Designing Calm for Challenging Days: Inside the Lusenga Attorneys Project

There are some projects that arrive quietly, without fanfare, yet leave a deep imprint on the heart. The Lusenga Attorneys office was exactly that for me. It was our very first South African project after relocating home, and in many ways, it became the gentle bridge between two seasons of my life.

I still remember walking into their empty space for the first time. Nothing about it felt like a typical office and certainly nothing like the corporate law firms we often imagine. Instead, it felt like possibility. The Lusenga team welcomed me with warm trust, open hands, and an eagerness to create something different. They asked for a space that wasn’t only functional, but one that felt like a refuge, a place where they could exhale during long days of navigating intense and often emotionally heavy legal matters.

That trust became the foundation for everything that followed.

Designing an Office That Feels Like Home

From the outset, I knew I didn’t want to give them a conventional office. I wanted to give them an extension of home. A place where their nervous systems could settle the moment they stepped in. A place that held them, supported them, and reminded them that beauty, softness, and calm belong even in the midst of hard work.

We infused the space with every principle that defines Sanctuary Ekhaya.

Texture, colour, lighting, and sensory design became our guiding markers.We softened the environment using layered neutrals, tactile fabrics, natural woods, and warm lighting. Every surface was intentionally selected to evoke comfort. Every decorative element was chosen to add quiet elegance without overwhelming the eye.

The goal was simple: To design an office that feels like a sanctuary, not a workspace people endure.

The Lusenga team spends long hours supporting clients through life’s difficult chapters. I wanted the space to support them in return.

The warm wood cabinetry, the soft art pieces, the clean but comforting lines, and the greenery placed intentionally throughout all work together to create a grounded atmosphere. Instead of a clinical workspace, we leaned into a calming palette that mirrors home interiors more than corporate design.

Everything had to say, “You are safe here. You can breathe here.”

A Celebration of Trust

This project will always stand out to me because of the immense trust the clients placed in my vision. They allowed me to lead, to create, to build something that aligned with the heart of Sanctuary Ekhaya. They were willing to step into a design approach not typically seen in law firms and embraced the idea of warmth instead of cold formality.

What emerged is a space that reflects both who they are and what they do.Professional, yet deeply human. Grounded, yet elevated. Soft, yet strong.

This reveal may be a little late, but perhaps the timing is perfect. It reminds me that sanctuaries are not just built in homes, they are built wherever people spend time, nurture purpose, and carry responsibilities that matter.

To the Lusenga team, thank you for trusting me with your vision. May this space continue to hold you through every season.