Schmidhuber

It’s the kind of welcome that immediately makes you feel at home: Depending on the season, homemade apricot strudel, freshly picked peonies, elderflower syrup or blackcurrant jam from the garden await guests. The Schmidhuber vacation home stands in the middle of an orchard full of gnarled apple trees, its simple geometric shape reminiscent of a typical barn from the area. The purist wooden house belongs to a historic farm on the outskirts of Tabing, a small village about three kilometers from the shores of Lake Chiemsee. The architect-designed passive house accommodates two modern vacation apartments, ‘Max’ on the first floor and ‘Kathi’ on the second floor. These are named after the last people to run the farm, the parents of host Daniela Niederbuchner, who also grew up there. As minimalist as the accommodation may appear from the outside, the interior is nothing short of cozy: The casual Barcelona chair sits side by side with the restored farmhouse table, steel meets wood, cozy home textiles compliment contemporary art—some of which was created by Daniela’s husband Christian Bauer (a painter and restorer) himself. They live together on the farm next door. The couple have close ties to the village and the region and are happy to share their enthusiasm with their guests—as well as the unobstructed view of the countryside. To really enjoy it, they have installed panoramic windows with seating in the apartments, offering unhampered views across the meadows to the edge of the forest. Sometimes, an early morning mist covers the landscape, from time to time, it’s carpeted in thick snow. Then there’s the wood anemones to be enjoyed in full bloom, framed by the mountain ridges in the distance bathed in a magical light. This is a place where you can be comfortable in any weather, always close to nature.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST:

• The clear lines and simple geometry of the minimalist house contrast with the surrounding forest, meadows, and lush greenery.
• The white fir wood façade from the region is a deliberate choice designed to set the house apart from the old farmhouse. The old outbuilding of the historic farm has been replaced by modern wooden architecture.
• The custom-made furniture made of wood and iron, combined with mid-century elements, design classics, and regional antiques, warm materials, and light colors, creates a unique mix that works brilliantly together.
• The beautiful individual pieces: In the Kathi apartment, there’s a table made from oak planks from an old pedestrian bridge and a custom-made kitchen; in the Max apartment, there’s a mural in the children’s room by host and artist Christian. 
• The rooms were designed to allow the sun to enter the apartments, bathing them in warm light.
• Both apartments feature a lot of contemporary art.
• It’s wonderful how it smells of hay and wood.
• Waking up with a view of the forest and meadow, rolling out one of the yoga mats provided on the loggia or simply walking from the vacation home into nature (the nearest forest is less than a kilometer away)
• The garden with a hammock, trampoline, swing, and the two farm cats, Zita and Nelly. The property also has a well trough, a natural pond, a herb garden, and a barbecue area. In summer, you can pick currants and blackberries straight from the bushes.
• The location on the east side of Lake Chiemsee: It’s a little more rustic and less touristy here. The nearest beach on the lake is only a few minutes away by car, and you can be in the mountains in less than half an hour.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Both apartments offer 84 square meters of spacious accommodation for four people. Each apartment has a living and dining area, two bedrooms (one with a double bed, one with two single beds, which is ideal as a children’s room), a bathroom with rain shower and bathtub, and a loggia. The first floor apartment also has a terrace.
• If you’re looking for a cozy vacation home for the whole family, families who are friends, or couples, you’ll enjoy the advantage of having two separate apartments here—ideal for a little privacy while still being able to enjoy each other’s company.
• The house is child-friendly with plenty of space to play. A travel cot, high chair, and changing mat are available.
• The apartments have fully equipped kitchens that include induction hobs, dishwashers, Nespresso coffee machines with milk frothers, and juicers.
• Entertainment is also provided: There’s a small library with books and magazines, a collection of games, and a Bose sound system.
• The Schmidhuber is a sustainable passive house made of wood. A ventilation system with heat recovery and an air heat pump make it energy efficient. During construction, care was taken to use ecological building materials.
• The hosts are more than happy to share their insider tips: Maybe you want to know where to try a good smoked fish sandwich, delicious kaiserschmarrn (fluffy, shredded pancakes) or fresh Chiemsee fish—or where the most stunning view of Fraueninsel is, where you can hike along ancient tree-lined avenues to the New Palace of Herrenchiemsee or where to find a rustic favorite alpine hut.
• Fancy some refreshment? The ‘Bavarian Sea’, as Lake Chiemsee is also known, is the perfect place for this. Or you can visit the Alzbad Truchtlaching—the only river beach in the region is just a stone’s throw away.
• The nearest bakery and supermarket are about three kilometers away, the district town of Traunstein with its cinema and shopping facilities is 12 kilometers away. The nearest ski resorts can be reached in around 40 minutes by car, Salzburg is about 50 kilometers away, and Munich is 100 kilometers away.weglichkeiten ist 12 Kilometer entfernt, die nächsten Skigebiete sind in rund 40 Minuten mit dem Auto zu erreichen, nach Salzburg sind es etwa 50 Kilometer, nach München 100 Kilometer