In October 2026, the Callwey publishing house gave CARLO Design a recognition at Best of Interior 2026 for the project An Earthy Cottage. An Earthy Cottage is a former barn in the Brandenburg forest that we fully renovated and that is now a country house. We submitted it under its earlier name, “A Berlin Cottage”. It is one of the 50 projects in Callwey’s yearbook “Best of Interior 2026”.
This page explains what Best of Interior is, who sat on the jury, what the yearbook contains, what the project is about, and which other awards and publications CARLO Design has received so far.
What Best of Interior is and who was on the jury
Best of Interior is an award run by the Callwey publishing house. Callwey describes it as an award for “die schönsten privaten Einrichtungskonzepte im deutschsprachigen Raum”, the most beautiful private interior concepts in the German-speaking countries. In 2026 Callwey held the award for the twelfth time. Interior architecture and design offices submit completed projects. A jury selects 50 interiors, which are published in the yearbook “Best of Interior 2026”. The prizes were presented on 22 October 2026 at Callwey’s Best of Architecture Summit 2026.
According to Callwey, the award’s partners are the associations bdia, BÖIA (Bund Österreichischer Innenarchitektur) and Vsi.asai BOLD and the magazines baunetz interior|design, md, AIT, Schöner Wohnen and H.O.M.E.
The 2026 jury had eight members:
- May-Britt Frank-Grosse, editor-in-chief of baunetz interior|design
- Johann Haidn, vice president and treasurer of bdia
- Johannes Hünig, head of the Haus & Bauen section at Schöner Wohnen
- Ute Laatz, freelance editor and author
- Angelika Müller, publishing director of H.O.M.E.
- Johanna Neves Pimenta, editor-in-chief of md
- Christopher Sitzler, architect and winner of the previous year
- Petra Stephan, editor-in-chief of AIT
The first prize went to Ewich Innen Architektur from Mömbris in Lower Franconia for the project “Hanghäuschen”. Five offices received a recognition (Anerkennung): Sebastian Zenker (Munich), Fabian Freytag Studio (Berlin), CARLO Design (listed in Callwey’s press release as “Carlo Berlin Design, Brandenburg”), Gangoly & Kristiner Architekten (southern Styria) and Kirsten Scholz Architecture & Interior Design (Andalusia).
The yearbook “Best of Interior 2026”
The yearbook “Best of Interior 2026. Die 50 schönsten Wohnkonzepte” (the 50 most beautiful living concepts) was published by Callwey in 2026. Its authors are Nina Yashar and Ute Laatz. The book has 344 pages with about 300 photos and drawings, ISBN 978-3-7667-2908-8. It presents the 50 projects selected by the jury, An Earthy Cottage among them.
The recognised project: An Earthy Cottage in Brandenburg
The starting point was an estate kept still by the passing of time, hidden deep in the Brandenburg forest and once used to store farming equipment and hay. Before the survey began, the premise was already set: inside and out, the house should be a part of the woods. We let the existing building set the terms, worked with local trades and sourced materials regionally where possible.
Today the country house serves an entire family and also works as a rental retreat. The timber beams under the roof are exposed, alongside clay walls, woven textures and a kitchen with mint cabinets and a farmhouse sink. The oval dining table sits under amber glass pendants, and tall windows open the room to the garden.
Callwey quotes Charlotte Wiessner, founder of CARLO Design, on the project (our translation of the German original):
“Inside as well as outside, you feel the calm of the forest.”
Two magazines had already written about An Earthy Cottage: baunetz interior|design on 22 August 2023 under the title “Carlo Berlin baut eine Scheune im Brandenburger Forst um”, and CUBE Berlin on 5 November 2025 under the title “Ein Teil des Waldes”.
Other awards: eleven times Best of Houzz
Houzz recognised CARLO Design eleven times between 2017 and 2026, nine times in the Design category and twice in the Service category:
- Best of Houzz Design: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026
- Best of Houzz Service: 2018 and 2021
Publications about CARLO Design
Magazines, platforms and institutions have written about our projects. The dated features, newest first:
- Callwey, 23 October 2026: “Best of Interior 2026: die Sieger” (An Earthy Cottage)
- CUBE Berlin, 15 December 2025: “Kreativ-stilvolle Reduktion” (A Japanese Penthouse)
- CUBE Berlin, 5 November 2025: “Ein Teil des Waldes” (An Earthy Cottage)
- Living in Mallorca, 16 July 2025: podcast “The CARLO Design Story of starting over”
- Living in Mallorca, 20 May 2024: interview “How 3 creatives established their businesses in Mallorca”
- Living in Mallorca, 18 April 2024: “A Japanese-Inspired Penthouse Blending Cultures with Elegance” (A Japanese Penthouse)
- Living in Mallorca, 5 January 2024: “International inspiration for a homely vacation lodge” (A Guest Lodge)
- baunetz interior|design, 22 August 2023: “Carlo Berlin baut eine Scheune im Brandenburger Forst um” (An Earthy Cottage)
- CUBE Berlin, 11 May 2023: “Penthouse à la Japonaise” (A Japanese Penthouse)
- baunetz interior|design, 16 August 2022: “Japanisches Penthouse am Spittelmarkt in Berlin-Mitte” (A Japanese Penthouse)
- AD Architectural Digest, 10 May 2022: “Dieses Penthouse in Berlin setzt ganz auf japanische Interiortraditionen” (A Japanese Penthouse)
Without a date: the Bundesstiftung Baukultur features our project Black Beauty in Berlin Biesdorf under the title “Wenn Räume aufatmen”, and JUNG lists A Japanese Penthouse as a reference. You will find every feature with a link to the original on our press page.
FAQ
Which awards has CARLO Design received?
In October 2026, CARLO Design received a recognition at Best of Interior 2026, run by the Callwey publishing house, for the project An Earthy Cottage. In addition, Houzz has recognised the studio eleven times between 2017 and 2026: Best of Houzz Design in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, and Best of Houzz Service in 2018 and 2021.
What did CARLO Design receive the Best of Interior 2026 recognition for?
For An Earthy Cottage, a former barn in the Brandenburg forest that CARLO Design fully renovated. Today it is a country house that serves a family and is also let as a rental retreat. Callwey lists the project under its earlier name “A Berlin Cottage” and the studio as “Carlo Berlin Design”. The project is one of the 50 projects in the yearbook “Best of Interior 2026”.
What is Best of Interior?
Best of Interior is an award by the Callwey publishing house for private interior concepts in the German-speaking countries, held for the twelfth time in 2026. Interior architecture and design offices submit completed projects, and a jury of eight selects 50 interiors for the yearbook “Best of Interior 2026”. The prizes were presented on 22 October 2026 at the Best of Architecture Summit. In 2026 the first prize went to Ewich Innen Architektur for the project “Hanghäuschen”, and five offices received a recognition.
Which magazines have published projects by CARLO Design?
Among others, AD Architectural Digest, CUBE Berlin, baunetz interior|design and Living in Mallorca. The Bundesstiftung Baukultur features the project Black Beauty, and JUNG lists A Japanese Penthouse as a reference. An Earthy Cottage was covered by baunetz interior|design in August 2023 and by CUBE Berlin in November 2025.
More about the project and the studio
Photos and details of An Earthy Cottage are on the project page. All press features and awards are listed on the press page. To learn who we are, see the studio page and the article What makes CARLO Design different?
If you are planning to renovate a house or an apartment yourself, tell us about it in the Project Check.