Houzz Tour: Lofty Living in the Heart of the Randstad
Visit an eclectic city apartment where traditional style meets Asian décor, clever living spaces and art
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 »
On one of the most renowned shopping streets in the city of The Hague sits this top-floor apartment in three-story building dating back to the early 1800s. Its interior is a cozy combination of traditional and East Asian styles, with loads of eclectic charm. With a subtle color scheme and well-placed furniture, this loft-style apartment is a balanced composition of old and new.
Owner Peter Blom is based in Switzerland and visits his home in The Hague a few times a year. He purchased the property in 2004 while it was heavily under construction. His previous home was a large property in rural Utrecht, and he was looking to buy something less isolated. He was instantly attracted to The Hague for the upscale yet quiet lifestyle. The building also houses a shop on the ground floor and an apartment on the second floor.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Peter Blom
Location: The Hague, South Holland
Size: 130 sq.-meter, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, living/dining room, kitchen, office, rooftop terrace.
Owner Peter Blom is based in Switzerland and visits his home in The Hague a few times a year. He purchased the property in 2004 while it was heavily under construction. His previous home was a large property in rural Utrecht, and he was looking to buy something less isolated. He was instantly attracted to The Hague for the upscale yet quiet lifestyle. The building also houses a shop on the ground floor and an apartment on the second floor.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Peter Blom
Location: The Hague, South Holland
Size: 130 sq.-meter, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, living/dining room, kitchen, office, rooftop terrace.
by Holly Marder
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The exposed wooden beams are an original feature of the house and give the room a serious wow factor. Not only do they drastically increase the size of the room, they also allow ample light to enter through the high placed windows looking out onto the rooftop terrace. Painted in a coat of black, the beams tie in beautifully with the neutral palette of the room, working particularly well with pieces Blom purchased from Asia.
by Holly Marder
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The apartment looks out onto the Denneweg, one of the oldest streets in The Hague. The first building on the street dates back to 1390, when the street sported wooden houses that ran all the way to the North Sea.
Today, the Denneweg is at the heart of The Hague's shopping scene, while being one of the last truly upscale neighborhoods in the “Randstad” (the area encompassing the major Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague), and boasts beautiful houses and boutiques.
Today, the Denneweg is at the heart of The Hague's shopping scene, while being one of the last truly upscale neighborhoods in the “Randstad” (the area encompassing the major Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague), and boasts beautiful houses and boutiques.
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| Blom had the traditional-style furnishings for several years; he picked up other items on a recent business trip in China. The mix of traditional furnishings and Asian accents, as well as several pieces of quirky art, make this home an eclectic treat for the senses. |
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| Nothing about this apartment’s interior has been designed in any particular way with any particular purpose; the items are both old and new yet harmonize perfectly with one another. “What is important is that it fits together, but of course, that’s a matter of taste,” Peter says. |
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| The apartment is dotted with interesting art pieces, from quirky to more traditional style oil paintings, to bronze ornaments and vintage world maps. The art comes from all over the place, but one artist, Ronald Habraken, is featured several times throughout the house. Habraken has been commissioned by the owner to paint some 30 paintings over the years, many of which are now in the owner’s home in Switzerland. Though the works aren’t all in the same style, the artist’s distinctive flair is clearly recognizable. When asked about his preference for this particular artist’s creations, Peter said, “I like paintings in the style of Corneille and Herman Brood.” This is evident when looking at the modern, imaginative works that enhance the apartment’s eclectic feel. “It’s more important to me that I’m touched by [the art] than if it’s by a famous artist.” |
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by Holly Marder
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| The vintage map prints featured in the dining area are of places that the owner has lived, including Switzerland, South America and Utrecht. “Maps always have to have a meaning for me. I don’t just buy maps,” Blom says. |
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| In the lounge area, two sizeable beige linen arm chairs placed side by side are paired with the caramel-hued leather sofa. The coffee table, with its Asian-style legs, injects a Far-Eastern feel into an otherwise traditional space. |
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| Blom bought the small collection of frames beside the IKEA bookcase about 40 years ago. The large oil painting of Amsterdam, was purchased some 20 years ago. These beloved items add historical appeal to the home. |
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| Perhaps Blom’s favorite piece of art is the large bronze hen by Peter Peterson. The artist draws his inspiration from the surrounding nature, often using typical Dutch animals as models. This chicken was custom-made for the homeowner. |
by Holly Marder
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The ladder in the center of the living room leads up to a tiny attic study nook overlooking the apartment’s living area and the Denneweg below. During the construction, Blom asked the builders to place a window in the slanted ceiling to allow light to enter and views of The Hague to be seen. While the study is in the main area of the house, it is surprisingly private.
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| The modest kitchen features marble counters atop white matte doors, and though small, has ample storage space — not to mention amazing views onto the stylish Denneweg below. |
by Holly Marder
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The building directly opposite the apartment dates back to 1898. It's a 3-story exclusive fashion boutique, and undoubtedly one of the most attractive buildings on the street.
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| The hallway seems to zigzag its way from the entrance all the way to the bedroom, down the far end of the apartment. The hallway is adorned with more art by Ronald Habraken. |
by Holly Marder
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This freestanding cabinet in Blom’s bedroom is another item he found in Asia. “I started in Hong Kong and ended up in Beijing, and somewhere along the way I bought some pieces to bring back to the Netherlands,” he says. This piece sets the scene in the master bedroom.
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by Holly Marder
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| The black fold-out chairs with cane seats add to the Asian feel and tie in nicely with the rest of the room’s décor, as does the cane chest at the foot of the bed. |
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by Holly Marder
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| From the hallway, a varnished wooden staircase winds up to the rooftop terrace. The terrace, formerly the roof itself, was cleverly divided to create a quiet outdoor space away from the hustle and bustle of the city below. The door to the left leads into a huge storage space, and the large windows to the right look straight into the living area below. |
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| Though the terrace is practically unused due to the cool climate and the owner’s absence for most of the year, it has huge potential to be a great spot for hosting late-night soirees in the summer months and get-togethers year round. Plonk a brazier down, adorn benches with comfortable cushions and spend a romantic evening gazing up at the stars… Though Blom is away from his inner city apartment for most of the year, he really enjoys returning to it. “I love the high ceilings, the fact that it is rather spacious, the roof terrace, the storage and I love that it is in the center of the nicest part of The Hague.” More Houzz Tours: Eclectic Coastal Home in Holland Early 20th Century Meets Contemporary |
Ideabook updated on Nov. 10, 2011.
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