My Houzz: Vintage and Asian Styles Mix in Eclectic Home
An interior design couple dress up their home with origami pendant, wallpaper and mid-century pieces
I am a well travelled freelance editor, journalist, writer and PR professional with experience behind a number of international publications and organisations based in the Netherlands with an eye for interiors and design. Always on the hunt for beauty and inspiration in all forms, I am the 'Thomas' behind 'Love, Thomas Creative Interiors' (www.lovethomas.blogspot.com), a recently initiated blog on which I post about design inspiration, along with my friend and blog partner. I am also the loving mother of a beautiful little girl called Lola, and the adoring partner of a handsome Dutchman.
I am a well travelled freelance editor, journalist, writer and PR professional... More »
Dutch homeowners Petra Mens and Sander Van der Burg blended several design styles to create a harmonious three-story home for their family. Located in the newly built neighborhood of Wateringseveld, between the cities of Delft and The Hague, this contemporary home balances Asian influences with classic mid-century modern design pieces.
The couple fell in love with the area for its close proximity to the city, beaches and the historical town of Delft, where they own an interior décor boutique, Interieur Decor Delft. These factors, as well as the space the house offered and family-friendly neighborhood, led them to purchase a block of land to build their ideal home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Petra Mens and Sander van der Burg
Location: Wateringseveld, The Netherlands
Size: 160 square meters, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
The couple fell in love with the area for its close proximity to the city, beaches and the historical town of Delft, where they own an interior décor boutique, Interieur Decor Delft. These factors, as well as the space the house offered and family-friendly neighborhood, led them to purchase a block of land to build their ideal home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Petra Mens and Sander van der Burg
Location: Wateringseveld, The Netherlands
Size: 160 square meters, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath
“It’s very difficult to describe the style of our house, because we like a lot of things,” Mens says. “It’s modern, but it’s also warm, and though each of the items are so different and come from different shops and boutiques, they all work well together.”
Suspended above the coffee table is the Bird Lamp made up of black paper cranes by Tas-ka. With its handmade clustered origami birds, the unique light fixture brings together the Asian influences found in the rest of the space, such as the large imported antique Chinese cabinet in the dining room from Zen Lifestyle.
Light fixture: Bird Lamp by Tas-ka
Coffee table and sofa: Linteloo
Private Comment
Suspended above the coffee table is the Bird Lamp made up of black paper cranes by Tas-ka. With its handmade clustered origami birds, the unique light fixture brings together the Asian influences found in the rest of the space, such as the large imported antique Chinese cabinet in the dining room from Zen Lifestyle.
Light fixture: Bird Lamp by Tas-ka
Coffee table and sofa: Linteloo
| A subtle wall installation that doubles as a media stand separates the living room space from the open kitchen layout. The charcoal gray sofas offer a comfortable place to relax and admire the views outside. Teak ‘Sushi’ stools, which are sold at the couple’s boutique, serve as the perfect perch for coffee or a cocktail. Private Comment
Owning an interior décor boutique has its advantages for the couple, who absolutely endorse the products that they sell in their boutique. “The products that we sell in our shop are hand-picked by me, and I always choose items that I would want to have in my own home,” Mens says. Light fixture: Bird Lamp by Tas-ka Coffee table and sofas: Linteloo Candlesticks: Ikea |
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| The showstopping piece in the dining area is the Non Random Light by Dutch design house Moooi. Designed by Bertjan Pot, the pendant projects light through an intricate web of epoxy and fiberglass strands, which gives off an organic softness while remaining quintessentially modern. Private Comment
Paint color: Hardwick White by Farrow & Ball |
The key accessory in this dining room vignette is a classic George Nelson designed Turbine Clock by design house Vitra. One of the most popular wall clocks ever made, the midcentury designed brass Turbine Clock has become an icon in modern design.
The clock combines with a Scandinavian designed vintage Palisander wood bar cabinet, a personal favorite item of Van der Burg. Warm golden hues complement the soft gray-green walls.
Clock: George Nelson "Turbine Clock" by Vitra
More on George Nelson clocks
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The clock combines with a Scandinavian designed vintage Palisander wood bar cabinet, a personal favorite item of Van der Burg. Warm golden hues complement the soft gray-green walls.
Clock: George Nelson "Turbine Clock" by Vitra
More on George Nelson clocks
| The contemporary, fuss-free kitchen is large and spacious, with clean lines and modern appliances. A wall of custom-built dark Wenge wood cupboards houses a row of Siemens built-in appliances, including a steam oven, coffee machine, oven and hidden refrigerator. A glossy kitchen island and stainless steel finishes create a streamlined look. Large Asian stone floor tiles run throughout. Private Comment
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With a 12-year-long relationship to their credit, and a business they have run successfully together for five of those years, teamwork is imperative for this couple. They met when Mens was an interior designer with her own business, and Van der Burg was working as an upholsterer and part-time interior designer. When it came to designing their home, Van der Burg took on the architectural aspects of the home's design, and Mens threw herself into the accessories and overall look of the home. It would seem that the design duo are a match made in heaven.
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| The vintage Scandinavian dining table is a purchase the couple made in Antwerp, during a visit to the city’s popular antique shopping street, Kloosterstraat. The chairs surrounding the table are original iconic Fritz Hansen Butterfly chairs. One of the most widely sold chairs in the world, the modern classic chairs are a design icon that the couple has enjoyed for years. Private Comment
Antique Chinese cabinet: Zen Lifestyle |
This darling little table was purchased for a steal at a local thrift store for two Euros! The vase on top was also a thrift store find. The combination of old and new accessories makes this home both cozy and inviting.
Candlestick: Habitat
Private Comment
Candlestick: Habitat
| The master suite is designed with Asian flair. Red Chinese side tables, purchased during a visit to a furniture shop in The Hague’s Chinatown, pop against an otherwise neutral setting. A vintage Chinese print was purchased at Zen Lifestyle. The couple purchased the sculptural piece at a design boutique in Delft. It is a folding clothes stand by Italian design house Zanotta. Private Comment
Wall color: Shaded White by Farrow & Ball Bedding: Mrs. Me Home Couture Lamps: Kartell Print: Zen Lifestyle Clothes stand: Sciangai by Zanotta |
| A feature wall of Asian-inspired wallpaper is striking against the bedroom’s neutral tones, and picks up on the red accents in the room. Private Comment
Wallpaper: Osborne & Little Wall color: ‘Shaded White’ by Farrow & Ball Bedding: Mrs. Me Home Couture Lamps: Kartell Print: Zen Lifestyle Clothes stand: Sciangai by Zanotta |
Walking from the master bedroom into the ensuite feels like entering a Balinese spa, with soft pebble-like tiling below the feet and a soothing color scheme.
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The couple’s ensuite is a calming retreat. Contemporary hardware combines with Balinese, Turkish and Moroccan accents to create a soothing space to relax in the bath or enjoy a steaming soak in the shower. The pebble look floor tiles were brought over from Bali to complete the “Zen” look that the couple were going for in this room.
Mirror: Habitat
Hardware: Doornbracht
Private Comment
Mirror: Habitat
Hardware: Doornbracht
Private Comment
| With a baby boy due very soon, the nursery is near completion. A feature wall covered in robot wallpaper by Scandinavian company Ferm Living is a whimsical and fun addition to the room. Paired with soft yellow walls, the room is just right for their son. Mens picked up the vintage baby bed for a steal at an online boutique specializing in vintage and retro items for children. Private Comment
The look the couple were going for in the baby’s room was “vintage and fresh with a combination of modern and vintage furnishings.” The couple plan to add a changing station and Mens plans on sewing a handmade mobile for their son to gaze up at while lying in his bed. “On my wishlist is an Eames rocker as my feeding chair,” Mens says. Wall colors: ‘Light Blue’ and ‘Babouche’ by Farrow & Ball Robot Wallpaper and cushions: Ferm Living Bed: Mevrouw de Uil |
This gorgeous vintage cupboard adds retro charm to the room, while another modern classic provides comfortable seating for long feeding sessions when baby comes along. The vintage Verner Panton chair was given to Van der Burg as a gift from a former employer. The one-piece plastic chair designed by one of the most influential designers of the 1960s and '70s is regarded today as a classic in modern furniture design.
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| Throughout the couple’s home are items that reflect on the traveling they have done together over the years. “I’m a collector," Mens says. "Every city we go to, we buy something. We have brought things back from Morocco, Bali, Barcelona and Paris.” The collection of picture frames in the entryway is a growing tradition for the couple, who find a new picture every time they visit a new city or country. The antique Chinese mantelpiece at the end of the hallway is home to a number of items brought back from holidays abroad, including a Moroccan stone-studded mirror, and sea shells, coral and a Buddha from Bali. Private Comment
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| Off the entryway on the ground floor is a large and spacious home office that Mens uses to sew and work from home from time to time. Modern floor-to-ceiling cupboards in a high-gloss finish provide ample storage for fabrics, office supplies and knickknacks, while tangerine colored Eames Eiffel chairs add more style to the space. Private Comment
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| A striking black-and-silver wallpaper brings excitement and texture to the room, and provides a luscious backdrop to the bright orange Eames chairs. The two solid wood tables were made by Mens’ father who is a carpenter. He also made the three wooden blocks that hold the printer and office supplies. Private Comment
Wallpaper: Chinese Dragon by Osborne & Little Clock: George Nelson Asterisk Clock by Vitra |
| When Mens and Van der Burg purchased the land and home, they played around with the floor plan to create the open kitchen, dining and living area that provides them with loads of living space, and also forfeited one of the three bedrooms on the third floor in favor of creating a spacious master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. The couple have considered extending the house to include a fourth floor in the future. Private Comment
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| Even on a bitter winter’s day, the views of the charming, family-oriented neighborhood from the couple’s home are a pretty sight. Private Comment
More: My Houzz: A Home Grows With the Family Houzz Tour: Contemporary Character in a Dutch Studio Houzz Tour: Canadian Cottage in the Netherlands |
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