MAKING WAVES

A former passenger ferry is given a new life with splashes of colour and inventive ideas that celebrate its idiosyncrasies

A passenger ferry in Amsterdam has been transformed into a colourful and functional abode

1PERFECT IMPERFECT Most recently used as an office, the interior was all grey when Ingeborg and Renze started work on the ship. “To get rid of the very corporate interior, we added lots of colour, objects and plants,” says Ingeborg. The couple brought interior designer Teske Clijsen of Koelhuis Frigo onto the project and appreciated her approach of making the most of the existing structure. “We wanted to renovate this quite complicated industrial space without losing its soul,” says Ingeborg. Tip: Embrace the complications of your home, especially if they’re original features. Sometimes stripping back and perfecting every surface means losing character.

2FThUe 2bLoaLtisDmEooCreKd in the Eastern Docklands area of Amsterdam, close to shops and cafés and a short bus ride to the city centre. A chunky timber table and jaunty red chairs make a great spot for dinner or drinks on deck. The wheelhouse and railings are also painted in bright red. “The light is beautiful, reflected on both sides by the water,” says Ingeborg. Tip: Choose heavy furniture pieces for outdoor spots exposed to wind, including high-rise balconies.

3THE DOWNLOW Living on a boat means the connection to the outdoors is heightened. “The seasons are more noticeable,” says Ingeborg. “You’re very aware whether it’s humid or cool, light or grey.” A plant collection makes up for the lack of a garden, including a crawling plant that keeps growing and growing. Tip: Don’t forget to consider every level of your room, including the floor. Create layers of interest with lights, plants, standing mirrors or sculptural pieces. 4 SIMPLE PLEASURES Ingeborg and Renze preserved what they could of the original

including the low ceilings and old window frames that are wound up and down with a crank. A simple sitting area in a corner is the perfect spot to read or watch TV. Tip: Establish cosy corners within open-planplan areas to retreat to. A comfy chair, a table within arms length to rest a glass, and art to contemplate are key ingredients.

5C“TatHothIeNrsKwoIuNld G WReaEppAroTacIhVedE wh see as ‘problems‘ by exaggerating and emphasizing them, with the result that the ‘problem’ becomes beautiful,” says Ingeborg. The difffferent heights of the kitchen counter and the

table were resolved with a wave-shaped timber join between the levels, while cracks in the steamed-oak kitchen counter and tabletop were filled with yellow epoxy to turn them into a feature, rather than a blemish. Tip: Pick a colour to tie the look together. Neon yellow is used here, as well as in the bathroom and bedroom.

6 BRIGHT SPLASH “The bathroom shouldn’t be a sterile place, but a nice room

relax in. The view, the colours and the plants all help create that feeling,” says Ingeborg. The couple decided to keep the original shutter between the kitchen and bathroom to allow for chatter (and easy passing of cups of tea or glasses of champagne) while one of the couple is in the bath. Tip: Extend a frameless mirror from benchtop to ceiling to make a small bathroom feel more expansive.

7THE LIFE AQUATIC A fairly utilitarian powder room is given a boost of colour and a side dish of fun with RGB Wallpapers ‘Animalia No. 2’ design by Milan-based design studio Carnovsky, featuring undersea in vibrant blues, pinks and yellows. It’s a nod to a home on the water,, without resorting to nautical clichés. Tip: Be bold in the smallest rooms; it’s an opportunity to try something a bit ‘out there’ that might be too much, either visually or budget-wise, in a larger area.

8ITNhe IcPab mSaHin iSnpHreAsenPteEd spatial challenges, with its sloping walls and wedge shape in the bow of the ship. Interior designer Teske created a timber bed and bedside tables plus a headboard lined with timber slats laid lengthwise in an irregular pattern. “It’s like the blue of the ceiling is raining down,” says Ingeborg. Tip: Commissioning custom furniture is the ultimate luxury, and is particularly handy for non-standard spaces. Try makerslane.com.au to find a local designer.