Clifton Smithers, a founding partner of a leading design company, is bullish about Durban.
"KZN has loads of unleashed potential, a pool of hugely talented people and the perfect climate to make it all come together brilliantly," he says. "We just need to ensure that it's channelled in the right direction."
With design projects ranging from commercial and retail, to homes, apartments, restaurants and hotels, there is little in the way of design that the company, Union 3, hasn't tackled.
Yet with all their experience, Smithers says that one of the most exciting developments in the past few years is that individuals are playing a much more active role in the design and styling of their homes. They are working together with interior designers and architects to create their desired environment, rather than simply handing the job over.
"People are experimenting much more with finishes and materials than they did before," he continues.
"This is largely because of increased awareness by the public. Stores such as Mr Price, Weatherlys and Weylandts have revoluti onised the concept of ordinary people being able to have stylish, exotic items in their homes at affordable prices. Having more information at our fingertips through the internet is also a massive advantage."
He says that although Durbanites are inclined to be more conservative than their up-country cousins, they are "right on the button" when it comes to knowing what works for them.
"In other parts of the country people buy and decorate their properties mostly for re-sale, but in KZN people decorate because they want to live in their spaces! They want the beauty around them where they spend the bulk of their time. Our climate informs our design and you can see it in the work of local designers."
Smithers says there is a big global move with design trends taking people back to their roots... old and new working together to give an unpretentious, uncontrived look and feel. In addition, all things "natural" and "real" are making a big impression; from textures to materials, furniture to decor, with splashes of colour for emphasis.
"Moving a client from the 'safe' place in their mind out of their comfort zone to that 'new place', still poses one of the greatest challenges in my work and inspires me," he says. "For me everything begins and ends with design ... design is in the detail."