The question of taste is as enduring as it is prevalent. Of course, what defines good or bad taste hinges on personal preference, but there is a quiet authority to having a sense of good taste. For those special few, taste is more of a guiding principle than an afterthought. Knowing how to spot and identify beautiful things. Storied objects. Things of worth. Invaluable oddities and worthless things of great beauty.

For Sissi Pohle and Pat Scherzer, taste is a matter of curiosity, driven by an unending interest and a discerning eye. The two have an innate way of unearthing and curating objects, antiques, and curiosities, and arranging them in a way that understands good taste while also gently – very gently – ignoring it. It’s a juxtaposition of sorts. Pairing and layering objects in their multitudes in a way that is deeply decadent to the point of eccentricity.

Operating their business, outofuseberlin, from a cottage tucked inside the grounds of a 13th-century Bavarian castle, the duo spend much of their time collecting and curating their assortment of antiques through pop-ups and their online store. The rest of their time is directed towards collaborating on editorial and event-based projects with an assortment of brands.

What began as a love for antique markets shifted naturally to starting a business as demand increased for the objects sourced by Sissi and Pat. The pair work together across all their projects, describing their working relationship as a “creative collaboration that takes place on equal footing.” So attuned to one another that they find themselves reaching for the same object, “we always – and we mean always – see the same items when we’re at an antique market.” They partly attribute this to a mutual sense of taste but equally to their shared clarity in their vision for outofuseberlin. “We buy what we ourselves would like to see in our home or wear. Nothing ends up in our collection that we don’t love ourselves.”

Describing their style as “unintentional”, the pair’s wardrobe is filled with garments with stories to tell. Sissi and Pat tend to gravitate towards a piece with “traces of the past”, spending time in their workshop to repair and restore when necessary with the help of Pat’s mother. “A faded blue workwear jacket with holes and stitching is our absolute go-to piece and gets plenty of use around here.” But for the most part, it’s filled with a mix of vintage theater and ballet costumes interspersed with pieces from Hermès, Chanel, and Dior – “items we’ll most likely keep forever.” 

For them, inspiration is everywhere: “a painting at a flea market, or a book that happened to be open to a certain page. Used cloth napkins stacked on top of one another. Everyday situations that bring out beauty.” The objects and clothing they curate are an integral part of their aesthetic. “It has always been important to us that people can see and feel the love we put into everything we do.” Moving through their home, you get a feel for how carefully considered each piece is. Placed just so, in dialogue with all the other objects in their vicinity. 

There’s a distinct harmony between the heritage of the castle and its grounds and their cottage, but presented through a contemporary lens by way of their interior approach. This tension of opposites permeates much of the duo’s creative output. Even down to the breakfast they served the SKALL team when we came to photograph the pair – a take on a traditional Bavarian breakfast presented on a collection of antique platters. Pretzels, seasonal radishes, organic cucumbers. Decorative in its simplicity. Straightforward in its maximalism.

Both from the countryside, the move from Berlin didn’t need much room for adjustment. “We’ve always loved the calm, but Berlin was an exciting opportunity to get to know a different world. Moving back to the big city wouldn’t be an option for us anymore, since we enjoy the benefits of country life far too much.” Pat’s mother Hermine is originally from the small village, so once the house became vacant they saw the opportunity and went for it. 

Their home is an amalgamation of their personal living quarters and their work environment. With a room dedicated entirely to silverware (temperature-controlled to prevent tarnishing), an office, and their living space on the first floor. Their favourite spot? The castle gardens. “We lose ourselves in our dreams and enjoy the rustling of the trees and the ringing of the church bells.” 

On the sunny May day we visited them, we spent much of our time in the gardens. There is a serenity in the abundance of greenery, while the horses belonging to the Baroness of the castle roam free. There’s a relaxed rhythm to life there, “we start the day without setting an alarm and drink coffee together in bed. We enjoy our creative freedom and go over the day’s projects and tasks.”

Someday, the dream is to turn their creative spirit and attention to buying and restoring a house in Italy. “It would be a wonderful challenge. We’d love to find a small house there that we could renovate to our preferences and then call our own.” A dream that is certain to come to fruition knowing the pair.