Some interiors make an impression. Others make you feel. For more than 30 years, Sugarbakers Interiors has been designing spaces that linger in memory and reflect the personalities of the people who live or work in them.
Designing spaces that linger
Founded in Cape Town in 1994, this boutique design studio has quietly earned an international reputation for bespoke, deeply personal interiors. Their work spans continents – from Australian beachfront homes and Middle Eastern desert escapes to boutique safari lodges in Botswana. Most recently, they designed a luxury eco-resort in the heart of India.
At the helm are design visionaries Andre Meeuwis and Jas Jhol, whose philosophy is simple: great interiors aren’t just seen, they’re experienced.
Immersion and storytelling
For Jas, the creative spark always begins with immersion. “We start by listening to the client’s stories of travels, or of their happy spaces. Understanding our clients is crucial because, at the end of the day, the space and vision must belong to them. We act only as translators of their vision.”
This means not only understanding their personality and lifestyle but also absorbing the spirit of the project’s setting by spending time exploring its history, architecture, and daily life, engaging with local artisans, and observing how people interact with their surroundings.
“Our aim is to respect and celebrate the cultural narrative while infusing it with our design expertise, so that the final space feels both authentic and timeless,” Jas adds.
Trends with purpose
In a world where trends rise and fade at speed, Sugarbakers takes a more considered approach. “Global trends provide inspiration, but they are never the starting point,” says Jas. “We generally advise our clients not to follow a trend in its totality. We see them as something to draw from selectively, ensuring they don’t overpower their whole vision.”
For Sugarbakers, every project has a narrative. “Storytelling is at the heart of our work,” Jas adds. “We translate these into tangible design features: textures that evoke a landscape, colour palettes inspired by travels, or bespoke details crafted by regional artisans, weaving in contemporary influences that enhance the space’s relevance and luxury appeal.”
This philosophy allows them to create interiors that remain rooted in place; spaces that endure in style and substance.
Narrative depth transforms interiors
“When a guest steps into one of our spaces, we want them to feel the story – to sense the journey, the thought and the emotion behind every detail,” says Jas. “It’s this narrative depth that transforms a beautiful space into a memorable experience.”
