Individuality over mass production: Hannah Mackenzie has a passion for vintage wooden furniture. She transforms treasures sourced from flea markets and curbside finds—painting them with chalk paints to give them a second life. What started as a personal home project evolved into her profession in 2018, when she founded the Mö.beleben label in Bonn.

This British-born designer specialises in reimagining old furniture. For Mackenzie, these pieces are cultural artifacts—windows into past eras with a distinctive character that mass-produced pieces simply cannot replicate. They're built to last, environmentally conscious, and occasionally weathered, rustic, or uninspired. Yet through thoughtful redesign, vintage furniture transforms into true statement pieces. Mackenzie exclusively works with solid wood pieces free from toxins like formaldehyde. Her paints are eco-friendly, solvent-free, and applied entirely by hand. Beyond durability and sustainability, her work champions a compelling philosophy: these redesigned pieces offer an antidote to throwaway culture, encouraging mindful consumption and resource conservation. Mö.beleben's collection—from cabinets and vitrines to sideboards and dressers—features bold, vibrant motifs alongside soft, understated palettes. Each piece is hand-painted with meticulous care. Mackenzie also offers bespoke redesigns of clients' own furniture and helps source rare, specific pieces.

www.moebeleben.com

Photography:

Hannah Mackenzie

(Published in CUBE Cologne 03|23)