Meet the Team.
August 14, 2017
Have you met @boogertmanpartnersarchitects Interiors? We're proud to have a dedicated Interior Design department that's not only extremely talented but also smart, fun and great to be around.
Watch this space as we introduce you to our dream team of 20 people strong and show you how they compliment our architecture and urban design offering.
Alfie Janse van Rensburg
My name is Althea (Alfie) Janse van Rensburg. I prefer Alfie.Good food and wine, a good laugh and great company excite me. I am socially dynamic and consider myself a gregarious girl- I absolutely love people. They are my number one passion. I’m a team player and I love my Boogertman + Partners herd. I’ve always been a dreamer and I perform well under pressure. That’s my fuel! I also do suffer from serious FOMO.
When it comes to design: Know who you are designing for. Keep it simple. Be bold and brave. Trust your gut and don’t overthink it. Authenticity is key.
Anneke Dealove
Hi, my name is Anneke Dearlove, as in ‘my dear love’. Always puts a smile on people’s faces and I love that about my surname. I was born into a creative family and thus always knew I would pursue a career in a creative field. On a personal note, I have so many loves in life that it would fill up a small novel if I had to list all of them, so I’ll do a top ten list: my four fluffy kids, fine art, sports (I love any physical activity, but swimming has a special place in my heart), the outdoors, travel (especially road trips in desolate landscapes), music, movies, laughing, food and the landscape from an aeroplane window.Bernadine Pretorius
I’m Bernie, a young, passionate and “make-it-work” interior designer. I grew up in a home where practicality ruled over aesthetics, resulting in blankets thrown over couches to prolong the age of the already 50-year old upholstery, not because it was particularly beautiful (because it wasn’t) but simply so that we would not have to replace them for the foreseeable future. Design was therefore never in my scope of knowledge – you either became a doctor, lawyer, accountant or housewife. It was only after being in university for a couple of years studying something completely different that I discovered my passion for interiors, and I knew more than anything, that this is what I was meant to do. My interior style could be defined as “make-it-work”, I find beauty in odd and otherwise considered ugly things and believe that anything can work if you do it with intention. My home showcases this, mixing antiques with OLX bargain finds and odd-bits that somehow fit together despite all of their differences. My biggest interior no-no would be matchy-matchy everything. My biggest interior yes-yes at the moment is a mix of lux and natural materials with a hand-made quality. The future for interior design is moving away from cold and modern into warm and usable spaces enforced by the end-user experience.Bianca Boonzaaier
Hi, I’m Bianca, an Interior Technologist that forms part of this fantastic team. I’ve wanted to be an interior designer ever since I realised that being a designer means you are both creative and technical at the same time, as I feel this is who I am. I am artistic, excitable, a foodie and at the same time I am a nerd that likes math and Star Wars and can be very serious at times. So I see myself as quirky - you can’t quite put a finger on it. I love to laugh till the point where my stomach hurts, drink too much coffee, make occasions out of little things, go to food markets, find cool movie soundtracks, travel and my dog (she’s the coolest, seriously). I like movies, or more particularly I like the way that all the elements are put together in order to colour in the story – the set, wardrobe, light quality and music. The movie director is shaping your experience. For me, design does the same thing. Design influences the way we experience space, so we as designers have the responsibility to design for the common good; that is why I believe that design should create opportunities for community and be environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Dean William Jacobs
Dean, aka - ghostrider#o1, aka - Squid William Jacobs. The reality: I actually really like design in all its forms and am completely infatuated by spatial design and interior architecture.
It’s the weird and wonderful people I get to meet in the creative industry which sets itself as a great habitat to fuel my personality and constant ability to be high on life.
I like to think of myself as a “jack of all trades” as I have endless amounts of energy/ADHD. Often in constant search of adrenaline induced activities, I am also capable of assuming control of myself to work with my hands. I often like to retreat to the outdoors and get lost in the realization of life itself with a beer in my hand, I love beer!
Spirit animal: Shark
I am good at: making a clown of myself so that others can laugh
I like to: go adventuring with my friends
Favourite word or phrase: “you gotta just keep on keeping on”- Joe Dirt
In my past life I think I was a chef, I love to cook.
Elené Olwagen
My name is Elené Olwagen, born and bred in Pretoria.Boogertman + Partners have been part of my life for the past 9 years, I love my team and can’t do without them. Teamwork is the key to a successful project. Attention to detail is important, and no, please don’t tell me you can fix it with silicone.
Give me my kitchen and I’ll cook up a storm to entertain the ones I love.
Spoil me with good food or the outdoors, but a weekend home is my ultimate luxury.
Gisela Patlansky
My name is Gisela Patlansky. I am an Interior Designer inspired by travel, people, and beauty in the physical and metaphysical realms. After school, and after much negotiating/hustling, I convinced my parents that travelling the world first, instead of going straight to study, would make me wiser and more responsible student (the fact that gave up a car for the plane tickets also helped a bit). It worked! At 18 I hopped on a plane with my new backpack and a sense of adventure. My medically sedated mother watched my passports and travelers check falling out of my overstuffed moon bag, wondering how I would make it out alive.I would describe myself as an adventurous and instinctual designer. I love brave, uncomplicated design and am inspired by colour and texture. For this reason, and the fact that I got to collaborate with our team of fresh, young designers, my favorite job to date was the Google Head Office in Johannesburg. I think in the world of design it’s important not to take you too seriously. Listen to your instincts and don’t allow what other people are doing to derail your goal.
Griet De Raedt
I’m Griet, born in Belgium, raised in South Africa and a true farm girl at heart. I live for my two munchkins, Elke and Inge, and love my work.
Design? Well, everything is designed, few things are designed well.
I love bold, structured design with attention to detail - don’t give me curves, clutter and fluff.
The perfect interior space would have to be very light with shades of grey, not 50…lots of textures and materials, minimal and sophisticated.
Besides work, I could talk food all day. I love good food, a good view, good company…and I absolutely love being airborne, be it in a Heli, Cessna or a Boeing.
Ilse van der Merwe
Hello, I am Ilse van der Merwe.My favourite design style is Scandinavian inspired with a vintage touch. Think bright white interiors, antique furniture pieces, tan leather, a colourful Persian carpet and lots of plants off course!
I had the privilege to assist in the design phase of Google’s offices in Johannesburg. During this phase, I leant that excellent design is achieved through collaborative input from all members of the team and we have a big team!
Kylie Rankin
Hater of raisins and lover of dogs, I’m like a hamster on a wheel who excels at multi-tasking. I’m a 38-year old qualified architect who manages an interior team by day, whilst trying to be super-mom to my two children. If I could find time to indulge in a hobby or two, mountain biking, running, photography and drawing would definitely be my choice. I’m a firm believer in being organized and the power of THE LIST, actually I think I put most list makers to shame, believing it is vital to plan each step of how to get to where you want to go or be, in order to achieve success in all aspects of life. My inspiration comes from all things minimal and orderly where design is functional, practical but most importantly purposeful. Exterior architecture and interior architecture need to co-exist in order to successfully create a whole.If I was not an architect I would be a: photographer and environmentalist.
Liesl Wherry
Hi there! I am Liesl Wherry, a passionate, driven, NO-Filter Interior Architect. Before becoming an Interior Architect, I travelled and worked for two years on the Doulos, visiting over thirteen countries and meeting thousands of people from all over the world. After working and living in this international environment a desire to study led to a Master's degree in Interior Architecture in 2015. Lourette Durand
Hi my name is Lourette and I am 32 years old. Honestly, I never really thought that hard about design as a career but creating things were always a large part of my life, and physically making things became my introduction to design. I am hugely inspired by collages. Collages can transform into many concepts and ideas.Mia Els
Mia Adele Els, a 29 year young. I like to think of myself as a loofah, I thrive by placing myself in situations where I can absorb and learn as much as possible - be it in life, design, travel. I am most content when confronted with the unknown and I have an opportunity to better my understanding and challenge my current perceptions. As an avid and curious explorer, interior design was unmarked territory for me, something I almost fell into, but once I opened the door there was a sense of familiarity and after 3 years of study and 6 years of practicing, I know that I will never be saturated by all the avenues design has to offer.In summary, I am a realistic dreaming sponge, a complex creature who loves the outdoors as much as indoors -a design aficionado.
SPRIRT ANIMAL: Owl.
IF I WAS NOT A DESIGNER: I would be a lawyer.
Michelle Verster
Hi I am Michelle, the latest addition to the Boogertman and Partners Pretoria Interior Design team. With a couple of cups of tea to fuel me, I can work long hours.
Coming from a big, close family, I have been raised in supportive surroundings and have been allowed to be free in my thoughts and expressions. This has helped me to become open minded and it has encouraged my creativity.
I like to design comfortable, practical spaces and I always think that my background has influenced my design style. I like the use of raw materials, textures and neutrals. A good design can stand alone and does not need lots of detail. Less is more.
I am determined, passionate and hard working. I love a challenge and I feel that this career will forever push me out of my comfort zone.
I love the challenges and opportunities this company can potentially throw my way. Going to work is a new adventure every day, filled with new experiences. It’s a sanctuary for creativity and a place of learning and improving my skills.
One thing that excites me about this industry is that the sky is the limit!
Robert Snyders
Hello my name is Robert, but Rob will do for short. I’m 29 years old and still a kid at heart. From a young age the adventure of being able to create influenced the way I saw things. The ability to see a piece or space crafted out of something raw and undefined, into a refined object or beautiful space gives me an enormous sense of achievement and personal joy.I love my place, yet my personal space is a non-negotiable! I love getting home and just switching off, my house is an extension of who I am and what I created. In 2014 I decided to do my own kitchen and dining room design. It might read as a double standard, “bringing my work home with me”, but to date I find great joy in something I design and created myself within my own personal space. So in essence my home is my sanctuary, a personal think tank.
In terms of design trends & no-no’s it is difficult to identify due to every-one’s personal style, influences and inspiration. Design should be personal and an extension of you.
I come from a hospitality design background and loved creating spaces with a lasting expression. These spaces become organic dwellings taking to the character the inhabitants portray. These spaces become gathering places in which the actual habitants become an extension of the design itself.
Safiyya Laher
I’m better known by my friends as Sophie. A design enthusiast for all things small and wonderful. At work, you’ll find me lurking around the laser cutter tinkering on my next project. My sanctuary is in the mountains adventuring to waterfalls and rock pools. My dreams are simple: a lake, a log cabin, a row boat and a fishing rod. And maybe a drone for all my photography dreams too. IF I WAS NOT A DESIGNER: I would be an explorer of the earth
Smita Waghmarae
I want to live in a world filled with laser cut buildings and vegetarian dinosaurs, books that come bundled up with extra dark chocolate and of course, peace.When I’m not behind my screen, you can find me whipping up (or trying to) dairy-free treats, wandering through book stores, eating tabasco sauce on everything, chasing sunsets, making lists, trying to save the world by living vicariously through Grey’s Anatomy and my first aid certificate, counting stars, planning my next outdoor adventure, running around barefoot, asking the question ‘why’, being behind a camera or in downward dog pose at yoga.
SPIRT ANIMAL: Turtle
IF I WAS NOT A DESIGNER I WOULD BE A: Mermaid
Terri Susman
Hi! I’m Terri. I am a 29 year old fur mom and wife to an adoring husband.Right now I am inspired by raw materials: concrete, steel and wood. Gosh, don’t get me started on wood! Have you ever sniffed a length of freshly planed teak? Trust me, do it!
My biggest interior design no-no is orange. Please, just no orange.
I am quite a fan of Scandinavian design, there is something to be said about the clean, simplicity of minimalism.
The best project I have ever worked on has to be the all new King Price HQ, such a fun client that loves out the box thinking.
I have wanted to be an interior designer as long as I can remember! I have memories of making cardboard houses for my dolls and cutting up bits of fabric to make the curtains… my Dad told me this was a hobby, not a career.
I win Dad!
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