My Houzz: Modern Living on an 18th-Century German Farm
A family enjoys a half-timbered home with original details, eclectic decor, a gorgeous garden and room for pets
Near Germany’s Zollverein coal mine complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Essen, lies Dortmannhof, a farm in the middle of the former coal miners’ neighborhood. The heritage-listed half-timbered house was built in 1791 and renovated in the 1980s, though much of its original character remains intact. The owners, Milena and Max Schmiz, stumbled on the farm while house hunting. They took on the challenge of fixing it up and have reaped the reward: an exceptionally charming home surrounded by an enormous garden and unspoiled fields.
Dortmannhof’s front door is situated rather inconspicuously on the side of the building. It leads directly into an imposing room, whose ceiling is about 16 feet (5 meters) high.
One immediately notices the very old and irregular floor. “It’s still in its original condition from 1791, when the property was still a functioning farm,” Milena says with pride. The things this floor must have witnessed — if only it could tell tales.
One immediately notices the very old and irregular floor. “It’s still in its original condition from 1791, when the property was still a functioning farm,” Milena says with pride. The things this floor must have witnessed — if only it could tell tales.
The bright boho-chic carpet provides a homey contrast to the rustic stone floor. Along with the impressive soapstone stove, the long table is the room’s centerpiece. “This is where we spend cozy family evenings and host dinner guests,” Milena says. The couple had the table made to their specifications by Faust Linoleum.
An old well occupies a corner of the dining area. Like the stone floor, it’s still in its original state. Milena keeps her many craft materials on the green shelves. Sorted into pretty boxes, these also serve as decor in their own right.
The spacious entrance hall leads straight into the bright and colorful custom kitchen. A special feature is that each drawer face and cabinet door is a different color. The handles, too, are all different. This brings color into the room without making it too bright overall.
The kitchen woodwork was done by a carpenter and fitted precisely into the space. “It was quite a challenge even for the experienced carpenter, as there isn’t a single straight wall in the entire house,” Milena says. The floor in the kitchen, for example, has a height difference of about 5 inches from one side to the other.
The fun lamps, from the former East Germany, were eBay bargains.
The kitchen woodwork was done by a carpenter and fitted precisely into the space. “It was quite a challenge even for the experienced carpenter, as there isn’t a single straight wall in the entire house,” Milena says. The floor in the kitchen, for example, has a height difference of about 5 inches from one side to the other.
The fun lamps, from the former East Germany, were eBay bargains.
“The kitchen is where we’re happiest and where we spend the most time. This is where we prepare dinner and work on our laptops, and where the children do their homework or paint,” Milena says. The children even have their own toy kitchen that is every bit as nice as the real one: A 1950s flower stand was turned into a play kitchen with a retro look.
The couple’s style is eclectic. Here, ’50s and ’60s touches combine with Shabby Chic and bohemian. Some modern elements with an occasional design classic round out the mix. “Despite the wild mix of styles, I make sure everything fits together and is in line with an overall color scheme,” Milena says.
The couple’s style is eclectic. Here, ’50s and ’60s touches combine with Shabby Chic and bohemian. Some modern elements with an occasional design classic round out the mix. “Despite the wild mix of styles, I make sure everything fits together and is in line with an overall color scheme,” Milena says.
The eat-in kitchen wasn’t always as spacious as it is today. Before the family moved in, the kitchen and the breakfast area were separated by a wall. Access to the garden also wasn’t an option back then. “Thanks to a few bits of renovation, we’ve now gained an amazing amount of space and, most of all, light,” Milena says.
However, the home’s status as a heritage-listed building comes with quite a few restrictions. They weren’t allowed to build a large frameless glass door, for example. So instead there’s a gridded, narrow French patio door (see fourth image below). “It looks great and goes perfectly with the charm of the old house.”
However, the home’s status as a heritage-listed building comes with quite a few restrictions. They weren’t allowed to build a large frameless glass door, for example. So instead there’s a gridded, narrow French patio door (see fourth image below). “It looks great and goes perfectly with the charm of the old house.”
The Schmizes had the sectional in the adjacent living room custom-assembled at Schaumstoff-Lübke in their desired dimensions and colors. There’s room for the entire family, along with the cats and any guests.
“When we moved in, all of the walls and the ceiling had been painted in a blue color wash with bright flowers. It looked pretty crazy,” says Milena, laughing. The room is still colorful but not as kitschy.
“When we moved in, all of the walls and the ceiling had been painted in a blue color wash with bright flowers. It looked pretty crazy,” says Milena, laughing. The room is still colorful but not as kitschy.
In the winter, the stove in the living room is going all the time. Nearly all the windows in the downstairs common area are old and therefore only single-paned.
“There’s some considerable heat loss there, of course. When it gets really cold, we also fire up the huge soapstone stove in the entrance hall,” Milena says.
“There’s some considerable heat loss there, of course. When it gets really cold, we also fire up the huge soapstone stove in the entrance hall,” Milena says.
The neighboring room is the family’s music room, which doubles as a guest room. Max is a viola player and works as a freelance musician in a number of orchestras. He therefore spends a lot of time in here rehearsing. “From here, I have a great view of the garden and can watch the kids playing in the treehouse,” he says.
The bathroom is in what was once the attached stable. It was redesigned as a bathroom in the 1980s, though the old watering trough was kept in place. The couple turned it into a creative ambient light source (not pictured) for the high-ceilinged room. Note the double bathtubs, which the couple have never used together. “The double sink is a lot more practical,” Milena says, laughing.
An array of hanging pots hold plants that lend freshness and a touch of green to the space.
An array of hanging pots hold plants that lend freshness and a touch of green to the space.
The family’s bedrooms are upstairs and reached by the ancient (and creaking!) staircase from the entrance hall.
In the corridor, a small table by the window serves as a workspace. Here, Milena plans out new projects, such as the pending renovation of the large barn. Her favorite projects include homemade marble runs, one of which can be seen on the wall. The next few are already in the making.
The predominant color in the couple’s bedroom is green, down to the painted window frames. This room, too, is alive with an exciting mix of pieces. The bed from Ikea, the old hand-painted chest of drawers and the extravagant lamps — the items are bright and different yet still go together perfectly.
There are so many interesting things to discover in the children’s playroom. Milena made most of these, such as the large cross-stitch collection, by hand. “Doing crafts such as sewing, crochet and artwork are all among my favorite hobbies,” she says.
Here, her son, Emil, is cuddling their two very relaxed Siamese cats, Arthur and August.
What was once the area for servants now serves as a bedroom for Emil and Minna. With a ceiling that’s only 5½ feet (1.7 meters) high, the room is solely the children’s domain. Emil’s old wooden bed was Milena’s when she was a teenager. “Back then, my parents had snapped it up in an antiques store in France,” she says.
The house, which is 39 feet (12 meters) high, is surrounded by a garden — Milena’s pride and joy. The family spends as much time as possible here in the summer.
“Between the greenery, the bright blossoming flowers and the five chickens, you really feel like you’re on holiday here,” she says.
“Between the greenery, the bright blossoming flowers and the five chickens, you really feel like you’re on holiday here,” she says.
The music teacher spends many hours a day tending her idyllic haven at the center of Essen, though she doesn’t call it work. “The gardening simply provides me with incredible amounts of delight and relaxation,” she says.
Although her main focus is the aesthetics of the garden, Milena also likes to grow edibles like berries, fruit trees and herbs.
Her favorite part of the garden is the bed of dark red hollyhocks, which bloom in late summer right in front of the house and are gloriously framed by the half-timbered structure.
Since Milena loves cooking but doesn’t always feel like cooking indoors in the summer, she is planning an exciting project. “An old garden shed we have on the grounds is now set to become a new outdoor kitchen. The plans are ready, and we have already found the carpenter. I can’t wait to get cooking out in the open,” says Milena, laughing.
How to Get an Outdoor Kitchen of Your Own
Since Milena loves cooking but doesn’t always feel like cooking indoors in the summer, she is planning an exciting project. “An old garden shed we have on the grounds is now set to become a new outdoor kitchen. The plans are ready, and we have already found the carpenter. I can’t wait to get cooking out in the open,” says Milena, laughing.
How to Get an Outdoor Kitchen of Your Own
The Schmiz family also made a great home for their five chickens. A chicken couldn’t help but feel comfortable and at ease in the ample coop, with its cozy little house. In the daytime, the chickens are allowed to roam freely in the garden.
Milena put her crochet work on display on the fence. Her daughter, Minna, above, helped out.
Milena put her crochet work on display on the fence. Her daughter, Minna, above, helped out.
The chickens are full members of the family and regularly let it be known when they want cuddles. This is probably the secret behind the splendid eggs that the family gets each day. “At least twice a week, we have spaghetti carbonara with fresh eggs,” Milena says.
Minna already has her own little garden, which she takes care of all by herself.
The family built the treehouse, which soon will be expanded. The plan is to make it both larger and taller. It’s a dream come true for their children.
The large hammock hanging next to it is big enough for the entire family, as well as the odd chicken. What with the treehouse, the hammock and the swing chair, play and relaxation come first and foremost!
Find hammocks and swing chairs on Houzz
Find hammocks and swing chairs on Houzz
With their individual style, handmade things and the inherent charm of the old house, the Schmizes have made an unparalleled dream home for themselves. If only the farmers who lived here back in the day could’ve known what amazing things lay ahead for their house.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Violin and viola teacher Milena Schmiz, 34; freelance musician Max Schmiz, 38; their children, Emil and Minna; and their pets, Siamese cats Arthur and August plus five chickens
Location: Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Size: About 2,150 square feet (200 square meters), with a garden of about 5,380 square feet (500 square meters)