Rural loft feel i.c.w. Nicky Goossens

Introducing

The resident exchanged her previous home for a new place in a new construction complex. Two apartments were tastefully merged into one beautiful penthouse.

Warm decor

That the owner just knocked on Nicky’s door to furnish her brand-new penthouse is no coincidence. “I already knew her, because I had also decorated her previous home. That interior was a bit more rural in look, here everything was allowed to look tighter.” Here, however, sleek is by no means synonymous with cool, quite the contrary. All walls are enveloped in a light sand color, broken by cabinets and doors of black oak. The oak flooring provides a warm backdrop in every room. Thoughtfully selected fabrics, plaids and rugs make it extra cozy. And then, of course, there is the hand of the interior stylist, reflected in the choice of curtains, among other things. “The penthouse is almost completely surrounded by large windows overlooking the terraces. Gorgeous to look at, but not so pleasant at night,” Nicky says. “That’s why I suggested working with a kind of voile: during the day you can slide it all the way open and enjoy the view, but in the evening you are wonderfully cozy. Especially in combination with the curtains in soft, natural colors. However, the resident found the voile added so much warmth to the interior that she always keeps it closed.” “By thinking together so early on, you don’t lose sight of a single detail.”

Choosing together

As with her other projects, Nicky began the adventure well prepared. “When I first visit people, I always bring along swatches and photos of the different options: the floors, the curtains, the furniture, the rugs, the colors …,” she says. “That way we can pick out everything together. Not just the big picture, but every little detail, like the tiles behind the stove, the handles on the cabinets …” Thanks to her extensive experience, Nicky was able to win the resident over to some ideas that were not immediately obvious. “In the dining area, I suggested putting three separate cabinets next to each other instead of one big one. In the kitchen, I already had Dauby’s black, metallic tiles in mind, but added some tiles in a bronze-like gold tone. And in the living room, I chose – in addition to the large rug – a small, additional rug in the shape of a puzzle piece. These were all ideas that the resident had not thought of, but because she trusted me, I was allowed to implement them anyway. And afterwards she also happily admitted that my choice was the right one.”

Cozy spaces

With plenty of glass all around, the loft is bathed in a sea of light, enhanced by the bright use of color. The only exception to this is the sleeping area, where bedroom, bathroom and dressing room are one and dark shades predominate. “These are spaces that may be warmer in terms of atmosphere,” Nicky explains. “For example, by painting the wall behind the bed dark, the whole room immediately looks more cozy.” “By thinking together so early on, you don’t lose sight of any detail.”