Dutch Houzz: Minimalist Palette Creates Soothing Home
The muted colour palette and Scandi style of this Netherlands home had a calming effect on its expecting owners
Graphic designer Karlijn de Jong works with colour all day long. So when she arrives home, she prefers to unwind in a “calm, subtle environment,” she says. In others words: no bright colours, please!
Drawing from strong Scandinavian influences and a monochrome palette of black, white and grey, de Jong created a fuss-free retreat in her Netherlands high-rise apartment that she shares with husband Pieter Horvers. Their super-refined colour palette also helped calm and focus them as they found their rental home just six weeks before the arrival of their son. They needed the meditative state as they installed new flooring, painted the walls and pulled everything together in just two weeks.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Karlijn de Jong, Pieter Horvers and their son, Finn
Location: Tilburg, The Netherlands
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Drawing from strong Scandinavian influences and a monochrome palette of black, white and grey, de Jong created a fuss-free retreat in her Netherlands high-rise apartment that she shares with husband Pieter Horvers. Their super-refined colour palette also helped calm and focus them as they found their rental home just six weeks before the arrival of their son. They needed the meditative state as they installed new flooring, painted the walls and pulled everything together in just two weeks.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Karlijn de Jong, Pieter Horvers and their son, Finn
Location: Tilburg, The Netherlands
Size: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
A solid oak table with clean contemporary lines and a mix of replica Eames chairs ground the couple’s dining area. A potted olive tree in the corner adds a touch of nature.
Bigboy table: Steigerhout Stunter; grey cutting board: HK Living; teapot and teacups: Hoganas Keramik; Workshop (grey) pendants: HK Living; curtains: Hema
Bigboy table: Steigerhout Stunter; grey cutting board: HK Living; teapot and teacups: Hoganas Keramik; Workshop (grey) pendants: HK Living; curtains: Hema
They decorated this nook off the living area with handmade paper pompoms for their newborn son, Finn. The floors are laminate.
Ladder: Tierlantijn; retro car: Marquant; Maren Losing ‘Postcard Oh Baby’ postcard: April and May; Brent playpen: Bopita
Ladder: Tierlantijn; retro car: Marquant; Maren Losing ‘Postcard Oh Baby’ postcard: April and May; Brent playpen: Bopita
Horvers and de Jong worked with Steigerhout en Zo to customise a stock Ikea TV unit with a piece of timber cut to size. The new unit displays a collection of vases. De Jong found the small vase at a thrift shop and spray painted it a matt black.
Tripod Wood White floor lamp: Zuiver; Bestå TV cupboard: Ikea; concrete vase: 101 Woonideeën; green vase: Hema
Tripod Wood White floor lamp: Zuiver; Bestå TV cupboard: Ikea; concrete vase: 101 Woonideeën; green vase: Hema
Black countertops and white cabinets original to the space luckily fit in perfectly with the couple’s colour scheme.
Bekväm step stool: Ikea; “You Make me Happy” print: Paqhuis
Bekväm step stool: Ikea; “You Make me Happy” print: Paqhuis
This locker cabinet is one of de Jong’s favourite pieces and provides much-needed storage in the home office. “It’s a little tough and industrial but not too much, and it’s white,” she says. “I just love white. It’s clean, it’s crisp, and with not a lot of natural light it can lift the mood of a space.”
Locker White cabinet: HK Living; wire basket: Leenbakker; paper bag: Merci Paris; PM 0322 glass boxes: House Doctor
Locker White cabinet: HK Living; wire basket: Leenbakker; paper bag: Merci Paris; PM 0322 glass boxes: House Doctor
De Jong’s home office area is nestled behind the living area and next to the kitchen. Here, she works on her graphic design and projects for her webshop, Paqhuis, that she manages with friend Femke Brooks. A muted pink framed calendar adds a hint of femininity to her signature colour palette.
Linnmon/Finnvard desk: Ikea; poster: Snug; Ribba frame: Ikea; wire basket: Leenbakker; wood lamp by Taf Architects: Muuto; chair: Eames replica; Rens faux sheepskin: Ikea
Linnmon/Finnvard desk: Ikea; poster: Snug; Ribba frame: Ikea; wire basket: Leenbakker; wood lamp by Taf Architects: Muuto; chair: Eames replica; Rens faux sheepskin: Ikea
A hallway vignette sets the tone for the apartment’s monochromatic scheme.
Malm dresser: Ikea; print: Elephant; frame: Ikea; cardboard vases: Snug; lightbulb pendant: Muuto
Malm dresser: Ikea; print: Elephant; frame: Ikea; cardboard vases: Snug; lightbulb pendant: Muuto
The main bedroom also incorporates the soothing minimal palette. De Jong had the grey colour on the wall behind the bed mixed at a local hardware store.
Bed: Ikea; bed linen: Hema; throw blanket: Fresh Home Collection; nightstands: Marktplaats; lamps: Leitmotiv; wardrobe: Ikea; Maren Losing “You’ve Got Style” print: April and May; “You Make me Happy” print: Paqhuis
Bed: Ikea; bed linen: Hema; throw blanket: Fresh Home Collection; nightstands: Marktplaats; lamps: Leitmotiv; wardrobe: Ikea; Maren Losing “You’ve Got Style” print: April and May; “You Make me Happy” print: Paqhuis
De Jong says she keeps clutter at bay with constant editing. “I tidy the house often and edit the space regularly to create a calm space. If I don’t like something, I get rid of it,” she says. “I also use a lot of storage to stash away unsightly things.”
Malm dressers: Ikea; white vase: Hella Jongerius for Ikea; paper bag: Merci Paris; frame with Finn’s footprint: Ikea; wire stool: Cees Braakman for Pastoe; grey plaid: H&M; rug: House Doctor; “Clean up Your Mess” print: House Doctor; postcard heart: April and May
Malm dressers: Ikea; white vase: Hella Jongerius for Ikea; paper bag: Merci Paris; frame with Finn’s footprint: Ikea; wire stool: Cees Braakman for Pastoe; grey plaid: H&M; rug: House Doctor; “Clean up Your Mess” print: House Doctor; postcard heart: April and May
When designing Finn’s nursery, de Jong says, “I wanted his room to suit the rest of the house so the colour scheme would be white and grey, but I wanted it to be sweet and calm at the same time.”
De Jong customised the changing table/dresser by adding grey leather drawer pulls.
Wooden stool: Kenk Shop; Volkswagen van: Saartje; rocking chair: Eames replica; grey plaid: H&M; changing table/drawers: Babydump; drawer pulls: Nu interieur | ontwerp; rug: Keet in Huis; pendant: Loods5
De Jong customised the changing table/dresser by adding grey leather drawer pulls.
Wooden stool: Kenk Shop; Volkswagen van: Saartje; rocking chair: Eames replica; grey plaid: H&M; changing table/drawers: Babydump; drawer pulls: Nu interieur | ontwerp; rug: Keet in Huis; pendant: Loods5
Minimalist accessories adorn the shelf above the baby’s changing station.
“I Love You to the Moon” print: Paqhuis; wooden shelf: VT Wonen; grey shoes: Gray Label
“I Love You to the Moon” print: Paqhuis; wooden shelf: VT Wonen; grey shoes: Gray Label
De Jong exercised the same degree of restraint in decorating Finn’s room as she did in the rest of the home. A soft shade of grey adorns one wall to give the large space warmth.
Minimalistic use of colour, furniture and accessories keep the space clutter free, allowing Finn plenty of space to play and explore as he gets older.
Bed: Babydump; wall stickers: April and May; cardboard horses: Kidsonroof via Bijzonder Mooi
Minimalistic use of colour, furniture and accessories keep the space clutter free, allowing Finn plenty of space to play and explore as he gets older.
Bed: Babydump; wall stickers: April and May; cardboard horses: Kidsonroof via Bijzonder Mooi
A locker cabinet similar to the one in de Jong’s home office is used as Finn’s wardrobe. A favourite cardigan is displayed on oversized button hooks. De Jong painted the toy wooden village above the cabinet for Finn to play with when he gets older.
Wardrobe: VT Wonen
Wardrobe: VT Wonen
“There are things I would like to see different,” says de Jong, pictured here with Finn. “But for now it’s OK and we have made the best of it and it feels like home.”
Månstad corner sofa bed: Ikea; Diamond rug: Naco Trade; Kruk Harm white wooden stool: Leen Bakker; white metal stool: Karwei; Atlas floor lamp: Woon Express