Small Living Story: Love for change

In conversation with Shari Dietz

Shari and André Dietz love change.
But what do you do when there’s little room left for optimisation in your own home? Exactly: you need a new, creative playground! Last year, the couple went on a search—and found—their “DIETZWOHNUNG.”

Shari, would you mind briefly sharing how the idea for the “Dietzwohnung” came about?
Shari: We love transforming living spaces—designing them and furnishing them. That’s something we’ve done again and again in our home over the past few years, and by now, we’ve pretty much redesigned every room from scratch. (Except for the kitchen… I think that’s next on the list ;-))

The flat in Cologne’s Südstadt district is 50 sqm in size, and you consciously selected it in part because of its size. Did that make selecting the right furniture more of a challenge, or did you already have a clear vision in mind?
Shari: We already had a number of furniture pieces in mind that we absolutely loved, but which didn’t quite fit into our home. That was also one of the reasons why we were so keen to renovate and furnish a flat from scratch!

And when you first stepped into the flat, did you immediately have a vision for how it would look later on, or did that develop over time?
Shari: Immediately. But that’s always the case with us—whenever we enter a house or a flat, we instantly start seeing ideas. Like a blank canvas that’s just waiting to be painted. For us, it’s a creative playground where we can live out our passion: creating space. Transforming space.

What criteria did you use to select the furniture?
Shari: First, the piece has to pass through our eyes—and then through our hands. We fall in love with a design, and then we focus on the craftsmanship and materials used. And of course: the piece also has to be functional ;)

What, in your view, defines good design?
Shari: We’re huge fans of timeless classics—pieces that are sturdy and therefore sustainable. Ideally, they’re pieces that our children will still like when they’re grown.

We’ve already collaborated on several occasions. How did you initially come across us?
Shari: There’s a large children’s furniture manufacturer here in Cologne: De Breuyn. It’s a family business that builds high-quality children’s beds, which we absolutely love. At some point, we spotted an especially impressive bed in their showroom: the Flai by Müller Möbel. We were instantly smitten! It wasn’t until later that we realised our favourite interior design store in Aachen—Mathes—also works with Müller Möbel. We’re incredibly happy with Müller Möbel—not just in the #dietzwohnung but also in our own home!

What does Müller Small Living mean to you—and do you have a favourite “Müller piece”?
Shari: We tried to fit everything into 50 sqm: a spacious living area with a cosy sofa and dining space for several people. A kitchen where you can also cook for friends. A calm space that also allows you to work. We didn’t want to do without anything—and that, to us, is Small Living: creating space for everything, even in the smallest of areas. Always with an eye for design! And of course: Flatmate embodies exactly that for us. It’s one of our favourite pieces by Müller Möbel.

Photos: © Catja Vedder