If it were up to her, Bo’s interior would look even more colorful andexuberant. But it is already a great spectacle where original compositionshave been created (almost) only with second-hand furniture and decoration. Shegives a tour of her eccentric, renovated farm. “I like the eclectic: a nicemix of antiques to space age.”
Life is for the daring. When Bo’s daddy tipped her that there had been nosigns of life in a nearby farm for years, she went looking for the owner. “Itturned out to be an elderly man who was staying in a retirement home. When Iinquired with his sons, they were open to a sale,” says Bo.
Everything is second-hand, from the vases to the animals
“I especially liked the location: in the quiet, next to a meadow and withoutany view from neighbors, and close to my parents and to Brussels. With alittle imagination, the facade had charm, but inside there was not much leftto save. I didn’t have a clear idea of what it should be, but luckily Ifound an excellent architect who could make something of it even with alimited budget. He had all kinds of original ideas, such as the large void,the wide staircase, the columns to create some separation in the open livingspace …”
(Read more below the photo.)
The facade contours and window openings were not affected. The garage door wasreplaced by a window and the kitchen is now located there. © MaartenConstruction
Bo may put the feathers for the original furnishing on her own hat. “I passtrends such as moss green and terracotta. It could be a lot more exuberant andrebellious. I love the interiors of Paulette in ‘t stad and Dries Van Notenand would like to go even further than what you see now, but I also have totake my friend into account. He can barely live with the giant phoenix abovethe TV that comes from a Chinese restaurant, but I had to sell theaccompanying dragon that I wanted to hang next to it. I will try to warm it upfor a striped pattern under the sloping roof wall.”
Except for the table of La Redoute, all furniture and decoration are second-hand. “What started out of financial necessity, grew into a passion and evenmy profession (see box, ed.). While most play it safe and opt for thetypical Scandinavian wooden furniture from the fifties and sixties, I preferthe eclectic: a nice mix of antiques to space age.”
Quote >>> I bought the ducks against the wall in the hallway and the fox on top of the> cupboard in the sitting area from a woman who loved animals.>> bo
Everywhere in the house Bo makes beautiful compositions with her found vases,curiosities and especially animals. They come in all kinds of shapes:figurines, drawings, paintings and mounted. “Those are also pure vintage. Theyusually meant a lot to the people I bought them from. I bought the ducksagainst the wall in the hallway and the fox on top of the cupboard in thesitting area from a woman who loved animals. Because she wasn’t allowed tokeep one in her rented house, she went to a taxidermist. She was very attachedto them and after she passed away, her husband just wanted them to be well.”
From valuable vintage sofa to Urban Outfitters textiles
© Maarten Construction
With the stairwell on the left and the void on the right, two openings havebeen made to the side, which ensure that there is always contact between theoffice on the landing and the ground floor. The cabinet on the left isn’t thatspecial, but it was Bo’s first purchase and therefore it has sentimentalvalue. The sofa is very valuable, because it is an original Roche Bobois copyfrom 1978, for which you can easily pay thousands of euros today. Above thetelevision you see a golden phoenix from a Chinese restaurant.
© Maarten Construction
With the stories behind all the stuff you can fill a book in every room. Evenin a room like the bathroom. Upon entering, look at images of Arthur Rackhamtelling the story of ‘The Storm’ __ of William Shakespeare. “I did get theorder mixed up, otherwise the color balance wouldn’t be right. The eye wantssomething too,” laughs Bo. The painted washbasins come from Poland and are ona wardrobe that actually belongs in the living room. Two Indian masks hang onthe wall.
© Maarten Construction
Because of the colorful decoration you can’t help but start the daycheerfully. “The textiles are from Urban Outfitters. We had it come over fromAmerica, because they don’t offer it in Europe. Because of its size andappearance, I thought the fan was perfect to play as a headboard.”
A slanted kitchen island and a visible heart for animals
© Maarten Construction
In an open kitchen it is of course the intention that you are involved in therest of the living space. But with an island that sits behind a wall and looksout, that is not obvious. The architect solved this as simply as ingeniouslyby positioning the island at an angle. In this way, there was also more roomto move behind. The kitchen consists of IKEA cabinets that are finished withfronts in untreated MDF. “I couldn’t decide what color I wanted and now I cango either way.” The door handles are from Zara Home.