Our home goods begin as conversations with makers across Johannesburg. Some work in garages in Maboneng, others share studios in Braamfontein.We ask how each piece is made, what it costs to make and how long it takes. Then we photograph it, write about it and decide whether it belongs in the shop.
The best pieces are simple and sturdy. They are made to be used every day on the stoep, in the kitchen or at a desk, and they get better with age.
Why we buy local
Buying from a Joburg maker keeps work and skills in the city. It also means you can ask who made your lamp and visit the studio if you like. Prices are fair, and repairs are easy because the person who built it is a phone call away. Small batches mean we sell out, so join the newsletter.
A good home does not need many things. It needs a few well made ones, chosen with care and kept for a long time, ideally from someone you could meet.
Small space living is mostly about choosing well. In a city flat, every chair and table has to earn its place. Fold, stack and hang what you can, and pick pieces that do two jobs, like a side table with a drawer. Keep the floor clear and the light coming in, and the room will feel much larger than it is.
Working during load shedding
Plan your day around the schedule. Charge laptops and power banks beforehand, keep a lamp ready and do the focused work when the lights are on. A small desk by a window helps a great deal.
Small bookshops that keep Braamfontein reading
Some of the best shelves in Gauteng sit in small, independent shops run by people who read everything they stock. We visit them on weekends and ask the owners what they recommend.
Every good bookshop has a corner where the owner's own taste shows. In Braamfontein, that might be a table of poetry by local writers, or a shelf of second-hand cookbooks. We asked staff what they read on slow afternoons. Their answers make a good reading list for the weekend, and a reason to leave the house and visit a shop in person.
