Chapter 1: Where It All Began

It started a very long time ago, in our grandparents' home in Sweden.

A house where toys were not just toys. They had a place, a function, a story, and a layer of mystery. Behind a large carpet on the wall was the secret entrance to our grandfather's office.

At first glance, a serious room with a large desk. But inside the drawers: music boxes and antique toys. In the bookcase, a cupboard hid an entire army of tin soldiers, meticulously arranged like a tiny, serious world only half meant to be seen.

On the walls hung medals and guns. Very impressive, until you looked closer. The medals read things like 'Best Dad of the Year'. The guns were prop guns filled with bright red powder. Serious-looking at first glance, but playful at heart. Which, in hindsight, sums up quite a lot about who he was as a person.


"Our grandparents set the benchmark: toys
of quality, surprise, and quiet magic."




Our German grandmother added her own version of joy: seasonal figurines, detailed holiday decorations, traditional wooden crafts. Everything beautifully displayed, cherished, and respected.

As children, it felt like a magical place to grow up. It was there we learned something important: toys could be meaningful, beautiful, timeless, funny, creative, traditional, and slightly odd yet deeply joyful — all at once.

That feeling stayed, and grew.

So we kept searching, in travels and in everyday
life, drawn to the quirky, the nostalgic, the odd, and the beautifully made. Guided by simple ideas: joy over purpose, quality over quantity, thoughtful over ordinary.



Chapter 2: How It Happened

Fast forward to 2025.

After years of talking about our dream of opening a toy store, we decided to give it a go. But as they say, 'plans are what happen before reality intervenes'.

Two of us were expecting babies. One of us was diagnosed with cancer that reshaped time entirely. Not exactly the moment you would circle in your calendar as “great time to start a business”.

And yet, that's exactly when the conversations became more serious. In between baby cuddles, hospital visits, and everyday chaos, we kept asking ourselves: what if we could turn our lifelong passion into something tangible? Something that combined what we each knew best: antique toys, digital data, marketing, and storytelling.

Slowly, Haus of Knaus started to take shape.

Founded in 2026, Haus of Knaus is the result of years of searching, learning, and shaping a vision into something real.

"We hope you find something to play with. Something to give.

Something that sparks a memory, or something you never knew you were missing."

Chapter 3: What We Believe In

We are not about endless choice. We select for you.

We believe in fewer, better things, toys with character, made to last, and meant to be loved for years to come. Toys worth keeping. Toys worth passing down.

And as our grandmother taught us: it's never only about the gift, but about how it's given. The careful wrapping. The quiet anticipation. The small magic in the moment of giving.

Our collections are limited and ever-changing, with every item thoughtfully wrapped, because the details matter.

Thank you for supporting our small, independent business and for stepping into our house.

So, welcome to Haus of Knaus!
Timeless Toys, Endless Joy.

Meet the sisters

Annabel

Growing up with four siblings, play was the soundtrack of my childhood. As Astrid Lindgren once wrote, “We played and played and played—it’s a wonder we didn’t play ourselves to death.” That line captures it perfectly.

That love of play never left me. Today, I work as a Toy Specialist and Valuer at the world’s oldest auction house in Stockholm, where I spend my days surrounded by toys from centuries ago, tracing the history of brands, makers, and the timeless magic of play.

While my background is rooted in antique and vintage toys, I’m equally passionate about modern classics and discovering the treasures of tomorrow.

Carolien


There is nothing more I love doing than scouting for the best toy and concept stores.

I have always had a soft spot for the misfits, the quirky, the slightly ugly toys and figurines, the ones left behind on the shelf. I bring them home, give them a place, and perhaps a little more attention than they ever asked for.


By day, I work in the digital world. But at home, I’m usually busy transforming spaces for each season, one theme at a time, with a particular love for Halloween. The weirder, the better.


Stephanie

After a cancer diagnosis in 2025, life slowed down and I found myself returning to simple forms of play, puzzles, painting, that brought clarity and calm.


My background is in marketing, with experience across events, sales, and both online and offline worlds. I’ve always enjoyed working closely with people, taking ideas and gently shaping them into something real.


But out of all the toys, Barbie is still my favourite, the collection from the 90s never quite left.