Renovating a rental apartment to make it your own

A story of light, everyday decisions, and a splash of color that completely changed the kitchen.

When Inés and Samuel first walked into this century-old apartment in southern Germany, they weren't looking for a renovation project. They wanted to move in together, to find a place to start. The apartment was rented, and it wasn't in great condition. But there was something about it. Morning light, high ceilings, a classic layout. In less than a day, they made their decision. Not to move in. To renovate it.

It's not common to renovate a rental apartment. There's always the question: is it worth investing in something that isn't yours? For them, the answer was simple. If they were going to live there, they wanted it to work with their lifestyle. It didn't have to be perfect. It just had to make sense to them.
One of the most obvious challenges was the kitchen. The space was small and only received light in the early morning. From the beginning, they knew that this room would need more than just a practical solution. They wanted it to feel open and airy, without anything blocking the light or closing off the space. They chose low cabinets, no upper cabinets, a flexible layout, and a light color palette. Everything was designed to avoid obstructing the flow of light and to create a sense of spaciousness without having to alter the structure.

But the most important thing came with an unexpected idea.

“We thought of a yellow countertop from the beginning, even though we had never seen one before. We had our doubts, of course. But something told us it was going to work.”

It was the first design decision they made, although it took some time to materialize. It wasn't an obvious choice, but over time it became the defining element of the entire kitchen. The color compensates for the lack of sunlight in winter and enlivens the space even on the gloomiest days. It doesn't try to stand out, but it does.

The other details follow this logic: honest materials, exposed plywood edges, round handles with wood inlays. Everything was designed to be there without being imposing, to be part of everyday use.

“It’s the part we like the most. Not only because it turned out well, but because it was something we hadn’t seen before. We took a risk and we’re glad we did.”

After three years, the apartment is still changing. The bathroom, which they only painted at the beginning, still needs renovating. Sometimes they wonder if they should stop. But a new idea always comes up, a possible improvement. Even though they aren't the owners, they've made the space their own. Not because of what they invested, but because of how they live in it.