Frankfurt's Diplomatic Quarter is renowned for its stately villas, historic townhouses, and exclusive contemporary architecture. The neighbourhood takes its name from the numerous consulates and embassies headquartered here. Within this distinguished setting, interior design firm Schmidt Holzinger from Rodgau has created a luxurious townhouse for a couple, seamlessly blending the residents' individual visions into one cohesive home that reflects both personalities and lifestyles. Here, that means generous spaces designed for entertaining – the owners love hosting guests, from intimate dinner parties to cocktail receptions on the rooftop terrace.

Step inside, and you're immediately struck by the thoughtful curation of materials and furnishings that establish an atmosphere both welcoming and refined: amber-hued parquet floors, warm brown-toned natural stone, inviting upholstered pieces, and sophisticated lighting installations that function as sculptural artworks in their own right.

On the open-plan living level, a gleaming mirrored cube stands freely at the centre, reflecting the surrounding space. The cooking island features natural stone with a brushed finish, its surface revealing an intricate network of stone veining across various brown tones. Echoing this palette, the four-metre dining table is crafted from charred oak planks with unfinished edges that celebrate the wood's natural grain and character.

The ground floor's showpiece is a leisure area featuring a billiard table and kitchen – an ideal setting for entertaining and celebration. Here too, noble marble takes centre stage. The designers deliberately juxtaposed this with a more relaxed, industrial-inspired flooring of polished concrete screed, which naturally displays subtle colour variations from the casting process. This contrasting strategy reappears in the billiard room itself: kitchen cabinet and billiard table fronts in muted grey-brown nanotech material present a uniform finish, while the kitchen niche backing is clad in bronze-toned liquid metal panels that, through their handcrafted application, reveal an intentionally "imperfect" gradient. Descending to the basement, guests discover an exclusive wine cellar. Three walls are lined with illuminated wine climate cabinets set into recessed niches. Rustic in character yet harmonious with the dining room above, this space features floorboards with knots and voids filled in silver-grey, and a tabletop bearing distinctive chainsaw marks.

The staircase runs and floors throughout the mezzanine and upper levels, including the bathrooms, are finished in amber-toned oak. The bathrooms themselves are sanctuaries of tranquillity and refinement. A floating marble washbasin stretches across one wall, delivering both visual elegance and a sense of weightlessness. The washbasin, shower enclosure, and bathtub platform are crafted from Nero Portoro – a sophisticated dark marble distinguished by cream and amber veining. A solid bronze panel caps the central block in the dressing area. Recessed lighting strips serve double duty: they establish an intimate atmosphere while making the ceiling above the cabinetry appear to hover above.

www.schmidtholzinger.de

Photography:
Ingmar Kurth
www.ingmarkurth.com

(Published in CUBE Frankfurt 02|24)