My Houzz: Buried Treasure in an Eclectic Bachelor Pad
An under-carpeting surprise joins antique furnishings and artwork to help an owner love his Netherlands home
Edwin Pelser felt like he had struck gold 10 years ago when he pulled back tired, gray carpeting to reveal original herringbone parquet floors in his Hague apartment. Up until that point, things like plastic window frames, "which I hate," he says, made him doubt the purchase altogether. “Though it was very clean and comfortable, there was nothing exciting about the place," he says.
But after his discovery, and the careful addition of antique pieces sourced from his parents and the design boutique that he owns, Pelser feels lucky in love in his one-bedroom bachelor pad.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Edwin Pelser
Location: The Hague, the Netherlands
Size: 100 square meters (about 1,076 square feet); 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
But after his discovery, and the careful addition of antique pieces sourced from his parents and the design boutique that he owns, Pelser feels lucky in love in his one-bedroom bachelor pad.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Edwin Pelser
Location: The Hague, the Netherlands
Size: 100 square meters (about 1,076 square feet); 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Pelser's parents also found this antique chaise longue at an auction, hidden away in a corner, and gave it to their son for his 30th birthday. “It’s the kind of piece that will always move with me,” Pelser says.
A streamlined, modern floor lamp accompanies the curved lines of the antique piece, while floor-to-ceiling linen curtains add height and warmth.
Floor lamp: Tolomeo
A streamlined, modern floor lamp accompanies the curved lines of the antique piece, while floor-to-ceiling linen curtains add height and warmth.
Floor lamp: Tolomeo
Pelser's weak spot for vintage and antique furniture and accessories is evident in this little nook off the dining room, where a vintage leather suitcase and chair sit beneath a treasured art piece.
Pelser used to visit France regularly to frequent antiques shops. He purchased the picture frame on one of his visits and couldn't quite work out what to do with it. He asked a friend and graduate of The Hague's Royal Academy of Art to create a piece of art to go inside the frame. She created a woodcut depicting an elderly Edwin Pelser.
Pelser used to visit France regularly to frequent antiques shops. He purchased the picture frame on one of his visits and couldn't quite work out what to do with it. He asked a friend and graduate of The Hague's Royal Academy of Art to create a piece of art to go inside the frame. She created a woodcut depicting an elderly Edwin Pelser.
Pepe Heykoop designed this leather lampshade, which was made in Heykoop's workshop in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Mumbai, India. Proceeds from sales are used partly to send street children to school.
The pendant is fabricated of soft lambskin leather, while its shape is reminiscent of old industrial lamps.
Pelser's favorite accessory is the white gas candelabra by Chris Kabel for design house Droog. “It's a great example of the combination of tradition and modern design that I love,” he says. "I like it when the designer considers how things were done in the past and how we can re-create things using those past concepts."
The pendant is fabricated of soft lambskin leather, while its shape is reminiscent of old industrial lamps.
Pelser's favorite accessory is the white gas candelabra by Chris Kabel for design house Droog. “It's a great example of the combination of tradition and modern design that I love,” he says. "I like it when the designer considers how things were done in the past and how we can re-create things using those past concepts."
Pelser rescued this abandoned vintage desk from a boat house, brought it home and promptly replaced the worn table leaf with a sturdy sheet of glass. The result is a functional writing desk that is a great example of the owner's old-meets-new aesthetic.
The magazine collection shown here spans nearly a decade. Pelser stacks and piles them along walls, on tables and more, adding to his home's collected atmosphere.
The magazine collection shown here spans nearly a decade. Pelser stacks and piles them along walls, on tables and more, adding to his home's collected atmosphere.
The bright living room boasts high ceilings, large sash windows and an original mantel. A recently reupholstered vintage armchair that once belonged to Pelser's grandmother adds a solitary pop of vibrant emerald green to an otherwise neutral space.
Artist and friend Arnoud Dijkstra created the etching on the mantel as a housewarming gift.
Candelabra: Black Gold, Ineke Hans; pendant: Bufferlamp, Wieki Somers; ottoman cushion: custom, with The Vineyard fabric by Hella Jongerius
Artist and friend Arnoud Dijkstra created the etching on the mantel as a housewarming gift.
Candelabra: Black Gold, Ineke Hans; pendant: Bufferlamp, Wieki Somers; ottoman cushion: custom, with The Vineyard fabric by Hella Jongerius
Though Pelser has a deep appreciation for antique and vintage furniture, having grown up among antiques, he prefers to give his older pieces a modern interpretation.
“I like contemporary design, but for me it's always important to have respect for older things," he says. "We live in a time where there are so many talented designers creating wonderful modern things, and I like to combine styles."
And so bold and graphic artwork collected over the years fills the home. The larger work here is a framed poster from a Francis Bacon exhibition in the South of France.
Pendant: Bufferlamp, Wieki Somers
“I like contemporary design, but for me it's always important to have respect for older things," he says. "We live in a time where there are so many talented designers creating wonderful modern things, and I like to combine styles."
And so bold and graphic artwork collected over the years fills the home. The larger work here is a framed poster from a Francis Bacon exhibition in the South of France.
Pendant: Bufferlamp, Wieki Somers
A narrow, separated kitchen located parallel to the dining room was a common feature in older homes; the first thing Pelser did was knock out part of the wall separating his kitchen from the dining room to bring in more light. He considered building the entire kitchen in the dining room but settled on leaving the original layout.
He tackled the lack of space by adding smart storage solutions, such as this metal shelving unit.
Stool: Off Cut Stool, Tom Dixon
He tackled the lack of space by adding smart storage solutions, such as this metal shelving unit.
Stool: Off Cut Stool, Tom Dixon
Prior to the renovation, the kitchen was a narrow space with little more than simple white cabinets above and gray tiled floor below. The owner swapped out the dated cabinets for a cool stainless steel industrial-style open shelving unit and updated the floors to a warm herringbone parquet.
“I probably didn't choose the most practical way of redesigning the kitchen, because I now lack storage space," Pelser admits. “On the one hand, it’s very small, but on the other hand, everything is within reach. When I empty the dishwasher, I don’t have to move to put the dishes away.”
Since he loves to cook and entertain, the Solitaire stove was his main investment.
“I probably didn't choose the most practical way of redesigning the kitchen, because I now lack storage space," Pelser admits. “On the one hand, it’s very small, but on the other hand, everything is within reach. When I empty the dishwasher, I don’t have to move to put the dishes away.”
Since he loves to cook and entertain, the Solitaire stove was his main investment.
Determined to bring back some of the apartment’s original charm and character, Pelser got rid of the drab carpeting and had the home’s plasterboard ceilings restored to their former glory with classic moldings.
This hallway was where Pelser was delightfully surprised when peeling back the carpeting that revealed beautiful original oak herringbone parquet floors in mint condition. “I felt like a little dog that had dug up something exciting," he says. "I saw just a glimpse of this floor, having pulled back the corner of the carpet, and it was such a surprise.”
Cobalt-blue walls and white trim create a striking contrast.
This hallway was where Pelser was delightfully surprised when peeling back the carpeting that revealed beautiful original oak herringbone parquet floors in mint condition. “I felt like a little dog that had dug up something exciting," he says. "I saw just a glimpse of this floor, having pulled back the corner of the carpet, and it was such a surprise.”
Cobalt-blue walls and white trim create a striking contrast.
The artwork in the hallway, titled "100%SAP," is by Dutch graphic design house Raw Color. The project is based on the power of natural color using natural vegetable dye as raw ink to feed a new printing process. The juice of the vegetables, in this case beetroot, slowly flowed through the engraved image to form the shape.
Paint color: code S6530b30g, Duluxe
Paint color: code S6530b30g, Duluxe
With a little extra cash remaining in his renovation budget, Pelser had this smart bed-frame-meets-wardrobe custom built. "The bedroom was a big struggle, because the apartment is wider at the back than at the front, so one wall in the bedroom is diagonal," he describes. “It was the best way to deal with the problem."
Gray and blue blankets: Jacob Plaid, Mölle
Gray and blue blankets: Jacob Plaid, Mölle
Pelser relaxes at home in his favorite armchair. He plans to stay put in his eclectic home in The Hague, enjoying the apartment's close proximity to the harbor and beach. In the meantime, he continues to search for opportunities to furnish his home with pieces by Dutch designers.
See more photos of this home
See more photos of this home
Pelser's parents found this dining table at an auction; his great-aunt passed down the dining chairs.
Crockery on table: Atelier NL