The best decision of our lives or the biggest mistake?

You might ask yourself whether the cover picture symbolizes the anticipated answer, but we don't want to make it that easy for you. It's more complicated than that!

When two people who work with houses every day buy their own, you might think that they have really thought it through and know what they are doing. Far from it!

The title of our last blog quickly reveals the problem: “It all starts with a dream” and dreams are the worst guides when it comes to decisions of this complexity and magnitude. But history has taught us that if you really want something, dreams will come true.

Is this also the case with us?

A completely honest answer: If you had asked us 4 months ago, we would have clearly said no. If you ask us today, you will hear a clear yes. Why the change of heart?

When we took over, we were sure that some renovation work would quickly turn the old cottage into a gem. But we were far from it. The first look behind the boarded walls revealed stones soaked with groundwater. Moisture in all the walls! Insulating a thatched roof for energy. A good idea, but also a mammoth task, as we were apparently one of the first to come up with the idea. And no matter what we did, huge follow-up tasks arose that were never planned for. None of this was a problem, as we could be on site the whole time. Jump into the fjord at 6 and then help out until late into the night. What others call a sabbatical turned out to be a real time out, as there was no time for other thoughts. The summer, the fjord, dinner in the evening sun right on the edge of the field excused all the pain.

But then new tasks called. Only weekends on site. The toughest ordeal. One delay after another. New Year's Eve party on site unthinkable, February completion postponed, holidays on the construction site to finally finish. A dream come true? The opposite was the case! "You should have known that", "It's always like that with old houses", "Welcome to the madness of old building renovation". WhatsApp groups with fellow sufferers and lots of helping hands are small rays of hope. But when will we finally be finished?

And then? Suddenly everything happens very quickly. In March, we spend days setting up, over Easter we do the first big test with the extended family and everyone pitches in again. A few more fine-tunings and the dream will come true! We still haven't found the time to realize what we have achieved in less than 9 months. We are all the more pleased by the many, many positive feedbacks and they motivate us to think even further, because this project is far from over.

Now you have the chance to enjoy the Fjord Cottage to the fullest. More information directly on our website .

Follow us here on the blog or in our newsletter and we will be happy to take you on the journey.

Your Kerstin & Philipp