Houzz Tours
Netherlands
My Houzz: A Scandi-chic Home Celebrates Monochrome and Natural Wood
A Dutch flat reveals a black and white interior studded with plenty of natural, repurposed wood
When it comes to home design, Mariët van der Kooij loves two things: Scandinavian style and scrap-wood furniture. So when the 28-year-old educator moved in with 25-year-old temp agency worker Tim van Soeren last year, she jumped at the chance to decorate their new flat in her signature taste.
Their compact rented flat in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, is surrounded by windows overlooking the city, giving the pair enough natural light to opt for a black and white interior, filled with DIY furniture.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Mariët van der Kooij and Tim van Soeren
Location Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Their compact rented flat in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, is surrounded by windows overlooking the city, giving the pair enough natural light to opt for a black and white interior, filled with DIY furniture.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Mariët van der Kooij and Tim van Soeren
Location Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Size 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Mariët’s favourite spot is at the dinner table and bench she’d been eyeing for a year at Jorg Steigerhout & Meubels. ‘We are really lacking an extra room for crafting and reading, so the dinner table is my best alternative,’ she says.
The table was somewhat altered by Tim’s father after the couple put on varnish and the wood turned dark. ‘My father-in law came to the rescue and replaced the top planks with other ones,’ Mariët says.
Lamps, Action. Wire basket, vase, sheepskin, Kwantum.
See how to use natural wood to stunning effect
The table was somewhat altered by Tim’s father after the couple put on varnish and the wood turned dark. ‘My father-in law came to the rescue and replaced the top planks with other ones,’ Mariët says.
Lamps, Action. Wire basket, vase, sheepskin, Kwantum.
See how to use natural wood to stunning effect
When the couple moved in, the walls were yellow and there was a secondary door leading straight from the living area into the bedroom. Tim convinced Mariët to paint part of the wall charcoal grey. They didn’t like the door, so they put a floor-to-ceiling board in front of it in the same hue as the rest of the wall, giving them more wall surface to work with. It’s now partly covered by a bookcase and a wooden Christmas tree.
Mariët loves to repurpose things. The wicker basket in the bookcase used to be a shopping basket. ‘I now use it for storage,’ she says. ‘The typewriter is one of my best finds from a thrift shop. I usually give it a more prominent place on my dresser, but for Christmas I had to move a few things around.’
The white pillowcase with black pine trees is a DIY project she made using a carved potato as a stamp.
Paint, Karwei. Lamp, Kwantum. Expedit bookcase, Ikea.
Mariët loves to repurpose things. The wicker basket in the bookcase used to be a shopping basket. ‘I now use it for storage,’ she says. ‘The typewriter is one of my best finds from a thrift shop. I usually give it a more prominent place on my dresser, but for Christmas I had to move a few things around.’
The white pillowcase with black pine trees is a DIY project she made using a carved potato as a stamp.
Paint, Karwei. Lamp, Kwantum. Expedit bookcase, Ikea.
Tim’s father made a scrap-wood tree with small shelves to hold holiday accessories.
Wooden houses, Zink & Zo. Postcard, Inwijkdaarstaateenhuis. ‘Xmas’ banner, Buiten de Lijntjes.
Browse unconventional Christmas trees
Wooden houses, Zink & Zo. Postcard, Inwijkdaarstaateenhuis. ‘Xmas’ banner, Buiten de Lijntjes.
Browse unconventional Christmas trees
Above the sofa hangs a postcard rack with a collection of inspirational quotes and pretty illustrations. ‘It’s a budget-friendly alternative to art, and it enables me to frequently change postcards,’ says Mariët.
Rack, Marktplaats. Postcards, Inwijkdaarstaateenhuis, paqhuis and hart&8.
Rack, Marktplaats. Postcards, Inwijkdaarstaateenhuis, paqhuis and hart&8.
Over the back of a swivel chair, Mariët draped a throw she made from a worn-out jumper, which she stamped with a carved potato and black paint.
She loves to create pretty vignettes with budget-friendly accessories and natural elements. A found branch displays fairy lights from Happy Lights.
Candleholder, Tierlantijn. Tray, Hema.
She loves to create pretty vignettes with budget-friendly accessories and natural elements. A found branch displays fairy lights from Happy Lights.
Candleholder, Tierlantijn. Tray, Hema.
The couple found this TV cabinet, made of scrap wood, at the second-hand marketplace Marktplaats. They attached casters to facilitate cleaning.
Two open shelves from Ikea display more postcards and small accessories. A jar filled with black and white straws is paired with a vintage camera, for playful accents.
Paper straws, Joy & Co.
Paper straws, Joy & Co.
The couple’s bedroom also follows a black and white palette. Instead of covering the accent wall with wallpaper, they just used two strips, creating a symmetrical composition that works as a headboard. Two vintage side tables from Spoor 38 serve as bedside tables; matching reading lights finish the look.
Baskets, Tierlantijn. Duvet, Wehkamp.
Baskets, Tierlantijn. Duvet, Wehkamp.
Mariët made this decorative house with a piece of scrap timber.
With only one bedroom in the flat, the couple created a tiny shared workspace in the corner. A bag by French design studio be-poles keeps the place tidy by holding wrapping paper and craft materials.
Mariët likes to create pictures on the wall using washi tape. It’s easy to remove and doesn’t leave any marks. For Christmas, she’s made a reindeer.
The couple have tried to make the rented kitchen match their aesthetic by displaying some of their favourite wooden cutting boards. A simple wall rail gives them easy access to cooking utensils.
A rack in the hallway displays Mariët’s favourite magazines and prints.
Mariët hangs out in her favourite spot, where she crafts most of her home accessories and browses online for new decorating ideas.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Dutch home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you think of this Dutch home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Since the space is small, they went with a compact corner sofa to provide ample seating. ‘We managed to fit in everything we needed without the room being cramped or cluttered,’ says Mariët. She bought the second-hand shop dresser next to the sofa and painted it white.
Corner sofa, Kwantum. Banner, Buiten de Lijntjes.