Who is Janet Joan?
I’ve been an interior designer since 2005, working with design studios and large decor companies in South Africa and abroad. I founded Janet Joan Interior Design in 2017.
I’m Janet Kruger. As a child, I loved coloring, drawing, and dressing up the family dogs and my sister, decorating school books, and making ceramics—some of which are still in my childhood home. I even did fabric art through high school.
In 2000, I decided to pursue a creative career, enrolling in the BHC School of Design’s three-year Interior Design Diploma, one of South Africa’s top design schools. I was a national finalist in an Elle Decoration bedroom-design competition, which deepened my passion for interior design. My studies gave me a strong foundation in creative skills, technical aspects, and design functionality, graduating with distinction.
What sets me apart? It’s not just creativity but also my strong technical skills, allowing me to realize my creative vision in my interior design projects.
FIVE FAVOURITE THINGS
An open space
My retro leather swivel chair
A plush Hertex yukon fur throw
My large painted sunflower artwork by my son
And, in winter, our Calore wood-burning fireplace
THINGS I LOVE
My family (Joan was my grandmother’s name)
Sharp pencils
Seeing an interior develop from my imagination into reality
Beautiful fabrics, I love their textures and colours!
A good cappuccino
Favourite quote
“Your home should tell the story of who you are and be a collection of what you love” – Nate Burkus
ON MY WISH LIST
Eames Lounge Chair – what an iconic piece of furniture
An incredible Jaipur rug
Mies artwork
To see more of the world
To attend a design camp in the US
WHAT PUTS A SMILE ON MY FACE?
My son Blake, growing up fast
Flowers in a riot of colours – proteas, tulips, aloes – and succulents
Enjoying a meal together with family
The smell of cake baking in the oven
Funny cat videos
Caitlin van Zyl (Junior Interior Designer)
I enjoy walking through the bush, picking flowers, and taking in its beauty
I love spending time with my family. I don’t see them often, therefore I try to enjoy every moment with them
I love small gifts from my colleagues. It is a really sweet gesture that warms my heart
Chocolate, my favourite sweet treat is a late-night sweetie pie
I love sewing
Natashia Barnard (Décor & sales Consultant)
I love bookshops and the smell of books
Watching war movies
Foraging for wildflowers
Picnics out in the fresh air and sun
Spending time with my family & friends
Cassidy Kretzmann Rice (Junior Interior Designer & Marketing Coordinator)
Living life and experiencing adventures with my darling husband, Joshua
My family, friends and animals are my world
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate
I love cappuccinos
Seeing and smelling the ocean