Founded in KwaZulu-Natal · South Africa
Design that
begins with
curiosity
Alkaline is a family-run studio in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands making sculptural homeware by hand — from the first sketch to the last cast.
Our belief
"Beauty often lies in craftsmanship — in the imperfections, the marks of making, the traces of time and touch."
— Chelsea Makin, Founder
Our story
A studio built on
material thinking
Alkaline is a design studio rooted in process. Founded by Chelsea and Andrew Makin in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, the studio produces sculptural homeware guided by a hands-on, material-led approach to making — exploring what Jesmonite, resin, cement and composite materials can hold, how they respond to form, and what they can say about the spaces they inhabit.
Chelsea brings a designer's eye — sharpened by years of material experimentation and a deep curiosity about the relationship between object, surface and space. Andrew brings the structure, craft and calm that turns ideas into finished pieces. Together they run a studio where design and production are inseparable — where the making informs the thinking, and the thinking informs the making.
Alkaline began in 2021 and has grown steadily — always deliberately, always with care at the core.
"I've always been curious about how things are made. Working with your hands teaches you patience and presence. It forces you to slow down and pay attention."
— Chelsea Makin
The people behind the work
A small team.
A family affair.
Today Alkaline is a family affair in the truest sense. Chelsea leads the design and experimentation. Her husband Andrew brings structure and calm. Her mother Rose contributes to production with the same quiet dedication the work demands. And Bongi, a valued member of the studio, brings her own perspective and skill to every piece.
What we believe
Slow making.
Deliberate design.
There's no excess in an Alkaline piece. Just deliberate design — soft curves, thoughtful proportions, a balance between function and form. Each object feels elemental, distilled down to its most essential expression.
Central to the studio's practice is an interest in material storytelling — working with concrete, resin, Jesmonite and composite materials to create objects that carry texture, presence and a sense of permanence.
"I like finding that balance — the tension between simplicity and function, and how small shifts in proportion or line can completely change the feeling of a piece."
Where we work
The Old Mushroom Farm, KZN Midlands
The Alkaline studio is based at The Old Mushroom Farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands — a creative hub nestled in quiet countryside, home to independent makers and a community built around considered work.
It's a fitting home for a brand that values simplicity and slowness. There's a steady rhythm to the work here — one that leaves space for intention, discovery and the kind of making that can't be rushed.
Alkaline Design Studio
The Old Mushroom Farm
Howick, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
Studio visits by appointment only.
Our sister project
Meet
WAYST
WAYST is Chelsea and Andrew's ongoing exploration of circular design — reimagining construction waste as design material. Brick rubble, terrazzo offcuts and other discarded fragments are cast into lights, tabletops and objects with new life.
"Sustainability, for me, isn't just a label. It's a mindset. It's about patience, experimentation, and responsibility."
Explore WAYST →