Home Tour: Colorful Nostalgic Family Space
Are you ready for a colorful, lovely family home tour with a hint of nostalgia? Good! Hey everyone, it’s Holly Marder back again with another beautiful interior to share. And boy, do I think you’re going to love this home! Guida, who is Portuguese, and her Dutch husband Bas reside in a waterfront row house dating back to the early 1900's with their two sons Tomás and Emílio. Against a characteristic backdrop boasting solid oak floors and original architectural period detail’s, Guida’s style weaves vintage, industrial and modern items with daring lashes of color throughout resulting in a home that is bold yet calm, collected yet clean.
In search of a home that would comfortably accommodate their growing family, Bas and Guida found their dream house close to the town center of Delft, The Netherlands. “We knew immediately that this would be our home because of the space the house offered and the peaceful views of the boats passing by the front window,” Guida says.
The double entry way leading into an unusually large ground floor made this home unique to others they had seen in the area. Portuguese tiles contrast with clean white walls, setting the style tone to the rest of the house beyond a wide, glass-paneled door.
The house needed little work to make it home, though the couple broke through one wall to create a light and spacious open living and dining area and removed old carpeting from the upper floors and stairs, giving them a fresh coat of paint.
“It’s about creating a space surrounded with things we love. For me, the house lives with us. It’s like a living creature because it changes and gets old with all of us. ”
Inspired by the thrill of the chase and the harmonious connection between vintage and modern, Guida fills her home with treasures both old and new. “I love both old “forgotten” pieces as well as new design,” Guida says. “I love the idea of giving new life to objects and living with them and their stories.” Guida regularly hits antique markets, vintage shops and small interior design boutiques in search of pieces that will add character and a sense of nostalgia to her home. “I just love searching for something in particular and that feeling of suddenly discovering, among all other things, that little special green vase!” Guida draws her inspiration from interiors magazines and blogs, but doesn’t decorate according to a specific style, rather selects pieces that make an instant connection.
The first item the couple purchased after buying their home was the rosewood high board in their living room. “It has changed place three times and now the living room revolves around it.” The living room is decorated with items purchased at various vintage shops throughout Holland.
Some of the couple’s favorite pieces include the Piet Hein Eek vitrine cupboard, a lucky find on Marktplaats (a sorta Dutch version of Craigslist in the US) that is home to tableware and extra storage space that the adjacent kitchen was unable to provide.
Next to the vitrine cupboard, a vintage drinks trolley is used to display a collection of self made and vintage ceramic vases in shades of cream and blush. Above it, there is a vibrant screen printed painting in lashings of bold color.
The dining table, chairs (upholstered in vibrant green fabric from kvadrat) and wooden pendant were purchased at Edwin Pelser, a favorite interiors boutique in the Hague. The vintage kilim rug was brought back from a vacation in Marrakech.
The primarily white backdrop aside, Guida is experimental with color and has fun injecting bold hues into her home, though the decision making process and the eventual leap often takes months before a particular shade is introduced. “Before deciding on a color I have to be sure. Sometimes the idea is there but deciding takes time,” Guida explains. The kitchen - put in place by the property’s former owners - was given an exciting new look last summer. Guida chose a Bordeaux red, painting the cupboards, ceiling and walls to a very pleasing result. “At that time we were watching Boardwalk Empire which has beautiful scenarios with inspiring color palettes and I started to imagine the house in all various different color combinations. I’m still doing it!”.
Upstairs, the children’s bedrooms were inspired by favorite brands Tas-ka and String. The couple’s oldest son Tomás enjoys a large string system (not shown) offering ample storage space and an integrated desk for doing homework. Bursts of muted color and a fun selection of vintage accessories makes this room a fun and inspiring escape for the 7-year-old.
Next door, little Emílio’s bedroom is a calming space featuring pale yellow walls and an emerald green painted vintage bed.
The master bedroom features high ceilings and large sash windows with views onto the adjacent waterway. A soothing palette of whites and soft pinks makes this room a quite retreat for Bas and Guida. Many of the pieces in our home have been found around in shops, markets and internet. “You have to give it time, patience and dedicate a lot of time to the search,” Guida says. “I love the search, it’s like a treasure hunt. It’s a passion of mine to find pieces that will stay with us for years to come.”
Comfortably eclectic and effortlessly chic, Guida has created a beautiful nest filled with items dear to her heart. Above all, she has created an inspiring epicenter around which her family and social lives revolve.
“Home is a cozy, lucid place where our family and friends come together. It is an extension of myself when I’m there all alone.”
With an acute eye for vintage and an innate ability to weave decades of design styles together, decorating her home has been an absolute joy for Guida.
So guys, what did you think? What were some of your favorite things about this home? I always love to read your comments below. I’d have to say my favorite things about this home (though this is a tough one because I adore every single thing from floor to ceiling) is the fabulous artwork and subtle details throughout, like that collection of vases on the drinks trolley. I love a lady with style! See you here again next month for my August home tour - Holly M.
(Photography, words and styling for decor8: Holly Marder, Avenue Lifestyle)