Designing with soul: How Bulelwa Jordan-Tati shapes spaces that Feel

For an ordinary person like me, household furniture is purely functional — used for sitting, eating and storage. Details such as colour schemes, décor or curtains don’t hold much importance; the priority is simply having a place to live. For interior designer Bulelwa Jordan-Tati, however, it is something deeper.

Her work orchestrates the relationship between a “physical space and the people who inhabit it, balancing aesthetic appeal with structural functionality”. Jordan-Tati is the founder of Urban Blend Interiors, a Cape Town studio, offering bespoke turnkey interior design services transforming interiors into personal retreats for their clients. With more than a decade of experience in the property industry and a property studies honours degree from the University of Cape Town, Jordan-Tati combines technical expertise with a natural creative flair.

She creates spaces that balance function, beauty and emotional resonance in pursuit of timeless aesthetics. In-between her demanding schedule, Jordan-Tati shared with me more about her work and her views on the trends for the year such as maximalism and biophilic design. You are known for transforming spaces from gloomy to sophisticated.

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Where did your love for interior design start? My love for interior design started from a young age from watchingTop Billingon SABC 3. I was drawn to the beautifully curated spaces and over time I developed a keen eye for sophisticated, modern and timeless interiors.

This passion grew over the years and led me to formally pursue and complete a diploma in interior design as well as a business in interior design course at the Interior Design Institute. This further led me to creating my own business, Urban Blend Interiors. What does your work as an interior designer entail?

Beyond choosing colour palettes and furniture, interior designers analyse spatial requirements, draft technical plans and oversee the selection of sustainable materials and lighting to enhance a room’s atmosphere. How significant is the role of interior designers in the South African creative industry?

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