A new Blue Mountains design studio with a difference is due to open in October.

Studio ham and its Blue Mountains-based studio and workshop in Blackheath will open for business in October 2008.

The quirky brainchild of husband and wife team, Mark and Hannah Surtees (whose creative backgrounds stem from graphic and product design), Studio ham presents a collection of ‘modern antiques’.

On offer are Studio ham designed and made, limited edition furniture, lighting and prints, which utilise various antique items and sustainable materials in their creation.

"So few companies design and make affordable, limited edition products – We create usable pieces mixed up with a whole lot of creative licence, to create a unique piece that is endlessly interesting and enjoyable – ‘practical art,’" say Mark and Hannah.

Having little concern for the fashionable or the ‘now’, Studio ham pieces remain timeless and are testament to the "genuine, old-fashioned originality" that goes into each product. Adding to this notion, every design comes with an insight into the inspiration in the form of a full sized print.

The Surtees describe the Studio ham experience as "the equivalent of listening to Frank Sinatra Goes to Hollywood, whilst rummaging through your grandparents’ attic".

To find out more about Studio ham or view their product range, visit www.studioham.com.au or contact info@studioham.com.au.

’Hamming it up’ – Studio ham owners, Hannah and Mark Surtees