Portraits of Home: Africa Daley-Clarke



Africa Daley-Clarke, founder of lifestyle platform and instagram community, The Vitamin D project @thevitamindproject shares her thoughts on home, connection and centring and celebrating her black heritage. The former showroom and design manager takes us through her journey moving home from London to Kent and the impact of her West Indian heritage on her design approach.


 

How did you start working with interiors?

I’d spent over a decade managing mid-luxury retail brands and found myself in a rut after our second child -not being able to factor in the ever increasing retail hours (The Westfield Effect) into family life. A position came up with a popular interiors brand for a Showroom Manager role where I could have Sundays off for the first time in a decade and work no later than 8pm. There was no drop in salary and it was short cycle from our nursery. So I went to the interview and gave it everything I had! I listed all the transferable skills that I’d learnt from retail management basically told them the role required equal parts structure and equal parts passion for interiors. I’d left the interview all but 20 mins and already had a call back for a second interview with the global Head of Marketing. I worked there for a little under 3 years and was promoted during that time.

What does home mean to you?

We’ve been very fortunate to have lived in spaces that have really felt like home and that’s in no small part to being allowed (despite previously renting) to make the spaces work for our family. To me, home means security, it means a safe space and somewhere that we can all unwind free from judgement.

 
 
 

Are there any objects/trinkets that defined home for you as a child?

My mum was a vintage reseller and so we had an eclectic home growing up in the 90’s. Belongings were quite transient as is to be expected in the “buy to sell” market -we kept interesting pieces until their perfect buyer came along and I think it gave me a healthy relationship with belongings that I still appreciate now.

Are there any rituals that your family created during your childhood that you associate with home?

We have a large base of siblings and every Sunday for about the past 4 years, we all convene at my brothers home for R&R and great food. The day usually kicks off about 2pm and we can be there until the early hours of the morning if work commitments the following day allow. We work off a cooking rota, so that the pressure never falls to the same person and it’s just a really grounding way to check in on each other regularly without any added pressure. We love so much that the 6 children of the family (next generation) are able to have this to keep them together.

How are you creating ‘home’ now?

The transition from our last home from now was quite a huge shift as you can imagine. Both in terms of space and location and so it was so important that we provided a real feeling of consistency for the kids. That’s meant that most of the spaces we’ve now created have a real sense of familiarity from our last home and we really love that. Where possible, we’ve kept all of the same furniture, even cutting things down to size such as our modular shelving for the perfect fit. The process will be achieved in 3 main phases -only phase one has been completed so far- and we have every intention to not stress ourselves and enjoy our surroundings in between each stage.

 
 
 

‘I like to think of my aesthetic as what my ancestors would have chosen without the effects of colonisation. I have a real appreciation for the process and provenance behind a product and that’s something that’s been lost from the Windrush generation I believe. Cost per west was such a pillar ahead of the buying process for our grandparents whereas now, the focus seems to be more of “what can I buy today even if it means re-buying next month”.’

 
 
 

What objects solidified your current space as home for you?

I don’t necessarily equate possessions with the feeling of home -but I will say that skipping the typical process of “new home, new possessions” has meant that we haven’t needed to get “used” to our surroundings.


What is your approach to designing and furnishing your space now? What elements are important to you in the process?

I think interiors can be very overwhelming and it’s usually because we look at specific items that we need individually rather than the overall space. When met with a blank canvas, I’ll always list what the space needs prioritising functionality first. I’ll then work my way through what potential vintage pieces could work -this means that in any given space of hours -the hero pieces will all be reclaimed. I determine an overall look before any purchases are made and ensure that this compliments any vignettes of other rooms visible via windows and doors for example.

Once the staples are in, I never rush to buy stop gap pieces and instead take the time to set up saved searches for the perfect solution (more detailed info on this process available on my Patreon) and for the finishing touches, I’m usually happy consider newer options or if they’re a bit of a splurge and I have a birthday coming up or Christmas, I might request something as a joint gift from family members.

You often prefer to shop in vintage markets for your home decor, can you tell us why?

Having worked for a leading interiors manufacturer and having an insight into the supply chain -on a whole -new items just never live up to the longevity of vintage products. We’ve been conned into thinking a sofa only needs to last for a year and that it’s fine to head to landfill right after. A new sofa depreciates in value the second you take it home. A well made vintage sofa can not only hold its value but also increase over the years too.

 
 

Do you think your West Indian heritage has influenced your idea of home?

Oh absolutely. I like to think of my aesthetic as what my ancestors would have chosen without the effects of colonisation. I have a real appreciation for the process and provenance behind a product and that’s something that’s been lost from the Windrush generation I believe. Cost per wear was such a pillar ahead of the buying process for our grandparents whereas now, the focus seems to be more of “what can I buy today even if it means re buying next month”.

What sentimental items have you brought along with you to your new space that you couldn’t leave behind and why?

When I tell you I brought everything including the sink, it’s no exaggeration.

Is there any Weruzo piece you are most drawn to and why?

I love the striking simplicity of the Lijadu candelabra. Just as beautiful with or without candles -it feels like a super special adornment for the simple shelves in our living room.

 
 

 
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