My Houzz: City and Country Cross Paths in a Dutch Villa
It backs onto a lushly planted waterway and even has a pool, but this Netherlands home never loses sight of its capital skyline
Hello! I am a contributor for Houzz, writer and interior stylist based in the Netherlands. Always in search of beauty in all forms, I founded my lifestyle blog Avenue to satisfy my thirst for design and lifestyle inspiration. I am the loving mother of a beautiful little girl called Lola, and the adoring fiancé of a handsome Dutchman.
Hello! I am a contributor for Houzz, writer and interior stylist based... More »
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This Netherlands home has the best of both worlds, with the city at the front and the lush Dutch countryside at the back. Frank and Marion's 1931 house sits in a quiet neighborhood with a spacious back garden and pool, but it still has clear views to The Hague, South Holland's capital city. Over the years the couple has infused the home with their own contemporary, airy style while still maintaining its charming original details.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Frank and Marion
Location: Voorburg, the Netherlands
Size: 180 square meters (1,937 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Frank and Marion
Location: Voorburg, the Netherlands
Size: 180 square meters (1,937 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
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by Holly Marder
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| The calming family room was decorated with understated luxury in mind. The subtly installed television mirrors a built-in fireplace. The leaded glass windows throughout are original to the house. This large front window has been left undressed for maximum light. Sofa: Cartel Living; coffee table: Keijser & Co.; rug: Interieur Decor Delft |
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| The large sectional is part of a neutral backdrop for the couple's eclectic artwork. Table lamps: Tierenlantijn; floor lamp: Artemide |
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| The long and open main living space has a living room at the front end of the home and a sitting room that leads to the backyard. A custom shelf displaying decorative items separates the dining room and living room. Contractor and custom shelving maker: Mart van Adrichem |
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A modern custom light fixture and dramatic black table and chairs anchor the dining area. The couple has views to both the front and back of the house from here.
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| The pantry extends to the right of the kitchen, directly behind the shelving unit. Large windows above the kitchen counters bring even more light into this open space. |
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| The pair have put most of the rest of their renovation plans on hold for now, but they do hope to update the kitchen eventually. |
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| The sitting room's original leaded glass French doors look out onto the back garden. With the television, books, kitchen and picturesque views all within arm's reach, this space is the perfect spot for relaxing. Stool: Tess; sofas: Cartel Living; bookcase: custom by Mart van Adrichem |
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| Upstairs the pair decorated their master bedroom in a soothing palette of white and charcoal. Artwork adds lilac and fuchsia accents. Curtains: Interieur Decor Delft; overhead light fixtures: Artemide; writing desk: custom by Mart van Adrichem |
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| The sliding door on the left leads to the en suite bathroom, and the sliding door on the right leads to the walk-in closet. Wall paint: Off Black, Farrow & Ball; light fixtures: Artemide |
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| The newly renovated bathroom feels open and spacious. The new vanity is decidedly contemporary, with a bright white tile backsplash and charcoal-gray MDF cabinets. The glass open shower had to be custom made due to the large size. Flooring: natural oak |
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| The guest room and office occupy a single room near the front of the first floor. Like the rest of the home, this room enjoys a simple and understated color palette; it has a single emerald accent pillow. |
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| The couple shares this home office, with views of The Hague's skyline in the distance. The space has two separate work areas with a sliding door between them. Office furniture: Keijser & Co. |
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| The couple fell in love with the spacious garden on their first visit to the house. |
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| They also love their swimming pool — an uncommon feature in Dutch homes. When they purchased the house, the couple also bought an extra lot on the left side of the property from their neighbors, including a garage space (not pictured) that they gave a facelift. |
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| The house backs onto a small waterway, surrounded by lush vegetation. See more photos of this house | Share your home with us! |
Ideabook updated on March 21, 2013.
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The interior of the house is crisp and beautifully done - I could move right in. There's nothing I don't like.
That bathroom vanity - suspended from the wall - makes it more open. It reminds me of good boat interiors, with everything fitted together to make the most of space. Having wall mounted lights - as in the MBR - clearly does the same - keeps the floor space open, which makes everything seem more spacious, less crowded. I bet the bedside table folds down when not in use. Nicely designed compact kitchen - and in the middle - accessible easily from either direction.
It's all so spare - i do not believe that I could keep it that way for an hour!
Share the owner's love for their outside space - a combo of designed human space and the wonderful waterway- here the spareness of the outside design acts like a frame drawing the eye to the canal beyond. You are enclosed, sort of protected on three sides- but the length of the view also makes this "yard" seem infinitely long.
Would love to see the floor plan and the "garage."
Or, sometimes people are really concerned with putting art over a sofa or over a bed since they think the space will look unfinished. It's amazing to see art over just the nightstand or over the side tables next to the sofa (again low - maybe 4" above the top of the nightstand/end table). I think the example I just gave would work in this instance - I could see the 2 paintings that are currently over the sofa grouped together vertically over the left of the sofa (over the green pillow area) - with the bottom one being just 4-6" from the top of the sofa.
I would love to see the owner try it and post a before and after! I went to school in Rotterdam in the 80's for a semester and have a huge spot in my heart for the Dutch people and Holland in general!!