MONUMENTAL BUILDING ZEIST

HELENE: 'This place is so special!

Although I can make anyone's house, it took a while for this to become my own. The walls were initially painted sand-colored… Very beautiful, but not 'my' house, and the richness of the 1750 property didn't really come across either. Slowly, it became apparent that I was mainly missing the color.
And that I, this time, and this building were all screaming for color. The color of life, the color of South Africa, of sunsets, of nature, and of the Dutch Masters. So away with the 'shabby', light walls, and get to work with rich, warm colors.
I primarily assessed the space, function, and lighting on-site, and did the mixing myself until it was just right. The colors and materials needed to strike a balance between rugged and stylish. No-nonsense and charming.

The study was decorated in a green-blue color scheme for working, combined with wood and an enormous high-gloss white desk. For the living room, we had found a huge antique display cabinet while traveling. I love antiques combined with modern elements. I chose a colonial tree wallpaper by IKSEL with many green and some blue tones, combined with grass green, as a contrast to the dark mahogany wood and to freshen up the antiques a bit. In front of that, a modern designer sofa from B&B Italia.

The bedroom has the color of sand in the sunset.

The kitchen had to be dark green. Because it is located in the basement, it is already quite dark down there, and now it is also stylish and cozy. With some old white tiles, good lighting, and warm orange accents to match the historic tiled floor.

Lighting is important in every home, but especially when you start working with color. Colors, just like people, need light!