WORDS AND PRODUCTION Mark Heldens PHOTOS Alan Jensen

“Create a comfortable family loft” was the brief given to Dax and Joyce Roll of Nicemakers. At least, that was the easy part of it; the rest requested “a home where furniture designer Jean Prouvé meets interior designer Joseph Dirand; where Bauhaus architecture meets the glamour of the Chrysler Building; where interiors specialists Roman and Williams meet the series Mad Men; and where minimal architect Peter Zumthor meets The Wolf of Wall Street’s Jordan Belfort”. It must’ve made for an interesting mood board for the Amsterdam- based interior design studio – but in their favour was a portfolio of successfully completed projects that includes a city-centre canal house, a country farmhouse, a 19th-century mansion, a 1960s bungalow, and the re-styling of De L’Europe hotel in Amsterdam. The starting point for this latest project was a concrete loft in the south of the Netherlands, with a roof terrace providing great views of Maastricht’s city centre. “Every new project starts with freedom – freedom of thought and inspiration – and a story or an atmosphere,” says Dax. “That is our approach – and luckily in this instance, given their briefing, also that of our clients.” Their clients were a couple who had grown up in Maastricht. The building, originally designed as living space for local nurses – each window belonged to a single room furnished with a simple bed, desk and wardrobe – was later also used as office space. When it was first put on the market, the couple moved quickly, buying one of the apartments on the ninth floor and both apartments on the 10th floor. Along with this combination came a roof terrace with 360-degree panoramic views and, as an extra, a secret observatory/sky lounge above that.

It did help that the clients distilled their initial myriad meet-up brief into, “Create a 1960s and ’70s feeling in the interior, with mostly warm colours, custom elements, vintage Mid- century Modern elements, and a ‘submerged’ living space – and all that in combination with that Brutalist concrete construction.”

Easier… but still not easy. “We made it our own,” says Joyce. “I could almost see the film scenes, where the elevator door of the penthouse opens and you immediately find yourself within this Mad Men-like space, almost hearing Don Draper’s favourite jazz music.”

The entrance to the home is on the ninth floor – a self-contained area that includes a small pantry and a lounge. Here the clients wanted to create a warmer, more feminine salon feeling that would act as a contrast to the main floor above, with its rough concrete walls, ceiling and many sturdy columns. Upstairs, the kitchen was given a prominent place – a key consideration for the couple, who often entertain family and friends. Standing behind the kitchen island – made from an antique brass frame and an olive-green enamelled lava-stone countertop – you can take in the entire loft. To the left is the dining area, fireplace and living room; to the right, a breakfast area, and a view towards the master bedroom and bathroom.

To soften and add character to all the concrete, Joyce and Dax carefully considered which materials and textures would work best in the space. Most of the vintage furniture, lamps and accessories were bought in consultation with the owners at international fairs and auctions, as well as at galleries in Milan, Paris, Brussels and New York. It makes for an interior that’s undoubtedly luxe without being ostentatiously glamorous. It looks natural and lived in, despite the fact that it’s been only recently designed.

“Maastricht did surprise us,” say Dax and Joyce. “We knew such a project would eventually come our way, but we had never taken on anything like this before. With the trust and freedom our clients gave us, we were able to excel – and we are very grateful for that.”

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A church in the coastal Kennemerland region of Holland has been reimagined, redesigned and reborn as a breathtakingly creative family home that was both a homage to the past and functionally future-forward. 

Set among Noord-Kennermerland’s dunes, wide beaches, quiet forests and colourful fields, this church has seen renovations several times in its hundred-year history. Unfortunately, the various adaptations and rebuilds masked much of the original architecture of this national monument – so its new owners looked for a team to reimagine the space. They wanted an original family home that both respected the building’s history and looked ahead to its new future.

Netherlands-based interior designers Studio Erik Gutter pulled together a specialised team of architects under the guidance of creative director Erik Gutter, whose first order of business was to do some historical research. “We wanted to map out all the architectural interventions and renovations before we started designing,” he says.

The church underwent significant changes in both the 1960s and the 1990s and, while the ’60s renovation had some worthy qualities – particularly in the specialised concrete frameworks – the ’90s layer added little value, and was demolished to allow the character of the church to become visible again in one large, open, high space. “We advised our clients to keep five big concrete window frames,” says Erik. “Because of the space, they provide a rhythm and a depth, adding a contemporary, somewhat Brutalist element to the interior.”

In 1969, the interior had been adjusted so the east facade could be used as an entrance, with the balcony above it. Today, this is the master bedroom and bathroom. A high vertical window created on the ground floor near the “altar” allows the morning sun to shine serenely through. Outside, closed masonry openings were reopened to provide a view of the enclosed garden and the forest behind it.

The team created a new entrance in the shape of a small portal – a nod to the original entrance from the early 20th century – and added an independent sturdy steel frame that supports the upper floor, dividing the living volume into upper/lower and left/right sections. On this steel frame’s solid wooden base is a freestanding green-painted wooden “box” that appears to sink through the floor – this houses the children’s bedrooms and a bathroom, as well as a media room. The left half of the space, rising to the saddle roof, is the living area, while the right side houses the kitchen, dining area and home office on the ground floor.

Erik’s clients were open to an innovative approach to the interior, especially when it came to colour and materials. “It was definitely all a bit ‘out of the box’ but I think the team really surprised the clients with what you see now,” he says. “For us, an interior always starts with visualising an atmosphere. We often think in colour, images and feelings, and only then decide which sofa, table or armchair to use. We like to look for the strength and originality of a room, and enhance this with our interior solutions, art and accessories.”

For the furniture, the team opted for traditional designs, using pieces by both international brands and local makers such as Florence Knoll, Warren Platner, Job Smeets, Patricia Urquiola, Piet Hein Eek and Gianfranco Frattini. “We are especially proud of the bright yellow wall of glazed tiles,” says Erik. “It really anchors the new interior, making reference to all the bright colours, sturdy materials and designer furniture used throughout.” The wall is also an effective counterpoint to the owners’ photographic art collection, and the painting in the master bedroom by Dutch artist Levi van Veluw.

The end result is an impressive interpretation of the clients’ brief that has turned a church interior into an extension of personal freedom and creativity – and a space that still invites reverence.

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Once the chapel of a monastery, this high-ceilinged, open spaced apartment in the Dutch village of Bennebroek is now home to a textile artist and her partner.

Located in the heart of Bennebroek village in the Netherlands, the neo-Gothic St Lucia monastery has seen various tenants come and go. Built in 1896 by the Sœurs du Sacré-Cœur (the Sisters of the Sacred Heart), it was initially a boarding school for girls from wealthy Catholic families. This was a short-lived endeavour, and with (no doubt) heavy sacred hearts, the Sisters sold it to a fellow Catholic order, the Franciscans, who founded the St Lucia monastery here in 1920. Theirs was a much more successful residency that lasted until 2007, when the buildings were sold to a property developer, who transformed them into seven townhouses and 11 apartments.

One of those buildings is the former chapel, bought by textile designer Milla Novo and her partner Nigel Nowotarski, who works in the fintech business. While the 190m2 chapel’s six-metre-high ceilings would not usually make for an ideal living space, for Milla it was perfect – she creates large knotted wall hangings inspired by her connection to the Mapuche community of south-central Chile (her mom still lives there), and this was the perfect functional and comfortable place to live and work. “My works are what you might call grand, and the wall hangings are large,” says Milla. “Daylight is extremely important in order to be able to work properly. That my work can take place at home, in my own living environment, is a bonus.”

Another bonus during the renovation was when a painted head of an angel emerged from behind the plaster – and then another one. When the building originally went on sale, it was stated that nothing was left of the original murals, but as it turned out, most of them were completely intact beneath the stucco. “It was a sign,” says Milla. “It felt like a kind of guardian angel. Past and present came together, became ‘entangled’.”

Where possible, the murals were restored, becoming the basis for the interior colour scheme. The interiors were conceptualised in collaboration with Wouter Slot of Amsterdam-based Standard Studio. “It was a challenge to come up with a concept to suit both residents,” he says. “We also had to respect the monastic atmosphere while giving the interior a comfortable, homey feeling for Milla and Nigel.”

The couple designed the kitchen themselves. “The choice of material was especially difficult,” says Milla. With the help of Dutch natural-stone expert Nick Blok, she opted for Italian quartzite; its patterns and pink/amber tones go well with the original murals. As with all aspects of the interior, the goal was to retain the atmosphere and spaciousness of the chapel. “Together with Standard Studio, we have created a beautiful layout – one that allows for adventure,” says Milla. “I wanted an open flow in the apartment; that way, you can take a walk through your living space. I think that’s very important.”

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Inspired by the liberal theories of mid-century architecture, House 1, by experimental architecture label Namelok is a minimalist space that humbly boasts functionality, texture and a contemporary coolness.

A stellar combination of the old, the new and the unconventional, Namelok drew inspirations for House 1’s design from the works of Lina Bo Bardi and Aldo van Eyck. The entire design functions around three base principles: the kitchen is the heart of the home, spaces are connected either vertically or horizontally and structural aspects are celebrated through palpable texture.

Located on the outskirts of Rotterdam in The Netherlands, this sizeable home enjoys a picturesque view of a Dutch polder landscape and a horizon bordered by a skyscraper skyline. A floor-to-roof window in the kitchen welcomes these views and the warm light of day. The living room makes for a stark contrast to the bright kitchen and is intentionally lit only by dim lights to create a more intimate family space. The spine of the home is the unique chimney; it warms the house from the belly up and doubles as both an indoor and outdoor fireplace.

Rough plaster and frost grey bricks make for an alluring detail juxtaposed with Western Red Cedar slats. The red of the cedar brings a touch of warmth while simultaneously defining and uniting each part of the home. Inspired by fashion, Namelok separates its projects into collections. House 1 is part of their AW/17 collection.

Love this minimalist space? View Namelok’s other collections, here.

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