Nikolaiviertel in person: fröhlich wohnen with Martina and Andreas Sprockhoff

You enter the store on a grey November day and find yourself in a different, colorful world and don’t even know where to look first – and it smells like an English garden.

Here’s an unusual first question: what’s that scent in here?

That’s our fragrance pouches, we’ve just received a new delivery. I think living is more than just wallpaper and curtains, it’s for all the senses. The fragrances for a pleasant living climate, the soft rustling of the fabrics and, of course, the beautiful patterns and colors for the eye.

First of all, how long have you been in the Nikolai Quarter and how did you get here?


We previously had our store in West Berlin. After the fall of the Wall, we were “just checking out” what was going on in East Berlin. We immediately fell in love with the Nikolai Quarter.
 A small town within the city, so cozy in the big noisy city. And in 2001 it finally worked out and we moved here.

Why is the company actually called “fröhlich wohnen”?

Translated literally, this would mean „live happily“ and many customers think our surname is Fröhlich. And yes, I’m often referred to as „Frau Fröhlich“, but I don’t mind, because there’s always a lot of laughter here anyway. But note the spelling: fröhlich wohnen in lower case, yes, that’s what we’re all about, cheerful patterns and bright colors with a charming mixture.

Where does your passion for fabrics and decorating come from?

We are both very creative people. My husband is an interior designer and I am a decorator, so we complement each other well. We don’t just sell interiors, we also live and breathe this.

You could also say that cushions, fabrics and wallpaper are available everywhere…

That’s probably true, but unfortunately most of our colleagues don’t go beyond beige and gray… What a real shame, because life is colorful and so is nature. We are colorful and cheerful.
Of course, it’s always the mixture that determines how you design a room, but we’re professionals at that and work with our customers to develop concepts that not only suit the room, but also the people in it.

Who are your customers and why?

As we are located in the city center and our walk-in customers come from all over the world. We offer cushions and table linen, which are often purchased as souvenirs. For complete interior designs with curtains and wallpaper, many customers visit us from all over Germany, Austria and Switzerland because they can’t find quite such an abundance of patterns and designs in their area. We are very active with our website, so customers find us and then make the journey, because you still have to experience and touch fabric.

Does the Nikolaiviertel inspire you in what you do?

It’s simply the peaceful atmosphere and the relaxed customers that bring me joy every day. What’s more, the architecture of the Nikolai quarter is so unique with its reconstructed buildings.
The gables and the wrought-iron pennants of the guilds, the old cobblestones and of course the old church, all were created with great attention to detail and that’s how we work too.

What do you still appreciate about this part of the city today and what keeps you here?

In addition to the beautiful backdrop, it is a great advantage that we are located in the city center and are easily accessible from everywhere. Through our business and, of course, the stores and restaurants of the other tradespeople in the district, we help shape Berlin, we are Berlin makers, so to speak. We are also surrounded by the new city palace, the TV tower and Gendarmenmarkt is nearby too. These are really great neighbors. I’m also proud to be able to work in the cradle of Berlin.

What are your plans and will you be adding new products?

There are always new things. The designers of our fabrics and wallpapers are always offering us new collections in the latest trends from England, Holland, Italy and elsewhere.
 We are always discovering new ways of using them to make lampshades, upholstery or sophisticated cushions. What is really new for us is the small pieces of furniture that we refurbish and embellish with a lot of love and care in our own workshop. Since last year, I have also been offering my own art for sale in the store. Framed pictures that make you smile, cheerful art – colorful and inspiring.

fröhlich wohnen Interior Design • Propststraße 8 • 10178 Berlin • Phone: (030) 463 10 42
Website: froehlich-wohnen.de • E-Mail: froehlich-wohnen@t-online.de