This is How I Live

Two Munich-based designers showcase their project—part showroom, part private sanctuary

SoLebich-2_15_700pixel

How do you transform a home showroom into a living, breathing space? Interior designer Nicole Maalouf and her husband Daniel Eichhorn, a cultural economist, answer that question through their passion project: their own apartment in Munich's charming Haidhausen district recently became both their private home and the showcase for SoLebIch, the platform they founded in 2007.

Over two years, these Munich creatives partnered with premium brands to transform the SoLebIch apartment into a space where inspiration and ideas flourish. What emerged from a neglected nineteenth-century flat is now a stunning sanctuary where craftsmanship, design, and cutting-edge technology converge. Designed by Nicole Maalouf and architect Katharina Kassner, the rooms embody a distinctive aesthetic: vintage meets contemporary, playful curves blend with clean lines, and a sophisticated palette of materials—alabaster, chrome, and silk—creates visual richness. The color scheme ranges from understated tones like lilac and soft rose to bold jewel greens and vibrant oranges. The reimagined bathroom is almost cathedral-like in its contemplative quality: its curved walls frame a high-tech soaking tub featuring integrated lighting, sound systems, and touch controls, while microcement finishes create an atmosphere of serene calm. The kitchen pulses with energy as the heart of the home, while the bedroom wraps you in comfort. What truly sets this apart from a typical showroom: every inch is designed for actual living. Everything here works.

The kitchen and every other room—living spaces through to the bedroom—are fully functional for everyday living. The lush, well-established balcony beckons for lingering summer evenings with wine in hand. "This is precisely what we envisioned," says Nicole Maalouf. "We've curated numerous pop-up installations before—for imm cologne at the Qvest Hotel, in USM's Munich showroom—but a fully livable show apartment? That's entirely new territory for us," explains the SoLebIch founder. The apartment is available to book for private events and tours by request, and open-door events for interested visitors will be held throughout the year.

www.solebich.de

Photography Credits:

Benni Janzen
www.bennijanzen.de

(Published in CUBE Munich 01|23)

 

Architecture:

SoLebIch
www.solebich.de

Flooring:

Parador
www.parador.de

Jan Kath
www.jan-kath.de

Images:

Lumas
www.lumas.de

Colors:

Caparol
www.caparol.de

Sanitary fixtures:

Kaldewei
www.kaldewei.de

Geberit
www.geberit.de

Fixtures:

Fantini
www.fantini.it

Kitchen:

next125
www.next125.com

Kitchen appliances:

Schock
www.schock.de

Quooker
www.quooker.de

Windows:

Schüco
www.schueco.com

Furnishings:

USM
www.usm.com

Luiz
www.luiz.com

Thonet
www.thonet.de

Freifrau Manufaktur
www.freifrau.com

Lighting:

One A
www.onea.dk

KNX building automation:

Basalte
www.basalte.be/de

Cojacon
www.cojacon.de

Sun Protection:

Mister Curtain
www.mistercurtain.de

Moldings & Base Trim:
Orac Decor
www.oracdecor.com

Hardware:

Hamburg Hardware
www.beschlaege-aus-hamburg.de

Nothing found.

Modern Metamorphosis

A former vicarage in the Bad Godesberg district of Bonn is being transformed into a residential haven for two households

A learning environment in the countryside

A primary school in Gelsenkirchen is becoming a welcoming place for everyday school life

From three to four

An existing flat in Giesing is transformed into a space-saving marvel for a family

A smart way to fill the gap

An office block in Friedrichstadt is being redeveloped, thereby contributing to urban regeneration

Noblesse Oblige

Classical Villa—Modern Sensibility

171027021_19_700pixel

Rest Stop of the Future

A service station on the A9 motorway showcases an innovative concept paired with striking architectural design.

Living Space Through Transformation

Amazing metamorphosis – from a "discreet house" to a multi-storey residential building