Areri first moved into her two bedroom apartment in Nairobi, she knew that she did not want to decorate it to look like anyone’s designer home. The glossy showcases in Architect’s Digest and other interior magazines were not for her. Instead, she set about creating a space that spoke to her truest self. And to do that? She drew inspiration from items that hold the most meaning for her.
“This space is a hodge podge of the things that I love the most. It’s pictures of my family, my books, things I’ve collected myself and those I have been gifted. For instance, I have a collection of notes from people that love me that span like 7 years,” she says.
Personal style is developed when you figure out what you love, and celebrate it
Her design sensibilities stand out in how she has created moments in different corners, choosing to celebrate her variety of interests.
Against one wall that she’s painted bright yellow is a beautiful bookshelf of solid wood, filled to bursting with books and memorabilia from her travels. A picture of Toni Morisson is propped up against one shelf, while on another, James Baldwin is in deep conversation with Nina Simone. Her literary tastes range from the classics like Jane Eyre, to biographies of Nelson Mandela, and Kenyan contemporary stars like Yvonne Owuor.
The tableau also features a classic wick lantern, a jar of letters, and various games. It’s a feast for the eyes; expertly curated, a mix of different materials and media. How did she put it together so brilliantly?
“To be honest, I’ve gotten lucky in the sense that what struck me was also coincidentally aesthetically pleasing. And I know that sounds a bit precious, but it really did happen like that. With the yellow wall, for instance, I was like every part of this house was brilliant white, and I was just like, but I feel like yellow. So I painted it yellow,” she said.
Flanking the bookshelf to the right is a gallery wall with family pictures, lending an air of intimacy to the space. None of them are studio portraits, they’re vignettes from everyday life.
“This picture of my mother was so random because it was taken at an airport as we were waiting for a cab. And she was horsing around and we took a picture and somehow it was perfect,” said Dora.
You do not need to work with an interior designer to create a beautiful space
The dining area opens up to an expansive living room in brilliant white, with carefully chosen furniture providing pops of colour and interest. Against what would traditionally be a TV wall is more art, a duo of landscape photos, and to its right, floating shelves of vinyl records for the record player on the console. The space is anchored by woven baskets and a guitar stand either side of the wooden console. To finish it, Dora has displayed vases with fresh and dried flowers, and a small table lamp that lends a warm glow to soften the harsh white. She has decorated and styled her house herself, preferring not to work with an interior designer.
The effect is curated yet lived in, going against the showroom aesthetic that many homes in Nairobi have opted for. For instance, where you’d expect three pictures on the wall, there’s only two. But rather than look incomplete or imbalanced, the vibe is one of controlled chaos.
“I was very clear that I didn’t want anything that looked very staged or very curated. I wanted my home to be like me, a mix of chaos and joy, and a little bit of confusion. Sometimes you’ll notice that the pictures, the art, it’s not symmetrical at all. I just like the fact that it looks lived in,” she said.
Her style has evolved through the years, but some things have remained the same. For instance, she’s never bought a TV, and her law textbooks have moved with her from house to house, even though she no longer practices law.
No TV, ever, except that one time in Uganda
Dora recalls that the first house she lived in after moving out of her parents’ home was tiny and cramped, furnished out of utility rather than any style preferences.
After that, she moved to Uganda into a furnished house, with, as she puts it, “couches so ugly that I barely spent any time in the living room”.
“That’s the only house I have lived in that had a TV. I did not switch it on even once,” she says, with a laugh.
“When I came back to Nairobi,I came back as an adult. And it felt like I could curate my space with a lot more intent,” she added.
She has lived in this apartment for four years or so, putting it together slowly and thoughtfully. Most of her furniture, including her bookshelf and dining table, was made by her friend’s father. She has collected a lot of her decor from her travels to places like Lamu and Egypt, and recently, she has gotten into thrifting. The last item she bought, for instance, was a lamp from a thrift shop, for Kes3000.
“I like to shop but I am careful not to veer into consumerism because I don’t want to have a space that’s a tribute to marketing,” she said.
Now in her mid thirties, the biggest change she has seen is in herself and not necessarily in the spaces she’s lived in. She is more keen to invest in spaces that reflect her perspective of the world, and what she wants to see more of.
“I now invest more in my central experience of the world. So what you see here is in honor of what I think is beautiful. Over time, it feels like I’ve given myself more permission to appeal to the aesthete within me as opposed to just the utilitarian function of a home,” she says.
So what does beauty mean to her?
“Beauty is what reminds me of what feels good, not just what’s aesthetically pleasing. Beauty is what is warm, what is comforting, what is joyous. For instance, my mother planted the flowers on my balcony and sitting there makes me feel like I am in her garden. The burst of yellow on that wall reminds me of the explosion of colour in my parents’ living room,” she said.
Dora’s top tips for decorating
- Take your time to figure out what you like, and then go out there and find it. Do it slowly. Part of the joy is in decorating over time.
- Keep your eyes open and only buy what you really love, not anything you feel lukewarm about. Nairobi has hidden finds everywhere.
- Don’t overthink it. Accept that you will make mistakes, but most mistakes can be corrected. A wall can be painted over, an ugly lampshade can be replaced
- Be curious and open-minded. There are no rules. We’re all making it up as we go.