At home with Fridlaa: Insights into a stylishly furnished old building in Berlin
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I'm Carla, lifestyle and interior blogger behind the channels of @fridlaa. Together with my small family, we live in an 80-square-meter old apartment in the heart of Berlin, where we redecorate, renovate and do everything ourselves. Entirely according to the motto: It should be beautiful, not perfect!
How did the idea come about to share your apartment and your joy of decorating on Instagram?
Interior Design has always played a big role in my life.
I'm actually a trained graphic designer, so naturally I have an eye for colors and shapes. Step by step I then redesigned our apartment, painted and tried out new things. That gradually became my passion and ultimately my profession.
What makes your apartment so special?
Our apartment is located in an old building and, for me, absolutely has charm. I can't imagine living in a home where the ceilings are only 2.50 m high. High ceilings mean quality of life to me. The large rooms allow many design possibilities and let you express your creativity. In general, I really like the vintage style, it suits the old building flair wonderfully.
Planning a kitchen in an old building certainly brings some challenges – how was this during your planning?
Actually, the topic of the kitchen was always a small challenge, simply because the space is super small. But especially because the walls and floors are basically everything – except right-angled. Everything is crooked and uneven, the walls sometimes consist of wood, sometimes of stone, sometimes of something else. This means drilling things into the wall is difficult, as is leveling furniture. That's why it was particularly important for us, especially with the kitchen, to have professionals on board so we could have a well thought-out solution we can comfortably live with.
What role does sustainability play for you?
The topic of sustainability is very important to us. Therefore, it was especially important to us that our partner, with whom we implemented the kitchen, shares the same values as we do.
And that's how we came to Nolte.
GlossaryOld Building – Charm with History
High ceilings, stucco, wooden flooring: old buildings tell stories and bring character into every home. They combine craftsmanship details from past times with the desire for modern living. Those who skillfully combine old and new create a special atmosphere – full of warmth, individuality and style. Whether furnished in a modern way or complemented with vintage elements: An old building always remains unique – and noticeably alive.
Carla from Berlin
“High ceilings mean quality of life for me.”
What were the absolute "Must-Haves" for your kitchen?
My personal "Must-Haves" were definitely a good refrigerator and lots of storage space. In our family of four, an incredible amount of things accumulate, and these need to be well organized and stored away. Above all, we need space to cook together, try out recipes, and occasionally snack and nibble. So, we need a large countertop and storage to accommodate extra appliances such as kitchen machines.
What role does lighting play in room design?
For me, lighting is an absolute game changer in interior design. Even a room that looks very bare and sterile immediately becomes atmospheric and comfortable through lighting. Different lighting settings in the kitchen can create different moods. With warm lighting, I create a cozy little oasis to enjoy a glass of wine in the evening. When I set the lighting to daylight and brighter settings, I have very good task lighting where I can easily cook and prepare dishes.
What went through your mind when you first saw your new kitchen?
The color caught my eye first, of course, and I briefly doubted my decision. Originally, we had planned for an olive shade, and I somehow still had this green with a warm wood decor in mind. But that feeling quickly faded away. Of course, a new kitchen initially looks bare and sterile without decoration and plants. But as soon as I had styled everything, switched on the lights, and added textiles, I thought: Yes, this is exactly how I imagined it, and we can be happy here!
How would you describe your furnishing style?
If I had to describe our style, I would probably say: Hanseatic-Scandinavian with a "touch of grandma". We have many vintage items and a lot of second hand.
That suits me well because, at heart, I think I'm a bit older than I look.
And where does the connection to Scandinavia come from?
I just really like the Scandinavian style. Many design and decoration ideas originate there, or at least the ones I like a lot. And that's why automatically "a lot of Scandinavia" finds its way into our apartment. Sometimes vintage, sometimes new—it's the mix that does it.
Do you have three tips to make an apartment cozier?
My absolute secret tip is decorating with textiles. An empty, bare room quickly becomes cozy when I add some cushions or blankets. Plants do the same because their fresh green brings life into the apartment and softens the overall look. And tip number three is lighting to create mood and coziness.
How did you actually come to Berlin?
After completing my studies, I moved to Berlin and initially accepted an underpaid job. It was a lot of fun and allowed me to settle in here.
I made friends and was able to take my first step into the Berlin world. Then I gradually developed further and now I'm where I am.
How do you combine old-building charm with urban living atmosphere?
Old buildings radiate character – and provide the perfect stage for urban living. With natural materials such as real wood and a clear design language, the charm can be preserved and simultaneously interpreted in a modern way. The result is a stylish home with history and contemporary spirit.
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Where do you get your inspiration from?
I actually get my inspiration, like everyone else, from the media and magazines. It's mainly about seeing things and trying things out. Sometimes I spontaneously go into a furniture or craft store. There I see something and think to myself, "Oh, I could somehow use that; I could create something new from it."
And that's how the whole process starts—turning old into new. The topic of recycling has played an important role since my studies, because during that time I didn't have much money. That means I sometimes found furniture on the street that perhaps didn't quite fit my concept.
I then rebuilt them, painted everything or completely reconstructed them, so they naturally fit into the interior design. And we've kept that habit up until today.
What does "Life in the kitchen" mean to you?
Life in the kitchen means eating together for me, because that's very important to us. In fact, our kitchen is one of the rooms that is frequented most, because someone is always hungry. That means we are either always busy doing something here or sitting together while someone is cooking. This characterizes our kitchen and is still especially important to us.
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Charming historic building in the heart of Berlin
Step into the period apartment of Interior Influencer Carla from Berlin. Carla, a passionate graphic designer, decorates her 80-square-meter apartment with Hanseatic-Scandinavian flair, enriched with vintage elements. In this Homestory, you will discover how Carla realized a stylish, functional, and sustainable kitchen solution in her old building together with Nolte Küchen.
Further information
In our Küchen Journal you will find even more inspirations for the individual planning and design of your dream kitchen.
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