TIMELESS VISION

With great dedication, Fabienne and Thierry Vandamme have turned their run-down 19th-century Belgian farmhouse into a unique family home

The owners of this 19th-century Belgian farmhouse undertook a

painstaking four-year renovation to create a unique family home full of character

Ihad always dreamt of living in an old farmhouse,’ says Fabienne Vandamme of the 1860s building she and her husband, Thierry, spent four years painstakingly renovating. Situated in the centre of a small village outside of Ghent, the house is in typical Belgian rural style, built in the form of a square around a central courtyard. ‘At one end of the building is a barn, while the two wings haven’t yet been refurbished, but one day I would love to turn them into bed and breakfast accommodation,’ Fabienne explains.

When the couple, who have two daughters – Oona,13, and Evita, 10 – purchased the farmhouse in 2012, they had to use a considerable amount of imagination to picture what it could become. ‘It had been a working farm until the 1980s, and at this point the interiors had undergone a very ugly renovation,’ Fabienne recalls. ‘On the ground floor, there were a lot of small, very gloomy rooms while on the level above, there was nothing other than attic space.’

Fabienne and Thierry undertook a huge amount of the work themselves, knocking down and stripping back walls, ripping up the flooring and sandblasting the blackened beams. It was only for some of the bigger jobs, such as replacing all the windows, that they used a local builder. ‘For me, this was such an exciting project, interiors are my passion,’ recounts Fabienne, who trained as a social worker but took evening classes in interior architecture and garden design.

It was Fabienne who painted all the rooms of the farmhouse, opting for traditional limewash preparations

and mixing the colours herself. In order to help brighten the formerly dark spaces, she has used mostly pale colours such as soft stones and blues, but for a little snug area off the kitchen, she chose a purplish-brown hue to give this space intimacy. ‘I call this room the café and I put a little table and two stools in there as I believe that some of the best conversations happen at café tables,’ she says.

The Vandammes have favoured natural materials, choosing classic Belgian Blue stone for the flooring in the kitchen-cum-dining space and oiled oak boards for the rest of the house, except for the hallway, which is laid with reclaimed encaustic tiles. ‘We like timeless materials that will last; we don’t follow trends,’ notes Fabienne, who commissioned a local designer specialising in oak cabinets to make the kitchen, which is crafted using traditional mortise and tenon joints.

Her choice of furnishings is equally timeless, and she has gone for predominantly vintage and antique pieces, visiting nearby flea markets as well as the larger trimestral markets in Bruges. ‘I like the natural patina of old pieces, it gives them a soul,’ says Fabienne. Also dotted around the house are a number of intriguing portraits. ‘They all date back to the 18th century,’ Fabienne explains. ‘I have given each of them a name; I’m sure they would have some stories to tell.’

The result is a characterful home that truly reflects its owners. ‘I think it’s important to surround yourself with pieces that you love,’ concludes Fabienne. ‘It’s not about following rules but living with the things that really make you happy.’

DINING AREA Pretty floral curtains and a buttoned chair encapsulate Fabienne’s romantic style. Provence Toile linen in Raspberry is a similar fabric, £75m, Cabbages & Roses. Try the Hound Dog armchair, from £745, Loaf. Have a look at the Scissor Merton wall light, £123, Tinsmiths

SITTING ROOM New openings were knocked into the wall to help draw light into this space, which is furnished with simple contemporary pieces. Try the Vimle two-seat sofa in Tallmyra Beige, £475, Ikea. Linen hemp cushions, from £28, Maison Brocante, have a similar look

KITCHEN-DINER The bespoke oak cabinets topped with Belgian blue stone worktops reflect the couple’s love of timeless design. Oak cabinets in the Henley range by Neptune are similar. MKW Surfaces supplies Belgian Blue worktops

SNUG This room features cherished pieces, including a sofa that belonged to Fabienne’s grandmother and a deer head from her childhood home. Large rustic grey stone-effect lamp base, £115, Cowshed Interiors, would work

HALLWAY Reclaimed encaustic tiles create a striking entrance. Have a look at the plain encaustic field tiles in Charcoal and Ivory, £3 each, Foras Surface Design. O’keeffe Antiques is a good source for antique chandeliers

MASTER BEDROOM An upholstered bed and textiles in pretty pastels add feminine touches to this room, which was left open to the rafters to add a sense of drama. French linen upholstered bed, from £1,285 for a king size, The French Bedroom Company, has a similar look

BATHROOM Fabienne has favoured freestanding pieces, such as an elegant slipper bath. Check out the Astonian slipper bath, £1,433.96, Aston Matthews. The Lily Manor Colusa wall shelf, £52.99, Wayfair, has a similar look

LANDING Presided over by a portrait Fabienne has named Alphonsine, this cabinet was found in the street and was carefully restored. Try The Hoarde for a decorative painted cabinet