My Houzz: Cozy and Crocheted in the Netherlands
A creative blogger's inviting apartment is knit together with DIY and vintage touches
Photographer and blogger Ilaria Chiaratti’s home is a colorful haven brimming with creativity and a distinctive vintage-eclectic style. The cozy apartment, a stone’s throw from Eindhoven central station in North Brabant, the Netherlands, is filled with retro and thrift-store pieces and handmade items. Chiaratti has an eye for vintage design and uses elements of old and new to design her unique mix-and-match home. Through her blog, IDA Interior LifeStyle, she shares her inspiration for interior styling, her crochet works and her home’s evolving design.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ilaria Chiaratti and her husband
Location: Eindhoven, North Brabant, the Netherlands
Size: Two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, living and dining
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Ilaria Chiaratti and her husband
Location: Eindhoven, North Brabant, the Netherlands
Size: Two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, living and dining
Chiaratti says her favorite piece of furniture would have to be this secondhand beauty made from teak wood and covered in fresh turquoise fabric. The bright upholstery and distinct retro appeal inspired the rest of the space, with its warm wooden accents amid bright pops of color. The multicolored crocheted baby blanket folded over the back of the chair was one of Chiaratti's first crochet works. The crochet cushion was purchased from Yvestown. Ilaria made the wall decoration from recycled toilet paper tubes, which she cut up and arranged in a flower pattern. Click here to learn how to make your own.
TV cabinet, baskets: IKEA
Crocheted blanket, poufs, cushions, lampshade, rug, heart garland throughout home: IDA Interior LifeStyle on Etsy
TV cabinet, baskets: IKEA
Crocheted blanket, poufs, cushions, lampshade, rug, heart garland throughout home: IDA Interior LifeStyle on Etsy
The white IKEA TV cabinet is topped with six photography prints by friend and blogger Ivy from Domestic Stories. The prints are for sale on her Etsy store.The deep blue bowl was purchased in Tunisia and was a gift from Chiaratti's grandmother.
Prints: Domestic Stories via Etsy
Table runner: Tablecloth.com
Prints: Domestic Stories via Etsy
Table runner: Tablecloth.com
The cushions scattered on the couch and daybed are mostly handmade. Some are crocheted and some are made of fabric, but Chiaratti's creativity and personality are apparent all over her home.
Flower pots: IKEA
Flower pots: IKEA
The daybed is covered with a handmade white throw from Sardinia and given to Ilaria by her grandmother. Chiaratti made the cushions and crocheted cover on the pouf.
The Wood & Wool Stool is right at home in this vintage-inspired apartment, tying in well with Chiaratti's own crocheted items. It sits beside a funky midcentury side table from a Dutch secondhand website called Marktplaats. Chiaratti made the crocheted blanket on top of the stool as well as the garland on the wall above the cabinet; the owl cushion was purchased in Cambridge and the crocheted cushion is by Yvestown.
The side table hosts a collection of whimsical pottery owls amid a few scattered doilies and a vintage-inspired globe. The distressed wood Christmas tree leaning against the wall is from Wood & Wool Stool.
Another retro cabinet, also bought via Marktplaats, houses a collection of vintage teacups and teapots (some gifts from family and some from thrift stores). Chiaratti lined the cabinet with yellow wallpaper.
Chair, crown basket: IKEA
Chair, crown basket: IKEA
Above a vintage buffet cabinet sits a shelf housing a selection of photographs in wooden frames. A display of trinkets add to the apartment's vintage charm.
The black-and-white photographs were taken while Chiaratti was on her honeymoon in Thailand.
Chiaratti uses these quaint porcelain vintage milk jugs to hold fresh-cut fuchsia roses.
In the dining room, mismatched chairs emphasize the inviting and colorful style of the apartment. Eames chairs are coupled with various IKEA chairs in different colors and styles. The large patterned fabric behind the dining table is a fun and inexpensive way to bring color and pattern into the space.
Orange chair, fabric: IKEA
Orange chair, fabric: IKEA
On the dining room table, a pale blue vintage enamel water pitcher filled with fresh cut roses ties in beautifully with the bright colors on the wall.
Chiaratti started her blog IDA Interior LifeStyle two years ago, inspired by Holly Becker’s blog Decor8. “It’s a great way to promote my crochet works and my photography,” she says.
Orange chair, fabric: IKEA
Moose head: Mihou
Orange chair, fabric: IKEA
Moose head: Mihou
Chiaratti's home office is where the magic happens. In this cozy little room, she works on her photography, assignments for her interior styling course and her blog. The yellow lamp is another DIY project. Chiaratti purchased an old lamp from a thrift store, removed the fabric and spray painted the inner shell a vibrant yellow.
Desk, shelves: IKEA
Pink lamp: vintage Van Dijk & ko.
Blanket: vintage
Heart garland: IDA Interior LifeStyle on Etsy
Desk, shelves: IKEA
Pink lamp: vintage Van Dijk & ko.
Blanket: vintage
Heart garland: IDA Interior LifeStyle on Etsy
Chiaratti loves creating interesting and fun items for her home. This paper "Welcome" sign above the guest bed is another of her projects.
The bedroom also displays Chiaratti's crochet works: the white throw on the end of the bed, the cushions, lampshade on the bedside table and the crochet rug on the floor.
Bed linens: IKEA
Bed linens: IKEA
Chiaratti's love for crocheting was inspired by two women she met at a garage sale in Belgium: Yvonne, the face behind the blog Yvestown, and Ingrid, the founder of Wood & Wool Stool. She knew she possessed a creative streak and talent with a set of crochet needles, so she began working on her first cushion, followed by a blanket. When people started commenting on her crochet works, she opened up an Etsy shop. “Crocheting is a passion,” Chiaratti says. “It is something that relaxes me … sometimes a little too much!”
Chiaratti has seen quite a bit of interest in her crochet works, and was contacted by the wool supplier Coats Cucirini to design and produce items for Abilmente, the most important craft fair in Vicenza, Italy.
Bed linen: IKEA
Bedside table: Kartell
Chiaratti has seen quite a bit of interest in her crochet works, and was contacted by the wool supplier Coats Cucirini to design and produce items for Abilmente, the most important craft fair in Vicenza, Italy.
Bed linen: IKEA
Bedside table: Kartell
The dresser in the bedroom was purchased via Van Dijk en Ko and Chiaratti added a few dainty floral cross-stich patterns. (Click here for a tutorial.) A tree branch holds her jewelry.
Dresser: Van Dijk en Ko
More Houzz Tours:
Life in the Vintage Renewal Loft
Australian Cottage with a Vintage Twist
Eclectic Coastal Home in Holland
Dresser: Van Dijk en Ko
More Houzz Tours:
Life in the Vintage Renewal Loft
Australian Cottage with a Vintage Twist
Eclectic Coastal Home in Holland
The apartment's décor was inspired by Scandinavian design. "My home is a place that really reflects me and my personality," Chiaratti says. "My taste is eclectic, but of course I like a fresh and young look."
Crown basket: IKEA
Rug: Zara home