Lichtenberg | 70 sqm | Floor renovation & interior refresh | 2024
Cedar- A renovation from the ground up
The apartment already had light, generous rooms, and a calm view over the courtyard. But beneath its simple finish, the floors were uneven and disconnected –turning what looked like a cosmetic update into a much deeper renovation.
Before
After
Once the original floorboards were lifted, the scale of the problem became clear. Uneven levels and an inconsistent substructure ran from room to room, making a clean, continuous finish impossible.
Instead of covering the problem, we rebuilt the floor from below-checking the structure, correcting each level, and carefully preparing every transition. This unseen work created a stable foundation for the new herringbone floor, allowing it to flow naturally through the apartment while preserving the warmth and character of the original home.
Before
After
Levelling an old Berlin floor requires much more than adding a new surface. Each room had a different height, so the existing boards had to be carefully removed and the structure beneath them checked and adjusted.
Working section by section, the team measured, reinforced, and rebuilt the base while aligning every doorway and transition. Most of this technical work is invisible in the finished home, but it is what allowed the new herringbone floor to flow naturally from room to room-without the uneven levels and interruptions that came before.
Before
AfterThe result is a bright, calm home connected by one continuous material. The herringbone floor brings warmth and rhythm to every room, while the restored doors preserve the apartment’s original character.
Much of Cedar’s transformation remains hidden beneath the surface, but its impact can be felt throughout the home – in the seamless transitions, the natural flow, and every step across the newly levelled floor.
Thinking about renovating or redesigning a property in Berlin?
I can help you understand what is possible before you start.