She Spent 12 Years Bringing a 123-Year-Old Berlin Rental Back to Life
“When I moved in, the apartment was in such poor condition that I was offered a reduced rent. Everything needed to be renovated — from the floors and windows to the bathrooms and kitchen. Over the years, I transformed the entire apartment myself, one room at a time,” begins Melanie Kharad, founder of design studio Kharad Studio.
The home she’s writing about is a 123-year-old Berlin, Germany, apartment that Melanie and her husband have been renting for 12 years (and currently share with three daughters, a cat, and a turtle).
“Over the years, I transformed the apartment into a warm, cozy, and deeply personal retreat for my family,” Melanie continues. “The home reflects not only our travels, but also our different cultural roots, blending influences from various places into one harmonious space. It’s filled with meaningful souvenirs, treasured memories, natural materials, warm woods, earthy colors, and timeless design.”
“While the shared spaces are warm, layered, and inviting, each of my children’s rooms reflects their own personality, with lighter color palettes and an individual style. My biggest goal was to create a home where we could truly relax, recharge, spend quality time together, while still giving everyone their own space. I wanted every room to feel comforting, inspiring, and like a place you genuinely love coming home to,” Melanie explains.
Moving into this apartment marked the start of a new chapter for the family. Melanie and her husband moved when she was pregnant with their first child together, bringing her two older children along and balancing university at the same time. Although they initially planned to stay only temporarily (neighbors has warned them about noise), renovating the apartment and building a life there changed “temporary” into 12 years and counting.
“For me, renovating this apartment was never just about making it beautiful — it was about bringing its original soul back to life,” Melanie writes. “Today, this apartment is so much more than just our home. It connects more than 120 years of Berlin’s history with our own family’s story.”
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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