The former glory had faded: The interior had disappeared, there were no windows, the ceilings were sagging and the underfloor heating wasn't working. No one had any use for the empty building, which looked more like a garbage dump. Then Marcel and Leonard Engel became aware of the old manor house in Thurow, 24 km from Schwerin. In 2014, the Hamburg couple bought the historic building with 680 square meters of living space and the one-hectare estate. Today, the historic walls are adorned with hand-painted ceilings, antiques from France and perfectly restored windows.

The idea of buying an old estate came to Marcel and Leonard rather spontaneously and only took shape over time. After years of searching and several visits to Thurow, they finally decided to buy the neglected property for a low five-figure sum. The master hairdresser and make-up artist were only able to complete the extensive ten-year restoration and renovation with a lot of help from creative friends. In addition to Marcel and Leonard's private area, vacation apartments have also been created, which are now bringing money back into the renovation coffers.

The grounds of the Thurow estate have a long history. In 1444, Duke Henry IV of Mecklenburg granted several estates to Johann von Bassewitz, including Thurow. The estate then belonged to the Mecklenburg noble families von Sperling and von Wopersnow, among others. In 1822, it came into “bourgeois hands” for the first time: the brothers Heinrich and Carl Lübbe bought the estate and commissioned the construction of today's manor house in English Tudor style in 1864. After the Second World War, the family fled to Eutin and were unable to return to their estate. Like all estate owners, they were expropriated in the communist part of Germany after the end of the war. The house became a refugee camp, later a farm and then even a grocery store. Finally, it stood empty for years and fell into disrepair. The original historical furnishings also disappeared. Today, only a photo and a rediscovered silver bowl bear witness to the original builders.

Leonard and Marcel therefore lovingly collected the interior furnishings for the 38 rooms themselves and were inspired by the French style of living. Both love antiques and much of their furnishings come from France. From the festschrift from Versailles to the four-poster bed. The cupboards in the library come from the old town hall in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. It has to be historical for them. Current furnishing trends do not fit in with the new owners' concept. Everything here tells a story. A new story, within old walls.

A film by Sebastian Dubielzig (editor), Erik Hartung and Enno Endlicher (camera), Robert Soldan (sound) and Farina Hasak (editor).

00:00 Living in the Thurow manor house
01:18 Library
02:58 Concert hall
04:38 Tent room
05:45 Bathroom
06:48 Landscape park
07:15 Tower room
08:16 Bedroom
10:15 Kitchen & dining room
12:52 Winter living room

On the ARD Room Tour YouTube channel, people open the door to their unusual homes. On a very personal tour, they share details about the interior design, furnishings and architecture and talk about their philosophy of life.

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