Where Living Meets Art – The House of Kabs in Hamburg

House of Kabs: A design house for everyone

Mr. Kabs, together with your brother Jens Uwe you developed “Kabs PolsterWelt” into one of the leading upholstery companies in northern Germany. With the “House of Kabs,” you’re now opening a new chapter. What sets it apart from your traditional furniture stores?
I took over the company in 1992, so that was a little while ago. Back then, we sold upholstered furniture on a small scale. Hamburg is our home; we feel very connected to the city. When the former “Wäscherei” (editor’s note: a previous furniture store at the same location) filed for insolvency, I thought it was a shame – it was a great building. Where else do you find such a large space in the middle of Hamburg that can be used as a furniture store? We asked ourselves whether the city really needed another furniture store like our previous ones. We noticed there wasn’t a true design house here – no place to find stylish, tasteful furniture that isn’t just aimed at the privileged few. That’s how the idea was born to create a design house that appeals to design-savvy customers but offers something for every budget. It was important to us to keep it classy yet relaxed and inviting.

Creativity you can take part in 

What does this new concept look like in concrete terms?
We thought about how to conceive a furniture store today in a more modern, innovative way and connect interiors, design, and the creative scene more closely. That sparked many ideas: for example, a DIY space right in the middle of the showroom. How cool is it if customers walk by and see people throwing pottery or painting in a glass cube – maybe during a bachelorette party or a wine tasting? Interior designers or influencers can also book the space, bring their clients, and use the home-like atmosphere along with the hospitality offer.

At first we thought of classic picture exhibitions, as are common in any furniture store. But that was too boring for us. Instead, we’re giving artists – especially Hamburg-based artists – a stage and hosting regular vernissages. Many may remember the terrace of the old “Wäscherei”: furnished like a living room, with lots of greenery, a place to sit outside and sip cocktails in summer. We want to revive exactly that atmosphere. We’ll also rent out areas for events. And we’re planning our own events – music, readings, rehearsals. We want to connect creativity and culture, not just sell furniture.

The first vernissage, “Place to be” by David Friedemann, is on view until October 28, 2025. What can visitors expect after that?
Let yourself be surprised – the next exhibition will be exciting; I don’t want to reveal more just yet. At the same time, we want to really get the DIY area rolling and open the gastronomy that so many are already asking about. We won’t run it ourselves – we’ll hand it over to a professional operator. 

What were the biggest challenges in implementation? And would you do anything differently today?
Commerce is constant change. We’re trying lots of things and constantly learning. We’ve implemented some ideas, like the DIY room, but haven’t fully put them to use yet. Once the first courses start, we’ll see how they’re received. If it goes well, we’ll expand the concept – if not, we’ll rethink it. Overall, we’re very satisfied: customers are responding extremely positively and sales are strong. But there’s no standing still here; a lot will keep changing. We don’t want it to get boring!

You also offer rooms for people to use. How does that work?
Our spaces can be used free of charge by anyone, as long as the project has something to do with creativity, interiors, or art. Even if an interior designer works here with clients and offers products from other brands, that’s totally fine. We want to create a central meeting point for Hamburg’s interior community; synergies will then emerge naturally.

The furniture trade in transition

Sustainability is a major topic in the furniture industry. How do you approach it?
We’ve essentially been working sustainably since 1969, long before it became a trend. With a new purchase, we’ll dispose of old furniture on request – free of charge above a certain order value. If the pieces are still good, we pass them on to social organizations or sell them at cost in our second-hand sections. It doesn’t get much more sustainable than that. We operate resource-efficiently; we’ve converted our showrooms entirely to LED and optimize our delivery routes. To me, that’s sustainable business – out of conviction, not as a marketing strategy.

Are old furniture items also refurbished or upcycled?
Not at the moment, but we’re considering creative approaches. Why not turn the leather from old sofas into handbags – perhaps in workshops in the DIY room? Fully refurbishing furniture often isn’t worthwhile, because the effort and resource consumption are usually higher than for new pieces. Then it’s no longer truly sustainable.

Critics claim brick-and-mortar furniture stores have no future in the digital age. How do you respond?
We are firmly committed to omnichannel. Customers should be able to research and buy anywhere, online and offline. But honestly: if you’re looking for a €4,000 bed, you want to lie on it first. High-quality products where tactility and comfort matter will continue to be purchased on site. Simpler items like lamps or decor are increasingly bought online; for decorative accessories, the share is now around 50 percent.

I myself founded the search engine “möbel.de” and know e-commerce in the furniture sector very well. Especially for seating and beds, the in-person experience remains indispensable. Whether the customer orders here in the store or from home – perhaps even planning with a VR headset in augmented reality: all of that is coming. I’d be delighted, of course, if they then place their online order with us.