A city villa from 1933 is being transformed into a modern dream home. In our interview, homeowner and interior blogger Christelle shares the challenges she and her family have faced so far – and the exciting plans they still have for their dream house.
Behind the name Christelle stands Christa Buck: She moved from her flat in Dusseldorf to a 1930’s city villa in Herne with her husband and young son. Like many, the family quickly realised how tough the property market can be. Their move was a compromise to secure their dream home, which they are now renovating almost entirely on their own. In our conversation, Christa allows us fascinating insights into their renovation journey.
Gira editorial team: Christa, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Before we dive into the topic of your new home, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Christa: I’m Christa, 32 years old, and I’ve been living in our little city villa in Herne with my husband and son for about a year now. Many people know me as the interior blogger Christelle on Instagram, where I take my nearly 170,000 followers along for the ride – sharing our home renovation journey and the everyday madness of having a toddler on a construction site.
Gira editorial team: The house you’ve been renovating was built in in 1933. How did you end up choosing this particular home, and what has been your biggest challenge so far?
Christa: The search for a property was really tough on us over the past few years. But this house – it was love at first sight. We only rediscovered it after it was relisted. Then one thing led to another, and luckily, the bank was on our side.
The biggest nasty surprise at the start of the renovation was how incredibly crooked the house was. We had to level all the floors, ceilings, and even some walls. But the biggest personal challenge? Moving onto the construction site quite early – with our one-year-old whirlwind. By now, though, we’ve really found our rhythm, and more and more rooms are finally coming together.
The road to their dream villa: Christa and her husband are renovating it themselves. Source: Christelle
Gira editorial team: Your home is decorated with great attention to detail. How would you describe your interior style?
Christa: Our home is all about light, bright, and natural colours, paired with warm wood tones. I have a real weakness for every shade of beige, limewash paints, and natural stone.
Gira editorial team: Which room is your favourite, and why?
Christa: Without a doubt, our kitchen! In our own home, we were finally able to make our dream a reality – with floor-to-ceiling cabinets, a kitchen island, indirect lighting, and plenty of storage, all in the gorgeous trend colour cashmere. Having direct access to the terrace was also really important to us, so we reconfigured the space a little to make it happen.
Gira editorial team: You’ve also paid close attention to the technical details and chose Gira products. Which ones have you installed in your home, and why?
Christa: Throughout the house, we’ve chosen sockets and light switches from the Gira E2 design line in pure white glossy – except for two double sockets on the kitchen backsplash, which are in black matt.
We went for pure white glossy because it’s timeless and easy to maintain. But if we ever wanted to change things up, it wouldn’t be a problem: the frames and inserts all have the same dimensions, so they’re easy to swap out. In some rooms, like the bedroom, we also opted for the Gira USB power supply A&C, which has both a USB-A and USB-C port – super practical for everyday use.
On top of that, we use the Gira System 3000, which is Bluetooth-based. This allows us to control our shutters not only via switches but also conveniently through the app on our smartphone. And just recently, we installed the door communication system Gira System 106 – so now, we finally have a working doorbell!
Before and after: for switches and sockets, Christa and her husband chose the clean, minimalist design of the Gira E2 series. Source: Christelle
Gira editorial team: Do you have plans to add any other practical electrical installations?
Christa: Our staircase is still under construction. We’re planning to install a recessed LED strip along the steps, which will be controlled via smart light switches.
We also want to play around with lighting in the garden – using indirect lighting on the house facade and in the flower beds. In the coming years, we’re also planning to install a photovoltaic system and a wallbox for electric vehicle charging. But one step at a time. First, we want to finish the interior.
Gira editorial team: Now let’s take a look into the future. What new home or interior projects do you have planned for this year?
Christa: Over the next few weeks, we’ll be focusing entirely on renovating two bathrooms. The gutting is already done. Our goal is to have both bathrooms fully renovated before our second child arrives in spring.
My personal highlight would be getting the LED strips installed in the staircase, along with the additional wiring for ceiling lights and sockets. But I’m not counting on that just yet. I’ll wait and see how much we can manage in the coming weeks with the help of our family and friends.
Gira editorial team: Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your home. We’re excited to see how things progress and wish you all the best for the arrival of your newest family member!
This interview was first published on gira.de on 31.1.2024.
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