ZEITGEIST - Surrey Crescent

Owners: Benjamin Chow and Frank Bischoff Where: 557 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn (in the Surrey Crescent shops) Benjamin Chow and Frank Bischoff have turned their eye for funky furniture and art into a business. Cool techno jazz music greets customers at Zeitgeist, which is packed full of retro pieces, many from the 50s, 60s, and 70s but some gems from as early as the 20s. Zeitgeist, which means spirit of the times in German, has been deliberately set up to feel like it could be someone's home, with former chef Chow dispensing espresso coffee, cake and tea from a tiny cafe at the back. "We wanted the shop to inspire people and show them ideas that could work in their own homes and at the same time make them feel welcome and relaxed with the little cafe and some chill-type music." Chow and Bischoff are drawn to the unusual shapes and bold colours that dominated design in the 50s through to the 70s. "The reason we like this period so much is because it was really brave. The pieces make a real statement, unlike the type of furniture you can buy in any old furniture shop which makes your place look exactly like your neighbours. One can do so much with these timeless classics, they will never be out of fashion, they will always be cool," says Chow.