Oriental oasis

Together with architect Frans van den Hout, Team Meijs worked on the creation of a rural, modern villa in Brabant. Completely customized for the residents: a close-knit family with roots in China, three (partially) out-of-home children and a live-in grandmother. Meijs’ creative director Gijs Havermans was happy to sink his teeth into this fantastic assignment.

Chill basement and guesthouse
Gijs says: ‘Our benchmarks were the composition of the family and their oriental origins. Other than that, we were given carte blanche.’ The architect designed a spacious villa with a bedroom and bathroom for everyone. There was also a chill basement, a generous garage and a guesthouse to accommodate family from Hong Kong, among other things. The collaboration went well. Gijs: “We know Frans, he knows us and we know what we can do with each other. He devised the L-shape, which gave the garden an enclosed character, and linked the living kitchen, dining and sitting room. It’s cool to see how such a beautiful building slowly but surely acquires its own character.’

Taoist Buddhas
Of course, many consultations with residents took place. There was a mix of styles, such as the niche with Taoist Buddhas and the open cabinet for valuable personal items, such as Chinese vases. Gijs: “Maurice de Man, the superhero in the field of wallpaper, provided an optical connection between the kitchen and the living area. Otherwise, the basis consists of design pieces in warm earthy tones with accent colors here and there, such as the yellow armchairs and the colorful rug. We also took care of all the window coverings. Is the family satisfied with the end result? Gijs: “Very! They were even so pleased with it that we were immediately asked to furnish the homes of their adult children in Amsterdam. See; those are compliments that make us happy.’

Photography: Kaatje Verschoren

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