Three years in Hanghaus15: Julia reveals how her kitchen became a timeless favorite spot

Three years ago, we followed Julia and her partner on their Instagram channel @hanghaus15 as they moved into their modern hillside house and set up their stylish Nolte country-style kitchen. With great attention to detail and clear ideas, their kitchen became the heart of the house – a place where design and functionality are perfectly united.

Today, three years later, we wanted to know how the kitchen has held up: Are Julia and her partner still as enthusiastic about their choice? And how has the modern country style evolved in their home? In this homestory, Julia gives us exciting insights into her life in the hillside house and shares why the trendy Lava color, harmonious design, and thoughtful functionality of their kitchen still perfectly suit their everyday life. Be inspired by Julia's experiences, her sense of aesthetics, and her love for the modern country style.

The kitchen has been in place for three years now – are you still as thrilled with it as on the first day?
We enjoy it every day and have definitely made the right choice for us.

What do you still love about your kitchen, and is there anything you would do differently today – and why?
I still love the classic design. The kitchen integrates harmoniously into the overall interior design of the house. Looking back, I wouldn’t change much. Perhaps I would have chosen the wall-side countertop to be a bit deeper to have more workspace.

How do you feel about your choice of the trend color Lava in the kitchen?
Has the color proven to be timeless, or would you choose differently today? We are very happy with the color choice and can’t imagine a more suitable tone. The color is versatile, unobtrusive, and looks different depending on the lighting.

How do you interpret modern country style for yourself, and how do you incorporate it into your decor?
We’ve designed our house in a classic-modern style. Panel doors, herringbone parquet, and many natural materials like wool rugs, stone, and wood. I love combining these with art and timeless design classics, such as the Herman Miller lamp above the dining table.

Has the countertop proven itself in everyday use, and is it as easy to maintain as you had hoped?
Natural stone is somewhat sensitive to contact with acids (lemons, etc.), and that’s something to be aware of.

Would you choose the same worktop again today?
I think every material has its pros and cons. For me, natural stone would always be the first choice, but in a different combination, I could also imagine wood or ceramic working well.

How do you integrate your kitchen when hosting guests? Do you use it as a central meeting point to cook and spend time together, or does it play more of a subtle role in the background?
Guests often like to sit on the stools at the counter, which is especially practical during celebrations when not everyone fits at the table but you still want to be united in one place. We also enjoy sitting there ourselves, for example, to open mail or read the newspaper.

Does your partner still do most of the cooking, or have you also discovered the kitchen for yourself by now?
If so, what do you like to cook? We have a few favorite dishes that we both enjoy preparing, and I also like to try recipes I come across on social media. The kitchen has definitely sparked my curiosity to experiment more in the culinary field.

Have you added any additional elements to your kitchen or made any changes to better adapt it to your needs?
The kitchen itself remains unchanged, but we’ve added some extra shelves in the adjoining pantry to increase storage space. Additionally, we’ve purchased an air fryer, which is incredibly versatile.

How do your friends and family feel about your kitchen? Have you perhaps even inspired someone to plan a similar kitchen for themselves?
Tastes and requirements are very individual, but if our kitchen serves as inspiration for future homeowners, we’re all the more delighted.