Interior Design | Studio 34 South |
Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Area | 300m2 (3229 sq.ft.) |
Photographs | Maarten Willemstein |
When interior designers Chechi Valentine and Sam Ellinson of Studio 34 South were asked to renovate this impressive 1905 home in an elegant district of Amsterdam, there were 3 key motivations from the client: it needed to be spacious and connected for entertaining; it had to maintain its grand character yet still feel relaxed (as the Dutch are well known for their pragmatism); and since the clients are avid Danish design lovers, it needed to have a Scandinavian vintage feel.
True to 34 South’s signature style, the house is filled with warm tones, sweeping curves and custom designed pieces, perhaps best expressed by the the three and a half metre bar in the kitchen sculpted from Paonazzo marble. Paired with walnut mitred edge cupboards and greywashed ribbed wood fronts give a nostalgic vintage feel, and complemented by the 1970’s patinated brass Counterweight pendants hanging above by Florian Schulz. Burnt orange curtains pick up on the marble tones, creating vibrancy and warmth.
The custom dining table inlaid with smokey blue gloss paint is paired with olive green Gubi chairs and an opulent 1960’s Paolo Venini Murano glass chandelier. The dining area is flooded with light and inviting charm, and tones of desaturated blue and olive green tie the three living spaces together.
The original panelling, ceiling frames, mouldings, and doors provide subtle reminders of the building’s history and provenance as a ‘buitenplaats’ or a spacious summer residence for the wealthy Amsterdammers of the Golden Age.
The clients’ master bedroom is a private and dreamy space, masculine and moody. Inspired by a gentleman’s pinstriped suit, the curved bedhead is custom built from ribbed wood and accompanied by a carpet that follows its curve.
A bathtub mounted on a marble plinth creates a sensual mood that unabashedly promotes the spoils of self-care. This heady luxury appears again in the en suite’s twin vanity, constructed of dark walnut and marble and finished by brass taps and a simple arched mirror. The cool grey tiled double shower, fitted with London-sourced tapware, also plays with the tension between opulence and lighthearted elegance.
Contractor | Flow Works B.V. |
Builder | Ecker Interior B.V. |