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Inside skincare expert Dr Barbara Sturm’s Dusseldorf apartment

 (Westwing)
(Westwing)

W hen world renowned skin specialist Dr Barbara Sturm first saw the Düsseldorf apartment she now calls home, she was, in a word, unimpressed. ‘My assistant viewed it and said you need to come and check this out,’ she laughs. ‘I walked in and straight away said let’s just leave — this isn’t for me. But she persuaded me to look further, and then there was this amazing door. Obviously, I’m an aesthetics doctor so I’m drawn to beautiful things. I fell in love and a week later, I bought it.’

That was seven years ago, and since then she has completely remodelled what was once a dingy former office building into the spacious, colour-filled apartment she now shares with her youngest daughter, Pepper, seven, and her husband, lawyer Adam Waldman, when he’s back from the US (where they also live). ‘I travel so much and there are so many places I enjoy being,’ says the beauty guru, whose clients include Kate Moss, Cher and Jennifer Aniston.

She began her career in orthopaedics before pivoting into skincare in 2002, pioneering anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing treatments including the now infamous vampire facial, as well as her revolutionary skincare line. ‘But my homes are where my closets are — one in Düsseldorf and one in LA, which is where I’m currently renovating another property.’

It’s easy to see why the door in question provoked such a radical change of thought. With its jewel-like, stained-glass panels, it’s typical of the Jugendstil or ‘Youth Style’ movement — the German equivalent of Art Nouveau. ‘This apartment is in a building from 1903,’ explains Sturm. ‘When I first saw it, it had sliding doors that were all closed and it was full of shelves crammed with stuff. But when I looked closely, I was impressed by the bones. There are high ceilings and it feels grand, but nobody can see into the space, which is fantastic. It’s also in Oberkassel, a beautiful neighbourhood in the middle of the city on the Rhine, so you can easily walk into town. The area isn’t touristy, it’s great for children and has wonderful restaurants. There’s everything you need but it feels private and safe.’

The study is painted in Farrow & Ball Hague Blue (Westwing)
The study is painted in Farrow & Ball Hague Blue (Westwing)

With the help of her father and brother, who are both architects (her brother is responsible for the design of her stores) it took a swift six months to transform the 260 sq m space, ripping out walls and reworking the lateral layout, which now includes a living room, kitchen, dining room and office, as well as three bedrooms, master bathroom, children’s bathroom and sauna. What does remain are the original parquet floors, which are complimented by a palette of tonal blues, rich velvets, lacquer and playful wallpapers.

In the chic living room, a hand-blown glass chandelier by Bocci hangs above a bespoke sofa, which Sturm designed herself. The chairs are vintage finds, recovered in a pale blue velvet, while the leather and glass Isanka table is by EOOS studio for Walter Knoll. Move into the elegant study and the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue, the perfect foil for the handsome Louis XIV-style desk sourced from Düsseldorf company Cocoon. ‘I wanted the office to feel homely and warm, and I like to have my books on display,’ she explains.

The Jugendstil door leading to the dining room (Westwing)
The Jugendstil door leading to the dining room (Westwing)

In the dining room, a Skygarden 2 suspension lamp by Marcel Wanders for Flos hangs above another Louis-XIV style table, this time in vivid green. Surrounded by velvet chairs from German supplier Westwing, it creates a striking centrepiece. These contemporary pieces all sit comfortably next to an antique Biedermeier cupboard that once belonged to Barbara’s parents. ‘I’m also a big fan of flea markets, and I just bought two amazing pieces of art from Marché aux Puces in Paris,’ she says. ‘I like street art from New York, a £10 vase from Portobello Market, or a carafe from Hong Kong. Inspiration is everywhere and I don’t really follow any rules. I choose things I love and somehow it all works.’

Walls in the bespoke kitchen are covered in bold Matthew Williamson Tyger Tyger wallpaper, while a Gong pendant light by Italian company Prandina hangs above the island, and Lem bar stools by Shin & Tomoko Azumi for Lapalma are modern classics. ‘I designed everything, even the handles on the drawers,’ explains Sturm. ‘It’s so fun and one of my favourite places to be.’

Sturm in her kitchen (Westing)
Sturm in her kitchen (Westing)

Unsurprisingly, the bathing area is another space where the skincare expert likes to relax. Papered in Cole & Son’s Fornasetti Acquario, the ample room features puffer fish swimming across the inky blue walls. Fitting then that Sturm’s newest range, the Molecular Hair & Scalp collection, sees her revolutionary formulations transferred into shampoo, conditioner, a hair mask and serum. ‘Now science is entering the haircare market,’ she says. ‘If your scalp is healthy your hair is healthy too, so it’s really important we look after it well.’

Like the rest of the apartment, the bathroom reflects Sturm’s unique yet polished style, managing to be characterful yet calming at the same time. ‘I definitely have my own way of doing things,’ she says. ‘This space is my little oasis, a base in the middle of many trips. It’s somewhere I always come back to, and it’s also where I always find peace.’

The Molecular Hair & Scalp collection by Dr Barbara Sturm launches 28 Oct (drsturm.com)