SOULBASE Spaces:
GruenBlauGrau-
An Atelier Turned Curated Concept Store & Community Art Hub
Graphic designer, Carolin Akstinat, is the face behind GruenBlauGrau in Cologne, Germany, a concept store brimming with local, curated products—and a unique creative history.
Text : Carolin Akstinat & Annika Bielig-Bussmann
Imagery : Antonia Schmitz
When Carolin first stumbled on the space that is GruenBlauGrau today, she envisioned it as a creative studio for herself, focused on design, art and interior projects. But as her primary job began to require more and more of her attention, she found she wasn’t using the atelier as intended. Knowing that she wasn't ready to let go of the space, she started to rent it out to other creatives in her network and exhibit her art, photography and design creations there. Quickly, it became a place where people passionate about art and design met for exhibitions and gatherings.
As the space grew, so did the community, and in 2016, Carolin allocated a portion of the atelier to selling vintage furniture and a small selection of curated products. At first, she exclusively offered products created by friends. But as the creative community grew, she expanded the product selection, filled with beautiful goods like ceramics, throw blankets, art prints and photography from makers like Studio Nectar, Julie Ebens, Studio Tatin, Studio Kuhlmann, John Molesworth, Heike Mende, Laura Philippon and many more. The studio space eventually transitioned into a concept store, GruenBlauGrau, still with a focus on creativity, design and craftsmanship.
Carolin maintains a personal connection with the makers of the products she sells, often knowing the face behind a brand and the story behind a product. And, GruenBlauGrau is still a creative community hub, from storefront collaborations with illustrators like @sveahansohn or @mariecloppenburg to summer gatherings, exhibits and store pop-ups.
In 2023, Carolin took the leap to leave her day job and step full-time into the role as a brick and mortar owner. Over the years, she has learned to balance creative work with being a business owner, leaning on friends, family and her creative network to keep her inspired. What inspires us most about the space is that most of the goods are locally owned and independent—a playground where creatives can share their unique treasures and humans can connect.
We are so grateful to be one of the curated products in GruenBlauGrau and to Carolin for being one of our European stockists. If you are looking for a space for curated design and art goods, don’t walk, run over to GruenBlauGrau and find something new for yourself or a friend. There will always be a reason to shop there :-).
