Loenen a/d Vecht Family Cottage 2022

Interior designer Andrea and her boyfriend decided to leave the city for this luxury country cottage in the idyllic Dutch countryside. The newly acquired family home, near the Vecht River, is the main building of a larger old farmhouse with downstairs stables leading to the neighbor’s apartment. It has a thatched roof, wooden beams, round windows and – very unique – split-level floors. In addition, it offers the most picturesque view of the surrounding pastures with horses grazing everywhere. ‘Not only does this place have heritage, there is also a beautiful love story attached to it,’ shares Andrea: ‘During World War II, a Jewish woman was in hiding here. She fell in love with the son of the farmer next door and together they survived the war.’ When purchased, the house already exuded character and it had been well maintained by the previous owners. So, what else is there to add?

Of course Andrea and Nicole’s signature style: ‘I have a very distinct aesthetic,’ says Andrea: ‘This is also reflected in the many unusual objects I find, many of them from Africa. I have always been fascinated by the continent, which is so vastly different and naturally fascinating from country to country, and I volunteered in Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya and Morocco when I was younger. It’s about the culture, the stunning clothing style and the craftsmanship that gets me every time. It’s mostly about sacred rituals. This aesthetic is also present in the upstairs bedroom; we decorated it as if it were an African safari lodge. Then I chose textiles and prints from the likes of Pierre Frey, Beata Heuman, Helene Blanche and this emerging name: These Walls from Australia.’ As for Nicole’s input, she decided on the layout and overall color scheme. Andrea: “I’m good at zooming in on details, Nicole is just brilliant when it comes to the bigger picture.

The family’s apartment in Amsterdam has a bold color in deep orange, this time they wanted to make it a little more neutral. Although there are bold interior choices: a bright red and round lounge sofa downstairs, many built-in cabinets that blend seamlessly into the interior, different wallpapers and a kitchen made entirely of polished Calacatta Viola marble. The British countryside also inspired the interior somewhat with wrinkled curtains for the kitchen cabinets and vintage lamps from the 1920s. It gives a nostalgic feeling away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.