Stories
Schwabstedt, Germany
'Renatenhof' by the book
Like a Romantic-era painting, a park-like garden on a listed estate with cherry trees on parade frames a white-washed manor where a young family of four greets you at the door. Malu growing up on the island of Sylt and Philip pursuing his studies in the ‘Schlei’-region, the couple were no newcomers to the area when they in 2018 bought Renatenhof.
Like a Romantic-era painting, a park-like garden on a listed estate with cherry trees on parade frames a white-washed manor where a young family of four greets you at the door. Malu growing up on the island of Sylt and Philip pursuing his studies in the ‘Schlei’-region, the couple were no newcomers to the area when they in 2018 bought Renatenhof.
Situated on the outskirts of Schwabstedt in northern Germany, a manor house built in 1873 sets the scene for the novel ‘Renate’ (1878) written by one of the most prominent figures of German realism, Theodor Storm. Famously depicting the historic building, the house has since been known as ‘Renatenhof’.
Needing more than fresh strokes of paint, the manor underwent a year of extensive renovation, restoration, and refurbishment. Period features such as wooden floors, panelled walls, stucco ceilings, terrazzo floors, and fireplaces were brought back to their original state. Ancient walls and modern spirits intertwine through a modern and simplistic décor against an ornamented backdrop – the ideal scene for a contemporary fairy tale from the countryside.
Floating over the terrazzo floor is the industrial, pitch-black Vipp kitchen creating an eye-catching style divergence against the stucco-adorned setting.
Floating over the terrazzo floor is the industrial, pitch-black Vipp kitchen creating an eye-catching style divergence against the stucco-adorned setting.