Interior designers take centre stage in homes

It is a hot Monday afternoon, the location is Nairobi’s Village Market. A fascinating event is taking place here — this year’s interior design exhibition. Style and elegance seem to be the lead themes.

As we approach Bilha Njau and Rose Akinyi’s stand, the two are all smiles.

They narrate their company’s journey into the interior design industry. The firm is called African Heritage Design.

“We have been in the interior design sector since 2006. From experience we feel that the industry is set for the horizons,” says Ms Njau, who is also the company’s head of public relations and marketing.

According to Ms Akinyi, a sales official at the company, the interior design sector is fast cutting its own niche in the building industry.

“The market seems promising as more people are willing to give their premises a better look. We recently witnessed preference for an African touch design, we feel that demand for interior design is set to grow,” Ms Akinyi says.

And demand is not limited to residential property as companies also go out to give their offices a better look.

“Our design is not limited to homes as we also work on corporate gifts among other designs,” adds Ms Njau.

Every new day brings along business opportunities for local interior designers.

From office space, to hotels, to residential property there is growing need for the professionals.

“Furnished apartments are steadily gaining currency. The trend is making money for home developers keen on developing residences and renting them out or selling them,” says Real Wealth Investments managing director Humphrey Odhiambo.

Real Wealth Investments are the organisers of this year’s exhibition at Village Market.

Statistics show that expenditure on interior designs has been rising to reach the current average of between 60 and 65 per cent of the total construction cost of a building.

Residential property is the largest consumer of interior design, contributing up to 40 per cent of the industry.

Following closely is office space which claims about 35 per cent of the industry. Hotels and other buildings claim the remaining share.

New styles embraced

Although they are embracing interior design fast, offices lag behind residential buildings because they tend to come in standardised structures.

The profession is fast changing as new styles are embraced.

Designs that incorporate a touch of African culture seem to be taking centre stage, edging out western styles.

Among the highest consumed designs are those that deal with roofing, flooring, and wall painting.

The desire to save on cost and at the same time maintain a classy look is another factor fuelling the shift from the traditional to new and more sophisticated designs.

For example, offices seem to have adopted a new trend: they are increasingly dumping reliance on electricity and embracing green energy interior solutions as a cost cutting measure.

Experts attribute growth of the industry to increased demand.

“In Nairobi alone we have at least 500 residential housing units and an average of 30 corporate office tenants in a single month,” says Mr Odhiambo.

Although residential buildings seem to be fuelling the demand, says Mr Odhiambo, office owners’ need to make a good impression and build brand names in the process has also played a hand in the growing need for the service.

Experts also attribute the growing popularity to the fact that the profession has lately been embraced by more Kenyans.

Locally, interior designs cost more than is the case on the international market.

This is attributed to the fact that the materials used in the profession are largely imported.

Nevertheless, the market for interior designers is growing.

Those in the business project increased growth even with rising costs of interior designs, mainly because customers are more interested in quality rather than pricing.

Quality not pricing

“Most people are conscious of quality not pricing, and ensuring quality is maintained keeps one afloat amid stiff competition in the industry,” says Antarc Limited manager Milesh Haria.

Players in the interior design business are optimistic as they look out for new varieties to add to existing designs.

“Although competition is steep the market seems promising as it is still widening. Middle and low income earners have given local designers a new lease of life. Evidently, major shopping malls and hotels are coming up in all corners of urban areas,” adds Mr Odhiambo.

Banking on the availability of credit facilities from local banks and other financial service providers, players in the industry predict increased demand for interior designers.