Historic Restoration: Breathing New Life Into a Fachwerk Home

Modern kitchen and dining area with wooden ceiling beams, black cabinets, and a dining table with black chairs.

A Timeless Project

In 2014, a classic 200-year-old Fachwerk (exposed timber frame) house became our home in Germany. After a decade with tenants, it called out for a complete refresh—something we tackled right away. Traditional farmhouses like ours often include an attached barn; many barns are rarely used and fall into disrepair, but our roof remained solid, allowing us to focus our restoration efforts elsewhere. In 2019, we set our sights on rejuvenating the hayloft section.

Navigating Historic Preservation

Renovating a property under “Denkmalschutz” (historic preservation) is never straightforward. Securing approval meant navigating a lengthy and careful review process, and then the pandemic further delayed our timeline. It wasn’t until 2022 that restoration could finally begin, transforming the main floor into a versatile kitchen, dining, and lounge area.

  • The hayloft restoration was carefully planned to respect historic features.

  • Pandemic disruptions doubled material costs and strained availability of skilled trades, but our dedicated team stayed the course.

  • The result is a harmonious blend of old and new, highlighting the property’s best attributes.

Details of Authentic Renewal

We chose a specialist company in historic restoration to craft windows approved by preservation authorities. These required no wood cutting at installation, with frames that appear to cut through the glass—a detail that honors tradition. Elements like steel frames, an exterior staircase, and a custom-built kitchen became visual highlights.

  • Natural Douglas pine from the Black Forest, taupe Venetian plaster, and black steel feature as key materials.

  • We insulated with 20 centimeters of natural wool and multiple wood fiber layers, raising the home’s energy performance.

  • Over time, the old kitchen will become a utility room, supporting modern living needs.

The result is a space where heritage and contemporary design meet, making this restored Fachwerk house an inspiring place to live and gather—a testament to the value and challenge of thoughtful historic restoration in Germany.

Interior of a building under construction or renovation, showing exposed wooden roof rafters and walls, with a metal ladder leaning against the wall on the left.
Empty unfinished attic with exposed wooden beams, walls with dirt and insulation, and a single light bulb illuminating the space.
Empty room with wooden flooring, white walls, a wooden bench next to a window, and an open doorway leading to a hallway.
Construction materials inside an attic showing wooden framing and insulation.
Two workers installing insulation in a newly constructed room with wood framing and windows.
Black modern dresser with multiple compartments in a room with wooden flooring and a wooden wall.
View from inside a building showing black metal window sills and large windows with a view of houses with red tiled roofs and a green yard outside
Bright living room corner with a light green sofa, colorful pillows, and an assortment of potted houseplants on a windowsill, illuminated by sunlight.
Wooden door decorated with a Christmas wreath, framed by stone walls with the words 'H 8 3 O B' etched above.
A large traditional house with black and white timber-framed walls, illuminated at night, with a tree in front and a blue sky in the background.
Old farmhouse with exposed wooden beams and white stucco walls, metal staircase with a person walking up, small window, and a fenced yard.
A woman preparing food in a modern kitchen with a dining table set for dinner, decorated with table lamps, wine glasses, and place settings, surrounded by dishes and kitchen utensils.
Modern kitchen countertop with black cabinets, a sink, a bowl, and glassware above the counter, illuminated by two black pendant lights.
A black display shelf holding several bottles of alcohol in a wooden room with a ladder on the right and a mirror above the shelf.
Two black pendant lights hanging from a wooden ceiling with exposed beams, illuminating a textured brown wall.
Close-up of a modern black and gold chandelier with multiple exposed bulbs hanging from a wooden ceiling with large beams, in a room with wooden accents and a beige wall.
A cozy dining room with a wooden table and six wicker chairs, lit by candles in the center. There are two windows allowing natural light, a sideboard underneath one window with a plant and candles, and a green tiled stove on the right. The room has a
A cozy home office corner with a wooden desk, a yellow upholstered chair, and large green houseplants near a window. The window has wooden frames and a variety of decorative objects on the sill, including vases and stacks of books. A black pendant li
View of a wooden staircase taken from the bottom looking up, with a metal handrail on the left and a decorative wooden beam on the right, leading to a hallway with a bookshelf and a plant.
Cozy living room with beige sofa, red and cream throw pillows, a black round coffee table, a tall potted plant, a mirror on a brown wall, a table lamp with a chain-link base, a stack of books, a decorative room divider, and curtains covering a window

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