Moving back to the village at the age of 25 is rather unusual. But for Peter, it was an affair of the heart. Having grown up in a wine village on the Nahe, the young photographer soon had enough of the hectic life in Hamburg and Frankfurt. His job took him on the road a lot anyway, so he was looking for a place to retreat to.

At just the right moment, he found an advertisement online from his landlord and current friend Götz. He had bought and renovated a farmhouse in Rheinhessen and was now looking for suitable tenants. From today's perspective, both would probably describe it as a "perfect match". Both are photographers, love aesthetics, the charm of characterful old buildings and a good glass of wine. So the evening of the house viewing ended on a cozy note. Over the years, the business relationship has long since developed into friendship and a cordial neighborhood.

Although landlord Götz laid the foundations by renovating the 200-year-old cottage, it was Peter who gave the house its very own style over the years with his successful mix of everyday furniture, designer objects and individual pieces. Three years ago, Peter's girlfriend Franzi moved from Hamburg to Volxheim in Rheinhessen to join him. This brought another wave of Nordic style into the house, including some Scandinavian design classics.

Together, they also invested in a new kitchen: It was important to them to emphasize the open structure of the house and to have enough space for cooking and chatting. Together with two young carpenters from Bad Kreuznach, they then planned an elegant ochre-yellow kitchen with high-quality wood that goes perfectly with the old gray door frames. Cooking, meeting friends and making themselves comfortable at home is extremely important to the young couple. Both are self-employed and often travel for work. Peter works as a photographer and cameraman, Franzi as a model. They appreciate the country life in Volxheim, the proximity to the forest and the vineyards, and love being out and about on their bikes or with their dog Carla.

One of her favorite places is the fireplace. "I love sitting in front of the fireplace in winter. It has its own very special atmosphere, especially with the view into the kitchen," enthuses Peter.

They both like old things and enjoy rummaging through vintage stores. "What I like about old things is that they are unique and that you don't find them everywhere. When I look at old things, I often imagine what they looked like to the previous owners," says Franzi. Peter also thinks: "Comfort has nothing to do with money. Old pieces like my old Ikea sofa or finds from junk or second-hand stores make the house individual and cozy." Especially here in the countryside, you often find things in bulky waste, says Peter: "Sometimes you discover design classics here because people throw away old things simply because they think new is better."

At some point, they both want their own garden and Franzi wants a large closet, which she currently has to do without because of the crooked walls. But until then, the two of them simply make themselves at home in their country cottage.

A film by Tina Bonin (editor), Lars Reuther (camera), Yannick Gaul (camera/sound) and Monika Kostrzewa (editor).

00:00 Life in the cottage
00:32 Entrance area
00:56 Dining room
05:25 Kitchen
07:22 Living room
10:57 Dressing room
11:30 Bathroom
12:11 Bedroom
13:12 Office and guest room