Grey scale: Johannesburg’s latest design atelier is an industrial revelation

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.’
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.’
Included in the space is the studio’s own product range, which is refreshed every 12 months
The space is a cross between an immaculately-styled converted warehouse apartment and functioning office
The walls have been painted in moody shades of pale and deep grey
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
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
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.
-
The world’s best swimwear brands, according to Wallpaper*
From architectural precision to a sense of ease and luxury, our comprehensive guide to the world’s best swimwear brands – for both men and women – will help you find the perfect beach attire this summer
-
Aesop’s Queer Library bookmarks brilliant literature, no purchase required
Returning to London’s Soho, 3-6 July 2025, the Queer Library pop-up offers complimentary books by LGBTQIA+ authors and allies
-
Wangechi Mutu's powerful sculptures take over the palatial interiors of Rome's Galleria Borghese
The Kenyan-born artist is the first living woman to have a solo exhibition at the villa
-
Farshid Moussavi’s new Harrods Toy Department is a joyful exercise in colour theory
-
Row DTLA emerges as a fully-fledged destination for design, fashion, food and more
-
Que sera, Serra: a sophisticated cannabis dispensary opens in Portland
-
Norm core: Normann Copenhagen creates a Technicolor kingdom in its revamped flagship
-
Small wonder: London’s new Design Museum opens its bijou boutique
-
Going global: Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance designs retail concept for Montblanc
-
Good practice: APFEL launches an online store of graphic design goodies