There is a very different feeling that comes with finding a piece yourself. Before an old elm stool, Chinese pot or vintage cabinet arrives in one of our stores, there is usually a much longer story behind it.
We travel to China to source our vintage furniture and homewares ourselves, spending our days searching through warehouses and collections for pieces that catch our eye. It is one of our favourite parts of what we do at Harry and Kit, and also one of the reasons our collection is constantly changing.
It is less polished than you might imagine, and that is exactly what we love about it.
Sourcing days can mean hours spent walking through warehouses filled with old furniture, pots, stools, baskets and objects collected from different parts of China. Pieces can be stacked together or tucked away behind something else, so finding the good ones often means taking the time to look through everything.
There is never a shopping list that we follow exactly. We might arrive looking for old Chinese elm stools and leave having found a beautiful cabinet, an unusual pot or something we have never stocked before.
That unpredictability is part of the process.
We are drawn to pieces with character rather than perfection.
Old timber, worn edges, faded finishes, original hardware, interesting proportions and signs of previous use are often what make us stop and take a closer look. With vintage Chinese furniture, we particularly love old and reclaimed elm for its beautiful grain, warmth and the patina it develops over time.
We also look closely at the construction and condition of each piece. Old furniture will naturally show its age, but it still needs to be functional and suitable for another chapter in its life.
Some pieces require repairs or restoration before they are ready to come home with us. Where possible, we want that work to preserve the character of the original piece rather than make it look new again.
Some of our best finds are the things we never planned to buy.
An unusually shaped stool, a collection of old rice measures, a beautifully worn pot or a cabinet hidden at the back of a warehouse can completely change the direction of a buying day.
We have learnt to trust that instinct. If something makes us stop, we take another look.
It is also why our collections don't always fit neatly into trends. We would rather bring home something interesting and individual than buy something simply because it happens to be popular at the time.
Elm is one of the timbers we come across regularly when sourcing vintage Chinese furniture.
Traditionally used throughout China for furniture and everyday objects, old elm has a beautiful grain and warmth that becomes even more distinctive with age. Years of use can leave knots, worn edges, colour variations, old repairs and markings across the timber.
For us, those aren't flaws to disguise. They are part of what makes an old piece worth finding.
Our Chinese elm collection can include everything from workers stools and benches to consoles, dining tables, cabinets and smaller decorative pieces. Because we source vintage and reclaimed pieces, each arrival is different from the last.
Furniture isn't the only thing we look for in China.
We also source old Chinese pots, jars, baskets, rice measures and other objects that were originally created for practical everyday use. Today, these pieces can take on an entirely different purpose in the home.
An old pot might hold a branch on a dining table. A rice measure can become a small storage piece. An elm workers stool might sit beside the bath or be used as a side table.
We love that these objects don't have to remain tied to their original purpose. Their history stays with them, while the way they are used continues to evolve.
Once we have made our selections, the next stage begins.
Pieces are checked, repaired where necessary, packed and prepared for the journey to Australia. Months can pass between finding something in China and finally unpacking it at Harry and Kit.
By the time a container arrives, we often haven't seen the pieces for quite some time. Opening it and rediscovering everything we chose is always one of the best parts.
Some pieces will head to our stores, others will be available online, and many of the vintage finds will only ever be available once.
To help the discerning interior enthusiast to curate a home that welcomes, warms, and inspires. We source thoughtfully from small-scale artisans, independent makers, and trusted vintage suppliers around the world. Every piece tells a story, steeped in culture, and chosen to help you create a home worth lingering in.
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