Laura and Nora, the visionary duo behind Our Food Stories and Designtales, have taken their passion for aesthetics and storytelling to a whole new level. With St. Oak Apartments in Kyritz, Germany, they’ve reimagined a 1912 building, preserving its historic charm while infusing it with sleek, contemporary design.
Every corner tells a story — from the restored original features to their thoughtfully curated interiors. These loft apartments are more than just spaces to stay; they’re an experience that reflects Laura and Nora’s signature style and deep connection to design and history.
Ever wondered what it takes to turn a historic property into a haven of modern living? Discover how Laura and Nora brought their creative vision to life, and prepare to be inspired by the stunning results.
Imagery by St.Oak & Frida Edlund
When did you realize you wanted to create St. Oak?
We have traveled so much in the past decade that we always had the dream to create a holiday rental ourselves. It was just a matter of time until the right space found us. We are both very much in love with the countryside here, and from our point of view, it’s just the most calming surrounding for a vacation.
We also wanted to create a space where all our businesses (Our Food Stories, Designtales and St. Oak) can merge and become a creative haven for other people.
The townhouse has a rich history, built in 1912 by a bank. What initially drew you to this historic building, and what inspired you to transform it into a holiday apartment?
The building is located in the old town square, and the 200-year-old oak tree standing in front of it was one of the main things that initially drew us to this building. From almost all the rooms, you have a wonderful view of the tree, and inside the apartment, it almost feels like you are sitting in the tree. The tree was the only oak tree of three that survived a big fire, and that’s how we came up with the name St. Oak Apartments.
We were inspired to transform the apartment into a holiday apartment because it has all you need for a perfect holiday — a calming and spacious atmosphere, the option to be at the lake in just 10 minutes and wonderful long bike tours in the forest while still being in a small town where you can find a supermarket in walking distance.
Where did you draw inspiration when designing the interiors? Were there particular influences, such as Art Nouveau, local history or personal experiences?
We are very much into Danish design. Our travels to Denmark have always left us with so much inspiration and awe for the tradition of craftsmanship and design. The most important thing for us was to reflect the mood and colors of the building and oak tree. During autumn and winter, for example, the oak tree has these beautiful rusty brown/red leaves, so we chose a table in front of the kitchen window in a beautiful matching red marble. For the kitchen, we went with a green tone, as in summer, the leaves are green and the moss on the stem is green, as are the original shutters of the house. We really wanted to merge the indoors with the outdoors and reflect that in the interior design.
St Oak Apartments
We really want to bring people together, no matter if through a workshop, a dinner or while they are staying at St. Oak.-
Laura Muthesius & Nora Eisermann
The interiors reflect a blend of modern comfort and classic charm. How did you balance maintaining the building’s historical integrity while introducing contemporary design elements?
For us, it was important to bring back details like wooden doors, remove the wallpaper and carpet and really just get the place as much as possible back to its original structure. And then, of course, to add modern elements to the interior for comfort.
The artwork in the apartment adds a personal touch. Can you tell us more about the artists or makers behind these works? Are any of them from the local area?
The little framed drawing in the kitchen is from my dad, Winfried Muthesius, who is a painter and photographer and with whom we are doing the whole project together. It’s a drawing from the beach at the Cap Verdian Islands, which is his second home and where he works a lot. The other artwork next to the bed is from a Dutch artist named Marike Andeweg. It’s from a series called Rhythm and made of cotton rag paper. We love the soft and calming effect it has.
Sustainability seems to be an underlying theme in the design. Did you collaborate with makers or suppliers known for eco-conscious practices?
Most of the pieces in the apartment are handmade and have a very good quality. There is nothing that is trendy and that we will want to exchange in a few years. We tried to design the interior in a way that will last for years to come.
For most of the woodwork, like the door frames and the big window wall, we worked with a local carpenter. In general, we had a network of wonderful local craftsmen for the whole renovation.
The apartment has been designed to foster a sense of retreat and tranquility. How does the space reflect your personal philosophy or approach to design?
We just love interior design because you can really create an atmosphere with it. We spend so much of our lives inside these days, so having the chance to create a room and atmosphere that offers clarity and has a calming vibe is such a precious task. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to do so at St. Oak.
With elements like the outdoor kitchen and garden dining area, how do you see St. Oak encouraging guests to connect with the space and surroundings?
The nature around St. Oak is incredible, but we wanted to give our guests the opportunity to have a wonderful retreat without having to leave the property — a place to read, enjoy the sun and cook meals outdoors. We started to create the garden this summer. Before, there was a beautiful, wild backyard that was only used for the trash bins - such a waste! During autumn, we transformed the backyard into a lovely little pop-up cafè, which was such a wonderful experience. Are you still working as food photographers? Do you reside in the building or are you managing everything remotely?
Yes, we are still working as a food photographer and stylist duo. The second apartment we open in the house will also function as our studio. So, when it’s not rented out, we will use it for our productions.
Do you have plans to expand St. Oak, perhaps with more apartments or additional features?
Absolutely! We will open the second apartment in the house in March 2025, which will have three bedrooms and 240m2 in total. This will give us space to host more workshops and retreats here. We plan to host workshops for Our Food Stories, and our dear friend Marie Sophie Kiepe will host two of her teachings here this year too. We started the St. Oak Dinners last year, so we are excited for many more dinners to come.
In autumn, we will pick back up on renovations, as we just applied for funding from the European Union that will make it possible to renovate two more apartments in the building.
How do you see the concept of St. Oak evolving in the future, and what lasting impression do you hope guests take with them after their stay?
We really want to bring people together, no matter if through a workshop, a dinner or while they are staying at St. Oak. One day, we also want to make a little dark room for analog photography. So, we really see St. Oak as a creative space where people can come together and enjoy the beauty and calm of this place that is so dear to our hearts.
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