My Houzz: Contemporary Character in a Dutch Suburb
Red accents, vintage maps and a classy color palette combine in a Dutch family's home
When Jeroen and Neele van der Werf bought their house two years ago on the outer edge of Delft, Neele was nine months pregnant with their daughter Puk. Nothing had been done to the interior of their new home for decades. The couple wanted to bring the home into the 21st century while maintaining its historical character and some original features. The results are an aesthetically balanced, contemporary family home that radiates character while remaining minimalist. Bauhaus-inspired tubular steel furniture mixed with handmade and vintage items give this home a contemporary vibe with eclectic touches.
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: Jeroen, Neele and their 2-year-old daughter Puk van der Werf
Location: Delft, South Holland, the Netherlands
Size: 75 square meters. 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance:
Who lives here: Jeroen, Neele and their 2-year-old daughter Puk van der Werf
Location: Delft, South Holland, the Netherlands
Size: 75 square meters. 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
The property is one of the quaint houses of Agnetapark. The park incorporates a collection of homes built in the late 1800s for the workers of a nearby yeast factory. The park is named after Agneta van Marken-Matthes, the wife of the founder of the Nederlandsche Gist-en Spiritus (Dutch Yeast and Spirits) factory in Delft. She researched the living habits of employee households in Delft and, with her husband, a successful entrepreneur, initiated the building of 78 homes for the factory’s employees. Neele and Jeroen purchased one of these homes in the summer of 2009.
Vintage maps adorning the entry walls were given to the couple by Neele’s father. The maps are of places the couple has lived and includes a map of the city of Delft in the 1600s, a map of Curacao and one of South Holland. All the maps were framed by Neele’s father, who reproduces old maps and owns a framing shop in Hengelo, in the east of the Netherlands. The light fixture was created by Jeroen from an old atlas.
The vibrant red painted on the lower half of the entryway walls makes a striking first impression. The walls are accented with vintage map prints and the handmade map-turned-light-fixture (pictured above) to create a very warm welcome.
The couple love the home's harmonious layout and mix of design styles. Neele says, “The room is full, though it doesn’t feel too crowded. We also love that we have a lot of light. I think that people tend to have too few lamps, and I love all the lamps that we have chosen.”
Floor lamp: Ikea
Floor lamp: Ikea
The pendant lamp providing direct light to two prints on the wall is the Parentesi pendant lamp by Italian lighting design company Flos. The lamp moves vertically, sliding up and down a steel tube on a ceiling-to-floor steel cable. It provides the perfect amount of illumination to an otherwise forgotten space.
The top print is of an old Fiat and was purchased while the couple was in Tuscany this year.
The bottom picture is by a well-known stained glass artist, Jan Schoenaker, who was awarded a ribbon from the Dutch queen for his artistic contribution to churches. Neele’s father held an exhibition in honor of Schoenaker in his framing shop and art gallery, which is where the couple purchased the piece.
The bottom picture is by a well-known stained glass artist, Jan Schoenaker, who was awarded a ribbon from the Dutch queen for his artistic contribution to churches. Neele’s father held an exhibition in honor of Schoenaker in his framing shop and art gallery, which is where the couple purchased the piece.
What I love most about this home is the inviting and harmonious layout. Every item works with the rest of the space, and varying textures give the space a special kind of warmth.
The light in the corner beside the TV console is by German lighting designer Ingo Maurer. Neele has always been a fan of the designer, and has always wanted to own one of his lights. She says, “I just love his lamps. They are so pretty and delicate. I have always said that when I have a real house, I want to have an Ingo Maurer lamp!”
She finally found one and snapped it up at a bargain and the extra splash of light makes all the difference.
The light in the corner beside the TV console is by German lighting designer Ingo Maurer. Neele has always been a fan of the designer, and has always wanted to own one of his lights. She says, “I just love his lamps. They are so pretty and delicate. I have always said that when I have a real house, I want to have an Ingo Maurer lamp!”
She finally found one and snapped it up at a bargain and the extra splash of light makes all the difference.
The vintage leather armchair was a purchase from Fabrieknl.com, a vintage furniture company owned by a friend.
The coffee table was handmade by Neele’s father, whose own father was a carpenter. While the style is quite modern, it was made using an old technique that eliminates any visible connection between the joints. The table is topped with two floor tiles, which can be swapped out.
The coffee table was handmade by Neele’s father, whose own father was a carpenter. While the style is quite modern, it was made using an old technique that eliminates any visible connection between the joints. The table is topped with two floor tiles, which can be swapped out.
The armchair is a faux vintage Marcel Breuer. The Hungarian modernist, architect and furniture designer was known for his invention of tubular steel furniture. The couple plan to replace the chair with one that has a warmer texture.
The funky lamp over the coffee table is the "clusterlamp" by Joel Degermark through Moooi.
Jeroen bought this colorful flower cushion at a Dubai arts and crafts store. The appliquéd felt flowers add a pop of color to the otherwise neutral space.
The recently installed fireplace adds a touch of cozy warmth to the space, as does the deliciously warm sheepskin rug on the floor.
The TV console is an ultra mod piece purchased from USM Modular Furniture. The glossy black finish and sleek form add a contemporary feel to the room. USM is an international company that offers tailor-made furniture.
“We love the combination of old and new. The old house with new fixtures, fittings and furnishings gives the home a nice combination of contemporary and character,” Neele says.
The dining chairs are special edition Mart Stam's S 43 "cantilever" chairs by Thonet. When they were produced two years ago, they were available in a range of bright colors. The tubular steel chair was designed in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus design school. Dutch architect Mart Stam developed the first prototype of a cantilevered, tubular steel chair in 1926. The special edition chairs were available in 11 colors, applied as textured enamel. Jeroen and Neele chose their chairs in anthracite grey to offset the red dining table while tying in with theneutral color scheme throughout the rest of the space.
Bookcase: IKEA
The dining chairs are special edition Mart Stam's S 43 "cantilever" chairs by Thonet. When they were produced two years ago, they were available in a range of bright colors. The tubular steel chair was designed in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus design school. Dutch architect Mart Stam developed the first prototype of a cantilevered, tubular steel chair in 1926. The special edition chairs were available in 11 colors, applied as textured enamel. Jeroen and Neele chose their chairs in anthracite grey to offset the red dining table while tying in with theneutral color scheme throughout the rest of the space.
Bookcase: IKEA
Neele says, “For us, cooking is a social thing and we are in the kitchen together a lot. That's why we decided to create an open kitchen, and place the island right in the center of the room so that we can chat to guests while cooking and enjoy the experience.”
The kitchen supplier had a very limited choice in terms of kitchen designs, which made the decision a relatively simple one. “The feeling that I got when we were looking to buy a kitchen was that they (KVIK) had already made a selection of the best, so all we needed to do was pick the one which suited our lifestyle the best,” Neele says. The kitchen features a granite composite worktop and glossy MDF doors and drawers without handles.
“I loved how we used glossy paint on all the doors, windows and framing. It immediately made the house fresh and added character,” Neele says. “We also painted the ceiling beams in the bedrooms in a glossy white and the results are very pretty!”
The staircase is well lit with two round pendant lamps hung at different heights. To the right is a tiny bathroom. To the left is Puk's bedroom, and on the same floor is the master bedroom and guest bedroom, both of which are works in progress.
“We wanted a Mediterranean look which was calm and warm. We chose a somewhat old-fashioned basin and tap, and combined it with pale wooden accessories,” Neele says.
The remodeling of the bathroom was one of the biggest challenges due to the limited space. “We really wanted a big shower that we could all fit in together, and a toilet,” Neele says. To create more space in the bathroom, the couple utilized the bedroom closet, which is now the bathroom console area. To do this, the closet was closed off in the bedroom and opened out into the bathroom.
Bathroom accessories, including the step, shelving and canvas baskets from IKEA.
The remodeling of the bathroom was one of the biggest challenges due to the limited space. “We really wanted a big shower that we could all fit in together, and a toilet,” Neele says. To create more space in the bathroom, the couple utilized the bedroom closet, which is now the bathroom console area. To do this, the closet was closed off in the bedroom and opened out into the bathroom.
Bathroom accessories, including the step, shelving and canvas baskets from IKEA.
The master bedroom is modern and designed with simplicity in mind. The couple painted the ceiling beams a glossy white to open up the space. The bold lime green light fixture is made from paper. It not only adds a pop of color in the room, but complements the bed linen.
The couple's wardrobe was previously where the TV now stands.
They chose different color carpeting in each of the bedrooms and the hallway to create visual interest and warmth against the white walls and features.
They chose different color carpeting in each of the bedrooms and the hallway to create visual interest and warmth against the white walls and features.
The changing table is a vintage writing desk the couple bought at a local thrift store. On the shelves above the changing table is a collection of elephants. They used to belong to Jeroen, whose uncle would bring him back an elephant every time he traveled to India.
One of the most challenging aspects of the renovation of the house was having a baby right in the midst of the reconstruction process. But the couple used their resources wisely and had the help of both experts and friends and family to complete the project.
“A thorough renovation is done only once, so do it well and seek out experts to do the difficult stuff,” Jeroen advises.
With the renovation behind them, this family of three get to enjoy their cozy and contemporary home for years to come.
More Houzz tours:
Eclectic Coastal Home in Holland
Canadian Cottage in the Netherlands
Early 20th Century Meets Contemporary
“A thorough renovation is done only once, so do it well and seek out experts to do the difficult stuff,” Jeroen advises.
With the renovation behind them, this family of three get to enjoy their cozy and contemporary home for years to come.
More Houzz tours:
Eclectic Coastal Home in Holland
Canadian Cottage in the Netherlands
Early 20th Century Meets Contemporary
The painting on the wall instantly grabs the eye. It is a rental piece that the couple chose soon after they moved into their home. They were looking for a large statement piece and were instantly attracted to the serene artwork by the well-known Dutch artist Casper Faassen.
“It’s kind of raw, with the letters, structure and texture, but at the same time it's really minimalistic with just a few lines. I also think it’s very well balanced. It’s not too perfect, so it looks really natural,” Neele says. “It’s also multifaceted. You never quite know what she’s thinking. She has something very melancholic about her. You can keep looking at it and discover something every time. In that way, it’s a little bit like looking at a fire — you can just look at it to enjoy looking at it.”