Interior design country house near Haarlem
In 2015, Choc Studio completed the interior design and full project supervision of a former coach house in the forests of North Holland. The building had been thoroughly restored and had space, height and character. But the interior didn’t reflect any of that. A heavy period style made the rooms dark even on sunny days. Choc Studio opened up the floor plan, lifted the colour palette and gave the house back what it already had.
The question
The owners had lived in the house for years and spent two of them restoring it room by room, until every detail was back in place. They chose a classic, period-style interior that suited the building’s character. But the heavy furniture, thick curtains and dark colours made the house feel closed in. Even on bright days, the living room stayed dim. They wanted a change but didn’t know where to start. A leak under the kitchen floor gave them the push they needed.
The approach
Choc Studio worked in two directions at once: opening up the layout and lightening the palette. The wall between the TV room and the kitchen came down, creating a generous kitchen-living space with room for the large dining table that hadn’t fitted before.
The kitchen was designed around the Lacanche range: oak veneer cabinets, a natural stone worktop. The parquet floor was sanded back and finished with whitewash oil, which made a visible difference to how the rooms felt. Walls and woodwork were repainted in warm, fresh tones.
Two Meridiani sofas came into the living room, upholstered in Casamance fabric. A Limited Edition rug brought the spaces together. Curtains and rails were made to measure by Choc Studio. Lighting was replaced throughout — recessed fittings where possible, supplemented by Stout and Modular fixtures for the right depth.
The thinking behind the approach: a well-built house doesn’t need heavy decoration. Light, colour and material work when they support the architecture rather than compete with it.
The result
The house is more spacious, lighter and at ease with itself. Period details and a contemporary interior reinforce each other rather than pulling in different directions. The project was published in Stijlvol Wonen.
Photography: Denise Zwijnen © Sanoma
Does your home have a strong base but an interior that hasn’t caught up with it yet? Get in touch with Choc Studio for an introductory conversation.