Former students battle in interior design competition

A South African interior design reality TV competition, now in its fourth season is likely to be the springboard for the careers six designers if they follow in the footsteps of earlier winners.

The show, which kicked off in July this year, pits the skills of the designers in weekly challenges to decorate a room in a particular style or to be used in particular way in a beautiful multi-million cluster home at luxurious state.

This year’s design duos are:

Team House and Leisure – Banele Khoza aka Bkhz and Tshepo Sealetsa
Banele Khoza, or Bkhz as he’s better known, is a graduate of Fine Arts from the Tshwane University of Technology. He’s well known in the local contemporary art scene and lectures in drawing and art theory at his alma mater. He has a keen interest in all design, particularly fashion and includes gardening among his hobbies.

Tshepo Sealetsa is a graduate of Interior Design from the Tshwane University of Technology. After a year of working in commercial interior design for an architectural firm, he followed his true passion for fashion design. He now works alongside Bkhz and enjoys photography as a hobby as well as a deep love for the culinary arts.

Team Visi – Mpho Mphaga and Lesego Masekela
Mpho Mphaga is a graduate of Interior Design from the Tshwane University of Technology. He works as a consultant alongside interior designers and has a great passion for furniture design. Mpho’s inspiration comes from local culture and he enjoys mixing African style with a modern aesthetic.

Lesego Masekela is a graduate of Interior Design from the The Design School of Southern Africa. Although interior design is her first passion, she also has a keen interest in the real estate industry and has a certificate in commercial property brokerage law. Lesego finds inspiration in museums, art galleries and also just observing people in their daily lives.

Team Habitat – Brad Muttitt and Abiah “Abiahsuperstar” Mahlase 
Brad Muttitt’s professional career began with a B.Com in Communication but he sought a change to pursue his true love for design. He studied BA Fashion Design at LISOF and has worked in visual merchandising and designing retail interiors for global fashion brands. He also founded the fashion brand AMEN with his partner of five years, Abiah Mahlase, which has been featured in national media.

The self-proclaimed Duke of the Razzle Dazzle, Abiah is a media darling and graduate of LISOF. He has appeared in a reality TV show and worked with high profile celebrities as a fashion stylist. Abiah has even been named one of GQ’s best dressed men in SA. He founded the fashion brand AMEN with his partner of 5 years, Brad Muttitt, and continually explores new avenues where he can express his creativity.

Previous designer winners are Donald Nxumalo (2014), Jacoline Sema (2015) and Rudolph Jordaan (2016) who have since made a big impact on the South African interior design industry.

The show can be viewed at 16:00 every Friday.

Three of the country’s top interior design magazine editors are mentoring the three designer pairs. Annemarie Meintjes from VISI, Amanda Graham of Habitat magazine, and Tiaan Nagel from House and Leisure are expertly guiding the contestants to create trendsetting homes.

The contestant design duos are vying for the top prize of R100,000 cash prize.