Houzz Tour: Light Is Right for a Modern German Home
Newly found natural light illuminates photo shoots, kids' playthings and a snuggly attic for a family in Münster
When cookbook author, blogger and designer Lisa Nieschlag bought the house she shares with her husband and child in Münster, Germany, she was greeted with small rooms, tiny windows and five types of wallpaper. "It was dark and depressing. We needed to stretch our imaginations to think of the house as a place in which we could really live," says Nieschlag. She enlisted the help of an architect and her husband, Michael, to help transform their tired, dusty and dark house into a light, functional and modern family home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa Nieschlag, husband Michael and their 2-year-old daughter, Selma
Location: Münster, Germany
Size: 1,450 square feet; 2 bedrooms; 1 1/2 bathrooms
Date of build: 1964
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Lisa Nieschlag, husband Michael and their 2-year-old daughter, Selma
Location: Münster, Germany
Size: 1,450 square feet; 2 bedrooms; 1 1/2 bathrooms
Date of build: 1964
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| Nieschlag and her husband wanted to contrast sleek, white cabinetry with the warm wood tones of their furnishings and oak parquet floors. The couple worked with Finke, a kitchen store in Münster, to come up with this contemporary kitchen design. |
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| BEFORE: Mismatched wallpaper, drab carpet tiles and a lackluster kitchen greeted the family. |
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| New dining chairs make a charming, eclectic pairing with a custom heirloom dining table from Nieschlag's grandmother. Today, the kitchen, the dining area and the living room are separated by a partial wall and connected by a walkway. |
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| BEFORE: Nieschlag took out the back door (left of image), expanded the living room to meet the property setback and filled the old doorway that led from the kitchen to the living room (right of image). |
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Nieschlag also uses the kitchen and the dining area as her workspace and photography studio for her food blog, Liz & Jewels, a site she shares with Brooklyn, New York, photographer Julia Cawley.
"I work on the tabletop area by my kitchen on weekends and in the evenings. Its proximity to my kitchen is very practical, given all the food-related projects that I'm busy with," she says.
"I work on the tabletop area by my kitchen on weekends and in the evenings. Its proximity to my kitchen is very practical, given all the food-related projects that I'm busy with," she says.
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| Props for photo shoots are kept in an armoire next to the dining table. |
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The workspace's proximity to the kitchen and windows is deliberate; most of her food photos are taken with natural light coming through unadorned windows.
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| Nieschlag integrated part of the outdoor terrace into their living room to increase the space inside, and added a slim window with forest views and full-height glass doors and windows (not in this picture). "In our house, cooking, eating, playing, entertaining, photo shoots and relaxing — all of these daily life functions happen on the ground floor," says Nieschlag. |
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| The homeowners opened up their roof and added a dormer to bring more fresh air into the first floor. A slim staircase leads from the first floor to the attic. |
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| The insulated attic doubles as a guest room and a reading nook. The attic was a DIY project; the couple ripped out the old insulation, sanded down the beams and painted white the wood in between. |
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"Our style is all about mixing whites with wood to create a less stark and more organic feel," says Nieschlag. The entryway establishes the home's warm, organic modern style.
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Built-in cupboards under the stairs store odd-shaped items that don't fit into the rectangular cabinets.
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| Purples, reds and blush tones enhance the crisp white walls, blinds and furnishings. Although clutter is kept at bay on the ground floor, the toddler's room is peppered with a playful mix of toys and children's furniture. |
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Nieschlag maintains a greenhouse in the backyard where she grows vegetables, many of which she uses in her blog posts and cookbook recipes.
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| She loves the ease of planting beans. "They don't require a lot of care. And what's great is that the surrounding glass windows in the greenhouse usher in so much light no matter what the season, so it's perfect for photo shoots," says Nieschlag. |
Comments
olldbobbi I LOVE that kitchen! Especially all the deep drawers seen in the third picture. I love all the natural light, the open shelving and the table and chairs. What a beautiful reno, and I think a LOT of work.
9 months ago · Like
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bondiskey The house looks nice, somewhat unique, but not anything special for my taste. When spending money for an architect being involved, the house should be "outstanding".
9 months ago · Like
Joanna Zygo I do think that this is "outstanding", sometimes the simple color palette & design as opposed to those very glam bold designs, is the best way to go...it creates peaceful and a "feel good" atmosphere. I do like the mix of wood and white, do this as well for my home (living areas).
9 months ago · Like
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giggles60 I love the toddlers room. She added more color but kept it soft. Is there an opening in the slats of that crib?
9 months ago · Like
Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel They did a beautiful update on this house. I only cringe at that stairway.
9 months ago · Like
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Lisa Nieschlag "Liz & Jewels" Yes, there is an opening in the toddler's bed.
9 months ago · Like
giggles60 Great idea on the crib. The toddler can't fall out of bed but can get out safely when she wants to. Kudos.
9 months ago · Like
kitkat468 The attic was a gorgeous renovation! A lot of attics I see are just storage rooms or full of insulation. Therefore, well ignored. But going up attics are fun and making them into special rooms is perfect!
9 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Aug. 20, 2012.
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