Industrial Living

This converted factory is now home to artistic director Marieke Wessels and designer and furniture maker Laszlo Balog. Located in a port surrounded by factories and industrial buildings, just a few miles from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, it's a return to the true loft living aesthetic. Creativity is everywhere — Marieke painted the huge yellow flower in the stairwell, and in the ground floor office the white desk she and her sister share was built by their father — as was the bedside table in the green bedroom. A children's chair by Laszlo sits in the kitchen area, while the two wooden cabinet "twins" in the living room — the original on the right made from recovered wood by Piet Hein Eek, with the one on the left a humorous replica by Laszlo — add storage and interesting texture to the space. A multifunctional and stimulating environment — perfect for the creative and interesting couple who live there. More here on Marie Claire Maison.

Amsterdam Mix

This lovely Amsterdam home, built in 1780 and situated on a small canal in the middle of the city's Latin Quarter, may seem awkwardly tall and narrow to modern tastes — in the old days you paid tax according to the width of the facade — but in compensation the rooms are long and generously deep, with three stories overlooking the wonderful view. Danish couple Gry and Henry fell for their home at first sight, but much work needed to be done to make it livable again. Because they wanted to respect the age of their new home, they chose to use vintage materials from demolished houses, while the furniture was sourced from flea markets. In the kitchen, a large wooden fridge from the 1920s now holds pots and pans (and inspired the design of the cabinetry), while wooden boxes from an old slaughterhouse have also become part of the kitchen storage. The sand-coloured limestone for the kitchen and bathroom countertops came from the wine cellar of an old French castle, and the dining room table made ​​from recycled boards was designed by Piet Hein Eek, one of Holland's greatest contemporary designers. The floors throughout are original to the house — and after much work now glow with all their former beauty. A lovely home that embraces both past and present. More here. Via Vårt Nya Hem.


(Photography by Iben & Nils Ahlberg)

Northern Calm

Paula Leen creates beautiful handmade textiles in Akkrum, a village in the Dutch region of Friesland. The peaceful and quiet atmosphere she finds in the countryside provides the inspiration for her tapestries, carpets, blankets and even vases made almost exclusively in a variety of wools (from local sheep), carefully blended to create different textures. Her tranquil home reflects the gentle colours found in her work — it's not surprising that Paula says "This house has an amazing calming effect on guests. " More (in Italian) here. Via Marie Claire Italia.


(photos by Hotse Eisma/Living Inside)