Who We Are

Established in 1993, OLALA Interiors offers a turn-key solution to discerning clients looking for the essence of luxury living. Over the years we have invested our time and energy into building a reputable and successful business reaching across borders and oceans, incorporating the latest local and international style and design trends. In our dynamic and continuously evolving industry, we know the importance of authenticity and treat every project uniquely in order to develop its own personality.

“We are blessed to work with fabulous clients and a talented team. We are really grateful for all the opportunities we have to travel and bring home the best of the best international design concepts.” Schanè Anderson

We love to travel, learn and grow.

OLALA’s founder Schanè Anderson Interiors was awarded 6 international awards, including 3 coveted 5 Star BEST INTERIOR DESIGN PRIVATE RESIDENCE Awards – SOUTH AFRICA as well as BEST IN AFRICA.  OLALA also won BEST KITCHEN DESIGN – South Africa  – designed by Britta McMeekin.  Both projects also won both categories in IPA BEST in AFRICA.

Starting off 2020, we travelled to Paris for Deco Off with the ROMO INTERNATIONAL Team, attended Maison&Objet and swooped over to Barcelona, to see the newest in Interior Design and colour trends for the year ahead. Next year in 2021 , when we have beaten Covid, our Design Team will be visiting EuroCucina – Salone del Mobile Milano to expose our designers to the ultimate in luxury cabinetry design and manufacturing techniques. From there we will visit the US Furniture Manufacturing trade show, the largest in the world, to bring home to our clients the ultimate in furniture design, craftmanship and luxury lifestyle living.

In 2019, Schanè scooped yet another INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARD in the category Interior Design – Private Residence, cementing the company’s international acclaim. And hot on the heels of this award, OLALA INTERIORS was shortlisted for none other than three categories (Luxury Residence Global, Residential Project by Value (£1-2.5 million) and Kitchen Design Global (Over £50,000) designed by Kyle du Preez in the INTERNATIONAL DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE AWARDS. Both events were held in London.

“Travelling to design hot spots around the world certainly keeps us on our toes and in touch creatively”.

2018 was a phenomenal year for the OLALA INTERIORS team. Local and international acclaim provided plenty of accolades with a host of awards bestowed on Schanè including 5 Star Award Winner: Best Interior Design Private Residence South Africa and Nominee: Best Interior Design Private Residence Africa in the INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARDS. “We were absolutely delighted to be presented with a five-star award in the category of Best Interior Design – Private Residence South Africa. Being nominated for Best in Africa was the cherry on top”, says Schanè.

Also in 2018, OLALA INTERIORS once again won the ROMO INTERNATIONAL Top Designer of the Year for KwaZulu Natal. OLALA INTERIORS has now won this title for three consecutive years – 2016, 2017 and 2018! This magnificent accolade allowed us to visit Maison & Objet in Paris France courtesy of Romo International where we met and engaged with the designers and visited the pop-up shops for the international fabric and wallpaper houses in Paris for the likes of Romo, Zinc, Villa Nova, Mark Alexander, Kirkby and more.

Winning the Home Fabrics Top Design & Specifier of the Year for KwaZulu Natal and Schanè also being a Regional Finalist for the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa topped off an award-winning year.

In 2017, we were invited by NGWENYA GLASS to collaborate with internationally acclaimed glassblowers in developing new product. We had the privilege to meet and work with Maestro Davide Salvadore from Murano, James Devereux from Wiltshire, Tim Shaw from Australia, and Marco Lopulalan from Culemborg, Leerdam. Many of the lights designed are now sold in OLALA INTERIORS retail showroom.

Schanè regularly attend the HOMI MILANO (the internationally acclaimed Furniture Fair) in Milan, as well as the largest international European furniture, kitchen and bathroom Design Fair in Cologne, and IMM international seminars in Design Trends. This exposes them to the hottest and latest interior trends, furniture and fabric designs.

Schanè was invited by KOHLER to visit their International Design Centre in Chicago as well as KBIS (the largest US Kitchen & Bathroom Industry Show) in Las Vegas, where she had the opportunity to see the latest and greatest kitchen, bathroom and sanware designs available. Other trips include various international seminars on Colour, Lighting, Aesthetics, Creating the Perfect Balance, Strategy and Business Leadership. “I have been fortunate to meet the likes of Kelly Hoppen in Paris, Martin Waller of Andrew Martin and creator of the James Bond film sets in Shanghai and attended Furniture Fairs in Birmingham and Hong Kong” says Schanè.

As a Corporate and Professional member of the AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN PROFESSIONS (IID), OLALA INTERIORS recognises the importance of professional bodies representing the Interior Design industry in South Africa. Schanè shared her expertise whilst sitting on the Executive Board of the IID and being Regional Chair in 2015.

OLALA INTERIORS was started in 1993 by Schanè Anderson.   Her first design, decor and retail showroom opened under our founding name Damasque Interiors in Cresta Centre, Johannesburg. Outgrowing the space, the business moved to Melville, fondly referred to as the “GREEN HOUSE” where there was space for the showroom, fabric libraries and on-site workrooms. Irma Visser joined the business there and became a full partner. Interior Design trends evolved from a very heavily draped era to a cleaner more contemporary look, and the business partners decided to re-brand and re-name, and OLALA was born. OLALA INTERIORS opened 2 boutique stores, one  in Ruimsig and one in Northcliff, which was sold independently when Schanè & Irma relocated to Ballito and Knysna respectively.

On the 1st of November 2009, OLALA INTERIORS opened their doors in the Lifestyle Centre in Ballito, bringing a fresh new dynamic to interior design at the Coast. Full turn-key installations …. on time… every time, and a fabulous range of branded gift ware and accessories, made the showroom a destination of choice.

OLALA INTERIORS’ current showroom is in the Ballito Junction, with our Design Studio situated above the showroom on our fabulous mezzanine.