Modern Times is a peculiar shop. You cannot exactly call it big. It’s a modest, four-room place that stocks Danish, Italian, German and English tables, chairs, sofas, lamps stacked all the way up to the ceiling. When Modern Times’ owner Gerry Mohan found the place about a year and a half ago, it was a dump. He tore down all of the wallpaper… and that was that. The walls work wonderfully well with the ceilings, and as a perfect backdrop to his exquisite stock of mid-previous-century furniture: 50’s and 60’s, the era of dreams and perfection. Chesterfields are mounted upon Chesterfields, chairs upon tables, and rugs upright and standing tall. It’s as if every piece wants to jump on you like puppy dogs in an orphanage. I thought I saw a bedside lamp wiggle its tail at me – but then again, I may have been blinded by the light. Gerry’s shop is in Kreuzberg, he does home delivery, and it’s affordable even without the odd screws and bolts lying around. Drop by, cause let’s face it, don’t we all need a shot of optimism?
Modern Times, Blücherstr.40, 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg; map
Wed-Fri 15-18h, Sat 12-15h, or by appointment: +49 30 69515106
Text: Nicky Aerts
Published in Cee Cee #74 on 14.9.2012
