Old Drawers become Design Beauties
I’ve fallen in love. There I’ve said it. It’s a rare event, but when it happens, well, you know the symptoms. Distracted thoughts, expecting to see my amour around every corner, and checking out pictures a little too often on the internet.
The object of my desire? The gorgeous dressers created by the re-use of old drawers by two different firms in Berlin and Hamburg: Entwurf Direkt and Franziska Wodika’s Schubladen. Both designers make a similar product, and the results are beautiful. A classic item renewed by taking old drawers, and mixing and matching them into a new storage possibilities. It’s more than just dressers – they make desks, sideboards, kitchen counters, you name it and they’ll do it.
Entwurf Direkt (Design Direct) is a design studio with a community oriented heart. The Hamburg location hosts events ranging from presentations of handmade African toys to objects made only from found wood as well as a kids’ cooking school and an artists room. In Berlin their space is named Gardenstudio and serves as a meeting place to explore social art and community initiatives in the Kreuzberg area. They offer artists the chance to live in the studio to find inspiration in the lively neighbourhood. The regular program includes lively discussions about herbs, city gardening, and how to reuse furniture. Both locations offer the signature “1000 Schubladen” (1000 Drawers) for sale or the chance to discuss a customized piece.
Franziska Wodika’s Schubladen (Drawers) strike me as being a tad more refined in style and not as large as the pieces created by Entwurf Direkt, but her small bespoke drawers are charming. Attention is paid to every detail, from the colour and condition of the original paint to the handle.
Just like Entwurf Direkt and Schubladen, there are a lot of comparisons that can be made between Berlin and Hamburg, but the differences in style will amaze you. Lux 11 in Berlin captures the pulse of the city. Located not far from Alexanderplatz and Hackescher Markt, here you’ve got access to endless dining, shopping, and entertainment possibilities. On the other hand, Hamburg’s East Hotel offers it’s own taste of Hamburg with their in house nightlife, a boxing club, superb restaurant and lounge; the hotel is a destination in and of itself.
More information about Entwurf Direkt and their Berlin based Gartenstudio can be found here: www.entwurf-direkt.de and Franziska Wodika’s Schubladen is here: www.schubladen.de.
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Categories: Berlin, Hamburg, Design, Products
Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter
