Team House and Leisure: Consecutive Winners of Win A Home 2017’s design challenges
Banele Khoza and Tshepo Sealetsa were overjoyed when they heard they had been selected as one of the three competing Design Duos of Win A Home 2017 on Afternoon Express. With the fourth season underway on SABC 3, the talented team have already proven popular amongst judges and viewers alike and were selected as the winners of the first and the second challenges for the guest bedroom and the spare room respectively.
Banele Khoza and Tshepo Sealetsa of Team House and Leisure
The duo met at the Tshwane University of Technology where they studied art and design and remained close friends. Well-known artist, Banele; aka BKhz; is recognised in the South African contemporary arts scene for his work and has exhibited across South Africa at numerous showings. Tshepo is a qualified interior designer and has a passion for fashion and all things creative.
Together they scooped the prize in the guest bedroom challenge with their well thought out use of space and unique features; an open closet and perfectly mismatched bedside tables. For this, they were allocated an extra R5 000 towards their budget for the next design challenge.
Team House and Leisure's winning guest bedroom
For the ‘Out the Box’ spare room challenge, they made the most of the brief, designing a mirrored walk-in closet, complimented with a floating Caesarstone desk. The judges were instantly attracted to the space, having described the room as ‘heavenly’ and the pair was awarded a further R3 000 for the next task.
Team House and Leisure's winning spare room
The design couple appreciate the mentorship of House and Leisure editor, Tiaan Nagel. “The experience has been amazing. He is so open to us, we know that we can phone him at any time. He gives us the platform to do what our hearts desire and he supports our ideas with constructive criticism and encouraging feedback.”
Further to receiving the guidance of one of South Africa’s top design editors, the show has also enabled the contestants to meet some of their most admired icons in the design industry, including renowned top SA interior designers, guest judges Stephen Falcke and Nthabi Taukobong. Both designers agree that working in a team has its challenges, but they try to remember to maintain a sense of humour and laugh together. They believe that the recipe for a good design partnership is the ability to communicate openly and effectively with one another.
Details from Team House and Leisure's winning spare room
“The most difficult challenge working in a team is that you don’t always get what you want. In the duo dynamic you have to consider the other person. The best part is being able to share ideas, we believe that two minds work better than one,” says Tshepo.
Banele describes his design style as contemporary, clean and warm and Tshepo’s as warm, soft and luxurious. There is no doubt that the pair have managed to marry their unique styles together in a winning way.
Win A Home on Afternoon Express is a life-changing experience for many people; from the designers who have competed on the show to the lucky viewers who have won their very own luxury homes.
The duo admires the likes of Donald Nxumalo, inaugural winner of Win A Home and one of this year’s judges on the show. His success has provided a great deal of inspiration to them as designers. “Whether we win the show or not, the exposure is something that we are grateful for,” says Banele.
The twosome has immersed themselves in the experience of designing a home in the beautiful Eye of Africa golf and residential estate, the location for this year’s competition.
In addition to the design competition, viewers stand to win the grand prize of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom cluster home in the estate. The Eye of Africa boasts gorgeous natural surrounds, a signature Greg-Norman golf course and various lifestyle offerings.
“Eye of Africa is starting to feel like home to us because we are spending so much time there. Our favourite place to lunch in the estate is at the Old School Deli.”
With their eyes set on the prize, the pair do not take the competition for granted, acknowledging that each team brings something completely different and unique to the table. This certainly keeps them on their toes, however they agreed to keep their focus and energy on themselves. “You cannot run a race looking behind you, we have to keep our eyes straight ahead. Distractions create doubt.”
Will this motivated team continue their winning streak throughout the competition?
Tune in to Win A Home on Afternoon Express, SABC 3 on Fridays at 16h00 and watch the design drama unfold as the teams contend to win the judges design prize of R100 000. Viewers can also vote for their favourite duo online, the duo with the most votes will win an additional R20 000.
Want to enter the Win A Home Grand Prize Competition? ENTER HERE
