Shopping: Shop Talk

Same, The Bridge, 146 Brick Lane, London (0171-247 9992)

This new furniture and lighting shop opens on 2 July within the old Trumans Brewery site in East London. All the businesses within the complex are designed to promote a creative environment and Same certainly fits the brief. The proprietors, Piers Roberts and Rory Dodd, aim to showcase designers not usually seen in the UK. They insist that the items they sell must look beautiful and also be prodded and laughed at - and should serve a purpose - preferably several. Beds by Muller, pounds 500, can be stacked to create a space-saving sofa; bean bags double as emergency futons; even the shop's floor space is to have a split function. A shiny white space above Brick Lane is to be a gallery for rolling exhibitions.

Prices range from pounds 4 for a candle holder by Leitmotiv, to pounds 2,500 for larger pieces of furniture.