So, we did it. We finally made the move to Berlin. After spending more weekends than I can count doing nothing in Hamburg but packing, it was nice to finally arrive and settle into our new place. Can I just say, we LOVE it. It’s about 20 square meters (215 square feet) larger than the Hamburg apartment, and we are absolutely thrilled by all the glorious SPACE! Plus, the landlord and building superintendent made sure the place was freshly painted and sparkly clean for our arrival. Seriously lovely.
The entry and kitchen area are combined into one large area, which I absolutely love. We have plans for closet space next to the doorway and a table in our eat-in-kitchen. Finally, a kitchen space where we can actually sit and eat and entertain! And see that awesome green door (all the doors in the building are that color!) across the way? That’s where our friendly new neighbors live, who invited us in for coffee and a chat on Sunday afternoon.
Oh, and did I mention the dishwasher? We heart the dishwasher. It’s been about 10 years since I last had one, so I’ll admit to reading the instruction manual this weekend to make sure I didn’t break it. We don’t have a refrigerator yet (they usually don’t come with the apartment here in Germany), but we’ve got one picked out and just need to go ahead and order it.
You can’t really tell from this picture, but the bedroom is enormous and in addition to the bed and wardrobe, we plan to add a chest of drawers and maybe even an armchair! One huge plus is that this room faces the courtyard, so we’re saved from the street noise at night — which given the hip neighborhood, isn’t entirely negligible.
The living room is also much larger than it appears in this photo, so you’ll just have to trust me. Plus, see those double doors that lead out to the balcony??
We definitely wasted no time in getting our balcony furniture set up and enjoyed the sunny afternoon. As you can see, we’re at about treetop level (thank goodness for the elevator, or else the move would have been a nightmare!), which means lots of sunlight — in the kitchen and bedroom in the morning and the living room in the late afternoon. Couldn’t be more perfect.
I forgot to take pictures of the bathroom, but its also larger than what we had in Hamburg, and complete with a bathtub! We’ll be adding a washing machine to it at in the next week or so.
Anyway, that’s about all for now. As we continue getting unpacked and settled and sort out our furniture and decorating, I’ll continue to post about our progress. In the meantime, I hope these pictures give you a little taste of our new home!
Apartment? You call that an apartment? I call it a connected-palace!
@J: Aww, thanks. It definitely feels like that to us!
Woah! What a beautiful apartment! I’ve heard housing in Berlin is a lot cheaper. Not to be nosy, but how does the rent compare to your HH apartment that was 20 sq. meters smaller?
That balcony is great! And having nice neighbors is also a wonderful thing. :) Congratulations on your new place!
Congrats and welcome to Berlin!!! :)
Oh, your place is GORGEOUS! Bright walls, wood floors, lots of windows, a balcony…and a fabulous view. I love!
Wow… your new apartment looks amazing!
I can’t wait to see photos of it when all the furniture has been moved in.
Looks fantastic!!
I LOVE it! It’s sooo beautiful! We can’t wait to come and visit!! Berlin is such an amazing city!
Wow!! Looks fantastic and the whole balcony-above-a-river-of-trees reminds me of exactly where I’m sitting right now :)
oh ps love that green front door opposite yours
Wow!! Your apartment looks amazing! Yay for the dishwasher!! And the balcony looks awesome!
@Sarah: Thanks! In Berlin each month we’re paying about 1 Euro less per square meter than we were in Hamburg. Overall, we’re paying more to have a bigger space, but it’s definitely more affordable than if we had searched for the same amount of space in HH. And we decided on a pretty desirable neighborhood with lots of restaurants, shops and transport options — but if you were more flexible with neighborhoods, there are even better deals out there.
@Yelli @Zandria @CN Heidelberg @Emily: Glad you love it as much as we do!
@Riayn: Seeing the progress you made on your HH apartment was definitely what sparked the thought that I should do the same!
@Debi: We would love to host you guys in Berlin — consider it a standing invitation!
@Frau Dietz: Ooh, I love that — river of trees. Lucky us!
Happy Housewarming! The place is gorgeous and love all the light..enjoy!
Such a bright and cute place, Mandi! I LOVE the green door, balcony and views. I look forward to seeing photos once you’ve added your touch of class to it. :) Enjoy!
Love your new place – so bright and cheery! I’m also a sucker for cool doors..also loving the window next to your sink. I don’t know about you but I find myself staring out the window while washing dishes…although now that you have your dishwasher, you won’t need a happy distraction.
What a lovely new place! I’m very jealous of the balcony and lovely green front doors. Enjoy settling in!
So jealous of your new digs!!!