One Year as an Expat in Berlin
We decided that if we're going to make a big move we have to do it while AJ is little. So we jumped. It's been tough. It's hard to have a small child with no network. It's hard to leave a thriving business. It's hard to start again in a country that speaks a different language, tells time differently (military time has been hard to get used to!), and even uses a different measuring system (thanks USA for setting up this fail). It's also been good to not have a car, to walk more (I average 60 miles a month without even trying), to eat fresher foods (markets everywhere), and most importantly to see different parts of the world more easily.
Today marks one year of living in Berlin.
We decided that if we're going to make a big move we have to do it while AJ is little. So we jumped. It's been tough. It's hard to have a small child with no network. It's hard to leave a thriving business. It's hard to start again in a country that speaks a different language, tells time differently (military time has been hard to get used to!), and even uses a different measuring system (thanks USA for setting up this fail). It's also been good to not have a car, to walk more (I average 60 miles a month without even trying), to eat fresher foods (markets everywhere), and most importantly to see different parts of the world more easily.
Adjusting to the culture has been a surprising assault. It's Germany. It's not a remote unknown place. We've visited multiple times before moving here. We always loved it. But living in a place shows you a whole different side. It's been surprising. It's been bureaucracy. It's been illuminating. It's like being broken open and starting again. Knowing people from different countries and seeing the world how they see it has been the greatest benefit so far. Let us not talk about the grocery stores, read any expat board and you'll see discussions about the grocery stores. I have been yelled out by a checker. Every expat I know has. My skin is tougher. And sometimes you laugh just so you don't cry.
Being in Europe I was fully expecting the culture and daily life to be, well, more beautiful. It's the romantic concept Americans have of Europe. Disneyland Europe. Don't get me wrong, it is beautiful. But it's also gritty. And dirty. And covered in graffiti. And customer service is nearly non existent. And the beauty of everyday life is basically considered frivolous. At least in Berlin. So I've gone about trying to create my European dream despite and maybe even due to the outside realities. Our beautiful Altbau apartment is decidedly European, very high ceilings, beautiful moldings, enormous beautiful doors with antique brass hardware, and the coveted herringbone floors. Picking up 2€ tulips on the corner. Sitting down for every meal at the dining table. Little things. Deciding to see the beauty regardless of the reality is a new skill I've acquired. And quite a beneficial one.
A surprising thing we've come across living here is the lack of outside influence in everything. We don't have cable or listen to the radio. We never see commercials. We can't read the magazines so we don't buy them. Same with the newspapers. We have an ad blocker on the internet so we don't even see ads there. A basic disconnect with materialism has completely changed how we see things. How we see everything. Even how we see ourselves. Who would you be if you could be anyone at all? What do you love if no one is there to tell you what you should love? What do you wear if you don't know what's in style or considered "cool"? That's what we've discovered. It's overwhelming. It's wonderful.
And while I rarely discuss my personal life in business, I can't discuss our first year without commenting on how amazingly family friendly Berlin and Europe are. Raising AJ here, while not easy- he's still 2, has been a pretty easy transition. Free kindergarten/daycare (Kita) now that we've found one. Playgrounds everywhere (I can think of 7 parks within a few blocks of us, all different and well thought out). Kids are welcome nearly everywhere. Beer gardens have playgrounds. It's brilliant. Kinder cafes (cafes with play areas for kids that serve coffee & baked goods to parents) are a thing here. Bakeries all over the place. One of AJ's first words was croissant. At this stage our lives unapologetically revolve around him and being in Europe makes that very tolerable and most of the time it's even enjoyable.
Jamie House Design has transitioned to me headquartered in Berlin smoother than anticipated. It hasn't been without its bumps and I'm sure Katie has wanted to pull my hair out more than once. But it's been good. The German arm of JHD is not quite off the ground as I'm still muddling through paperwork & regulations. But several projects and amazing clients in Houston has kept me sane. Designing and creating are my lifelines. I can't not do it. I'd do it for free and often do. By being selective with the projects I accept I have had time to work on the business of design. I have organized changes coming soon.
This year has been full of change, good change and exhausting change. While Berlin doesn't quite feel like home, Houston no longer does either. The expat limbo. I'm looking forward to what the next few years hold for us.
Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design continues to offer expert interior design services for high-end remodels throughout the US and abroad. Whether you’re preserving a beloved home or updating a space to better suit your lifestyle, we bring thoughtful design, timeless materials, and unparalleled attention to detail.
If you’re considering an interior design project, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact Jamie House Design today to discuss your project.
My Berlin Ikea Kitchen
The kitchen design process has been excruciating. Our beautiful pre war apartment did not come with a kitchen, or any lights, or any cabinets of any kind. Tis normal here. That means however that until we got the keys I couldn't measure or really get down to designing the kitchen. So six weeks of living without an actual kitchen has been pretty terrible, not the worst, but pretty terrible. Luckily the landlord provided us with a little stove and a sink to get us by. My industrious husband found a little refrigerator on Ebay (they use Ebay like Craigslist over here) so we were functional.
The kitchen design process has been excruciating. Our beautiful pre war apartment did not come with a kitchen, or any lights, or any cabinets of any kind. Tis normal here. That means however that until we got the keys I couldn't measure or really get down to designing the kitchen. So six weeks of living without an actual kitchen has been pretty terrible, not the worst, but pretty terrible. Luckily the landlord provided us with a little stove and a sink to get us by. My industrious husband found a little refrigerator on Ebay (they use Ebay like Craigslist over here) so we were functional.
Fast forward to today and our Ikea kitchen is being installed. Not without issue but I'll get to that. My main inspiration was this image and the Tobi Fairley designed kitchen from her Riverside Penthouse project.
See more of my inspiration here.
Now onto the kitchen Tobi designed. I normally don't love beige. I do happen to be completely attracted to this tone of beige lately though. It has grey undertones rather than yellow. All of the 90s beige was yellow undertones and it just feels dirty now. But what I truly love is the combo of the beige and lavender. I mean gahhhhh! I've been trying to work lavender into anything for the last couple of years. This lavender as a MODERN accent is very special. Not too sweet. Not little girl lavender.
OK my decision to go with Ikea. While in the states I design custom kitchens with custom, usually job built, cabinetry I just don't have those resources here. Sure I'll get them, but in the meantime we need a kitchen. And we're renting. And honestly Ikea cabinets have the best efficiency and organization for our small space and large needs.
After seeing this Ikea kitchen I figured I could pull off the look in a different but satisfying way.
So after designing it all I realized it was too boring for me. So blah. We can't change the backsplash, it's white square tiles. We have a galley kitchen, nothing like this or Tobi's open concept with island layout. When I laid it out it felt very mom jeans. Very norm-core. Very me. But a bit too bland so no beige.
So here we are with my plan for a green kitchen. Green! I love green. I had an angel reading a couple of years ago saying I should wear more green and I'm trying to go literal with that, whatever that means.
I incorporated the beige to break up the green. You're looking through the window seeing the radiator BTW. The pantry cabinets step back to leave room for the door to open. We have to have the washer and dryer in the kitchen. Well at least the washer because it needs to use the sink plumbing for water. While I suppose we can put the dryer anywhere with an outlet I prefer to not have a dryer in my bedroom or living room.
The counters are a marble look solid surface material. To be honest I'm not sure what it is. It's not like anything I've seen and no one's been able to translate it into anything meaningful for me. And honestly I don't care. It's a good look, solid surface, and I'm moving on. This shows wood floors but we don't have wood floors sadly. We have white squares. Lot's of white square tile in Berlin.
Well our kitchen didn't turn out like this. Many changes were made on the fly during installation yesterday. They're finishing up today so we'll discuss more soon. Crazy how my inspiration picture isn't at all what I ended up designing. That's how it goes. Take inspiration and make it yours. I'll leave you with a shot of end of the day yesterday. Don't judge.
Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design continues to offer expert interior design services for high-end remodels throughout the US and abroad. Whether you’re preserving a beloved home or updating a space to better suit your lifestyle, we bring thoughtful design, timeless materials, and unparalleled attention to detail.
If you’re considering an interior design project, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact Jamie House Design today to discuss your project.
Jamie House Design Relocates from Houston to Berlin
Hallo, wie geht es dir heute?
I've relocated to Berlin and opened a JHD outpost here. I know it's a bit out of the blue. It's been a dream my husband and I have held for a long time. We decided to take the plunge
Hallo, wie geht es dir heute?
I've relocated to Berlin and opened a JHD outpost here. I know it's a bit out of the blue. It's been a dream my husband and I have held for a long time. We decided to take the plunge when AJ turned one. It's taken longer to be settled than we could have ever imagined. How naive of us. That seems to be how it goes with me, always assuming things will work out. And they do. But not necessarily on my timetable.
Katie Steele, design assistant extraordinaire, is running the JHD Houston branch. Thank goodness for Katie.
We've settled into a darling old apartment in the Prenzlauer Berg area. Our lifestyle without a car, walking around the corner to dinner/ groceries/ coffee, parks on nearly every block, has certainly upgraded. One huge difference is the apartments here do not come with lights or kitchens. So we're still awaiting our kitchen install. I'll post more about that soon. Here is Berlin as seen by me:
Auf Wiedersehen!
Edited in 2021 to add : Now based in Denver, Jamie House Design continues to offer expert interior design services for high-end remodels in Houston and beyond. Whether you’re preserving a beloved home or updating a space to better suit your lifestyle, we bring thoughtful design, timeless materials, and unparalleled attention to detail.
If you’re considering a kitchen remodel, let’s create something extraordinary together. Contact Jamie House Design today to discuss your project.