"The people in Düsseldorf are easy going, relaxed and fun."

Verena Siegel and Peter Stanness are the brains behind the Düsseldorf-based interior design label Orion Qubo, which was founded in 2018. The couple met in Berlin, where they ran two interior design stores together, until family matters prompted them to move to Düsseldorf. A stroke of luck, according to the Düsseldorf native, who spent four decades in the capital, and the British bassist, who toured the world with various bands for many years. In this interview, the creative duo reveal why Düsseldorf turned out to be the ideal location for them.

Verena, you have 20 years of experience in the home accessories business and have had stores in Berlin and Sitges, Spain. When did you decide to launch your own line?
Verena: We had two stores in Berlin and realized that there was a lot of similar-looking, stereotypical design on sale in the city. We wanted to change that. With some contacts from Indian producers in our pockets, we flew to Delhi in 2018 in search of new, unseen products. Once there, however, we realized that the quantities we would have had to purchase exceeded our needs as a retailer. So we decided - quite spontaneously - to go into wholesale and create our own products. We quickly found stores in Berlin that included us in their range. That was in the fall of 2018 and the birth of Orion Qubo.

Peter, you studied interior design in England.
Peter: I went to a college in the north-east of the UK, near Newcastle. You could study music there, but also design. It was a very creative place, a cool vibe, the atmosphere there was a bit like the musical "Fame" - everyone was doing something creative. There were dancers, artists, musicians and designers. After I started with music, I took some courses in interior design, set design and visual merchandising.

What does your collaboration look like?
Peter: We share the work equally: this applies to the design of new products, the design of the trade fair stand, the packaging and dispatch of orders through to bookkeeping.

What is good design for you?
Verena: For me, good design is something that is timeless and coherent. That I can look at every day without it bothering or annoying me.
Peter: I like things to be a bit more playful than Verena, which is probably due to my British background. For me, I can have a few flowers and flourishes. That's how we keep each other in balance.

Where do you manufacture your products?
Peter: We now only produce in Europe. That's more environmentally friendly.

Why did you settle in Düsseldorf?
Verena: It was initially due to a family matter. When we settled in Düsseldorf, we realized how good the city is for us - and how well it suits our needs.

What makes the city the perfect location for you?
Peter: The central location! You can quickly get to Amsterdam to buy some great design magazines and very quickly to Paris and Frankfurt, where our most important trade fairs take place. There are also many privately initiated design events, markets and trade fairs in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area that are excellently organized.

What is different here compared to other cities you have lived in?
Peter: Düsseldorf puts a lot of effort into urban planning and development, which I find remarkable.

What surprised you when you came here?
Verena: The friendliness of the people you meet every day. People just smile at you on the street, even strangers greet each other. People are easy going, relaxed and funny.

What do you particularly like?
Peter: Düsseldorf has a bit of everything - I like that. The big river in the city reminds me of my home.
Verena: I love the special architecture in Düsseldorf. We like to sit on the Kö-Bogen and enjoy the view of the water.

What do you show your friends when they visit?
Peter: We like to take them to the Triton Fountain at the northern end of the Kö at sunset, when the collared parakeets fly in to gather in the chestnuts and spend the night together.

And where do you go to eat?
Verena: The Funky Deli on Brunnenstraße is great, you get fantastic dishes from the Maghreb cuisine. If we lived here, we'd be regulars. But we also like to go to Füchschen when we have visitors.

Where is the best place to switch off?
Verena: During the coronavirus pandemic, we discovered the Aaper and Grafenberg forests. After work, we often get on our bikes and cycle out into nature. In summer, we like to have a glass of wine at sunset on one of the city beaches.

Do you have a favorite place?
Verena: The Schauspielhaus, not just because of its architecture.
Peter: I like Carlsplatz and Königsallee. And the Rhine promenade in summer feels like being on vacation.
Verena: I also really love the atmosphere on Carlsplatz. I also like to go to the Rhine meadows in Oberkassel and make a detour to Café Muggel. It already existed when I was growing up here.

Store locator and further information at orion-qubo.com.

Interview: Ilona Marx
Photos: Markus Luigs