The way we occupy space has changed dramatically in recent years. Work has moved into living rooms; bedrooms double as studies; and offices increasingly take cues from hospitality spaces. In this shifting landscape, a new design retailer – HOW WE LIVE (HWL) – is set to open in Sydney, with an approach defined by the increasingly blurred line between living and working.

HOW WE LIVE (HWL) is opening its flagship store in Sydney’s Taylor Square in early 2026, and is positioning itself to respond to contemporary workplace culture, with a blend of Japanese craftsmanship and European heritage and functionality. Ahead of the launch, HWL will introduce itself through a pop-up event in Surry Hills from Friday 28 November into the new year, offering the local design and creative community a preview of its dynamic approach to the work/life balance.

Rather than a traditional retail space, HOW WE LIVE’s flagship is a dynamic destination—a space that effortlessly blends life and workstyle with community. It functions as a comprehensive concept store and local hub, exploring the different ways we live and work and showcasing how good design can seamlessly translate across settings—from residential interiors to studios, offices, co-working spaces, and the in-between environments. It integrates design, culture (including fragrance, records, and plants), and a café, designed not just as a shop, but as a space for the community to gather and enjoy.

Reflecting this approach, the upcoming HWL interior is structured around zones that echo the fluidity of today’s work patterns, with focused work areas, reading corners, informal meeting nooks and break-outs, and residential living spaces. Colour and texture create subtle shifts in atmosphere, while the layout accommodates a high-traffic flow and encourages a variety of interaction types. Sensory design – including lighting, fragrance, and sound – underpins the experience, demonstrating the power of multisensory design in creating comfortable spaces and offering inspiration to workplace designers.

The showroom will be a constantly evolving space, with seasonal rotations, brand collaborations, and activations such as installations, capsule presentations, workshops held throughout the year. HWL is also partnering with popular Japanese cafe Parami on an in-house dining destination offering a selection of onigiri (rice balls), rolls, soups, and muffins.

It’s an ambitious vision, and one that reflects HWL’s desire to be more than a conventional retail space. Through these collaborations and programmes, the hope is to foster a community of designers and creatives seeking connection and inspiration, both emerging and established.

The product offering is just as curated, and reflects the duality that defines the way we live and work today. Japanese brand KOKUYO, for example, is a key brand, with workplace-ready desks, chairs, and organisational systems that blend advanced ergonomic comfort with more residential material and colour palettes; while German brand Tecta, with steel-tube furniture and Bauhaus-influenced pieces, connects heritage design with contemporary workspace needs. Other brands, emphasise the residential and hospitality influences increasingly found in modern offices – think refined timber dining chairs from Japanese furniture brand ACTUS, or colourful sofas from Danish heritage brand Eilersen.

Before all of this takes shape, however, the pop-up event will offer a tantalising preview. Running from Friday, November 28, into the new year at 24 Wentworth Avenue, the event is a showcase of what to expect from the HOW WE LIVE ecosystem. The experience begins on the ground floor, featuring goods like stationery, fragrance, homewares, and tableware. The preview then extends upstairs to showcase furniture and lighting, introducing visitors to the full breadth of brands and products that define the HOW WE LIVE personality.

For Australia’s design industry, HWL is arriving at a particularly apt moment in time. Workplaces are moving closer to the qualities of the home, while homes are increasingly flexible and shaped by moments that allow for productivity and focus. HWL embraces this convergence, offering a model for how design can support these hybrid expectations. In doing so, it introduces an exciting new platform for understanding the relationship between living and working – and the role intelligent design plays in shaping both.

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