This converted 1850s farmhouse near Germany’s North Sea coast is filled with Gustavian antiques to buy

'Everything here is for sale,’ says Birgit Niehaus of her 150-year-old thatched farmhouse in Germany’s picturesque Lower Saxony region. Everything, that is, apart from the fridge, cooker and, in a way, her beloved blue Dutch cupboard in the living room, which has been given an impossibly high price to ensure that it’s never bought.

The farmhouse is an old Low German house – a timber-framed farmhouse found in northern Germany - -

Despite being a ‘shop’ of sorts, the farmhouse is decidely homely, with Birgit quick to rustle up ‘a little soup’ for her customers, adding to the warm atmosphere.

Birgit started dealing in Gustavian antiques 10 years ago and, when she and her husband Holger bought the farmhouse in 2016, the idea was to live in it temporarily and use it primarily as a showroom. Eight years later and they’re still here.

Swedish farmhouse — Chandeliers and clocks feature prominently in the farmhouse – the former adding an interesting contrast to the rustic feel of the building - -

One would imagine that living in a shop could come with a lot of compromise, but not so for Birgit. ‘I only sell furniture that I would buy for myself and there are no walk-in customers; the showroom is open by appointment only. My customers and I share the same passion for Gustavian furniture, so it feels like having friends around for a chat,’ she says.

This house has a history of adaptability, having served in the past as both a pub and a museum of local history. It is part of a group of three buildings, which also include a bakehouse and a dilapidated barn that is sadly past renovation.

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The Belgian floor tiles make a striking feature in the large and welcoming hallway - -

Haberdashery cabinet — Birgit’s collection of blue-and-white china is displayed on a cabinet that was once part of a haberdashery - -

Kitchen with clock — The kitchen is one of the few rooms containing items that aren’t for sale - -

Hallway and packing room — Farmhands used to sleep in the room off the hallway. Later, a small shop belonging to the local history museum was located here. Today it is the packing room - -

Silver serving bells — Birgit has a talent for creating eyecatching displays, as seen here in a Swedish corner cupboard filled with silver serving bells - -

Living room — For pieces of furniture that Birgit is particularly fond of, the price is sometimes set so high that no one is inclined to buy them. The best example of this is the blue Dutch cupboard in the living room - -

When Birgit and Holger first bought the farmhouse, it was dark and uninviting, but they were undeterred by the work needed to turn it into a home; the couple has since given it a new thatched roof, electrics and heating, and the floor has been lowered on the ground level.

At one of the entrances to the building, a glass vestibule was installed to let in more light. The couple also fitted a pulley to lift furniture from the entrance to the first floor, where items can be refurbished and stored.

Clocks and paintings — Swedish clocks and paintings are found throughout the farmhouse, creating a harmonious flow - -

Birgit has loved antiques since her childhood and is particularly partial to Swedish furniture and interiors, which she describes as ‘so cheerful.’

The move into dealing in Swedish antiques came after a previous house renovation. Her quest to find historical building materials took her travelling throughout Denmark and Sweden – and it was here that she discovered the antique furniture she went on to fill her new home with.

Colour matching — Birgit has matched the colour of the Gustavian antiques in this corner to the sitter of the 1884 painting, Emmy Laura Sophie Lübschitz, wife of the Danish painter John L. Lübschitz - -

Friends and acquaintances wanted in on the action and Birgit tried to oblige as much as she could: ‘Demand was high and I couldn’t get as many pieces as they wanted,’ she says. Finally, she gave up her previous job and started trading in Gustavian antiques full-time.

Restoration is a big part of the job for Birgit. After taking a closer look at a piece of furniture, she repaints it or reupholsters it in her mind; she can visualise its transformation in an instant. Sometimes she takes the piece completely apart, such as the cupboard in the kitchen – formerly used in a haberdashery – which she adapted to create more storage.

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Scandi colours — The living room is decorated in the typical Scandinavian colours that Birgit loves: blue, white and grey - -

Cabinet — This cabinet dates from the 19th century. The glazing bars were originally gold-coloured, but Birgit painted them a warm grey - -

Swedish stove cupboard — A so-called tiled stove cupboard. These cupboards were designed and painted to look like Swedish stoves - -

Swedish bedroom — In Birgit and Holger’s bedroom, bronze lamps sit on demi-lune tables by the bedside, and an old Swedish clock ticks away - -

Gilt details — Gilt mirrors and frames are a recurring thread throughout the farmhouse, and stand out against crisp white walls - -

Restored antiques — A ginger jar has been transformed into a beautiful lamp by Birgit, who takes pride in restoring the antiques she sells - -

Living in a shop means that the furnishings are constantly changing. ‘Since the showroom opened in 2018, the customers have basically emptied it of its contents,’ Birgit says.

The furniture itself may have changed, but Birgit’s beloved Scandinavian colours have remained: mainly light and bright shades of blue, beige and grey; always a little chalky. These shades remind her of the Scandinavian landscape and the unique light in the north.

‘There is nothing oppressive about these colours,’ she says. ‘They put people in a good mood.’ Birgit-niehaus.de

This converted 1850s farmhouse near Germany’s North Sea coast is filled with Gustavian antiques to buy

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