4 minute read
ON THE COVER FULL OF CHARM Period character and country style work together in a detached house in Hamburg
from Fdfgf
by elloco2019
EXTERIOR
Nicole and Thorsten with their dog, Milla. When the at the house, they could barely see it beneath the overgrown garden
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LIVING ROOM
space was important to the couple; their motto of ‘less is more’ allows for a clutter-free sofa is by Nicole
HOME PROFILE
WHO LIVES HERE
Nicole Schulz, owner of interior design shop @casitaverde _ hamburg, her husband, Thorsten and dog Milla
THE PROPERTY A detached two-bedroom house in Hamburg’s
Marienthal district
full of One couple’s eye for detail turned a neglected house into a dream home with plenty of period characte and a modern country style r charm
waking an old house from its slumber had long been a shared dream for Nicole Schulz and her husband, Thorsten. And in 2014, this dream came true when the couple began renovating their detached house in Hamburg, north Germany.
When they first laid eyes on it, the property was rundown and in poor condition, almost hidden by an overgrown garden, and the conservatory, now the couple ’ s favourite spot, was completely dilapidated. But despite all the work that needed to be done, Nicole and Thorsten fell in love with the place and, little by little, began to breathe fresh life into it.
Walking through the bright, open-plan house now, it’ s hard to imagine how dark and small the rooms were before the renovation. One of the couple ’ s first priorities was to take out the partition wall between the dining room and the kitchen on the ground floor and install an exposed steel beam. The original floorboards were then sanded down and oiled white, the walls painted with chalk paint and the conservatory lovingly rebuilt.
Even the tiniest details were carefully considered by Nicole and Thorsten. They wanted to allow the old house to tell a story by preserving its character and beautiful imperfections. Fortunately, it had plenty of period charm, with its high ceilings, original flooring and wooden staircase. By retaining these features, the couple have created a stylish and unique home.
The property ’ s interior is a mix of country and townhouse, where playful Art Nouveau elements meet calm, harmonious colour palettes. Light, naturalness and cosiness are all important to the couple. They share a love of country-house charm, industrial chic and Nordic
CONSERVATORY
The traditional, country-style units were made to measure by a French manufacturer and painted pale grey for a modern feel. ‘Our style is uncomplicated and personal, and proves that you can combine tradition and trends, ’ says Nicole
STAIRCASE
With its high ceilings, original with period charm. A gallery of family photographs lines the wall along the stairs
design, and their scheme skilfully combines vintage pieces with a minimalist-inspired aesthetic. ‘Our diverse living space reflects our attitude to life, our values and our love of nature, ’ explains Nicole. ‘The style is uncomplicated and personal, and proves that you can combine tradition and trends. We don ’t have to choose between our love of the country and the buzz of the city, because this style works everywhere. ’
Sometimes it is hard for Nicole to maintain her minimalist, clutter-free style, as she comes across so many covetable pieces online, in magazines and at interior design fairs through her job. However, by decorating seasonally she can constantly change and update her scheme, and she always has DIY, upcycling and garden projects on the go.
Since 2007, Nicole has shared her passion for contemporary, country-inspired decor with the customers of her interiors shop Casitaverde. Here, she sells furniture, her artwork and upcycled vintage pieces, as well as the chalk paints she used in her own home.
For Nicole and Thorsten, the house is now a place where they can embrace their creativity – a ‘ nest’ where everyone, including their family and friends from near and far, can feel completely at home.
Visit Nicole’s shop at casitaverde.de
