(Left) An African woman in traditional dress and A family of carefully hand-crafted elephants strike a chord against an ochre-coloured wall (right).

A HOME is a canvas to be painted. It reflects your tastes, interests and life history.

Rose Skeen with a guineafowl cup, one of many South African mementos she has.

Whether you are a born-and-bred Kiwi, or took your first breath thousands of miles away, your home is an extension of who you are.

Take a look around. Does the décor of your abode reflect your roots? Among the nooks and crannies, there may be an assortment of little trinkets brought back from holidays abroad.

Or perhaps there are mementos that remind you of favourite places and treasured memories from your homeland.

For Botany resident Rose Skeen, home has a distinctive South African flavour. While Rose left the country 21 years ago with her husband Ron and two children, its influence on their home décor is still plain to see.

A family of elephants, hand-crafted in stone, greet you near the entrance way, alongside a striking African man with the wisdom of the earth in his eyes. The home’s interior walls are painted in neutral hues, except for the front hallway, a vision in earthy terracotta.

Many of the family’s South African memorabilia sit proudly on a bookcase in the sitting room. A bowl filled with potpourri is etched with images of wildlife, while another showcases a family at work. Rose admits she has a penchant for knick-knacks, but is careful not to overload her home with them.

“I’m a bit more of a ‘things’ person. But for me, you’ve got to be careful where you put things and whether those things blend in with your home. I’ve deliberately not chosen reds, browns and [lots of] African stuff. I didn’t want it to totally stand out.”

<!--page-->Next to the bookcase, a series of watercolour pictures capture the splendour of Table Mountain in Cape Town.

This clay sculpture is a treasured possession, passed down from father to daughter.

The paintings were a gift from Rose’s mother and remind her of quality family time and relaxing getaways.

“The Cape Town pictures are some of my favourite views in the world. Cape Town from Bloubergstrand is just stunning.These reminders of home have always been important to me.”

The family’s South African roots also shine through in the name of their much-loved family dog, Thandi, which means ‘nurturing beauty’ in Xhosa.

Another treasured possession in the Skeen household is an African man sculpted from clay, which has been passed down from one generation to the next.

“He’s very old,” says Rose. “He was given to my dad and then to me after my dad passed away.”

Since saying goodbye to the Rainbow Nation in 1988, the family has been back about 10 times.

Several ornaments came into the household as gifts from friends and family, while others were found in various shops and craft markets on holiday in South Africa. With each visit, Rose collects things to remind her of a special trip, and to mark a memory.

“We’ve enjoyed choosing our pieces. In Africa you can get the genuine article. These things aren’t just knocked up – there’s so much craft involved and so much skill. They showcase Africa to us.”

She adores guineafowls and images of the African birds can be seen painted on mugs, ornaments and sugar pots. As well as appreciating the handicrafts, Rose enjoys traditional African music.

“For years we’ve done housework to African music. They are so musical and gifted. It’s got a good beat, it gets you moving.”

Rose’s love of African culture has been passed on to her two children, who have their own collections of trinkets from their homeland.

“It’s really good for the children to know their heritage and where they came from – it’s special places and memories. All of it makes you who you are.”