So much soul
As one would expect from a farmer’s wife who doesn’t let a cement dam stand in the way of her vision, Illze personally made sure that each and every finish and décor element stayed true to Langskuur’s original character as a barn.
“It was a time-consuming process. Hannes and I made everything by hand: window frames, hinges, latches, shutters, sliders, pendant lamps, chandeliers, the steelframed screen for the bathroom, shelves and tables, to name but a few. It was great to see the building slowly coming into its own.
“The story behind each piece of furniture was also important to me. Using a mix of old and new handmade elements, I wanted to give people a sense of permanence and timelessness, and make them aware of the tranquillity and spaciousness inherent in a structure with so much soul.
“I wanted to pay tribute to the building by transforming its beautiful features into focal points. I deliberately left the two open attics at each end of the barn as is in order to create a loft feel.”
The simple white colour scheme – Illze’s favourite palette – perfectly complements the wooden furniture, which mostly consists of pieces she already had on the farm.
“White keeps the space light and peaceful, with clean lines. A few black elements create balance and the steel is a nod to the industrial activities that previously took place in the barn,” Illze explains. >>