About Us
Design is how we care for people
Our Story
A studio built on curiosity, craft, and conviction
SILK & STONE began with a clear conviction: that interior architecture and bespoke design at its highest expression should feel personal, material, and alive. We spent years working to bring uncompromising craft, tactile richness, and turnkey design-build excellence to East Africa's most discerning clients.
Today, with a curated team of dedicated designers, architects, and project managers who share the same founding belief: that the spaces we inhabit shape how we feel, think, and connect. Every project is a careful dialogue between client and designer — your story becomes the foundation for something truly extraordinary.
From intimate Nairobi apartments and sprawling Karen estates to celebrated commercial environments across East Africa, we bring the same rigour, empathy, and aesthetic intelligence to every commission regardless of scale.
Studio at a Glance
Areas of Expertise
Our Values
The principles that guide everything we do
Listen First
Every great space starts with understanding. We immerse ourselves in your life, your daily rhythms, your personal aspirations, and even the things you cannot yet articulate. We believe deeply that the client is always the best brief.
Material Truth
We honour natural materials — stone, hardwood, linen, hand-thrown clay, aged brass, and raw plaster — letting their inherent texture, weight, and beauty guide the design. Materials chosen with conviction age beautifully. Trend-chasing never does.
Timeless Craft
Trends fade with the seasons. We design for the decades ahead, creating harmonious spaces that age gracefully and grow richer with time. Our projects are built with the kind of careful attention to joinery, proportion, and finish that separates design from decoration.
Emotional Resonance
A room should do more than look beautiful in a photograph. It should make you feel something the moment you enter — calm, inspired, held. We design not just for the eye, but for the body and spirit that inhabit the space every day.
Precision in Practice
Beautiful design is only as good as its execution. We are rigorous project managers as much as designers — coordinating contractors, artisans, and suppliers with the same precision we bring to a concept board. The details are where the difference lives.
Sustainable Intention
We favour local craftsmanship, sustainable sourcing, and materials with low environmental impact wherever possible. Longevity is itself a form of sustainability — a well-made space outlasts ten poorly made ones.
A word from our principal
"I started SILK & STONE with one belief: that the way we design our homes and workplaces is a direct expression of how we value life itself. To design well is an act of care — for the person who will live there, for the craftspeople who build it, and for the world that provides the materials."
Our People
The people behind SILK & STONE
We are a small, deliberate team. Every project is led personally by a senior designer — never delegated to juniors — ensuring the quality of attention your space deserves.
Simon Mwakodi
Architect & Lead Designer
Simon brings a meticulous architectural sensibility and keen eye for proportion, structural balance, and spatial flow to SILK & STONE. He leads conceptual architecture, spatial planning, and turnkey design-build execution across all residential and commercial commissions.
Kelvin Mbatha
Quantity Surveyor
Kelvin governs all financial dimensions of every project — from initial bill of quantities and cost planning through to final account settlement. His precise procurement oversight and value-engineering expertise ensure every commission is delivered on budget without compromise to quality.
Abdimalik Dawloh
Project Manager
Abdimalik coordinates on-site operations, artisan fabrication schedules, and multidisciplinary contractor teams from inception to handover. With rigorous timeline management and attention to finish quality, he guarantees seamless turnkey delivery.
Our Journey
Our trajectory of craft, intention, and growth
2022
Studio Established
SILK & STONE is established in Nairobi with a focused commitment to natural materiality, quiet luxury, and bespoke design-build architecture.
2023
Atelier & Custom Furniture Launch
Expanding with an in-house custom furniture atelier and completing our first landmark private residences across Muthaiga, Karen, and Runda.
2024
Commercial & Hospitality Commissions
Commissioned for prestigious hospitality salons, flagship boutiques, and private member spaces across Westlands and the Village Market.
2025
Landmark Regional Estates
Celebrating over 200 completed bespoke spaces and expanding into turnkey estate commissions across Kenya and the East African Rift Valley.
2026
Design + Build Practice Evolution
Fully integrating architectural concept, bespoke furniture fabrication, and turnkey construction under one cohesive Design + Build studio banner.
Awards & Recognition
Honoured for excellence
Nairobi Design Award
Best Interior Studio
AD Top 100 Africa
Architectural Digest
SBID International Award
Residential Interiors — Finalist
Elle Décor Design Star
East Africa Edition
Design Indaba Feature
Emerging Studios · Africa
Living Spaces KE Award
Best Commercial Interior
Trusted By
Clients who trust us with their spaces
Let's create together
We'd love to learn about your space and vision. Reach out for a complimentary 30-minute consultation — no obligation, just a conversation.
Contact Us