A look inside Jutta's home in Finland
Scandinavian simplicity and colorful accents
Marieke's townhouse
This week, we're taking a look at Marieke's place. She's a true interior design junkie. Six years ago, she moved from Australia to the Netherlands, after being away for twenty years. Alongside her work as a tutor at the Interior Design Institute, she is active on Instagram as an interior design influencer and she loves to buy and renovate houses, including her own home. It's a real treat getting to tour her home because she lives in the centre of Haarlem in a canal-side town house that was built around 1890 and is full of historical elements. We're obsessed! Want to take a look with us?
About Marieke
LIVES in Haarlem WITH her Australian husband, son (15) and daughter (10) INSTAGRAM @whisperingbold WEBSITE whisperingbold.nl ON HER WALL ANYWAY THE WIND BLOWS by db Waterman, Gwendolyn and the Tulips by Marja van den Hurk, Black still life matters 2 by Marion Kraus en Kaars van Dreamy Faces on ArtFrame so that Marieke can switch it out
This feels grand
Marieke explains: "Our canal house is a stunning, distinctive house with six bedrooms and two bathrooms, built around 1890 and full of historical elements. The moment we stepped inside, we instantly fell in love with the gorgeous high ornamental ceilings and the historical elements that had been preserved. We're talking the original French doors, the bannister that was still intact across three floors, the leaded glass everywhere, the large windows and the sense of space. My husband's exact words were: 'this feels grand!'."
But the house still needed some love and that meant donning their overalls. Marieke explains: "Our house is a gem from the late 1900s. It had all the elements it needed to become something stunning. But it was in need of some love. Literally everything in the house was remodelled and/or extended. We renovated everything how we wanted it and the result is beautiful. I'm pretty proud of that!"
Marieke's top tip: "Make a plan and stick to it! Do what makes you happy. Obviously, you'll make adjustments along the way, but you've got to believe in your own vision. It's so easy to get distracted by all the stuff available, other people's opinions and your own uncertainties, but you've got to be careful that it doesn't become a weird mix of stuff. A practical tip: play with layers of different textures! And add a plant and/or piece of art..."
Traditional meets industrial
How do you combine a traditional house with a modern extension? Marieke offers the solution. "The kitchen was really small, so we decided immediately that we wanted to add a significant extension and turn it into a proper kitchen diner. In my opinion, it's impossible to match an extension to a historical house and, since I have a soft spot for all things industrial style, I quickly decided to design a modern industrial extension that would contrast beautifully against the traditional town house. Above all, it needed to not feel like a conservatory; it needed to be a real living space with a 'wow' factor."
Dream kitchen
Not surprisingly, this has become Marieke's favourite spot. "I love a kitchen where you can live, entertain, cook comfortably and discuss all the important stuff around the kitchen island! I’m a big fan of our 4m-high ceiling with its enormous pyramid-shaped skylight and all the natural light. That and the combination of rugged HD metal and concrete with the classic marble and warm oak. The seating area with its brick wall is really eye-catching too. One of my favourite moments of the day is that half-hour of me-time I get to spend sitting on the blue sofa in the sun with a drink, just before the kids get home from school."
It's in the name
Speaking of the sofa, there's an interesting story behind that. "For months, I searched across the city and the country for THE perfect sofa, only to find it at Homestock Haarlem (300m from our house). I went and sat on it (it was lovely to sit on) and looked at the label for details. You'll never guess what it said. The sofa is called Marieke, just like me! It was meant to be! It was a sign; I knew that for sure. I didn't hesitate for a second and ordered it right away. And I'm still totally in love with it."
Marieke’s tip about inspiration: "I get inspiration from travelling, Pinterest, Instagram and the world around me! I'm fortunate enough to have friends across the world, all with their own cultures and styles. So, you can pick up something from anywhere. I like things with a unique style, quirky shops or market stalls or just 'scouring' the marketplace for something. I take photos of everything that inspires me and this means I always have ideas on standby for the house or the next renovation project.
Shop in style
Would you also like one of Marieke's works on your wall? Marieke chose ArtFrame with a black frame colour. The nice thing about ArtFrame is that you can change. And Marieke likes to change! Find out which works Marieke likes to change.
