From Zurich to a farmhouse in Aargau: two city dwellers move to the countryside

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“We wanted to get out of the city and move somewhere in the countryside,” Niki Sadkowski, 68, told Blick. “I would have loved to move to a very remote area in Jura, but Susan didn’t want to go that far.”

The couple paid around 4,500 francs a month for the apartment they rented in Zurich’s 5th District and the workshop where Niki Sadkowski repaired old Citroëns and motorcycles as a freelancer.

I’m looking for a house by motorcycle

The couple then traveled across the country on their motorcycle several times, looking for an affordable home where the handyman and plasterer could work simultaneously.

They finally found what they were looking for in the canton of Aargau. In the summer of 2008 at Rimikon AG, the duo saw a for sale sign on an old farmhouse covered in grapes and made contact.

Reasonable purchase price and beautiful view

“We liked that the sale was made directly with the owners, rather than through a broker,” says Koca. Although she was particularly impressed by the structure of the building and the general well-being during the tour, the view of the Rhine made Susan Sadkowski’s heart beat faster. “Without that perspective, I almost never would have moved to this small village of about 200 people at the time,” he says with a laugh.

In addition, the price of 450,000 francs for a 7-room house with outbuildings, where the husband could continue the repairs and with more than 2,800 square meters of land, was quite high. “Our house now costs us 1,600 francs a month. “We can still afford this with AHV,” says his wife.

Living and working in your new place of residence

The couple, who did the kitchen, toilet and various other renovations themselves, has been living in the Rimikon countryside since the summer of 2009. “But we wanted to preserve the spirit of the house. “This was also something previous homeowners were worried about when selling the house,” the woman says.

Public transport links are good; This is especially important for Susan Sadkowski, as she can go to work at a nursery in Winterthur and visit her three children from her first marriage and her grandchildren without a car.

His son still lives in his old apartment in Zurich. “We still have a close connection with the city,” the woman says. Niki Sadkowski continued to work in Zurich for a while until he established his own completely own workshop at his new place of residence, and even in his retirement he continued to work passionately on vintage cars.

Advantages of village life

The couple still thinks buying a house and moving out of the city was a good decision. The couple soon learned to appreciate and love country life. “Here people still greet each other, know each other; it’s not as anonymous as in the city, it’s less hectic, and of course it’s quieter,” says Susan Sadkowski.

Susan Sadkowski is the primary custodian of the garden, which also includes a magnificent protected linden tree. “Especially after my stroke in 2010, I worked like crazy in the garden. “Where before there were only apple trees and grazing sheep, now I have a garden,” she says. Meanwhile, their four-legged friend Kimbo also moved into the couple’s home. Taking long walks in her new home helped Susan Sadkowski recover physically and mentally, even after her cancer diagnosis and related treatments. The couple agree that the large farmhouse and grounds sometimes need some work.

Shared living space with refugee family

A Kurdish refugee family from Iraq was also temporarily living under the same roof. Niki Sadkowski built a separate living space with a bathroom for the refugee family.

After the family moved into their own apartment, there are rooms upstairs where the grandchildren can play and spend the night.

Favorite places and furniture

The real living space is on the ground floor. It can be seen from the dining area overlooking the Rhine River. Susan Sadkwowski’s jewel and favorite place is the old tiled stove in the small “Stübli” or reading room, also partially opened and adjacent to the “TV Stübli”. “I spent a lot of time solving Sudoku in Ofenbanki to keep myself mentally fit and distract myself, especially during my chemotherapy.” Susan Sadkowski often likes to rearrange things in the house. “Things always look a little different for us,” she says.

Niki Sadkowski’s favorite place is her workshop, where she can usually be found. Her favorite place in the house is the outdated designer lounge chair. The furniture as a whole is a hodgepodge of drawings, paintings, objects and furnishings that are personally and lovingly staged. For example, old kitchen furniture from previous owners. The favorite place of both is the large and cozy kitchen-living room, where the old coffee table is located. The inner courtyard in front of the kitchen is a popular shade in the summer and a practical area where all kinds of items can be stored in the winter.

Ideas and future plans

Some time ago, a small bar in the natural cellar of the house was planned as a meeting point. The couple is leaving it open whether this will happen at some point. It is also unclear whether the Sadkowskis will continue to live in the farmhouse in their old age.

It may also be considered to build a small, easy-to-maintain house on the site and live there. “The house, the garden and the surrounding area already give us plenty to do, and we are not getting any younger,” the woman says. Maybe one day everything will be sold and the retired couple will move to a bigger place. The couple is enjoying country life, making plans for the future. Niki Sadkowski: “There is no need to rush. We have never thought about the future until now.”

Source : Blick