Dutch homeowners Petra Mens and Sander Van der Burg mixed several design styles to make a harmonious three-story home for their family. Situated in the newly built neighborhood of Wateringseveld, between the towns of Delft and The Hague, this contemporary home balances Asian influences with classic mid-century contemporary design pieces.
The couple fell in love with the area for its close proximity to the city, beaches and the historic town of Delft, where they own an inside décor boutique, Interieur Decor Delft. These factors, as well as the distance the home offered and family-friendly area, guided them to buy a block of land to construct their perfect home.
in a Glance
Who lives here: Petra Mens and Sander van der Burg
Location: Wateringseveld,The Netherlands
Size: 160 square meters,2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Holly Marder
“It’s rather difficult to describe the fashion of our property, because we like a good deal of things,” Mens says. “It’s contemporary, but it’s also warm, and though all those things are so different and come from different shops and boutiques, all of them work well together.”
Suspended over the coffee table would be the Bird Lamp composed of black paper cranes from Tas-ka. With its own handmade clustered origami birds, the unique light fixture brings together the Asian influences found in the rest of the space, such as the large imported antique Chinese cabinet in the dining area from Zen Lifestyle.
Light fixture: Bird Lamp by Tas-ka
Coffee table and sofa: Linteloo
Holly Marder
A subtle wall installation that doubles as a media stand separates the living room space from the open kitchen design. The charcoal grey sofas offer a cozy place to relax and admire the views outdoors. Teak’Sushi’ stools, which can be offered in the couple’s boutique, function as the perfect perch for coffee or a cocktaillounge.
Possessing an inside décor boutique has its advantages for the few, who completely endorse the products that they market in their boutique. “The products that we sell in our store are hand-picked by me, and I choose items that I would like to have in my home,” Mens says.
Light fixture: Bird Lamp from Tas-ka
Coffee table and sofas: Linteloo
Candlesticks: Ikea
Holly Marder
Holly Marder
The showstopping part in the dining area is the Non Random Light from Dutch design home Moooi. Designed by Bertjan Pot, the pendant projects light through an intricate net of epoxy and fiberglass strands, which gives off an organic softness while remaining quintessentially contemporary.
Paint colour: Hardwick White by Farrow & Ball
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The key accessory in this dining area vignette is a traditional George Nelson made Turbine Clock by design home Vitra. One of the most popular wall clocks made, the midcentury made brass Turbine Clock is now an icon in contemporary design.
The clock unites with a Scandinavian designed vintage Palisander wood bar cupboard, a personal favorite item of Van der Burg. Warm golden colors match the soft gray-green walls.
Hitter: George Nelson”Turbine Clock” by Vitra
More on George Nelson clocks
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The contemporary, fuss-free kitchen is large and spacious, with clean lines and contemporary appliances. A wall of custom-built dark Wenge wood cabinets houses a row of Siemens built-in appliances, such as a steam oven, coffee machine, oven and hidden refrigerator. A glossy kitchen island and stainless steel finishes produce a compact appearance. Large Asian rock floor tiles operate throughout.
Holly Marder
With a 12-year-long connection to their credit, and a company they have run successfully together for five of the years, teamwork is crucial for this particular couple. They fulfilled when Mens was an interior designer with her own business, and Van der Burg was working as an upholsterer and part-time interior designer. When it came to designing their home, Van der Burg took on the architectural aspects of the property’s design, and Mens dragged herself to the accessories and overall appearance of the home. It would seem that the design duo are a match made in paradise.
Holly Marder
The vintage Scandinavian dining table is really a buy the few created in Antwerp, through a visit to the town’s popular antique shopping road, Kloosterstraat. The seats surrounding the table are original iconic Fritz Hansen Butterfly seats. One of the most widely sold seats on earth, the contemporary classic chairs are a design icon that the couple has loved for ages.
Antique Chinese cupboard: Zen Lifestyle
Holly Marder
This darling little table was bought for a sneak at a local thrift shop for 2 Euros! The vase on top was also a thrift shop find. The mixture of new and old accessories makes this home both cozy and inviting.
Candlestick: Habitat
Holly Marder
The master suite is made with Asian flair. Red Chinese side tables, bought during a visit to a furniture store in The Hague’s Chinatown, soda from an otherwise neutral setting. A vintage Chinese print was bought at Zen Lifestyle. The couple bought the sculptural piece in a design boutique at Delft. It’s a folding clothing stand by Italian design home Zanotta.
Wall colour: Shaded White by Farrow & Ball
Bedding: Mrs. Me Home Couture
Lamps: Kartell
Printing: Zen Lifestyle
Clothes stand: Sciangai by Zanotta
Holly Marder
A feature wall of Asian-inspired wallpaper is striking against the bedroom’s neutral tones, and picks up on the red accents in the room.
Wallpaper: Osborne & Little
Wall colour:’Shaded White’ by Farrow & Ball
Bedding: Mrs. Me Home Couture
Lamps: Kartell
Printing: Zen Lifestyle
Clothes stand: Sciangai by Zanotta
Holly Marder
Walking out of the master bedroom to the ensuite feels like entering a Balinese spa, using soft pebble-like tiling below the toes and a soothing color scheme.
Holly Marder
The couple’s ensuite is a relaxing escape. Contemporary hardware unites with Turkish and Moroccan accents to make a soothing space to unwind in the tub or enjoy a steaming soak in the shower. The pebble appearance floor tiles have been brought over from Bali to complete the”Zen” appearance that the few were heading for in this area.
Mirror: Habitat
Hardware: Doornbracht
Holly Marder
Holly Marder
With a baby boy due very soon, the nursery is near conclusion. A feature wall covered in robot wallpaper by Scandinavian company Ferm Living is a whimsical and entertaining addition to the space. Paired with soft yellow walls, the area is ideal for their own son. Mens picked the vintage baby bed to get a sneak at an internet boutique specializing in vintage and retro items for kids.
The appearance the few were heading for in the baby’s room was”vintage and fresh using a mix of contemporary and vintage furnishings.” The couple plan to bring a changing station and Mens plans on sewing a handmade mobile for their son to gaze upward at while lying in his bed. “In my wishlist is an Eames rocker as my feeding seat,” Mens says.
Wall colors:’Light Blue’ and’Babouche’ by Farrow & Ball
Robot Wallpaper and cushions: Ferm Living
Mattress: Mevrouw de Uil
Holly Marder
This gorgeous vintage cupboard adds retro appeal into the space, while another contemporary classic provides comfy seating for extended feeding sessions when baby comes together. The vintage Verner Panton chair was awarded to Van der Burg as a present from a former company. The one-piece plastic seat made by one of the most influential designers of the 1960s and’70s is considered today as a classic in contemporary furniture design.
Holly Marder
Throughout the couple’s home are things that reflect about the traveling they have done together over time. “I am a collector,” Mens says. “Every town we visit, we buy something. We have brought things back from Morocco, Bali, Barcelona and Paris.” The collection of image frames at the entryway is a growing tradition for the few, who find a new picture each time they see a new city or nation. The antique Chinese mantelpiece in the end of the hallway is home to a range of things brought back from vacations abroad, such as a Moroccan stone-studded mirror, and sea shells, coral and also a Buddha out of Bali.
Holly Marder
Away from the entryway on the ground floor is a large and spacious home office that Mens utilizes to sew and work from home from time to time. Modern floor-to-ceiling cabinets in a high-gloss end provide ample storage for cloths, office materials and knickknacks, while tangerine coloured Eames Eiffel seats add more style to the room.
Holly Marder
A striking black-and-silver wallpaper brings excitement and texture into the space, and provides a luscious backdrop to the bright orange Eames seats. Both solid wood tables were produced by Mens’ dad who is a carpenter. In addition, he produced the three wooden blocks that hold the office and printer supplies.
Wallpaper: Chinese Dragon from Osborne & Little
Clock: George Nelson Asterisk Clock by Vitra
Holly Marder
When Mens and Van der Burg bought the land and home, they played around with the ground plan to produce the open kitchen, dining and living area that provides them with loads of living room, and additionally sacrificed among the three bedrooms on the third floor in favor of producing a spacious master bedroom having an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet. The few have considered extending the home to incorporate a fourth floor later on.
Holly Marder
On a bitter winter day, the views of the charming, family-oriented area from the couple’s home are a pretty sight.
More:
A Home Grows With the Family
Contemporary Character at a Dutch Studio
Canadian Cottage at the Netherlands