Interior design villa near Amsterdam: dark and rich in a house full of windows
In 2015, Choc Studio took on the full project for this modern villa in Zwaanshoek, near Amsterdam: design and realisation from first sketch to finished interior.
The brief: how do you create a dark, rich interior in a villa with windows everywhere?
The client had watched this villa from the motorway for years, drawn to it before he’d ever stepped inside. When it came up for sale, he bought it. He brought Choc Studio a reference photograph: dark, rich, assured. The brief was clear. So was the complication: the villa had windows everywhere.
The approach: gold as a continuous thread throughout the house, not as an accent but as the connecting element
Robbert and Julia looked for a translation that captured the atmosphere of the reference without blocking the light. The answer was gold as a connecting thread, not as an accent but as a continuous element running through the house. The gold-leaf wall tiles in the kitchen. The Tom Dixon pendants that spread a warm glow in the evenings, visible from the street outside. The hand-printed Philip Jeffries wallpaper on the feature wall in the living room. Dark tones lay the foundation; gold carries the depth.
In the living room, two alcoves hold sculptures of a Javanese bridal couple. The corner sofa and two loveseats are from Pure Choc, upholstered in Zinc fabrics. A dining table of lacquered oak blocks stands on a Limited Edition rug. On the upper floor, an unused study was converted into a bedroom-study for the eldest son. The master bedroom is anchored by a velvet headboard in Villanova fabric, made by Macazz.
The result: a villa with depth and presence, published in Stijlvol Wonen
The villa is furnished with pieces from Pure Choc, Meridiani and Marac. Rugs from Limited Edition, carpeting from Lano Carpets and Van Besouw. Paint by Little Greene, wallpaper by Philip Jeffries, fabrics by Zinc, Villa Nova and Casamance. Lighting by Tom Dixon, Foscarini, Maretti and Layer by Adje.
René: “They listened carefully and translated that reference image into a concrete plan for this house. We quickly settled on gold to give it the glamour touch I was looking for: subtle enough not to be kitsch, but present enough for that rich feeling.”
The project was published in Stijlvol Wonen (February 2015). Photography: Denise Zwijnen – © Sanoma N.V.
Have a similar project in mind and want to know more about our approach? Get in touch with Choc Studio for an introductory meeting or read more about how we work.