On our visit to the Freifrau Heaquarters located in the beautiful small German town of Lemgo. 

Photo taken by me from their office mezzanine. What a gorgeous little setup of the Freifrau Nana dining chairs, Basket Table and Leya lounge setting in the back - featuring of course the Leya Swing seat as part of the Living Room setup. 

What’s truly amazing about the Leya Lounge Swing Seat is how incredibly comfy it is. It’s part of the Leya series, known for its signature mix of a firm, stylish shell with a super soft cushion inside. Sitting in it feels like a cozy hug, making it the perfect spot to unwind.

The attention to detail is fantastic—the metal eyelets and leather straps not only make sure the swing is secure but also add a touch of elegance.

The Leya Lounge Swing Seat isn’t just a piece of furniture; it’s an experience. It invites you to take a moment for yourself, to swing gently and feel that childlike joy all over again. So why not bring a bit of magic into your home with this stunning swing seat? Every time you sit down, you’ll be reminded of simpler, happier times.

Always a pleasure to see Christoff Kahleyss - one half of the design duo behind the Leya Family fro Freifrau. Pictured here at the Freifrau HQ, Lemgo.

Our gorgeous little hotel in Lemgo supported their local talent with Freifrau pieces in the lobby and rooms. This fabric is "Gobelien Eden" - designed by renowned tattoo artist Christian Trzaska, a Lemgo local, has created an extraordinary and opulent fabric design with the auspicious name Garden of Eden.

You may note that this Wingback swing seat features the "cage" of the outdoor version. However, utilising indoor fabrics, the "outdoor" cage looks luxurious and I love the architectural lines of seeing the shell exposed, compared to the upholstered indoor version. Another benefit of utilising indoor fabrics with the outdoor frame is that the fabrics are re-moveable for cleaning. 🖤

I love seeing Birgit Hoffmann when we visit Germany! Birgit is one half of design duo - Hoffmann Kahleyss, the designers of the Leya Series - and Birgit is also Creative Director at Freifrau. She is a design superstar and so fun to catch up with!

Hoffmann Kahleyss Design and Freifrau put their creative minds together and developed this special edition series called "Leya en Vogue". The exclusive fabrics from Dedar and Lelievre were selected sensitively and with attention to detail in order to skilfully combine them with fabrics and leathers from the Freifrau collection. The result is impressive: extravagant statement pieces.

We went to IMM Cologne (Cologne Furniture Fair)  earlier in the year to meet up with gorgeous stable of German brands.

Freifrau and Janua shared a stand and were totally buzzing! It was actually difficult to get photos because there were always so many people around.

One of their new releases is the "Hollywood" double swing!

With the introduction of the Leyasol Hollywood swing, Freifrau is making another statement for stylish outdoor living. The characteristic steel wire frame, available in a range of finishes from bronze and brass to all RAL Classic colours, lends the officially named Lounge Couch Swing Seat a delicate elegance. Up to three people can sit on it to enjoy hours together in the open air - whether it's having stimulating conversations or simply watching the clouds.

Pictured here: The new Leyasol outdoor "Hollywood Swing" couch.

Hansjörg Helweg, founder of Freifrau, with his wife at IMM Cologne. I captured them here having a small quiet moment in the busy rush of the Cologne Furniture Fair.

After a long day at IMM Cologne dinner and drinks is always a good idea. At the Chef's Table with International design couple Udo and Eva Patzke Pictured: Udo + Bernd.

Imm Cologne is German's biggest homewares/design furniture Show and we visit every year, combining a business trip with family catchups in Europe.

Pictured above: One thing I love when travelling is just walking around the city. One night after leaving the show we wandered back to our hotel via this underpass that was very cooly lit!

Pictured above: The Dancing House Hotel, Prague.

In all of our trips to Europe, this is the first time we have visited Prague. It was absolutely fabulous - we loved it! We stayed in the famous "dancing House" Dancing House was designed by Croatian architect Vlado Milunić along with Frank O. Gehry and British architect of Czech origin Eva Jiřičná. As a result of this cooperation a real masterpiece, which in its concrete structure hosts nine floors and two floors underground, came into being.
We stayed right in the circular section of the building - it was a fantastic experience and also not far from some great bars and places to eat (FYI - the rooftop bar totally over-rated!)

One of our favourite dinners in Prague was at one of the world's smallest restaurants  - seating only 10 - 12 people! Amazing (and funny!) hosts and delicious food |  Wine O'Clock Shop

Pictured above: Last year we caught up with our eldest son Jay, and his girlfriend Jennifer in Belgium on the way through to Cologne. They were there for new years so it was perfect to catch up for lunch! Note the top3 bag 🖤

Our two boys bought us a chocolate-making workshop experience in Belgium for our Christmas present! If we were going to do one anywhere then Belgium was the right place! Honestly, we thought it might be really touristy, but it was actually super fun - and we go to eat everything we created :)  Belgian Chocolate Workshop

I think it is safe to say that we love eating ;) Bernd and I in one of our favourite restaurants. The Weisses Rössl is in Innsbruck, near where we ski in Kühtai. 

Pictured above: I am spotting a bit of a food and wine theme on our trips!

Pictured above: No European Winter trip is complete without some time in Kühtai - one of our favourite places in the world!

I miss our gorgeous husky, Shadow - who sadly passed away. She loved this spot too!

Picture from an article by the Australian when they visited me in our home. Going back a few years now, but the swing is still a favourite spot!

We love seeing custom-made pieces in their new homes ;) The Leya Swing in a rich cranberry leather with Gobelin Eedn fabric.

From monochrome to vibrant colours or softer hues, the Leya Swing becomes a beautiful feature in any space she inhabits. You can select from a huge range of fabrics and leathers to truly make Leya your own.

Made in Germany, - 6 - 8 weeks manufacturing time plus 12 weeks shipping.

The Leya Swing Seat hanging in our Melbourne Showroom.

Leya Outdoor: Embrace the Sun with Leyasol

Introducing Leyasol, your perfect companion for outdoor relaxation. Inspired by the beloved Leya model family, Leyasol brings the comfort and style of indoor seating to the great outdoors.

Designed by the talented duo Birgit Hoffmann and Christoph Kahleyss, the creators of the iconic Leya series, Leyasol is a fresh addition to this classic line. It features a delicate yet durable wire frame that echoes Leya's feminine curves, ensuring the signature shell shape is beautifully preserved.

Leyasol's cushions are versatile, too—they're removable for cleaning and can be fitted with materials suited for both indoor and outdoor use. Her we explore the Outdoor version of Leyasol Swing.

Whether you’re soaking up the sun or enjoying a cozy evening under the stars, Leyasol invites you to experience the best of both worlds—luxurious comfort and timeless elegance, indoors and out. Leyasol uses Sunbrella Fabrics.

Many products imitate the performance of Sunbrella fabrics with a “good enough” performance standard. However, none of these products offer the proprietary formulation, cutting-edge innovations, and extensive styles and textures of Sunbrella. Sunbrella fabrics are the complete performance standard, with best-in-class comfort, color retention, cleanability, and strength that lasts.  Read about Sunbrella Fabrics

Now this is definitely a Sunday afternoon well spent! I could imagine spending hours here with friends and family here. Leyasol Rocker and Swing, both in Sunbrella fabric. The outdoor Stomp tables are made from acacia wood and available from top3 through Janua.

Why Sunbrella?
Other fabrics are like a radish, the colour is only on teh surface. All Sunbrella fabrics are manufactured with Color to the Core™ technology. This proprietary process means each foundational fiber is saturated with color and UV-stabilized pigments. Once saturated, the proprietary fiber is spun into yarns which are then woven into our long-lasting performance fabric. Color to the Core™ technology ensures years of beautiful living with color that stays true over time, maintaining the strength and integrity of the fabric through years of cleaning, wear, and exposure to the elements.