Tired of the “noisy city life,” a Kazakhstan-born artist and her Russian-born husband ditched their urban digs in favor of a quiet home in the middle of nature. The now beautiful, cozy home inspires the couple to live in harmony with the world around them.
Both 32, freelance artist and content creator Katharina Kölln and her husband, Roman, an online marketing consultant, have lived in Germany since childhood. They began dating at the age of 15 and married each other 11 years ago.
The couple’s dream home in the woods of Bavaria, near Nuremberg, originally was supposed to be a holiday house. But it was then inhabited by an elderly woman for 15 years, whose brother sold the house when she passed away. Today, Katharina and Roman live there with their two cats, Teddy Bear and Minnie Mouse.
When the couple saw the house for the first time, they found that nothing had been done there for a long time.
Describing the condition, Katharina told The Epoch Times: “Many things were still in their original condition from the 1960s: old wallpaper and carpets, low ceilings, a non-functional fireplace, an old broken bathroom. The windows and front doors were also in poor condition.”
However, the couple were clear from the start that they wanted to have a small house with a large, overgrown green plot.
“The plan was to make everything as simple and sustainable as possible; it should be fun and extraordinary, functional and minimalist at the same time,” Katharina said.
Beginning their process of renovation a year ago, the couple set out to renovate almost everything in their home. They hired a building surveyor to find out what they could possibly do by themselves and what they could outsource.
The pair got the roof insulated by outside contractors before taking on the rest of the work themselves.
“We always inform ourselves very thoroughly before each project; of course, everything has to be done professionally and safely,” said Katharina. “It’s fun! The house becomes something very special, and of course, we save money in the process.”
Spending between 60,000 and 70,000 pounds (approx. US$73,500 to $85,800) on materials needed for the entire redevelopment, Katharina and Roman sanded and partly replastered the walls, enlarged and reframed the windows, installed interior doors, laid wooden floors, and updated the shower room. They “opened the ceiling,” sanded the original ceiling beams, and laid roof tiles.
However, their renovation is still not complete, according to Katharina. The couple plans to clad the sloping roof with wood, swap two more windows, exchange the terrace and entrance doors, build a bathroom with a bathtub and a guest toilet, and erect a new fence to enclose two proud editions to the garden: a sauna and hot tub.
The entire house boasts the couple’s nature-loving, minimalist aesthetic throughout. Katharina’s artistic eye has also helped bring the couple’s visions to life; “as an artist and interior blogger I have endless ideas,” she said.
Katharina revealed that they plan to finally finish the entire renovation process by the end of this year.
Like any project, Katharina and Roman did encounter some challenges, and the process wasn’t all that smooth.
An old house “always has surprises in store,” Katharina said, adding that it’s common for materials to be delivered late and for projects to be rescheduled. For example, a late window delivery forced the couple to board up a large window opening with wooden boards and construction foam for a whole winter.
But taking regular breaks and making time for other pastimes helped the couple cope with setbacks, and “continue with new strength and motivation again and again.”
As for the results of what is already done, Katharina said that they love every single corner, but are particularly impressed by the result of the sanded ceiling beams and the window enlargements.
“It’s a great feeling to know that we made it all with our own hands, plus, if you make it yourself, it will turn out just the way you want it,” she explained.
Today, both the artist and her husband have shed the urban discontent of the past and look forward to coming home to their new abode.
“It feels so good to live in the middle of nature,” said Katharina. “As an artist, the environment inspires me a lot and gives me the necessary peace and energy for my work; since I prefer to paint trees, plants, flowers, and animals, the environment is of course perfect for me.”
The couple, who don’t yet have children but “dream of adopting soon,” hope their renovation inspires others to believe in their own dream projects and implement them. Katharina also advises to always do your research, consider safety first, and put sustainable materials at the forefront.
She told The Epoch Times, “I also often get messages [saying] how much my content motivates them to design their own home. That makes me proud and very happy!”
