Let's get over to Hamburg!

Just been checking out this amazing shop in Hamburg, Germany ... imagining that one day we'll get Know Your Product looking this amazing.

The store's called 'Wohnkultur66' - and is run by a couple named Martina and Manfred - and specializes in Scandinavian mid-century furniture.  They stock a nice mix of pieces from some of our favorite designers - Wanscher, Juhl et al - and their display is nice if you're into that kind of thing.  We most certainly are.

We first came across them earlier this year when their home was featured on the apartmenttherapy site ... just nice all 'round!

Take a look if you have a few spare minutes - beautiful place in a nice setting.  Though I suspect they suffer the same problem we have where friends come to visit and often note that our house is just like our shop, but with a tv ...

... tis the season ...

 

What with all the decking of halls we've been doing (not to mention the comfort and joy one is constantly tiding this time of year), we almost forgot that it's all a big buildup to the 25th.

It's all kind of a retail festival as much as anything else these days ... but we like to think that there's a little more to it.  Please try - be nice to somebody in the carpark of the mall, tip your waitress, take your shoes off before you kick the dog ... niceness begins at home.

Thanks for visiting us and entertaining us thru the year - have a safe break! 

reptiles again?!??!

Always thought we'd be sharing our love of mid century design on our blog ...
We went down to Morwell see a lady about a sideboard on Monday ... the sideboard's lovely, and has enjoyed a touch of restoration and is on the floor at PRODUCT now.

But the real action came when she asked if we could help out with a lizard problem she was having.  She had spotted a blue-tongue in a tea-chest of old magazines in her shed a week ago, and was too scared to go back into the shed since.

Turns out that blue-tongues move kind of fast when they see a hand coming towards them, so decided to carry the whole box across the road to a bushier spot and our scaly friend was soon off to terrorize some non-humans.

Oh ... if you need to be reminded why we have sent all the politicians off to Copenhagen this week, we recommend a trip down to south-east Victoria ... the views ...

can't hide from nature ...

As much as unexpected visits from creepy crawlies 'round the house can be mixed blessings (I feel a bit tense and bummed every time I see a hairy spider on the ceiling - the prospect of relocation is never fun), it's great when you get a fun one.

Seriously, this little mantis was under 1cm long - proper thumbnail size - and spent the evening relaxing on our knife rack.  We moved him out to the chilli plants on the patio and he seems to have settled well.
Nice to know that the critters are doing their thing all around us ... just gotta keep a lid on the surface sprays!

more woodgrain ...

Meanwhile, we finally succumbed to some faux log ceramic mugs we came across at a local op-shop.  Not the first time we've seen them, but we have always managed to control our "It's fake wood, buy it!" urges up 'til now.

So, having crumbled, and now having 4 mis-matched (and some may say tacky) woodgrain coffee cups on the shelf it looks like yet another thing added to the list of "We collect those - keep an eye out ..."

A friend once told us that once you have more than 2 of something, it's the start of a collection ...

back to nature

 

 

When we arrived at the ranch on Monday we were greeted by the sight of a 'deceased' lizard (young goanna, small dragon ... not sure exactly) all sad and limp in the kitchen sink ... we were kind of sad - what a lonesome place to have ended his/her days ...

After about 10 minutes of feigning death, the lizard dropped the pretense and decided to make eye contact with us - a big relief to know it was alive, but it made the prospect of repatriating to the wild a bit less simple.

Quick saucepan ride out to the dam and it was all good ... happy lizard, happy us ... and the house is just a little less like a reptile enclosure now - so that's good too!

those clever swedes ...

From this ...

... to this!

A 1940's Swedish treasure, we just finished restoring a super-amazing 3-piece lounge by Svegards.  Put together, it was a nice, clean and modern looking set - all open lines and pretty detailing ...

But the crazy amazing thing is that 2 armchairs and a 2-seater sofa pulled apart (no screws, no bolts) and fitted into the back seat of a sedan - including cushions!  An early example of "KD" (knock-down) furniture, you can see where IKEA are coming from.

Sad to say goodbye to such a beautiful set, but it went to a good home, so all OK.  Life would be so easy if all our favorite pieces packed up so neatly.

welcome to PRODUCT

Hi all ... sorry we have been a bit lax on the new entries over the last couple of weeks.  We've been busy with our new baby - a gigantic new store ...

For the past year or so, visitors to Know Your Product have been known to ask "Do you have any more stock that's not in the shop?" to which we reply that we have lots, just nowhere to display it ...

So when the opportunity arose for a short-term rental across the road from us in a big, big space, we jumped.  After much moving of furniture, and a few late nights, we are proud to present PRODUCT ...

We are loving being able to see our collection out and on display - hope you will too ... there's a big mix of Australian and Scandinavian furniture and hi-fi - all of which would be in our loungeroom if we could fit it in.  Mum always said it's good to share though, so it's all for sale.

The new showroom is at 118-122 High Street Northcote, and is open Wednesday to Sunday until the end of the year ... now we just need to get to work on taking photos of everything for the website and we'll be sorted.

Come visit if you get the chance!

etc

Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn (r.i.p.) - via edificial ...

we sold the mini version of that ryamatta rug on Sunday ... nice ...

modern, warm, and fake-tree!  that's about all anybody needs in a bar ...

architecture by Isoha Ghini - pic via 'behind the curtains' ...

inner peace

While we're complaining about how good life could be with a little less clutter ... a touch of Swedish Modern decorating ...

You may have your own opinion, but we think that these sofas look close to the ultimate in comfort (and manage to look mildly cool at the same time) - as far as that goes, we could settle in for an evening of lounging even if they are facing a blank wall ... who needs television when you're that relaxed?