After six years living in New York, young couple Marie von Behrens-Felipe and Roberto A. Felipe returned to Hamburg, where they unexpectedly discovered an architectural gem that rivals the iconic Case Study Houses of Los Angeles. Their journey from Manhattan to finding their dream home exemplifies how lifestyle changes and family priorities can lead to unexpected discoveries.
Marie von Behrens-Felipe, an influencer who started her first blog at just twelve years old, knows the feeling of homesickness well. While she had lost her heart to Brooklyn and moved to New York for her partner Roberto A. Felipe, the pandemic brought a period of reflection. The couple decided to take a second apartment in Hamburg, and Roberto, who worked in the startup world between Kentucky, Los Angeles, and New York, began discovering the Hanseatic city in his own way. "In Hamburg, I learned to appreciate the small things: morning runs along the Alster, the clear air, and the proximity to nature," Marie reflects.
This shift toward a more conscious, reduced lifestyle led the couple to found Sonsie in 2023, a skincare label co-founded with Pamela Anderson, who made headlines during Paris Fashion Week with her makeup-free look. With the birth of their daughter Zoe, now two years old, Felipe and von Behrens knew they wanted to create a safe and secure environment for their young family.
What began as a search for a weekend house ended with a spontaneous purchase - a new family home. One morning, Marie discovered a newly listed architect-designed midcentury house online and immediately drove by for a look from the outside. In that moment, she knew "This is it!" and sent her partner a photo. "On our trips to Los Angeles, we saw so many beautiful midcentury houses - that's where our dream of owning one grew," she explains.
The discovery proved to be a stroke of luck: the house was in perfect condition, and only later, almost by chance, did they learn that the architect had once worked under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. From the beginning, it was clear that only the most necessary renovations would be undertaken to preserve the bungalow's character. "The house had been empty for two or three years, but it was exceptionally well-maintained. We learned from neighbors that the previous owner was a special soul - you can feel that in every corner," Marie notes.
Throughout the house, well-thought-out details are hidden everywhere, including sliding doors that elegantly connect rooms and delicate windows that provide gentle light in almost every room. The young family found everything they loved about the West Coast's Case Study Houses: an architect-designed house with a generous floor plan, abundant glass fronts, and light-flooded rooms.
For the careful renovation, the family brought Tim Schulz from A and O Architects on board. "We wanted to preserve every architectural detail," says Marie von Behrens-Felipe. Only one wall and the bathroom were moved by one meter; otherwise, the floor plan remained untouched. Original elements like the wood ceiling and built-in bookshelf that the couple found in the house determined the color scheme for the entire interior renovation.
In collaboration with Huqo carpentry, a custom design was created for the kitchen, bedroom, hallway, and bathroom. Previously, the kitchen was dark and cramped in the utility room; today it opens up flooded with light, creating a new spatial feeling full of width and lightness. Technically, the house was brought up to the latest standards with completely new electrical systems, underfloor heating, and floors that respect the character of the house - the old tiles and carpeted floors had to go.
Regarding furniture and art, the couple bought almost nothing new. Nearly all pieces come from their collection in New York, which was built up with their close friend and gallerist Jeffrey Graetsch. A piece by Charlotte Perriand was one of the first they bought - the beginning of a collecting passion that still shapes their home today. Looking back, Roberto A. Felipe says, "It feels like we've been collecting for this house all these years."
Preserving and complementing the gentle patina of the bungalow was important to the couple. The original brick walls and wooden beams bear the traces of past times, and every piece of furniture found its place as if it had always been part of these rooms. Design classics are everywhere: in front of the living room fireplace stands Hans J. Wegner's Flag Halyard lounger from 1950, above the Living Divani sofa hangs a painting by James Perkins, with a coffee table by Charlotte Perriand and a small bookshelf by Pierre Jeanneret topped with a work by Soumya Netrabile.
Together with Tim Schulz and Huqo carpentry, storage space was created throughout the house that blends almost seamlessly into the building structure. The kitchen island forms a unit with the enlarged and also custom-made kitchen, featuring bar stools by Pierre Jeanneret. Custom-built wardrobes were also installed in the bedroom and bathroom.
"I no longer chase trends, but look for timeless things. This house feels like us. Every piece has special meaning," says Marie von Behrens-Felipe. The minimally designed bathroom invites relaxation as a wellness oasis with clear lines. In the children's room, red and yellow tones provide accents, with a painting by Pam Glick hanging above the custom-made desk, accompanied by a chair by Charlotte Perriand, a table lamp by Louis Poulsen, and a sheep in the Lalanne style.
From the living room to the bathroom, warm midcentury tones create a harmonious overall picture. The house stands as a testament to the couple's journey from New York's fast pace to Hamburg's quieter rhythms, where they've created a space that perfectly reflects their aesthetic sensibilities and family values.
