Three decades ago, her contemporary aesthetic was unfamiliar territory to most South Africans. Today, her interiors projects – and much-loved Generation store – are synonymous with great style. Julia Day highlights key moments in her stellar career.

When Julia Launched Generation in 1990s Joburg, South Africa was emerging from an insular apartheid wilderness where conservative design had dominated. “We started out 28 years ago, when our country had limited access to international design. We were innovators in the industry, bringing in new ideas and creativity,” she explains. Her luxurious contemporary work made its mark (ed’s note: it even featured in the first issue of VISI), and her design projects under the Julia Day Interior Architecture and Design moniker, as well as the coveted international brands she represents as Generation, continue to inspire.

Generation, 2015

Generation was started in 1994 as a showcase for my contemporary design pieces. Our first small store was in Rosebank; eight years later, we moved to Hyde Park Shopping Centre. It was home for the next two decades, and it was there that we introduced iconic international lighting and furniture brands to our offering. The store’s displays were admired and spoken about by customers and passers-by. This photo (opposite top left) shows one of our December holiday activations called “Festivities in Paradise”, which celebrated exotic destinations. In 2019, the store was recreated as a design studio in Forest Town. It offers a more intimate shopping experience, and showcases items in a lifestyle setting.

Parktown North, 2009

This image is from my earliest digital shoot – a lovely reminder of a client I have worked with for more than 20 years. It’s a really great example of how my design process is alway centred around the client’s lifestyle, resulting in a seamlessly flowing interior that stands the test of time. The shot depicts an open- plan home office when work from home was not even a thing yet. It shows how a workspace can be integrated into a home in an elegant and interesting way.

Forest Town, 2010

My architect husband Jonathan Leibowitz and I designed our house in 2004, and it remains as relevant today as it was then – a simple, Modernist structure that allows light and flow. It illustrates a harmonious integration between the interior and the architecture – one of the key elements of my design philosophy.

5th Road, 2015

This Hyde Park home designed by architect Krynauw Nel was one of the first places where I used furniture by the Italian brand DePadova, started in the 1980s by Maddalena DePadova. In 2012, I became its sole South African distributor. The beauty of DePadova is the seamless connection between all their pieces. Used together, they contribute to creating calm and luxurious spaces. For this project, the DePadova elements I selected spoke to the beautiful white spaces in texture and detail, and gave a relaxed but sophisticated feel. I love the juxtaposition of the contemporary pieces in a more traditionally designed space.

Oak Road, 2018

This home is an example of my approach to an architectural brief. I strive for a cohesive connection between the interior and the architecture, resulting in a home that is both luxurious and understated. Architect Joe van Rooyen aimed to create a stripped-back, contemporary barn that hinges on openness and light, so it was imperative that the interior honoured this intention. For it, I conceptualised an open and flowing layout consisting of intimate, comfortable and layered spaces. The seamless transition and continuity between interior and garden make for a serene yet lush living area.

Westcliff, 2019

This new family home in Westcliff was also designed in collaboration with architect Joe van Rooyen, and has a subtle Parisian undercurrent to its style. Its contemplative and timeless nature is a reflection of its owners. This project emphasises my love of beautiful, authentic finishes and materials, which include oak, marble, stone and steel. They harmonise with the space and are a quiet accompaniment that doesn’t detract from the bigger picture. I used geometry to introduce expression and balance – rigid forms are softened by organic and curved ones, and vice versa. The staircase, made from moulded cement, is an example of this – a crisp yet sensuous curve that connects two floors, it’s at once sculptural, lyrical and restrained.

House Orelowitz, 2020

Architect Anthony Orelowitz’s home invites nature into its interior living spaces via a series of pavilions. The residence is part of the setting, and so the interior and furnishings had to ensure the transition between inside and out was uninterrupted. To this end, we used colour tones to echo the natural environment. They’re earthy, warm and subtle. Natural materials including stone, marble, timber and certain metals did this job too. Each aspect of the architecture and interior design provided a new and sophisticated way of living, stripping away the unnecessary. Internal detailing was dictated by the architectural form, and not used to decorate. I chose specific furnishings to create concise cocooned areas within the free-flowing spaces, resulting in a warm and enveloping environment.

Design Joburg, 2019

Our stand at Design Joburg 2019 was a feat of engineering and design that demonstrated the value of craftsmanship, detail and understatement. I called it “In-Residence, an installation by Julia Day”, and used the opportunity to launch my interior design studio, Julia Day Interior Architecture and Design, as a stand- alone brand. It offers interior architectural and design services, while Generation offers products and objets d’art. The space was painstakingly planned to be serene in the chaotic environment of a design show. To make it cocoon-like, we used full-length curtains of moss-coloured velvet and fitted wall-to-wall carpeting in a rich chocolate hue. A full steel frame enclosed the space, with genuine steel-and-glass screens in the Manhattan style offering a view in and out. Exceptionally crafted, the joins were invisible, and the lines super-fine. The stand appeared not to have its load supported vertically, thanks to genius problem-solving whereby the glazed screens doubled as structural support, leaving the space visually quiet.

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Donald Nxumalo‘s name is synonymous with bold, elegant interiors that speak to the focus he puts on context, meaning and making sure a client sees themselves in the space he creates for them.

Here, in the second of our new series celebrating South Africa’s most exceptional interior designers, he chats about his award-winning career.

Bryanston (2020)

This interior (above) was completed while lockdown restrictions were in place. It helped me connect with a sentiment I never appreciated before – being able to look forward to something. There was so little we could look forward to in that moment! I realised that we give clients a sense of anticipation; we not only convey beauty, but also a sense of hope and joy. This beautiful home, layered with luxurious textures, became the ideal lockdown cocoon.

Rustenburg (2022)

My team took over the design of this entire scheme, including the floors, lighting, ceilings, bathrooms and furniture. The project took more than three years to complete, and was quite challenging – but the result is a striking, calm aesthetic with rich, warm tones and textures.

Steyn City (2019)

I started my career at Steyn City in 2014, so designing its new centre was a privilege, and like a return home. Most notable in the design was the houndstooth sofa, which has become a statement and symbol of my work.

Kramerville Showroom (2017)

I had no previous experience in retail, but I realised that, for a young designer who’s fresh on the scene, having a showroom would be a showcase of aesthetic and capabilities. It was tough to manage stock and be a designer at the same time. My team grew substantially while I learnt to manage people and projects simultaneously. Today, I’m able to guide a team of designers, architects and project managers. I love having the showroom – it allows designers to express themselves fully, without restrictions. It was also a great lesson in setting a mood in a space, and enticing prospective clients.

Waterfall Estate (2021)

This expansive family home was inspired by layers of white and cream – and was a lesson in restraint for me. An occasional burst of colour gives warmth and a voice to the distinct white space.

Eye of Africa (2021)

The dark tones, moody lighting and marble features of this home, designed for a bachelor, give it an opulent edge. I usually don’t work with dark tones; this project showed me that I could.

Seaside Home (2018)

The work I did on media personality Somizi Mhlongo’s seaside holiday residence was one of my earliest “out of town” commissions – and quite a big deal when it happened. It was an exercise in maximalism, and I learnt so many lessons, including that the unspoken ingredient in any design project is trust. When you gain and maintain a client’s trust, you’re able to tap into previously unexplored parts of your own creativity. Here, this resulted in a beautifully curated space – and I walked away feeling more confident in my skills as a designer.

Silver Lakes Residence (2018)

Our team was hired to furnish and style this Pretoria property. I enjoyed commissioning the art for it, and working with the artists. For example, Dario Manjate created a portrait of the client’s children using collage – 3 000 pieces of photocopied pictures make up the faces. It was wonderful to see the client’s reaction to it. This project speaks to my belief that every space has a story, because every person has a story.

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You’ll recognise Tristan du Plessis’s work instantly – the award-winning founder of Joburg-based interior architecture firm Tristan du Plessis Studio has fashioned some of South Africa’s favourite spaces.

Here, kicking off our new “Working The Room” series that will celebrate our country’s most exceptional interior designers, he chats about the standout projects that have marked his A-list career.

Gorgeous George, 2019

“This is where I fell in love with hospitality. This Cape Town boutique hotel was created around a collaborative, artist-led model. It stretched me to find the balance between modern, warm and striking, while also being deeply functional. From working with artist David Brits on murals to illustrator Lucie De Moyencourt on cheeky tiles, I relished the celebration of South African talent, and seeing it all come to life.”

Cleveland Residence, 2020

“This mega bachelor pad in Johannesburg was one of the first homes I designed. The client gave me quite a firm brief that included using an entirely black-and-white scheme, and little to no art. Of course, it was a challenge – but I think the result is beautifully graphic. It threw me out of my comfort zone, but it was truly satisfying.”

Campocori, Rome, 2022

“This project is an ode to the classic New York Italian restaurants of the 1930s – just brought to life with a subversive edge. We used traditional textures, including marble, velvet and wood panelling, for a warm and classic sensibility – but collaborating with artists such as Jana + Koos made sure that we kept it fresh and fun.”

FYN, 2019

“FYN was a fascinating project because it’s home, Speakers’ Corner, is such a hidden yet historic spot in Cape Town. I wanted the restaurant to make an impression but still, be seamlessly nestled in the building. We made the high ceilings part of a striking visual that draws the eye up. This allowed us to maximise the space, bringing in opulence through all the finishes while staying cosy and inviting.”

Alice & Fifth, 2018

“This Sandton space was an exciting foray into dining-meets-nightlife, with the two completely different functionalities having to be catered for. The client wanted a sumptuous and decadent space, juxtaposed with a raw, unrefined, underground edge. We went for a nostalgic feel with a contemporary twist and a slightly dark undertone, which I loved.”

Hell’s Kitchen, 2015

“The iconic Melville bar was the first commercial space my studio completed. (At the time, I was the studio!) It was an open-briefed, low-budget, rock and roll-style gig – in more ways than one. I loved the freedom, and tapped into this project as a way of expressing my style at the time. The design was engaging, detailed and rebellious, which perfectly sums up the attitude I had towards all my other work.”

SĀN Beach, Dubai , 2022

“This was a dream project, set on a beach on the iconic Palm in Dubai. I came up with everything, from concept to design, all inspired by the earliest African tribe, the San. We used natural materials, and the entire shell of the space was made to look as though it had been hand-moulded from clay. The interiors are decorated with contemporary African made artworks and design pieces by creatives ranging from Jake Singer to David Krynauw.”

Clay, Bahrain, 2020

“Clay is a Peruvian concept in which we explored the intersection between Japanese and Peruvian cultures that created Nikkei cuisine. The restaurant sits above the area of Adliya, one of Bahrain’s most sought-after dining destinations. We were tasked with creating a sultry and luxurious space that was to become a hotspot for the well-travelled and well-heeled set of Bahrain.”

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