When Dom Gattermayr and Rose Richards, the duo behind popular cafes Florian and Juniper, began preparing to open their first retail store, they didn’t start with a product list – they started with their own things. “Literally half the shop was just stuff from our houses,” says Richards. “Ceramics, art on the walls – we brought them in because it felt like an extension of the brand.”

The duo’s new retail store opened next door to their Hot-Listed Carlton North cafe three weeks ago. It’s a physical space for Florian Home, the home brand they launched online just over a year ago, and a new home for their colourful, grounded and lived-in aesthetic.

They’ve combined their own possessions with vintage pieces that Gattermayr says “didn’t really make sense online,” and a tight and tidy edit of French cutlery, vintage glassware from Milan, locally made ceramics, olive oil soaps from Marseille and small-batch vinegars from Castlemaine. There’s also a tea blend in the works with Assembly, and handmade bowls by ceramicist Jack Parnaby are still to come.

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In many ways, Florian Home is a reaction to the rinse-and-repeat nature of modern retail. “You walk into some stores and see the same stuff over and over,” says Gattermayr. “We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’re just showing people what we genuinely love – and hoping they connect with it, too.”

Nothing is mass-produced, and everything is curated by the owners. “People try to help us source vintage, but they always miss the mark,” says Gattermayr. “It’s so specific – browns, mossy greens, deep blues, a particular red. It’s a feeling more than anything. You can’t really brief it in.”

The front room functions as a shop, but the long wooden table (built by a friend, of course) is designed so they can turn the space into a private dining room for Florian’s events.

Gattermayr and Richards have known each other since prep and, as teens, worked together at Gattermayr’s parents’ bakery, Austro. “We grew up setting the table, cooking, making things,” Richards says, “This shop is just the grown-up version of all that.” Like the cafes, Florian Home is, well, homey and relaxed – but with a wink and a nod to the craftsmanship and care they’ve always been passionate about.

Florian Home
619 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
No phone

Hours:
Tue to Sat 9am–4pm
@florianhome.florianhome

florianhome.com