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Some things you work on for years without ever thinking about recognition. You just follow a certain feeling — collecting, restoring, sharing — and trust that it means something to someone out there.
That’s why being featured in the April 2026 print & digital edition of Monocle (read the article) feels genuinely special.
Back in February, I had the chance to spend time with writer Janek Schmidt and photographer Constantin Mirbach. What I appreciated most was how natural the whole process felt — less like an “interview” and more like a conversation around objects, stories, and the small details that often go unnoticed.
Seeing the result now, in print, is one of those quiet full-circle moments.
Shot in the Only / Once showroom by Conny Mirbach
Image by Conny Mirbach for MONOCLE
The idea that defines Only/Once
Only/Once was never planned as a business in the traditional sense. It grew out of a personal curiosity — first around the aesthetics of the late 1950s, and eventually around the work of Dieter Rams and the design philosophy behind Braun.
Over time, collecting became something more hands-on. I started learning how to restore pieces, how to bring them back to a state where they could be used and appreciated again. And at some point, it became clear that keeping everything didn’t make sense — passing things on became just as meaningful as finding them.
That idea still defines Only/Once today.
From sourcing, restoring to letting go.
As you will read from the Monocle article, what started with a few flea market finds has slowly turned into a growing archive. Each piece still goes through the same process — sourcing, restoring, refining — often with the help of people who have been working with these kinds of objects for decades.
There’s no real shortcut to it, and that’s part of the appeal. It keeps the project grounded.
Today, there are around 100 pieces available, with many more waiting to be restored. Some are rare, some are simple, but all of them share that same sense of intention in how they were originally designed.
A screenshot from the MONOCLE article
Image by Conny Mirbach for MONOCLE
Putting our objects in spotlight
One detail that feels especially meaningful in this context is our recent collaboration with Master&Master. Having spent formative years in Prague — a place that originally shaped my perspective on design — it’s somehow fitting that this connection came together years later, almost unexpectedly.
For our new showroom, we were looking for shelving that wouldn’t compete with the objects but instead give them the space they deserve. The clean, architectural lines of the Cab Shelf One and Shelf One felt like a natural fit. Sleek, minimal, and quietly modern — exactly the kind of presence that allows Braun pieces to stand out while still feeling part of a cohesive environment.
It’s one of those moments where things seem to connect across time — from Prague, to collecting, to the space we’re building now.
A proud moment to reflect
I’m especially grateful Constantin Mirbach for capturing Only/Once in such a thoughtful way — and to the team at (link: https://monocle.com/design/product-design/only-once-vintage-braun-design-collectibles/ text: Monocle) for giving this project a place in their April issue. (link: https://monocle.com/magazine/issues/192/ text: April) It’s a proud moment, of course — but more than that, it’s a reminder to keep going in the same way: slowly, carefully, and with a focus on things that last.
“I began to love taking an item in bad condition, making it look almost brand new and then passing it on to someone else. That process is more satisfying than owning the object.” — Filip Triner | Only / Once
The new MONOCLE April issue
Lifestyle, Products
History
Products, Design
