Cosy in a barn
Illze clearly has the necessary creative mindset and understanding of space and proportions to create a cosy atmosphere in a long, narrow 150m² building. Langskuur is now an open-plan living space in which different functional areas have been clearly demarcated, but without using walls.
The northern end houses a kitchen, the living area is in the middle, and a sleeping area and bathroom are located at the southern end. A back door opens onto a courtyard that leads to a second 58m² building. This was the dairy decades ago and
Illze converted it into a second bedroom with its own entrance and bathroom. The old feeding trough now forms part of the en-suite bathroom.
“The size of the barn was a bonus because I like the luxurious atmosphere created by an open space,” Illze explains. “I used a variety of visual elements to create different ‘rooms’ in the open-plan barn. I painted squares on the floor in the dining area, used plants as partitions, and put down rugs to demarcate the various areas.
“The handmade doors and windows and original building materials such as the wooden beams, corrugated iron roof, cement floor and rough walls created plenty of warmth. Rattan and wooden furniture offers loads of texture, while natural textiles such as linen, wool and animal hides play off against a neutral palette.”
Herbs and fruit from the lush secret garden – so named due to all the nooks, crannies and winding paths it contains – form part of the seasonal décor accessories. Juicy summer fruit such as figs, pomegranates and prickly pears are stacked high in white ceramic bowls, while baskets and vases overflow with huge spinach leaves and fresh herbs.
But the real magic comes with the golden afternoon light that gives the ripe pomegranates an even deeper rosy hue, with Langskuur forming a stately structure in the twilight.