In the heart of Berlin, renowned interior designer Fabian Freytag has transformed his penthouse apartment into a stunning showcase that blends classical elegance with Italian lightness, pastel colors, and extraordinary vintage treasures. The 970-square-foot space combines Hollywood glamour with Mediterranean vacation vibes, creating what could easily be described as a setting where filmmaker Wes Anderson would feel right at home.
Freytag, currently one of Germany's most celebrated and creative interior designers and published author, has built a reputation for his unconventional and colorful spatial concepts. Born in Hamburg in 1984, he studied architecture in Berlin and founded his own studio in 2012. His design philosophy deliberately connects classical elegance with innovation while drawing inspiration from Italian ease and sophistication. Named Designer of the Year 2025 by Frankfurt's Ambiente trade fair, Freytag consciously rebels against minimalism, white walls, and standard furnishing.
Upon entering the second-floor apartment in the historic building, visitors are greeted by a color-surprising three-room realm featuring apricot-rose tones paired with mint green and light blue. The space showcases casual horizontal and vertical stripes, floral ceiling fixtures that likely once adorned theater walls, and mid-century furniture crafted from leather, dark wood, and marble. "I find that bit of Hollywood totally fascinating," explains Freytag, who deliberately emphasizes individuality, unexpected combinations, and cinematic storytelling atmosphere.
The designer's commitment to narrative extends throughout the space, with each room telling its own story. Behind the marble dining table hangs a painting that Freytag created himself, inspired by his travels to Italy. The vintage lighting fixtures are carefully curated finds from Peill & Putzler. The custom-designed kitchen draws its color palette from the Ligurian coast, featuring light retro green, yellow umbrella stripes, and rose-colored marble, all crowned by theatrical antique ceiling lights.
Freytag shares the Berlin loft with his partner, and the space is designed to evoke "the feeling of a vacation apartment on the Mediterranean, somewhere near Portofino or Santa Margherita." The penthouse sits atop a 120-year-old historic building that also houses his office and showroom. Because the relatively small windows and gray concrete ceiling made the interior appear shadowy, Italian-inspired pastel tones became essential. "Orange and mint with dark wood always work," notes Freytag.
The bedroom particularly captures seaside ambiance through its sea-blue paint scheme, where wood-paneled ceiling and walls surround the bed like a beach hut. Shutter-like wooden blinds, casual block stripes, and terracotta rose accents complete the coastal aesthetic. The room's wood lamellae create an intimate, cabin-like feeling while maintaining the apartment's overall Mediterranean theme.
Throughout the apartment, mint and apricot dominate the living areas. A striped cabinet cleverly conceals the television, while custom-designed built-ins in pastel tones provide storage and display space for numerous vintage objects. Freytag has decorated throughout the apartment with special finds, including anatomical charts from Italy, stuffed birds from the Berlin Zoo, and various antiques discovered on eBay. These vintage treasures, including a feathered flamingo and an Italian bar cart, are often discovered through online marketplaces, each carrying its own mysterious history.
The rooftop terrace extends the Riviera feeling into Berlin's urban landscape with hotel-style lounge chairs, striped fabrics, and fringed umbrellas. An outdoor dining table from Fermob receives individual character through the addition of an old marble top, demonstrating Freytag's skill at personalizing mass-produced items with unique vintage elements.
In discussing his design philosophy, Freytag explains that rooms, like films, must always have an important story to tell. The 41-year-old designer believes that good interior design remains trapped in an elitist drawer and wishes that interior designers would be invited to talk shows on television more frequently. When asked about his chosen city, Freytag notes that Berlin, while full of conflicts, provides the energy and contrasts he needs for creative work, explaining that in a permanently perfect environment, his mind would become too slow and sluggish.
Freytag observes that German living has become more courageous, partly due to social media influence, as designers work daily to show people how spaces could be different. When entertaining guests, his signature offering is champagne, believing that nothing surpasses well-made sparkling wine and the special lifestyle feeling it represents. His apartment stands as a testament to the power of color, story, and personal curation in creating spaces that transport inhabitants and visitors alike to more glamorous, sun-soaked destinations.
