Studio 19's new atelier in Johannesburg

A space featuring a brown leather bench chair with two small dark cushions; near is a a brown chair; left corner is a large square photo/painting within nature.

Studio 19 has opened a new atelier in Johannesburg Design District’s lower Kramerville

(Image credit: TBC)

last updated 31 August 2022

Founded in 2009 by designer Mia Widlake, Studio 19 is a Johannesburg design consultancy renowned for creating some of the region’s slickest retail, hospitality and residential spaces. As well as recent interior projects, such as the new Johannesburg tea room and flagship store for Luxury African tea brand Yswara, Studio 19 has been producing its own product range since 2012, which is sold in boutiques across South Africa and Europe.

With so much going on, it’s no surprise that the atelier has quickly outgrown its small boutique in upper Kramerville, where it has been based for the past six months. With a pressing need for additional space to display its ever-growing product line, last month the studio upped sticks and relocated to a vast space in Johannesburg Design District’s lower Kramerville precinct development, which sits in an old industrial corner of the city. The immaculately styled result is a cross between a converted warehouse apartment and functioning office.

’Having never thought of ourselves as being or having a shop,’ explains owner and founder, Mia Widlake ‘we have found that our clients would like to spend time in our space discussing their designs and getting an actual feel for our product offering and lifestyle experience.’

An atelier which features grey walls, cloudy white and black painting on a wall; a table against the wall supported by brown legs and a diagonal supporting frame. — *Studio 19’s new atelier in Johannesburg’s Design District*

As well as the the studio’s own product range, which is refreshed every 12 months, the new space showcases the studio’s flair for creating refined interiors with warmth and individuality. The building’s existing polished concrete floors and ceiling are teamed with new black crittall windows, while walls are painted in moody shades of pale and deep grey.

‘The industrial touches were what appealed to us the most,’ explains Widlake. ‘Since Johannesburg is lacking historical buildings we tried to find something with a bit of grit.’ To wit, dark and light spaces add drama, while use of natural materials such as stone, leather, wood, linen, steel, aged bronze and smoky glass combine to create the studio’s signature look. In addition, the studio’s new abode has both indoor and outdoor meeting spaces for deliberating over design concepts with clients and partners.

‘We wanted our clients to feel what it’s like to live in a space designed by us,’ says Widlake, before adding, ‘we also spend an unnatural amount of time working in the studio, and we feel that order to be productive you need to be comfortable.’

Side by side views of a studio space. Left, featuring a three draw brown cabinet, a brown painting on the wall. Right: A large forest painting on the wall next to a circular desk and two chairs. The desk has a large loop lamp. — Included in the space is the studio’s own product range, which is refreshed every 12 months

The space, quite dark and grey focusses on a dark wood wall cabinet with a red and black painting on it. In the foreground is a large floor lamp. — The space is a cross between an immaculately-styled converted warehouse apartment and functioning office

Side by side photos of a room and its features. Left: A deep grey painting room with a side cabinet and lamp, two paintings, a minimalist chair with a brown cushion and throw. Right: A darker room with desk and lamp. — The walls have been painted in moody shades of pale and deep grey

Side by side photos: Left: Overhead shot of four stone/marble style plates/bowls. Right: A wide brown desk with a chair covered by a throw. A grey wall with a wall-lamp. On the floor is a smokey painting. — The use of natural materials such as stone, leather, wood, linen, steel, aged bronze and smoky glass combine to create the studio’s signature look

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Studio 19 website

Ali Morris is a UK-based editor, writer and creative consultant specialising in design, interiors and architecture. In her 16 years as a design writer, Ali has travelled the world, crafting articles about creative projects, products, places and people for titles such as Dezeen, Wallpaper* and Kinfolk.