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My Houzz: Fresh Scandinavian Style in The Hague
A Dutch couple gives their 19th-century home a contemporary face-lift with Scandinavian influences and eclectic touches
Hello! I am a contributor for Houzz, writer and interior stylist based in the Netherlands. Always in search of beauty in all forms, I founded my lifestyle blog Avenue to satisfy my thirst for design and lifestyle inspiration. I am the loving mother of a beautiful little girl called Lola, and the adoring fiancé of a handsome Dutchman.
Hello! I am a contributor for Houzz, writer and interior stylist based... More »
When interior designer Hedda Pier and her husband, Michiel Lenstra, found their charming home in 2011, it had everything that was important to them: room to grow as a family, space for Pier's home office and the potential for a fabulous renovation. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to turn a dairy shop from the 1800s with a tired rental apartment above into a great family home,” Pier says. Armed with Pier's design skills and the courage to experiment, the couple began the huge project of turning the three-story villa into a multifunctional family home.
Creating the space of their dreams meant a total overhaul of the original building. “You name it, we did it,” Pier says. “We stripped it down to the bare bones and then put everything back together.”
“Everything we did to the house was with our family in mind and for the future. We thought about everything, from how we use space, about storage, about where we would eat and when we would be outside,” she continues. “For me my home is my work. It is my brand identity and my most successful experiment.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hedda Pier and Michiel Lenstra, and their 18-month-old daughter, Stella
Location: The Hague, the Netherlands
Size: 165 square meters (about 1,776 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The property was a dairy shop from the beginning of the 19th century until the 1980s, when it was turned into a medical practice.
Creating the space of their dreams meant a total overhaul of the original building. “You name it, we did it,” Pier says. “We stripped it down to the bare bones and then put everything back together.”
“Everything we did to the house was with our family in mind and for the future. We thought about everything, from how we use space, about storage, about where we would eat and when we would be outside,” she continues. “For me my home is my work. It is my brand identity and my most successful experiment.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Hedda Pier and Michiel Lenstra, and their 18-month-old daughter, Stella
Location: The Hague, the Netherlands
Size: 165 square meters (about 1,776 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The property was a dairy shop from the beginning of the 19th century until the 1980s, when it was turned into a medical practice.
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| Pier's home office can be seen from the street and is the first room to greet visitors. One of the key factors during the house hunt was that it would have a suitable workspace for Pier's interior design business, Saus Design. “We wanted something that had the possibility of creating a home office, as I had just quit my job and was thinking of starting my own business at the time,” she says. To create a space that would seamlessly combine both work and play, they "basically changed everything," Pier says. They changed the layout completely, taking out the entire back wall on the ground floor to make space for a "live-in" kitchen, and moving the kitchen from the first to the ground floor. They also changed all the windows to double glazing, put in new electricity and new plumbing, and added a bathroom and a bedroom. Overhead, they replaced the ceiling beams and insulated the roof. Eames Eiffel Chair: vintage; desk: Rendemint |
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The couple’s “live-in" kitchen is a place not only for cooking but for social and everyday interaction. It has all the functional aspects of a kitchen but also offers the chance for relaxing.
“The kitchen is the biggest accomplishment, because everyone said it would be too dark, as there are only windows high up on the walls,” Pier says. “I knew it would work, though.”
“The kitchen is the biggest accomplishment, because everyone said it would be too dark, as there are only windows high up on the walls,” Pier says. “I knew it would work, though.”
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| The kitchen is the heart of this family's home and the room that Pier, Lenstra and daughter Stella spend most of their time in. Designed by Danish company KVIK, it features laminated cabinet fronts and a composite countertop. Pier and Lenstra chose to keep the wall above the kitchen counter free of cupboards to keep the space open and light, one of the first things they loved about the house. With its spacious layout and practical seating, the space is also ideal as a meeting room for discussing projects with prospective clients. |
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The kitchen table is Pier's favorite item of furniture, as she designed it herself.
The table is surrounded by an eclectic mix of chairs in all styles. “I love the cow-skin chairs around it because they were my first proper statement furniture pieces,” Pier says. The powder-blue vintage Eames chairs were a recent addition that the couple have had on their wish list for a long time.
Table: Kraan Meubels; cow-skin chairs: Project 99
The table is surrounded by an eclectic mix of chairs in all styles. “I love the cow-skin chairs around it because they were my first proper statement furniture pieces,” Pier says. The powder-blue vintage Eames chairs were a recent addition that the couple have had on their wish list for a long time.
Table: Kraan Meubels; cow-skin chairs: Project 99
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Stella’s play area sits atop a wooden platform in the kitchen, with storage underneath for books and toys. A mini table and chairs and a chalkboard wall provide a canvas for Stella's budding artistry.
“I always wanted a kitchen that I could let my daughter play in while I’m cooking or having friends over for a cup of tea,” Pier says.
“I always wanted a kitchen that I could let my daughter play in while I’m cooking or having friends over for a cup of tea,” Pier says.
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The couple stripped the staircase bare to reveal the original wood.
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Though many of the period features of the house were stripped during renovation, one detail the couple brought back was cornice in the living room. An eclectic array of modern, classical and retro furnishings give the room a cozy feel, as does the soft teal color on the lower half of the walls.
Pier and Lenstra describe the interior of their home as being contemporary, with an eclectic mix of Scandinavian influences. “We have quite a bit of art, and so our home is a mix and match of things we’ve picked up that we think look good,” Pier says.
Paint: Mizzle, Farrow & Ball
Pier and Lenstra describe the interior of their home as being contemporary, with an eclectic mix of Scandinavian influences. “We have quite a bit of art, and so our home is a mix and match of things we’ve picked up that we think look good,” Pier says.
Paint: Mizzle, Farrow & Ball
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The guest bathroom has an exposed brick wall, duck-egg-blue wooden floorboards and a collection of family photographs.
“A lot of what we have done is experimental to see if it would work and if it looks good,” Pier admits. Several design choices, such as this exposed brick wall, were initially difficult to communicate to very skeptical contractors. The couple love the fabulous end result.
“A lot of what we have done is experimental to see if it would work and if it looks good,” Pier admits. Several design choices, such as this exposed brick wall, were initially difficult to communicate to very skeptical contractors. The couple love the fabulous end result.
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In the master bedroom, Piet Hein Eek's Scrapwood wallpaper acts as a striking headboard.
The built-in wardrobes made from plywood underlayment were another experimental design choice that was tough to get past the contractors. “They said it couldn’t be done or it would be difficult,” Pier says. The couple is thrilled with the result and are glad to have taken the risk.
The built-in wardrobes made from plywood underlayment were another experimental design choice that was tough to get past the contractors. “They said it couldn’t be done or it would be difficult,” Pier says. The couple is thrilled with the result and are glad to have taken the risk.
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Pier and Lenstra love using color throughout their home, often infusing bright hues through eclectic accessories, like this vintage bedside lamp. A sudden burst of sunshine yellow gives the otherwise neutral space a jolt of life.
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A splash of deep turquoise adds an element of surprise in this neutral-tone bathroom. The antique mirror softens the sharp lines of the modern space and provides a nice contrast between the old and the new.
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Piers thoughtfully designed Stella's nursery to be a fun and colorful space. “Too often, people design children’s rooms that echo their own style,” Pier says. The couple placed bookshelves low on the wall for easy reach, painted the skirting boards pink to add visual interest and filled the room with color, while still maintaining a neutral and pleasing space. “I really love my daughter’s room for the light and the view," Pier says. "She definitely has the best bedroom in the house!”
Rug and bookshelves: Ikea
Rug and bookshelves: Ikea
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| This guest room, called "The Yellow Room," is inspired by a bed-and-breakfast. The couple's friends and family can unload their luggage and get comfortable during visits from abroad. Bed: Ikea Leirvik; wall paint: Babouche, Farrow & Ball |
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| Sunshine-hued walls, a patchwork quilt and antique touches give the space a welcoming and homely feel. One of the best things about the home is its close proximity to the city and the beach. This family of three can often be found cycling to the beach and lunching in town together. |
Comments
Shannon Malone Love this home, especially the office, so simple but beautiful!
14 months ago · Like
rebfward Obsessed with the red sconce in the yellow bedroom! Where can I get one?
14 months ago · Like
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Wang Wei Lovely work on wall paint! I’m definitely going to visit the blog frequently.
14 months ago · Like
Cheryl Chan_Wong Love the master bedroom's wallpaper and cabinets!
14 months ago · Like
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Penny Magro A Dutch work colleague of mine (a professional organiser) would love this post so I sent on to her! Thanks for your fab continuous info and pics. I post regularly to my business page `Style by Penelope`
13 months ago · Like
Planika Fires That was our idea for a scandinavian interior design 
6 days ago · Like
Ideabook published on April 7, 2012.
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