Small Living Story: Visiting the Gulfhof Dreybült

In conversation with Thomas Grundke

It is a Monday afternoon in early May. As we drive past fields of bright yellow rapeseed, the sun is competing with the blue sky for attention. To our right stretches the seemingly endless dike, and to the left, they suddenly appear – the first houses with the typical signs in the front yard: “Holiday Apartment to the Seagull,” “Guesthouse by the Sea” – and countless other charming names. But our destination today is a very special holiday accommodation: Gulfhof Dreybült in Neßmersiel, East Frisia.

For almost 250 years, the North German climate battered the building’s walls, until the listed property was finally restored with great attention to detail by Thomas Grundke and three other investors. The result: 12 modern holiday apartments whose architecture impressively merges history with modernity. The renovation took about two years, not least due to strict heritage protection requirements. The concept for the future apartments was quickly clear: the interior should radiate urban coziness without being overpowering, while clean lines provide a sense of visual structure. The focus when selecting materials was above all on durability and quality.

Mr. Grundke, first of all, thank you for welcoming us to this stunning setting! That brings us straight to the first question: was it love at first sight?

Thomas Grundke:
It actually started off quite unromantically: two brothers had purchased the farm with the idea of turning it into a holiday property. I was actually the first investor to visit the site in person. It was a September day in 2016, and much like today: the sun was shining, the fields around had already been harvested, and it looked a bit like something out of a fairy tale – wild nature climbing over the grounds, and the building in quite poor condition. You could immediately tell something needed to be done. But at the same time, I felt this special charm right away.
I ended up staying the entire afternoon until dusk began to fall. And then I saw the old lighthouse of Norderney, which shines directly in this direction (by the way, in the old residential part of the house, you can see the lighthouse beam in the evenings). So yes, in the end, it really was something like love at first sight. I just knew: if I’m going to do a project like this, then it has to be this farm! The sheer size also impressed me. The barn is 45 meters long, which shows what a large agricultural operation it used to be. And ultimately, there's just so much history within these walls. All of it combined created this truly special atmosphere.

This old Gulfhof really is something special. Could you tell us a bit more about the history of this property?

Thomas Grundke:
The Poppen family had the farm built in 1776 and managed it until the end of the 19th century. That year, along with the initials "J.P." (Johann Poppen), were intentionally included in our logo. Around 1880, the Heykena family took over the farm and continued operating it for a long time. After several changes in tenants, the farm was sold in 1982 to Ms. Stock.
She came from the Ruhr area, had fallen head over heels in love with the North Sea coast, and more or less saved the farm. For many years, she ran an antique market in the barn. In 2015, the property was purchased by the two brothers from Oldenburg. So yes, the farm was used agriculturally for a very long time.
As for the name “Dreybült,” unfortunately, its origin isn’t fully documented. Research has shown a possible connection to the term "dree bült" (Low German for “three mounds”) – although if you look around today, you won’t find three mounds anymore. So it’s unclear where the name truly comes from.
However, Ms. Stock adopted the name and turned it into Dreybült. We found that so charming that we decided to keep it just as it was.

How many apartments are available for guests? And what makes the interior design particularly special?

Thomas Grundke:
There are 12 apartments available in total. Six are located in the barn, four in the old residential house, and two in the former pigsty. The architecture of the six barn apartments is quite special: they are individual cubes that were built inside the barn. Since then, others have started to copy this idea, especially after our architect, Ms. Müller from Oldenburg, won an award for this architectural concept.
Back then, we deliberately decided not to simply renovate something, but rather to create something new within these historical walls. And today, when you step into the enormous barn, you immediately feel this special charm.
The barn is also a blessing for children and families: when typical North German drizzle sets in, kids can freely play football or foosball inside, and afterwards, everyone can gather in the large communal room for a cup of tea.
Then there’s the old residential house. In cooperation with the local heritage authority, we tried to preserve as much as possible. When you walk in, you instantly get the feeling: this is exactly what it used to look like here. The ceiling beams, for instance, were preserved, and the old doors and windows were restored – which is why everything is a little crooked and uneven. But that was totally worth it to us.
Whatever could be preserved, we preserved, with the goal of consciously blending the old with the new. This combination should also be reflected in the interior design: Northern German simplicity, down-to-earth character, and clean lines, combined with a thoughtful color concept to ensure the space still feels like an old farmhouse – but in a new look.

Some of the apartments are furnished with pieces by Müller Small Living – and have been for several years. How important are quality and craftsmanship to you when it comes to furniture?

Thomas Grundke:
That topic is very, very important. With so many guests visiting throughout the year, durability becomes one of the most critical selection criteria – always in combination with aesthetics, of course. But it’s often the case that the most beautiful pieces are also the most delicate. So we had to find furniture that combines both: great design with robustness and longevity.
Thankfully, we found exactly that with Müller Small Living. The surfaces are extremely resistant, the design is timelessly beautiful, and it fits wonderfully with the rest of the interior.
We didn’t want to look at the furniture in five years and think it had gone out of style. The great thing about Müller furniture is that, on one hand, it stands out through its design, but on the other hand, it blends seamlessly into its surroundings without being intrusive.

Müller Small Living is known for its clear design language and minimalist, essentials-focused style. You’ve impressively shown how this minimalism can pair beautifully with coziness. Would you say timeless minimalism is the foundation of good interior design?

Thomas Grundke:
Absolutely. Clean lines, quality materials, and a subtle design – this combination creates a sense of order immediately. You walk into a room and aren’t overwhelmed with visual clutter; your eyes can settle right away.
And yet, it doesn’t have to feel cold. Especially through the materials – for example, the plywood edges in Müller’s designs – you get this feeling of urban coziness. When you're planning furniture like a bed or wardrobe, you’re thinking long-term. So Müller’s design instantly won us over.

Our company headquarters and production are practically just around the corner. What does regionality and sustainability mean to you personally?

Thomas Grundke:
Those topics are very important to me. Of course, not everything is always possible – we had to accept that too. But we tried to work with as many local companies as we could.
The collaboration with Müller, for example, was a pleasure right from the start. We were invited to Bockhorn, got a tour of the factory, and saw firsthand how much emphasis you place on sustainability and the materials you use.
The whole relationship was simply very pleasant: at your company, you’re not just anybody or a number – you can really feel how much you care about personal contact. Even some of the more complicated custom orders were handled excellently by your team.
And to close the loop: a collaboration like that only works when you choose regional partners. Sure, we could’ve saved some money by buying furniture from other European countries, but we’re very happy to have chosen quality and regionality.

Do you have a favorite Müller piece?

Thomas Grundke:
Yes! The FLAI bed by kaschkasch, which we’ve used in almost all the apartments, is definitely a favorite. I also have one at home and I’m still absolutely thrilled with it.
And at home, I also have the FLATFRAME by Michael Hilgers. I get asked about it all the time – it’s just such a cool and practical piece of furniture.

"Budder bei die Fische" (Let’s get to the point): What can guests expect when spending their holiday at Gulfhof Dreybült?

Thomas Grundke: (Smiles)
It’s hard to describe in just two or three words. First and foremost, there’s the beauty of the nature and the landscape. And you need to be able to actually see that! Some people say the North Sea coast is boring and prefer the Baltic, but anyone who’s truly experienced this place will fall in love with the North Sea – not just on dream days like today, but also when it shows its wild, stormy side.
At the farm itself, it’s definitely the peace and quiet. You can let your gaze drift over the fields and just hear the wind – and often nothing else. It creates a feeling of relaxation almost immediately.
And if you do feel like venturing out, you can take a day trip to the islands or visit the charming fishing villages like Greetsiel. The overall package is just perfect.

Last but not least: What are three things you should absolutely not miss during a holiday in Neßmersiel?

Thomas Grundke:
You definitely shouldn’t miss the fresh fish. An absolute insider tip is "Aggis Huus" in Neßmersiel – they serve the best plaice for miles!
Second, take a day trip to Baltrum Island, which still feels incredibly authentic. The moment you set foot on the island, you feel totally relaxed – Baltrum is pure North Sea.
And lastly: a visit to the seals in Norddeich. You rarely get that close to them otherwise. On the way back, you can enjoy one of the spectacular sunsets at Neßmersiel beach.

We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at Dreybült and are now heading back to Bockhorn, starting the week with a little holiday feeling packed in our bags.

^{Photos: ©Thomas Grundke}