How do you create something unexpected in a familiar setting? For Verena Holthaus, founder of the concept store SALON c/o in Munich, the answer lies in repurposing the everyday with a twinkle of irreverence and an eye for the poetic. Think champagne flutes turned upside down to cradle a candle or a bloom, books masquerading as menu cards, and cutlery confidently ignoring etiquette. “I like to place objects on the table that don’t really belong there – artworks, for instance,” she tells IRMA. “It shifts perspective.”
It’s this subtle art of subversion that defines her aesthetic. Her tables are never merely set – they’re staged. The food? Equally performative. “A canapé passed on a tray is gone before you know it. But when the setting challenges the guest – when you have to figure out how to eat something or what it references – that’s when the experience becomes memorable.” It’s about stepping out of one’s comfort zone, gently but intentionally.
Wandering through SALON c/o feels like leafing through a well-composed visual essay. From Biedermeier to Bauhaus, each piece has a story – and Holthaus, over years of collecting antiques, vintage objects and contemporary design, has developed an instinctive knack for combining them. “I don’t think about it much anymore – it’s become second nature,” she says. Her unique style, underlined by her love of giving objects new roles, runs like a quiet red thread through everything she does. “When someone recognises my tables without knowing I created them, that’s the greatest compliment.”
But the magic doesn’t end with objects. At SALON c/o, Verena revives the original spirit of the salon – an intimate gathering of curious minds. One of her signature formats, the Gabelfrühstück (“fork breakfast”), is a monthly lunch for creatives, freelancers and those with a hunger for both food and conversation. “I often ate lunch alone after becoming self-employed in 2018,” she reflects. “And I realised how rare and precious good lunchtime company can be.”
Guests either bring something to share or a culinary partner from Munich prepares the meal. The tablescape changes each time, and often the conversations extend beyond the last bite. For those craving more depth, her Tischgespräche (“table talks”) bring together up to 20 guests around cultural, societal or technological themes – always viewed through the lens of aesthetics. “Not just what’s beautiful,” she clarifies, “but how aesthetic education shapes our thinking and perception.” Two guest speakers open the floor, and everyone is invited to contribute – always around a table, of course.
Another much-loved format is the Art Dinner – private, ephemeral evenings where food becomes a medium to interpret art, staged in locations not usually open to the public. “There’s no added programme,” Verena says. “Just the space, the artworks, and the people.” The invitation list is handpicked, bringing together voices from business, culture, and the in-between.
And come December? It’s time for the Tischmarkt, a curated winter market centred on contemporary table culture. “It’s my way of connecting design and art – not just visually, but socially,” she says. Artists, designers and her own creations come together in a carefully conceived set design, inviting guests to discover, touch, and collect.
So how does she keep reinventing her tables, staying playful yet timeless, even now that the art of setting a table has become so fashionable? “Curiosity,” she smiles. “I travel, I visit design fairs, I stay open. But I also trust my intuition – my sense for classic elegance is anchored deep within me.” Regular reality checks from friends and collaborators keep her grounded. “And I still have so many ideas that haven’t been realised,” she adds, “so there’s no risk of things getting stale.”
