For a generous maisonette in Cologne's Rheinauhafen district, the owner envisioned something distinctly personal: a luxuriously appointed baroque interior throughout the renovated period building, with violet and green—his favorite hues—woven into every space. Lotos, a Cologne-based interior design studio, rose to the challenge with a concept that sidesteps kitsch entirely. Instead, baroque elements are thoughtfully reinterpreted for contemporary living, their formality playfully tempered with a touch of wit.

The central challenge lay in balancing period furnishings, striking colors, refined wallpapers, and luxurious fabrics with a distinctly modern, functional sensibility. Facing the Rhine with towering gabled walls, the residence features expansive glazed ceilings that flood the open-plan living area with gallery level in natural light. Beneath this soaring glass roof sits the dining zone, where a commanding violet hue frames the exterior views—drawing the eye outward while anchoring it to a focal point, much like a baroque palace. A sculptural gold pendant lamp reinterprets the classical chandelier for contemporary spaces. A sumptuous velvet curtain provides flexible separation between the dining and rear living areas. The lower, more intimate living room adopts a warm aesthetic, making it equally suited for intimate cinema evenings. The ethanol fireplace—a custom-designed piece—acts as a spatial divider between kitchen and winding staircase. Green and violet weave throughout the apartment like a connecting thread, unifying wallpapers, furnishings, and textiles in harmonious dialogue. The bedroom alone showcases red and gold wallpapers that seem to luminescence as sunlight catches them. From walls to ceilings to sloped architectural elements, every room—including bathrooms—counters the residence's clean modernist foundation with richly layered wallcoverings, creating an atmosphere of refined nuance. Custom-built cabinetry maximizes the sloped ceilings, delivering generous storage without compromising the design vision.

www.lotos-innenarchitektur.de

Photography:
Manfred Weber
www.mwfotostudio.de

(Published in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|24)