Houzz Tour: Storybook Thatched Cottage on the North Sea
A run-down German farmhouse becomes an idyllic vacation home with sustainable materials and open but cozy spaces
Goals for the Project
Before: When the work started in 2018, the thatch-roofed house had stood empty for a long time. It had last been renovated in the 1960s, and haphazardly at that. For example, plasterboard panels had simply been placed over the exterior walls.
Architects Sven and Friederike Grotheer soon realized that much of the structure wasn’t salvageable because the roof beams were in poor condition and moisture had settled into the masonry behind the siding. To ensure that this wouldn’t happen again, they reconstructed it out of diffusion-open bricks, meaning that the bricks let moisture pass through and out. Made by Proton, the bricks are eco-friendly and thermal conductive.
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Before: When the work started in 2018, the thatch-roofed house had stood empty for a long time. It had last been renovated in the 1960s, and haphazardly at that. For example, plasterboard panels had simply been placed over the exterior walls.
Architects Sven and Friederike Grotheer soon realized that much of the structure wasn’t salvageable because the roof beams were in poor condition and moisture had settled into the masonry behind the siding. To ensure that this wouldn’t happen again, they reconstructed it out of diffusion-open bricks, meaning that the bricks let moisture pass through and out. Made by Proton, the bricks are eco-friendly and thermal conductive.
Find an architect near you on Houzz
Before: It was important to the owners that the renovation be carried out with sustainability and longevity in mind. They wanted to bring the home’s energy efficiency up to today’s standards and use materials manufactured with environmentally conscious processes. Another goal was to make the home feel bright and spacious despite its small footprint.
The Result: Bright, Cozy and Eco-Friendly
The originally dark entryway was spruced up — beadboard on the walls and light gray tile on the floor create a welcoming atmosphere. The hexagonal cement tiles by Via are manufactured without artificial additives. Once impregnated with oil or mineral sealer, they are resist moisture and dirt, making them perfect for an area that gets a lot of foot traffic.
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The originally dark entryway was spruced up — beadboard on the walls and light gray tile on the floor create a welcoming atmosphere. The hexagonal cement tiles by Via are manufactured without artificial additives. Once impregnated with oil or mineral sealer, they are resist moisture and dirt, making them perfect for an area that gets a lot of foot traffic.
Find cement tile in the Houzz Shop
The architects knocked through some of the walls on the 624-square-foot first floor. The entrance now flows into the open-plan kitchen, which is also decked out in beadboard for visual coherence. The architects and owners worked together to come up with a bright and soothing palette — after all, this home is built for relaxation.
The built-ins in the living and dining areas were custom-made by a local carpenter. The rest of the furniture, including the large vintage-style dining table, was selected and bought by the owners.
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Shop for dining tables by style on Houzz
A charming feature is the white ceiling juxtaposed against old oak beams. The architects installed LED lights by Bega throughout to ensure that the space would be flooded with light even on rainy days.
The architects say it was important to visually connect the first and second floors to make up for the building’s small size. The custom-made kitchen cabinets form the perfect transition. This connection with the gallery on the second floor clearly positions the kitchen as the heart of the home.
Find a local cabinetmaker
Find a local cabinetmaker
Like the living and dining areas, the bedrooms feature triple-layer oak flooring, which is pleasantly warm to the touch and lends that extra bit of coziness. The owners wanted the home to sleep at least six people.
The bathroom has the same hexagonal cement floor tile as the entryway, while the walls and bathtub surround are finished in white subway tile. This comes together for a minimalist overall feel.
The home’s new heating system features an air-source heat pump. Underfloor heating keeps the living area warm, while the built-in stove helps heat the room up quickly — and, of course, contributes to the cozy and relaxing atmosphere.
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Read about other remodeled vacation homes
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More on Houzz
Read about other remodeled vacation homes
Find a local pro for your project
Shop for home products
Vacation House at a Glance
Who lives here: A family from Hamburg, Germany, when on vacation
Size: About 915 square feet (85 square meters)
Location: Dithmarschen region of Germany
Designer: Grotheer Architektur
A thatched cottage on the North Sea is the stuff of fairy tales, but it took a lot of work to turn a 200-year-old farmhouse in the Dithmarschen area of Germany into this dreamy vacation home with plenty of space for the whole family.