St. Oak Apartments

A+ Renovation

This sweepingly seductive getaway on a small-town market square an easy train ride from Berlin brings a heritage property into the era of generous loft living, with delicious slow-living styling and an intimate, sepia toned beauty.

Created by Berlin-based bloggers Laura Muthesius and Nora Eisermann, a duo whose food styling and photography has garnered an avid following, the loft apartment occupies an upper floor of a 100-year-old-house and has been gracefully transformed.

Built in 1912, the property was a commercial/agricultural bank and a residential apartment bloc during the GDR era. Its reincarnation includes a sage-y green Shaker-styled kitchen by deVOL, with Carrera marble countertops and island, plus Smeg appliances. The property’s wall tiles, stair railing, vestibule and oak entrance are original, as are a set of Art Nouveau era glass windows in the stairwell to the apartment. Bedrooms are generous, softly plastered in lime and made up with double beds and natural linens. And the apartment’s two bathrooms are unique, one with double marble sinks and a shower, one half bath, and a soaking tub in a bedroom, all with handmade English brass fittings. An intimate balcony perches outside the open living/reading room/dining/kitchen space, set in the shade of the 200-year-old oak tree that gives the property its name and is visible from nearly every window.

The property comes with four bicycles for exploring the town and local area, parked in a bike room on the ground floor.

Around

The property is located on the market square in the small town of Kyritz (Kyritz an der Knatter) in Brandenburg, about a 90-minute train ride or drive north of Berlin. It stands opposite Kyritz’s town hall next to a giant oak tree that’s older than the building itself. The oak was planted to mark victory over Napolean and is known locally as the “peace oak.” Kyritz is a charming, quiet town of many beautiful red-brick houses. There’s a local ice cream shop and small organic food outlet walking distance from the loft, and more standard larger grocers and services as well. A weekly market takes place below the loft on Tuesdays and Fridays. A small lake with pedal boats and rowboats is about 15 minutes from the apartment by bicycle, and the lake is open for swimming as well. This is a holiday getaway created for unwinding and living slowly and peacefully, and for those seeking a more urban pace, Berlin is less than 2 hours away.

Location

Nearest airport: Berlin (1.5 hours)

Best time to visit

Year-round, whenever the need for calm strikes