Day three of Design Week Ja 2026 brought wellness in design to the forefront.

Matahari Furniture welcomed guests to its showroom at 96 ¾ Old Hope Road in St Andrew on Wednesday, October 7, for an engaging conversation on the theme ‘Design Your Home Retreat’.

From exploring how wellness directly influences design to detailing how select accent pieces elevate a space, the session offered a multifaceted discussion.

Industry experts came together to guide attendees through actionable ways to transform and improve their spaces.

The panel — comprising wellness expert Sharon Feanny, architect Lisa Steibel, and the Matahari Enterprise Limited team of General Manager Rochelle Thwaites, company director Olive Shelton, and in-house designer Dianne Fennell — led the conversation.

Prior to proceedings, Feanny guided guests through a brief meditation exercise, setting a tranquil mood for the opening session.

Moderator Nasma Chin then formally welcomed guests before handing over to Matahari Managing Director Jason Shelton for opening remarks.

…courtesy of wellness expert Sharon Feanny. (Photo: Karl Mclarty

Outlining Matahari’s journey and mission, Shelton underscored the value of quality furniture pieces and highlighted the essential role wellness plays in home design.

“This building is a combination of 20 years of experiences, mistakes, and of course, the quiet satisfaction of things done correctly.

It is a true reflection of what we believe is the core of our business and a testament to standing true to your core, which is providing quality you can see and feel,” Shelton said.

“When someone invests in a piece from us, they bring a tangible piece of wellness into their space, and as long as that furniture remains in their home, that sense of wellness stays with them.” The opening meditation exercise set the ideal backdrop for the first half of the discussion on wellness and its impact on design, facilitated by Feanny and Steibel.

Moderator Nasma Chin (right) chairs the opening discussions on wellness in design with architect Lisa Steibel (centre) and wellness expert Sharon Feanny.

Feanny highlighted the necessity of placing wellness at the very centre of one’s lifestyle and living space.

“Wellness for me is about health and happiness and trying to achieve that every day.

Life is so challenging right now that I think that wellness is a priority.

It’s not even a priority.

It’s a must,” Feanny said.

Expanding on Feanny’s take on wellness, Steibel highlighted how a room’s aesthetic shapes emotional well-being, stressing that thoughtful design must always account for the feelings a space creates.

“As humans, we’re body, mind, soul, and spirit.

I think very often we just think of ourselves in the flesh.

So, in the body, it’s our senses — what we see, hear, smell, touch, feel.

So, as a designer, we have to pay attention to that.

But also in our soul, what makes us feel alive and excited? What makes your soul come on fire? What makes you happy?” Steibel said.

“When we approach design from that holistic perspective, then we’re so much more successful at being content in our spaces.” Drawing from her personal experience in elevating her own home, Feanny concluded the first half of the discussion by challenging guests to declutter their living spaces, highlighting how a clear environment fosters a sense of freedom.

“Here’s a challenge for you: Declutter! Be it a room, a closet, a chest of drawers.

This act actually feeds your soul.

Sometimes it’s not about putting more in, it’s about taking things out that are not serving you,” Feanny encouraged.

Before the second half of the discussion got under way, Design Week Ja conceptualiser Novia McDonald-Whyte delivered brief remarks, reflecting on the growth of the event and highlighting the timeliness of incorporating wellness into the event.

“Who knew nine years ago when we conceptualised Design Week that this would be one of the conversations? Here we are this evening with a completely different approach to design, sanctuary first.

And [this is] spot on, because your home is indeed your sanctuary,” McDonald- Whyte said.

Pivoting to practical application, the second session — facilitated by Olive Shelton, Thwaites, and Fennell — explored the art of selecting furniture pieces that enhance both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of a home.

Shelton highlighted the importance of choosing enduring quality when selecting furniture for the regional market, particularly pieces designed to withstand the harsh Caribbean climate and hurricane season.

“I focus on quality, which is extremely important in Jamaica with the storms, the rains that we have.

We have a lot of furniture here [in Jamaica]; as soon as it gets wet, you know, that is the end of the piece.

So good quality material that is durable is a must,” Olive explained.

“I also look at the design to see if it would be comfortable, not only for a medium height or small-size person, but also for a six-footer.

I mean you have to be aware of the function that piece of furniture will serve in your home and how the family will enjoy it.” Turning to Matahari’s curatorial process, Fennell explained that while clients often arrive focused on a single item, true value lies in helping them visualise how complementary pieces can transform the entire space.

“What I really try to do is sell them a vignette of the sofa, the chair, the ottoman, the lamp, coffee table.

And lots of times they do buy the whole vignette.

They might not have thought of it when they came through the door, but because of how it has been designed and laid out it touches them,” Fennell noted.

“They are interested in it.

And that is what I have tried to do with the shop floor.

And just the general layout… You are not coming to just purchase a sofa or a desk or a chair.

But the whole ensemble, the whole design.” Closing the discussion, Thwaites shared that designing an ideal space requires a multi-sensory approach, where sight, touch, and feel all harmonise.

“The goal of this panel discussion is to share the importance of engaging the senses: Touch, smell, sight, hearing, taste.

And there is a sixth sense which is intuition or the intuitive ability to not have to use your other senses.

It just comes from within.

We put these [furniture pieces] out here to get a sense of, when you touch it how does it make you feel? Because designing your sanctuary, designing your space, is about how you feel about specific materials, designs.

It’s all subjective,” Thwaites concluded.

Design Week Ja 2026 is powered by Tile City & Home Centre and Kohler, Hardware and Lumber, National Housing Trust, ARC Manufacturing Limited, Ashley Furniture Homestore, Spaces, S Hotel, Harbour Wines and Spirits, Angelie Spencer Home, Caledonia Outdoor Advertising Company, Berger Paints and Matahari Furniture.

The next conversation, courtesy of Tile City & Home Centre and Kohler, will take place this afternoon at 114 Constant Spring Road