Cecilienhof Palace, the crown princess's dressing room (2024/2024) by Antoine BoninCecilienhof Palace
The appartment of the crown prince couple, Cecilie and Wilhelm, on the upper floor of Cecilienhof Palace, provides an excellent insight into the stately living culture of the early 20th century. The design is both simple and elegant.
Cecilienhof Palace, the bedroom of the crown prince and crown princess (2024/2024) by Antoine BoninCecilienhof Palace
The crown prince and crown princess shared a bedroom and had their own dressing room and bathroom.
The Crown Princess's Dressing Room
This private room radiates a harmonious and simple elegance thanks to the fine linen fabric used for the curtains, wall and furniture coverings. The carpet with the grey floral medallions rounds off the colour harmony perfectly.
Furniture and panelling made from Karelian birch reflect the modernism of the early 20th century. The elegant furniture is characterised by its simple form:
It is less about ornamentation and more about quality materials and craftsmanship.
Cecilienhof Palace was the most modern of the Prussian palaces. It was completely electrified, had a telephone system and advanced hot water heating. These amenities can be recognised, for example, by the rotating light switches.
Not surprisingly, the bathrooms were luxurious and contemporary in design. The crown princess's bathroom featured antique pink Villeroy & Boch tiles, an elegant washbasin and a bathtub set into the floor, which was originally made of Carrara marble.
The closet connects the crown princess's dressing with the shared bedroom. The bouquets of roses on the wall covering and the narrow white wooden mouldings are reminiscent of a summerhouse and lend the small room lightness and elegance.
Associations with a Ship Cabin
The crown princess commissioned Paul Ludwig Troost to design the interior. He was known for designing the luxurious passenger liners of the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipping company and later influenced the design language of architecture in Nazi Germany.
The Bedroom of the Crown Prince and Princess
Particularly striking is the rich textile decoration of the room, which harmonises with the flooring, wood panelling and ornamentation of the furniture.
Cecilienhof Palace, the bedroom of the crown prince and crown princess (2024/2024) by Antoine BoninCecilienhof Palace
The sky-blue ceiling in combination with the rose wallpaper and the green carpet create the effect of a garden parlour in the interior.
The white-coloured carvings above the doors and on the heating panel are additional delicate decorative elements.
Cecilienhof Palace, the bedroom of the crown couple, marble bowl (2021/2021) by Leo SeidelCecilienhof Palace
Other details are particularly ornate pieces of furniture that are presented in the appartment. This tripod bowl with gilded mythological figures is made of green marble, so-called Verde Antico.
Details of the appartment give an insight into the couple's private life: Wilhelm was a heavy smoker and had a smoking bay separated from the bedroom so as not to disturb Cecilie in the shared room.
The Crown Prince's Dressing Room
Despite the seeming simplicity, the crown prince's rooms appear very dignified and elegant due to the preciousness of the materials used. The surrounding wood panelling aims to create a cohesive overall effect.
Numerous functions cannot be recognised at first glance, as the panelling made of valuable thuja veneer conceals built-in cupboards, doors and a safe.
The crown prince's bathroom features deep blue tiles from Villeroy & Boch and a nymph relief above the sunken bathtub. The solid washbasin and bathtub are made of elegant grey limestone.
A Glimpse into the Guest Appartment
In addition to the crown prince's appartment, a guest appartment was also designed. This was available to distinguished guests such as the crown princess's sister, Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark.
The parlour of the guest appartment served as a living room and reception room. The appartment also included a bedroom, a bathroom and a servants' quarters.
Cecilienhof Palace, the bedroom of the crown prince and crown princess (2024/2024) by Antoine BoninCecilienhof Palace
Since the restoration in 1995, the private rooms have provided an insight into the exclusive furnishings and design of the crown prince and crown princess. The public rooms, most of which are now shown as they were in 1945, were on the ground floor.
Curator: Tina Czeninga, Cecilienhof Palace, SPSG
Project management: Nicole Romberg, Social Media Manager, SPSG
Picture credits
SPSG (unless otherwise stated)
