Photographer Jules Villbrandt has transformed her Berlin apartment into a living canvas where everyday moments become art installations, all while maintaining a bustling family life with her partner and two children. The 39-year-old artist uses her 3.5-room apartment in Berlin's Wedding district as both a creative space and a warm family home.

It's hard to believe that this stunning apartment was unwanted back in 2008. Julia-Ruth Villbrandt, known as Jules, vividly remembers discovering this residential gem in Berlin's Wedding neighborhood - nearly 1,100 square feet for just 500 euros including utilities. Despite the incredible deal, the then-university student had to think carefully about the decision. "I was still a student at the University of the Arts, and our son Justus was only two years old," she recalls. But her instincts told her to "let's take this risk," and she successfully convinced her partner Alhadj Diallo to make the move.

What started as a bold gamble has evolved into the family's long-term headquarters, where daughter Jolanta has been running around since 2021. Jules tells stories about the renovation adventures of their now-open living and dining area with characteristic Berlin humor - tales of cheeky raccoons on construction scaffolding and an elevator that "drove for the first time today after six years of planning." She shares these anecdotes with deep affection for her hometown, noting "That's typical Berlin!"

Jules has an exceptional eye for aesthetic harmony, particularly evident in her Reform kitchen where many details create still-life compositions. "I can immediately see when something doesn't harmonize," she explains. This natural talent led her to essentially invent her own career path. What began as one of the most successful interior and lifestyle blogs, Herz & Blut (Heart & Blood), founded in 2010, has grown into Klub Maison with its own newsletter and large photo studio for continuously flowing creative ideas.

The family's living spaces reflect Jules' collector's eye and artistic sensibility. Her son Justus enjoys reading in a Fritz Hansen "Fred" chair, while Jules admits she "can't sit still and is always in motion." The photographer notes that it's rare to see teenagers' interior spaces featured digitally, though she acknowledges that Justus's high design affinity is also uncommon. "My son's room is my dream space," Jules proudly shares, where his hobbies get places of honor - Lego collections and tennis equipment thoughtfully displayed.

Art collection plays a central role in defining the family's living space. Jules has been collecting art since her early days, often discovering pieces through Instagram. "Most of the art I find on Instagram. And I'm amazed myself at how quickly the values of the pictures increase later. That's my personal version of the lottery," she explains. Above the parents' bed hangs a work by Vienna-based artist Rini Spiel, while artwork from Kim Bartelt frames the family in their main living area.

The apartment successfully accommodates multiple generations' needs and interests. Daughter Jolanta's growing bed is from Danish manufacturer Sebra, and while her own room is being developed, she currently sleeps next to her parents' box spring bed from Fennobed. Jules' mother had collected art books, a tradition that young Jolanta is slowly beginning to embrace, creating a multi-generational connection to art appreciation.

Jules' creative partnership with her older sister Maria-Silva has been strong since childhood. Whenever their parents traveled, "we threw dinner parties in the smallest space. Everything has grown gradually. For me, we are the most chaotic-organized construct in the world. Nothing has a proper lead time, but we always manage to pull everything off." This collaborative spirit continues today, with Maria-Silva handling catering for events, creating buffets as sensual happenings composed like paintings.

Reflecting on her aesthetic development, Jules traces her visual sensitivity back to childhood. "I had a feeling for form language even when painting as a child and got lost in art books. During my first pregnancy, I started photographing and filled my original interest with new life." Her family lovingly supported this development, regularly visiting exhibitions, though they didn't view her talent as exceptional - it was simply a natural part of their upbringing.

As one of the first home bloggers to post photos of her apartment, Jules has watched her creative universe grow steadily alongside her success. She admits that "a move could certainly help to reorganize. The older I get, the more order I need," noting that built-in storage currently provides structure in the bedroom. Despite having "canvases wrapped in foil under the bed," she finds it difficult to part with her collection, as "artworks represent different phases of my life and are even closer to me than my most expensive furniture. I would always save the pictures first - they make our home unmistakable."