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Aptly named Black Swan, Eleonora Nieuwenhuizen’s special home rests on the water in the Dutch province of North Holland. Exposed to the elements, it was cleverly designed to include outdoor spaces that are both protected and private. -
A window-lined passage leads to the kitchen and dining area, which opens up to an outside terrace. -
Owner Eleonora with partner Erwin and their dog, Loulou. -
The kitchen, designed and manufactured by The Big Easy, is a study in modular luxury, with Smeg appliances and brass fixtures by Ton Scholten. Blue is the colour of choice here, and the long dining table speaks to long and lazy social gatherings with friends. -
The wooden workbench is one of Eleonora’s market finds. -
On the ground floor, a niche provides a relaxation space. -
Eleonora used her uncle Hajo’s old nautical charts as wallpaper in the stairwell. -
Designed for comfort, the lounge features vintage accents, and brings the outdoors in via marine life-themed cushions and a cascade of hanging plants. -
Clever “bed boxes”, with vintage wooden Egyptian doors for privacy, offer ample sleeping space for visiting family and friends. -
A Piet Hein Eek chair allows its occupant to take a breather. -
The monochrome guest room is an homage to Eleonora’s love affair with wallpaper. -
The spaces are designed in such a way that the views can be enjoyed whether you’re inside or out. -
Delft blue wallpaper provides a backdrop for a collection of ornamental plates, many of which once belonged to Eleonora’s grandmother. The vintage door was sourced at an architectural salvage store. -
Topped by a gorgeous chandelier, which was sourced at an antique market, the bedroom is flooded with warmth and natural light courtesy of the conservatory-like terrace linked to it. -
The sleek, modern lines of the bathtub and copper fixtures by Ton Scholten contribute to the sanctuary-like feel. -
A collection of mirrors reflects the green tones of the master bedroom. -
Vintage wooden Egyptian doors are used throughout the space. -
Gucci’s heron-print wallpaper plays a dual role in the master suite, as an undeniable focal point and a modern take on a headboard.
WORDS Inge van Lieshout PRODUCTION Inge van Lieshout & Insidehomepage PHOTOS Louis Lemaire
Situated on a dyke on a branch of the Zaan River, and inspired by the black barns found among the low-lying polders of the Netherlands’ northwest, this unique houseboat is the result of its owners’ clear vision.
For Eleonora Nieuwenhuizen and partner Erwin, the pull to live on the water was a strong one. She had grown up in Oostknollendam – a town in the Dutch province of North Holland – and the couple returned to build this special home, surrounded on three sides by archetypal Dutch landscape. “Erwin and I knew exactly what we wanted,” says Eleonora, “and we already had a good idea of what was needed to create it. We found architect Angela Holterman of Hollands Zicht architects via Pinterest – she lives on the water herself, and has experience in designing water homes – then selected several contractors and project-managed it all ourselves.”
The home’s location and surroundings dictated the architect’s approach, with the outdoor areas being a special focus. Roof terraces and floating terraces were natural options, but she had to take the elements into consideration too. “The wind around here has free rein as soon as you stick your head above ground level,” says Angela. “We solved this by including the outdoor spaces within the contours of the house. The adjacent spaces provide shelter, and a direct relationship between inside and outside.”
The patio, for example, is an extension of the kitchen, and the loggia is downstairs on the master bedroom. The waving reeds provide shelter and privacy to life in and around the water, as do the wooden slats at the “black swan” façades. And that provides two different perspectives when living here: from the sunken ground floor looking at swans floating by, or enjoying the views from upstairs.
Eleonora took on the interior design herself. “Interior design is totally my thing,” she says. “It is my passion to decorate houses beautifully, and I get inspiration during the trips I make to India, Bali, Puglia and Ibiza to visit friends. In the Black Swan, I chose green as the main colour for the ground floor. This is reflected in the green corduroy couches with the hanging plants in the living room, and the green heron Gucci wallpaper in the master bedroom.”
On the upper floor, denim-blue predominates. The carpet under the dining table, the custom cushions, and the Delft blue wallpaper all meld beautifully. “Of course, you will also find all kinds of items throughout the boat that link to life on water,” says Eleonora. “It’s a nod to the various industrial ship lights, but also the lighting in Indian kitchens that reminds me of fish traps. A ship’s bell, old doors of an Alexandrian bed box, and wallpaper in the stairwell made from my uncle Hajo’s old sea charts complete the picture.”
This typical Dutch landscape also requires Dutch elements. “I chose Delft blue wallpaper with various old Dutch signs, windmills and tile texts,” says Eleonora, “as well as some tiles that belonged to my grandmother, mixed in with new tiles with a golden edge. The Frisian Whites in the kitchen add to this, as do the two wooden bedsteads.
“I like to surround myself with beautiful things.I love colour,and I don’t really have a particular style. It’s more of everything. C’est moi!”
You can rent the home on boutiquehomesinholland.com.
