
They wanted to keep the original details, but made it very clear: their home had to be contemporary and modern. We were exhilarated, because that’s exactly the kind of thing we love to do. We designed and supplied the interior for this stately canal house in Leiden, and had some fine pieces custom made.
One of our own designs is the cobalt-blue pantry on the second floor, a composition of squares and rectangles in a high gloss finish to contrast the original built-in cupboard. In the kitchen we placed a bar-height breakfast table overlooking the enclosed garden. We wanted to use a geometrical shape of sturdy natural material, as if it was an origami sheet. The result is a half-round oak surface, elevated by a construction of folded steel. The gentlemen of the house can sit at the window and attach pictures, notes, and reminders to the back of the construction, which functions as a magnetic bulletin board.
Throughout the home we combined modern pieces with playful elements, color and soft materials. Around the sleek dining table, for example, we placed a collection of chairs, and over it the Heracleum by Moooi. The long transparent sideboard by Mieke Meijer gives display space for a collection of art objects and travel memorabilia.
It is a place you really want to come home to.