GENTLEMEN’ S AGREEMENT
Three individuals living under the same roof in a 1970s thatched house in a tiny village outside Amsterdam have found harmony not only in life, but also in their approach to interior design.
Only a one-hour drive separates Amsterdam and the small village of Oudemirdum in the Friesland province, but that is more than enough for Iebele van der Meulen, Joop Voogt and Rik van Kampen to leave the weekday stress of working life in the bustling Dutch capital behind. Van der Meulen is the editor-in-chief of women’s magazine Linda, Voogt is a sales director for a textiles firm and van Kampen is a freelance project manager.
‹‹ “The forest was always our main interest in buying a property,” says van der Meulen. Adds Voogt: “It had been a long search. Eventually we asked Iebele’s parents, who live in the area, to do some scouting and research for us. When they saw this, they were very excited.” The three men recognised the potential, although, as van der Meulen concedes, “it was very dated, on the outside and in”. Still, there was enough space for them and magnificent views towards the garden and the woods, all on a 4000-square-metre plot. “We held a housewarming soon after buying it and some friends were shocked when they saw the interior,” says van der Meulen. “Who could blame them? There was masonry everywhere, three-colour mixed floor tiles and wood panelling on the wall.” Their first thought was to restyle it with a lick of paint and some “secondhand leftovers” from their Amsterdam home. “But the house deserved more — it needed love and attention,” says van der Meulen. “So we removed all the ’70s details and started on a new interior. Everything you see now, we bought for this house.” They indulged in their love of Mid-century Modern but haven’t allowed it to overwhelm the space. “Rik and I are a good team with styling and vintage pieces,” says van der Meulen. “While he often searches for a balance, I like to bring in contrast. Joop relies on our judgement… but always expects a last approval when we return with a bundle of new stuff.” The various living areas have been painted in lighter colours, plus there is fresh stucco and whitewashed brick walls. This allows the pieces by renowned designers to radiate. In the main living space, a caramel-coloured Ligne Roset Togo sofa is offset by a vivid orange Verner Panton Cone chair, Harry Bertoia’s delicate wire chair and a black Serge Mouille lamp. “I have to confess, years ago I did find this sofa really ugly,” says van der Meulen. “Then I saw it at a friend’s place in a cognac-coloured leather and I had to have one.” More recent additions include a custom kitchen designed by van der Meulen, which offers a contemporary feel opposite a 1950s Danish dining room set he and van Kampen sourced from a nearby vintage furniture store. In addition, shelves with long, solid boards were designed to hold the men’s collection of ceramics, crockery, pottery and glassware. Throughout, pieces of Modern art, mostly by Frisian artists such as Sjoerd de Vries, Willem van Althuis, Jan Snijder and Boele Bregman, are on loan from van der Meulen’s father and form a special local contribution. “We have also added a reed landscape painted by my father,” he says. “Frisian painting is in my genes.” They lend a timeless quality, which is no mean feat considering the house’s appearance when this trio first laid eyes on it. It no longer feels dated, yet the building and its interior are still quite close in terms of overall style. “It’s all about our personal edit. Everything you see here has a special soul, a story to tell. These pieces are attached with the three of us and this house. It is the past and the present being ‘one’ together — but also being a little different.”