Michelle Reeb, a mother of two, detests clutter. "In fact, I hate any object that doesn't have a specific role," she says. So it makes sense that the Berlin apartment she shares with her husband and two children is an airy space where every object adds either function or beauty. As we head into spring--and spring cleaning--we're inspired by Michelle's simple furnishings and artistic touches. "I like not owning much stuff," she tells us, "but I treasure the things I have." Funny--we do, too.


Can you tell us about your kids?
We have two energetic kids. Quentin Jasper (he thinks the name Jasper sounds like cheese, so he doesn't like it) just turned five, and Stella Jean-Marie is two and a half.

Where do you live?
The southwest part of Berlin. It has cute corners and is near the free (can you believe it?) American school.

Have you always lived in Germany?
My husband is French, and we actually met at the art academy in Strasbourg. After living in New York for ten years, we moved to Berlin a year ago. I miss New York, but it's hard to think about the apartment sizes we had then versus the apartment sizes we have now.

What a great polaroid display. Did you take them?
They're by my husband Sacha. He collects old Polaroid cameras.

What a great reading nook!
We all love it. Guests often take a seat there if we're busy with the kids or cooking; then it doesn't feel awkward.

Do you use the Eames rocker to breastfeed? Some moms say it doesn't provide enough neck support.
During the day, it's fine since you want to look at your cute baby. Other moms might have a point about the headrest--nonetheless, I would never put an actual breastfeeding chair from BuyBuyBaby in my house! It's a matter of priority, I guess.

Where did you get this magazine rack?
When I lived in New York, I liked the bookshelves at Poseman bookstore. When they went out of business, I asked if I could buy the shelves. I have a subscription to Dwell to ease homesickness for the States.

Where did you get your dining table?
The table is from IKEA, believe it or not. I'm extremely happy with it, because I don't care what the kids do with it. The chairs are from Stokke, and the stools are from The Museum Stool. They're stackable since you're meant to carry them around a museum while attending a lecture.

What do you usually eat for dinner?
Sacha loves making roasts, and we eat salads like rabbits. I used to date an Italian guy so I credit him with my knowledge of pasta and risotto. We don't eat much German food. There's so much pork here; it's weird.

Why did you put mirrors in the dining room?
I like the idea of being able to see yourself during dinner, as well as the reflection of the light from the window or candles.

What's your son interested in? I sense dinosaurs, maps...
He loves anything related to travel, adventure and first and foremost storytelling. He's capable of telling a random stranger sitting next to us on a plane the whole contents of New Hope without taking a breath.

What books do you read together?
The No David series is a big favorite. Quentin likes Dr. Suess and the Tintin series, especially ones involving rockets.

What language do your children speak?
In New York, we were raising them bilingual English/French, and we didn't think we could handle an extra language. But now they're both picking up German. Watching a kid learn a language is really amazing. Quentin is pretty much there in just one year--crazy.

What do your kids do at this table?
They paint, color, do puzzles, set up the train, play lego...anything really.

Great tricycle. Do your children ride it inside?
My daughter rides it, plus we have two push bikes. The favorite activity when friends are over is to do a figure-eight through the living, dining room and hallway. Our downstairs neighbor did complain once...

Do your kids use this ruler?
We have measuring rituals. They're very proud to see their progress and it inspires them to eat vegetables. I found the ruler on the blog swissmiss. It's from Pottery Barn, believe it or not.

Where did you find the orange bookshelves?
From DWR. I put a nightlight in it, which makes a nice light during bedtime. I usually don't go for such strong colors, but I felt guilty because I figured my kids needed some color!

Can you tell us about the mobile above the crib?
My sister made paper flowers for her daughter's birthday, and when she offered to make some for me, they had to be white. I really like white on white.

You've created amazing decor in a small place. What advice do you have about maximizing your space?
Adjust things daily if necessary. I believe there's a perfect balance to be found in the way you arrange a room that feels "right." Not having too much stuff helps, too.

How are your children getting along so far?
It's your pretty average love/hate relationship, although more love for sure. They're both very tactile and like a lot of hugging and kissing, so they do that, but there's the occasional push and shove. When Stella is napping, Quentin usually can't wait for her to wake up.