My Houzz: Industrial-Edged Chic in Rotterdam
DIY efforts and unplanned aesthetics with happy results create a gorgeous home for a Dutch couple
Looking to save on construction costs during the remodel of their three-story 19th-century Rotterdam, Netherlands, house, Stella Verbrugge and Joeri van Zwoll rolled up their sleeves and got to work, sharing the load with architect and contractor Dimitri Kruithof. "During the weekends we would do things, but during the week it was his project. We were a real team," says Verbrugge.
The homeowners spent three weekends knocking plaster off a three-story interior brick wall with an electric hammer. “It was a terrible amount of work," Verbrugge says. They also installed oak floorboards, an experience they hope not to repeat. "Looking back, it would have been better to have the oak floor laid professionally in the beginning," she says.
But in a bustling city where a large house is hard to come by — especially one with a garden — they were willing to do anything to snag their dream home. "This house was a must-have for us,” Verbrugge says.
The teamwork paid off, too, resulting in an unintentional but beautiful raw aesthetic that celebrates brick and rustic wood.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stella Verbrugge and Joeri van Zwoll
Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Size: 220 square meters (2,368 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Budget: 130,000 euros (U.S.$169,052)
That's interesting: The home and neighboring row of houses, Een Blok Stad, were awarded the Rotterdam Architecture Prize in 2012 for their design for modern urban renewal.
The homeowners spent three weekends knocking plaster off a three-story interior brick wall with an electric hammer. “It was a terrible amount of work," Verbrugge says. They also installed oak floorboards, an experience they hope not to repeat. "Looking back, it would have been better to have the oak floor laid professionally in the beginning," she says.
But in a bustling city where a large house is hard to come by — especially one with a garden — they were willing to do anything to snag their dream home. "This house was a must-have for us,” Verbrugge says.
The teamwork paid off, too, resulting in an unintentional but beautiful raw aesthetic that celebrates brick and rustic wood.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Stella Verbrugge and Joeri van Zwoll
Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Size: 220 square meters (2,368 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Budget: 130,000 euros (U.S.$169,052)
That's interesting: The home and neighboring row of houses, Een Blok Stad, were awarded the Rotterdam Architecture Prize in 2012 for their design for modern urban renewal.
Windows 5 meters (16 feet) high in the dining room flood light into the house and give it a distinct city feel. Three industrial vintage pendants from Spoor38 hang over a wooden table with iron legs that was made by hand from planks of wood rescued from a factory.
“We wanted the dining table very close to the kitchen," Verbrugge says. "We love to cook and entertain friends regularly, so the dining area is the most well-used area of the house."
“We wanted the dining table very close to the kitchen," Verbrugge says. "We love to cook and entertain friends regularly, so the dining area is the most well-used area of the house."
They bought the kitchen furnishings from Ikea but had the oak cupboard fronts custom made locally by Koak Design, which specializes in customizing Ikea kitchen cupboard fronts.
A sleek five-burner gas stove is nestled between concrete worktops, while wooden kitchen accessories and cabinets lend rustic appeal. The large cutting board is from the Dutch department store Loods5. The small ones are from a French market in St. Cyprien.
Polished concrete floors span the ground floor; their sand-colored painted finish reflects light.
An exposed brick wall runs through all three levels. “We originally wanted to expose the brick in just one or two areas of the house, but our architect encouraged us to do one entire wall from top to bottom,” Verbrugge says.
The ground floor was a very dark basement. "There was no kitchen, just bricks and a floor. So we are the first to use that space as a living area,” Verbrugge says. White beams, lightweight curtains and a pale floor brighten it up.
Film lamp: Spoor38
The couple spent three weekends stripping away the plaster themselves. “We thought, if we don’t like it or feel like a change in a few years, we can always plaster it over again," Verbrugge says. Now they prefer to let the exposed brick act as the main graphic element in the house, complemented by a few pieces of art .
Verbrugge's mom made these colorful floor cushions.
The first and second floors had been separate apartments. A staircase now joins the two levels. "We wanted to keep as much as possible of the old design and layout as well as original features of the building,” Verbrugge says. "We didn't mind the narrow hallways that were common in these old houses."
After moving into the house, the couple spent about a year's worth of weekends installing the oak floors.
After moving into the house, the couple spent about a year's worth of weekends installing the oak floors.
“Space is hard to come by in the Netherlands, so it makes a difference to your lifestyle to have more of it,” Verbrugge says.
The sofa was the last one in that particular fabric at a local store, so they went home with the show model for a steal. "We love that it's new with a retro feel," Verbrugge says.
TV cabinet, lamps: Wulf Wonen; sofa: Isassi
The sofa was the last one in that particular fabric at a local store, so they went home with the show model for a steal. "We love that it's new with a retro feel," Verbrugge says.
TV cabinet, lamps: Wulf Wonen; sofa: Isassi
A simple beverage trolley against the exposed brick wall in the living room makes a striking vignette. "We love to incorporate a mixture of new items with things we love that hold memories," Verbrugge says.
The master bedroom employs a simple palette of black, white and tan.
Some of the doors in the house are original, while some were purchased at Oude Bouw Materialen, a shop for used building materials.
Some of the doors in the house are original, while some were purchased at Oude Bouw Materialen, a shop for used building materials.
The guest bedroom features a wood-plank bed frame and industrial-style lighting. The vintage chairs belonged to Verbrugge in her childhood.
At the foot of the bed, floor-to-ceiling linen curtains and a dark wood bookcase complement the signature brick wall.
The clean-looking white bathroom is spacious, with both a walk-in shower and a bathtub. The side panel of the bath can be easily removed for repair if necessary.
The most challenging aspect of the renovation for the couple was figuring out the concept, without knowing how it would turn out. It was like building with blocks, Verbrugge says. "You put one on top of the other and then it all comes together. The end result is as much the fun as the challenge.”
The most challenging aspect of the renovation for the couple was figuring out the concept, without knowing how it would turn out. It was like building with blocks, Verbrugge says. "You put one on top of the other and then it all comes together. The end result is as much the fun as the challenge.”
Verbrugge, shown here, enjoyed spending their weekends turning a derelict building into their dream home. "We would like to renovate again, but to be realistic, you only do something like this once in your life," she says. "Now we want to enjoy all the things we did."
See more photos of this home
See more photos of this home
Wall paint: Zorgvuldig 2010-G50Y, Histor Compleet