Hello everyone! It’s Holly Marder from Avenue Lifestyle visiting you today on decor8. I thought I’d stop by to bring you all some some inspiration in the form of a wonderfully eclectic and colorful family home in the Netherlands. I showed these images to Holly and she immediately accepted my offer to do a post about this fun home, so let's get started!

I am so fortunate with my work to be able to peek into beautiful homes on a regular basis to document the style and personal stories of their owners, and one look at this home and I was bursting at the seams to share it with you! Owned by interior designer Femke Dekker of Femkeido, you’d better believe it’s a colorful feast for the eyes!

This is her more "formal" living room off of the dining room and kitchen area.

And this is her more informal living room...

The way Femke layers color upon color is nothing short of inspirational. Her modern home, which she shares with her husband and three young children, blends both old and new items against a neutral backdrop, upon which she cleverly weaves in colors of all shades. “I don’t think too much about how I decorate my home, I just do what feels natural and add pieces that I love,” Femke says. “When I work with clients, I really think about the space and how it all comes together, but my home really is my playground.”

Downstairs, a single wall drenched in charcoal grey extends the length of the open living, dining and kitchen while the rest of the space relies on crisp white as a canvas upon which neon and pastel hues come alive. Concrete floors throughout and a couple of masculine pieces contrast Femke’s playful use of color, giving her home a feminine but ultra sophisticated vibe. So what tips does Femke have for those of us looking to add color to our homes without going overboard?

“I always start with a neutral base, which gives me flexibility for when I want to use color. I like to add color in the accessories, so will layer in pastels and soft tones. What I then do is take a step back and if I feel that it’s lacking something, I add a strong, bold color. The finishing touch for me is always the strongest color, which can then be taken away later on if my taste changes.”

What I personally love about Femke’s space is that her color choices always return, so while the space is fun and bright, it’s also very consistent. A couple of examples are that fabulous antique buffet cabinet painted in pastel blue, which comes back in the pendant lamps, or the various neon pink touches seen throughout. “The blue cabinet was originally white, but because the wall behind it was also white at the time, I decided to paint it. I chose this pastel blue because it matched the pendant lamps. I was so surprised at how fabulous it looked against the wall once we had painted it grey!”

Femke finds inspiration in bold, graphic prints and quirky accessories, but also in the work of designers such as Ilse Crawford. “Her work is a bit quirky. Her interiors combine modern with authentic details and fun wallpapers but never over-the-top. She really creates interiors that are livable but very different.”

I hope you enjoyed that little peek into the home of a Dutch interior designer. Femke, thank you for opening up your home for us all, and a big thank you to Decor8 for having me!

So. Are you feeling inspired to get colourful at home, or what?! -Holly

(text/photos: holly marder)