Designing the Future at the East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026

A Spotlight on this year’s fabulous Feature Designers

 

From luxurious bathrooms and bespoke kitchens to contemporary outdoor living and statement lighting, South African designers are redefining the way we live — and this year’s East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026 is where their creativity takes centre stage.

 

Taking place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from 27 June to 5 July 2026, the show promises nine inspiring days filled with cutting-edge design, décor innovation and locally crafted excellence. Under this year’s Dream, Create & Live theme, visitors will experience how some of KwaZulu-Natal’s most exciting creatives are shaping the future of modern living.

 

Bold Bathrooms and Bespoke Design

One of the standout collaborations this year comes from Durban-born designers Simphiwe Mlambo of DSGNS_ISMANJE and Skhumbuzo Selby of Nkayisshana Décor.

 

Together, the pair are presenting a dramatic bathroom concept that pushes beyond the ordinary, combining bold screens, layered textures and contemporary detailing to create a space that feels both artistic and functional.

 

The duo first met while studying interior design at the Durban University of Technology and have continued collaborating ever since. While Simphiwe focuses primarily on furniture and conceptual design, Skhumbuzo specialises in cabinetry, installations and project management — the practical magic that transforms ideas into reality.

 

Simphiwe’s journey through the South African design world has been nothing short of impressive. After earning recognition at Design Indaba and winning Nando’s Young Designer of the Year, he was appointed senior designer at PLANTR in Cape Town — a major milestone in his career.

 

Today, his furniture and interiors continue to gain attention for their originality, with trusted local manufacturers like Beacher Studio helping bring his concepts to life.

 

The Rise of Luxury Living Spaces

For Highlight RSA, luxury lies in the details.

Founder Sulaiman “Solly” Bhabha and his team are unveiling an elegant walk-in closet concept that blends timeless sophistication with modern innovation. Expect premium woods, layered lighting effects, concealed storage solutions and a polished contemporary aesthetic designed for modern South African living.

 

What makes Solly’s story particularly inspiring is his unconventional path into the design world. Originally trained as a process technician, he discovered his passion for interiors after creating a make-up mirror that unexpectedly captured attention and sparked demand.

 

That single product eventually evolved into Highlight RSA — now a full-service design and renovation business specialising in custom cabinetry, shopfitting, dry walling and bespoke indoor and outdoor furniture.

 

Driven by engineering precision and creative curiosity, Solly has built a business focused on improving both products and processes — a philosophy that shines through in every space his team creates.

 

Kitchens Crafted Through Collaboration

Another exciting collaboration at this year’s show brings together Insika Interiors and Pinda Furniture and Interior Design.

 

Durban creatives Nokukhanya Mthethwa and Siyanda Mbele are joining forces to showcase a contemporary kitchen installation that celebrates craftsmanship, functionality and refined design. Featuring bespoke carpentry and custom seating by Jehz Sofas in Umhlanga, the installation reflects the power of collaboration in modern interiors.

 

For Nokukhanya, the show provides the ideal platform to highlight Insika Interiors’ dedication to quality workmanship and custom-made furniture solutions. His growing list of achievements includes the DBF Excellence Award and recognition in entrepreneurship and enterprise development programmes.

 

Siyanda, meanwhile, has become one of South Africa’s most celebrated young designers. From winning the Future Found Award from Southern Guild Gallery to being nominated for Design Indaba’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa, his work has consistently attracted national attention.

 

Yet despite the accolades, Siyanda believes collaboration remains central to success.

 

“To bring any project to life is a collaborative effort,” he says. “The business strength is in collaboration and building a community.”

 

Redefining Indoor-Outdoor Living

The way South Africans live outdoors continues to influence contemporary design — and Ikonik Luxury Furniture is embracing that beautifully.

 

Based in Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Ikonik creates premium outdoor furniture designed specifically for the South African lifestyle. Their collections focus on clean lines, durable materials and timeless simplicity, making each piece feel like an extension of the home itself.

 

At this year’s show, Ikonik is collaborating with interior designer Katie Allen of Urban Yuppi to create an immersive concept titled Two Ways to Live Indoors and Outdoors.

 

Rather than designing a conventional exhibition stand, the team has created layered lifestyle environments inspired by two distinctly South African aesthetics: coastal living and bush living.

 

Using the same furniture pieces styled in entirely different ways, the installation demonstrates how colour, texture and atmosphere can completely transform a space while maintaining a cohesive design identity.

 

For Ikonik director Craig McAllister, the collaboration felt effortless.

 

“Katie’s ability to layer interior details with our outdoor furniture allows the stand to feel like a real living environment rather than a simple display,” he explains.

 

Lighting That Creates Emotion

For Tammy Maharaj of Chaleureux Interiors & Lighting, great lighting is about far more than visibility — it’s about emotion.

 

This year, Tammy presents a luxurious immersive installation built around sculptural lighting, warm tonal contrasts and carefully curated finishes designed to create a feeling of calm sophistication.

 

“At Chaleureux, we believe lighting should be felt as much as it is seen,” says Tammy.

 

Her installation explores how light, texture and atmosphere work together to shape the emotional experience of a space, proving that true luxury often lies in subtlety rather than excess.

 

A Celebration of South African Creativity

The East Coast Radio House + Garden Show 2026 is more than an exhibition — it’s a celebration of local talent, innovation and the future of design in South Africa.

 

From custom interiors and handcrafted furniture to experiential living spaces and artistic installations, this year’s show offers visitors an opportunity to engage directly with the designers shaping tomorrow’s homes today.

 

Whether you’re renovating, building, decorating or simply looking for inspiration, the show promises ideas, creativity and experiences around every corner.