Adventurous. Nostalgic. Sophisticated. The Ivory Empress is all of that and more. Set in a building from the 1900s, its history is celebrated by the light colour palette, gorgeous wooden floors and magnificent works of art. It’s easy to see that the host has an eye for design – most things are sourced from flea markets, with each piece of art and furniture telling a story. Located right on the border between Kreuzberg and Neukölln in a neighbourhood the locals call Kreuzkölln, this five-bedroom home is in a place where hipster coffee shops meet multicultural Berlin. Home truths: *Bedroom four is on the small side and only has a single bed *The beds in bedroom three are separated by a wall divider – don't expect plenty of privacy *Heavy packers beware – there’s not a lot of space for unpacking your suitcase *This home faces a busy street – if the windows are open, it might get noisy *The lift is not suitable for wheelchairs *The outdoor courtyard space is shared by all residents of the building *Because the home isn’t baby-proof, the host has decided to rent it out to adults and older children only *The graveyard view from some of the bedrooms isn’t for everyone *Kreuzkölln is on the up, but it's not quite like Kreuzberg yet