South African Home Owner – September 2019

140 September 2019

obbieDiPietromanages

marketingandsales

forFamilyAffairluxury

furniture,which

wasstartedbyher

grandfather 60 yearsago.Shestartedworkingat Family

AffairwhilestudyingforherBComMarketing,andthen

returnedfull-timein 2016afterrealisingthatthecorporate

life wasn’t for her. Di Pietro is also an interior designer.

What sets Family Affair apart? Unique Italian styling

passed on from my late grandfather, passion, quality,

customisation, and all our products are locally produced in

our factory in Wynberg, Sandton.

What’s your view on décor trends? While some home

décor trends stand the test of time, others come and go in

the blink of an eye. You can’t be bound to décor trends –

they depend on your client’s unique style and taste.

The most frustrating aspect of my job is all the tedious

paperwork associated with it.

And the most rewarding one is interacting and building

sterling relationships with my clients and seeing the smiles

and satisfaction once we’ve completed their projects.

Apart from my profession, I’m passionate about running,

hiking, kloofing – and I love nothing more than a good book.

The most cherished space in my home is

my dining room. The dining room suite, which

was hand-carved by my late grandfather, adds

a lot of aesthetic.

I draw inspiration from two quotes: Elsie

de Wolfe – “I am going to make everything

around me beautiful, that will be my life,” and

Scott Adams – “Creativity is allowing yourself

to make mistakes. Design is knowing which

ones to keep.”

My most treasured possession is my

great-grandmother’s engagement bracelet,

circa 1901.

What was your last home décor purchase?

A sofa from Family Affair.

What travel destination is on your bucket

list? Mount Everest, South Base Camp, Nepal.

My guilty pleasure is chocolate – I’m

obsessed. Q

ROBBIE DI PIETRO

MARKETING AND SALES

MANAGER, FAMILY AFFAIR

to

R

Face

Lerato Mphahlele takes a glimpse into the

lives of décor and design professionals