Elated at the prospect of finally moving into our own flat, my gf and I thought we'd go a bit mad and forsake the pedestrian wares of a certain ubiquitous Swedish outfit by shopping at (gasp!) Shabitat.

What a load of bollocks that idea turned out to be: paying even more for a bunch of crap that mostly fell apart. I mean, honestly, is our only choice a suburban megastore that names its armchairs Patrik?

It isn't - at least not if Dave Tatham, England's reigning enfant-terrible of Scandinavian furniture, has anything to do with it. He and partner Rob McClymont have just opened The Modern Warehouse, a Victoria Park Mecca to all that is good inside four walls and a roof.

Specializing in mid-century Danish cool, the Warehouse stocks such designers as Charles & Ray and Hans Wegner, plus a vast array of 50s lamps and coffee tables, vases and paintings, modular sofas and armchairs, many at very reasonable prices.

Being modern also means you can check out their stock online, and then send Dave or Rob an email if you'd like to drop by and see it in the teak, so to speak. (Just don't tell Patrik.)