The company focuses on attention to detail and has an enduring fascination with creating a complete environment that has ensured that Cécile & Boyd have been at the forefront of interior design for more than 30 years. ‘It’s always been a holistic approach for us,’ says Boyd Ferguson, the co-founder and creative director of the company. ‘I suppose the trajectory of the business is directly related to that – the more of the environment we could affect, the better the outcome and the more we grew.’

As well as the contribution Cécile & Boyd hotel design has made to the conservation of vast pristine wilderness in Africa, the company also contributes a percentage of its annual profits towards an in-house charity foundation that creates healing and transformative spaces.

There are so many parallel stories here. Singita and Cecile & Boyd just celebrated their 30th anniversaries; both are family-owned and run; small, purpose-driven businesses with common values; both passionate about aesthetics. And who was the fabulous Cecile?

We start when Luke Bailes hired Boyd Ferguson and Geordi in 1993 to design a pioneering lodge – Singita Ebony. Cecile & Boyd’s approach at every lodge has evolved with organic, sustainable, and African design. They’re now excited about local art, artisans, and materials. It’s about simplicity, authenticity, and minimising the footprint with deep connections to nature. Singita allows them creative freedom – a powerful part of the process, whether it’s a new lodge (such as Singita Kwitonda) or a refresh. We ask where the inspiration comes fro

From humble beginnings, Cecile & Boyd has grown to interior design, architectural concepts, creative direction, and two stores. From one lodge in 1993, Singita has grown into an award-winning conservation and ecotourism brand with 19 lodges in four African countries. And soon, Botswana.

This lively conversation embodies a quote: Milton Glaser, the famed American graphic designer, said, “You don’t have to like the people you work with. But it’s funny how when you do, the magic happens.”