My Houzz: Thrifted Chic With Art Deco Touches in Brussels
Online and flea market finds form a happy union with art deco pieces and DIY projects in this Belgian family's home
Living in a rented home where painting is restricted posed a particular problem for color specialist Corinne Kowal. But with online-shopping savvy and an ability to reimagine found furniture, she gave her home splashes of color and eclectic furnishings that range in style from French classic to art deco and retro vintage. The color scheme makes or breaks a space, she says: “That’s what brings it all together.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Christophe and Corinne Kowal, and their 3-year-old son
Location: Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels
Size: 140 square meters (1,506 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, home office
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Christophe and Corinne Kowal, and their 3-year-old son
Location: Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels
Size: 140 square meters (1,506 square feet); 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, home office
In the kitchen, nestled beneath a slanted ceiling that runs the entire length of the apartment's top floor, contemporary bamboo countertops, MDF composite cupboards and modern bar stools contrast with art deco pieces. Skylights bring in plenty of light — a lifesaver during European winters — but mean less storage space.
Four J. & J. Kohn bistro chairs found at a flea market and reupholstered in red leather surround a large oak dining table by La Redoute.
Corinne found the two art deco chairs at either end of the table on the street in Paris. "They were in really bad shape," she says. "I won’t even tell you my husband’s reaction when he found them sitting in our flat, ready to toss them out of the window immediately."
She sanded them down and reupholstered the seats with a Libeco red linen.
Corinne found the two art deco chairs at either end of the table on the street in Paris. "They were in really bad shape," she says. "I won’t even tell you my husband’s reaction when he found them sitting in our flat, ready to toss them out of the window immediately."
She sanded them down and reupholstered the seats with a Libeco red linen.
The Biedermeier-style marble-topped buffet was a splurge Corinne found on eBay. It complements a gallery of drawings by 17th-century French artist Claude Lorrain, 18th-century engravings and a painting of a forest found at Les Petits Riens, a Brussels charity shop.
This Shiraz floor rug came from Syria, too. "We spent about three hours drinking tea and bargaining with the owners of a carpet shop in the Aleppo souk. It is one of those beautiful memories of a fantastic trip," Corinne says. The antique leather armchair is an eBay find, recently re-covered.
Console: Bahia, Maison du Monde, customized with MDF leaf painted Mouse’s Back No. 40, Farrow & Ball
This Shiraz floor rug came from Syria, too. "We spent about three hours drinking tea and bargaining with the owners of a carpet shop in the Aleppo souk. It is one of those beautiful memories of a fantastic trip," Corinne says. The antique leather armchair is an eBay find, recently re-covered.
Console: Bahia, Maison du Monde, customized with MDF leaf painted Mouse’s Back No. 40, Farrow & Ball
The two side tables are Ikea Vittsjö shelving units cut in pieces, then put together with an MDF leaf top painted with Farrow & Ball's Mouse’s Back No. 40.
Though the Kowals would like some of the freedom that comes with owning a home, such as painting walls, renting has not been a limiting factor. They put their own stamp on the apartment's clean aesthetic and have come to love its existing features. "We love the oak floors and the light. Even when it’s dark out and the weather's dreadful, there’s always light," Corinne says.
Wall paint throughout: 9001 Cream, RAL; sofa: Manstad, Ikea; dark green velvet cushions: Ikea; chartreuse cushions: custom made with fabric from Tissus du Chien Vert and piping by Houlès
Though the Kowals would like some of the freedom that comes with owning a home, such as painting walls, renting has not been a limiting factor. They put their own stamp on the apartment's clean aesthetic and have come to love its existing features. "We love the oak floors and the light. Even when it’s dark out and the weather's dreadful, there’s always light," Corinne says.
Wall paint throughout: 9001 Cream, RAL; sofa: Manstad, Ikea; dark green velvet cushions: Ikea; chartreuse cushions: custom made with fabric from Tissus du Chien Vert and piping by Houlès
The Kowals have called their Brussels apartment home since 2011; they lived in both Paris and Berlin prior to relocating to Brussels. They instantly loved their home for its light and space. “We were looking for an apartment with nice features and lots of light," Corinne says. "With three levels, this place had the feel of a house, while still being an apartment.” The top floor is one large, open space that accommodates the living and dining room, the kitchen and a small sitting area.
Prints, vintage maps and pictures of Berlin and New York line the stairwell.
Christophe has a love-hate relationship with the stairs. "You are constantly going up and down, but it's a matter of getting used to it," Corinne says.
Christophe has a love-hate relationship with the stairs. "You are constantly going up and down, but it's a matter of getting used to it," Corinne says.
The family bathroom is a contemporary affair, with a double vanity, wooden countertops, a large mirror that extends to the ceiling and plenty of light.
In their son's room, a brightly painted dresser takes center stage against a color palette of green, blue and crisp white. Corinne dyed the cotton Ikea curtains a bottle-green color.
Armchair: Biarritz, Mis en Demeure, upholstered in linen fabric from the Lins Lourds collection by Elitis; green cushion: Casa home; rug: wool, Leen Bakker
Armchair: Biarritz, Mis en Demeure, upholstered in linen fabric from the Lins Lourds collection by Elitis; green cushion: Casa home; rug: wool, Leen Bakker
The dresser is an Ikea Ingo buffet that Corinne painted; she also added brass hardware and door decorations from BHV in Paris. An oak-framed antique map of Berlin hangs above.
The little bronze cat, by Villa Alys, was a gift from one of Corinne's clients when she was working in Paris. She found the vintage globe in a local consignment store.
The little bronze cat, by Villa Alys, was a gift from one of Corinne's clients when she was working in Paris. She found the vintage globe in a local consignment store.
Corinne found this headboard on eBay and upholstered it in a dreamy blue velvet from Les Tissus du Chien Vert in Brussels. She repainted it as well.
The custom bedspread features African Holland wax fabric purchased in the Congolese area of Matonge in Brussels. Framed original photogravures from Period Paper hang above the bed.
Curtains: synthetic taffeta with grosgrain trim by Houlès (31152, color 9585); bed frame: Ikea
The custom bedspread features African Holland wax fabric purchased in the Congolese area of Matonge in Brussels. Framed original photogravures from Period Paper hang above the bed.
Curtains: synthetic taffeta with grosgrain trim by Houlès (31152, color 9585); bed frame: Ikea
Art deco side tables are among Corinne's favorite items. "Those were my best buy on eBay ever, because I paid 20 euros (about U.S.$25) for both of them," she says. They came with an original insert for a porcelain night pot, which “was removed immediately,” she adds.
Christophe and Corinne share an office with facing desks. She bought the vintage Danish teak desk in Berlin and found the teak desk chair, mahogany cabinet and chair next to it on eBay. She had the chair reupholstered in purple velvet with double cord piping by Houlès.
Desk lamp: vintage Panthella by Verner Panton for Louis Poulsen, bought on eBay
Desk lamp: vintage Panthella by Verner Panton for Louis Poulsen, bought on eBay
A gallery wall features framed antique engravings, most of which Corinne found on eBay. This DIY desk features a painted wooden top and stained midcentury-style legs. Corinne found the chair on eBay and had it reupholstered.
Chair fabric: Vison, Libeco Linen; drawers: Helmer, Ikea
Chair fabric: Vison, Libeco Linen; drawers: Helmer, Ikea
She picked up this midcentury lemon wood two-door buffet at a local consignment store, along with the vintage botanical chart that hangs above it.
“Working as a color consultant has been such a rewarding experience," Corinne, shown here, says. "Color offers so many possibilities. It’s so interesting to see how people come up with totally different color schemes working from the same palette. I could do this space over and over again, just in different colors. My only regret is I can’t paint the walls.”
See more photos of this house
See more photos of this house
The Kowals love to relax, read and sip coffee here. The red and purple tones of the reupholstered flea market chairs influenced the rest of the space. The salvaged bistro table was old, rusty and dirty, and after several attempts at removing the rust, Corinne spray painted it a matte charcoal gray and replaced its original beige plastic top with a custom pine top, stained and varnished with a clear gloss. The couple found the antique Bukhara rug while backpacking in Syria.
The art deco mirror above the buffet is an eBay find. After the purchase, Corinne realized it had been spray painted gold. She spent weeks transforming it to aged-looking silver.
Upholstery: Cabine Rouge fabric, Les Toiles du Soleil; bistro table: Les Petits Riens