Canal house in Amsterdam

The beautiful location, the distinctive look of an Amsterdam canal house and the available square footage on the inside made the current residents fall in love with the property, which dates back to 1680. However, a thorough renovation was clearly needed to achieve their desired living environment. With great confidence, they engaged Nena van Gemert to transform the old office building into a high-end home, feeding blindly on the interior designer’s experience, knowledge and creativity.

The monumental vaulted ceiling in the entrance hall, the original joists, the partially visible bricks on the walls in the living spaces, the old tiles in the kitchen – found in an old well under the house – and, of course, the monumental facades survived the thorough renovation. They recall the property’s rich history and contrast nicely with the new, modern elements.

As soon as you enter the home from the bustling city life, you are welcomed into an attractive entrance hall where you immediately leave the hustle and bustle of outdoor life behind. Through the entrance hall you reach the living space on the first floor, in which Nena situated the living kitchen. In keeping with her design style, she applied large gestures in the space. So she chose a meter-long kitchen island – fitted with unusual red gum wood veneer and a top of hot-rolled steel -, a prominent staircase and a long cabinetry, which continues through the stairwell to the second floor to connect the two living spaces. On the second floor, Nena incorporated a fireplace in the custom creation to add extra ambiance and warmth to this living level. Whereas she chose a traditional marble floor on the first floor, she applied a wooden herringbone floor on the second floor, adding to the warm character felt on this floor.

On the street side, Nena designed a drinks corner, inviting delightful moments of rest with a view of passing boats as well as inviting cozy drinks moments with visitors, with the murmur of city life in the background. As an extension of this relaxation area, she situated a generous dining area. A stylish staircase then leads residents to their private domain, which consists of an elegant street-side bedroom and an open-connected spacious dressing room and luxurious bathroom. On the top floor is space for the guest house and a stylish workspace.