MODERN RUSTIC

Anne-marie and Oscar van Leeuwen’s once dated farmhouse is now a stylish home that is a little bit country and a little bit contemporary

A dated farmhouse in the Netherlands has been transformed into a stylish home with an industrial edge

After living in the countryside in the Netherlands when their children were young, Anne-marie and Oscar van Leeuwen decided to try life in a busier village, but despite having a newly renovated 1930s townhouse in a desirable location, they missed the rural countryside. ‘Oscar loves old houses and was keen to pursue his hobby renovating rural properties,’ says Anne-marie. ‘Coincidentally, my parents suggested we move into their farmhouse a few miles away in rural Lekkerkerk, which is an agricultural community.’

Despite some initial reservations, Anne-marie decided to consider the opportunity – much to the delight of Oscar. ‘My parents’ farmhouse had been completely renovated before they moved in and there was very little authentic detail left,’ says Anne-marie. ‘The kitchen was situated at the back of the house and the whole ground floor was completely tiled in white so it was never to our taste. When Oscar suggested we could renovate the house completely to our liking, I suddenly felt more optimistic.’

While her parents continued living on the ground floor, awaiting completion of a new build they had

favourite room ‘I love the atmosphere of my kitchen – it’s where the family comes together for meals and chats and it holds lots of beautiful memories for me’

commissioned nearby, the couple began their renovation on the first floor and second-floor attic to create three bedrooms, a bathroom, a walk-in shower and dressing room. ‘After a while, my parents moved into their new home and we began the overhaul of the uninspiring white-tiled ground floor,’ says Anne-marie.

‘I set to work replacing the old look with a more rustic-inspired kitchen style I discovered when I visited a design fair in Amsterdam and it was exactly to our taste.’ The reclaimed-wood cupboards, a muted palette using lime paint on the walls and Belgian bluestone floor tiles all have a charming natural feel. ‘We also reconfigured the rooms, moving the kitchen to the front of the house,’ says Anne-marie.

Preferring an open-plan style to keep their home as light as possible, the couple created a dining area with a handmade wooden table and bench, and a comfortable sitting room with a wood-burning stove and the original fireplace.

‘Our previous home was so much smaller so I had to start again with furniture, which was the fun part of the job,’ says Anne-marie. ‘We did bring our old

dining table, which is now used as a writing desk, and we upcycled the china cabinet to accommodate our daughter’s bedroom. But it wasn’t difficult as my taste is consistent and hasn’t really changed over the years.’

Despite their strong desire to keep their surroundings rural, Anne-marie admits she has enjoyed incorporating more striking features. ‘We didn’t want to make the finish look overly fussy so by adding the painted doors and other sturdy elements, the house took on an industrial edge which I think complements the rustic charm.’

Outside, the couple have made just as many changes, firstly demolishing an old barn to open up the views and creating a stunning garden room. ‘We’ve added a fireplace for keeping warm and a kitchen for cooking outside and Oscar made a dining table from recycled wood,’ says Anne-marie. ‘We fitted the kitchen ourselves and feel very proud of our achievement as it’s a wonderful place for coming together with our family. After an unexpected journey, it finally feels like we’re living the life we’re meant to, here in the countryside – and it’s the happiest place to be.’

SITTING ROOM The lime paint on the walls and the painted glazed doors give the space a cool industrial look. Similar modular sofas, from £1,516, Camerich. Aura Peeperkorn coffee table, €595, Herbers Lifestyle. Velvet cushions in Nutmeg, €39.95; faux flowers, from €7.50, all Kekkedinge. Vittsjo shelving unit, £65, Ikea, is similar. For wood burners, from £1,119, try Stoves Are Us. Hanover medium lamp, from £75, is a similar lamp at Neptune. Mustard knitted foot stool, £59.99, Homescapes, is a good match

DINING AREA Oscar made the table from recycled wood. For handmade dining table and wooden bench, from £1,990, try Makers. Foxglove dining chairs, £140 a pair, are similar at The Cotswold Company

KITCHEN Anne-marie bought the cabinetry at a design fair in Amsterdam. Bizz hanging light by Frezoli, £906, Gravel Hill. For limed-grain kitchen fronts, price on request, try Naked Kitchens. Wire cloche, £19.99, Crocus

MAIN BEDROOM Leaving brushstroke marks on the wall enhances the decor. Nice Plaid bed throw in Cloudy Gray, €199.95, House of Style. For a similar wall paint, try Limewash in Elephant, £22 for 10ltr, Mike Wye

BATHROOM ‘We made the vanity unit ourselves using reclaimed wood,’ says Anne-marie. For a similar reclaimed wood vanity unit, price on request, try The Simply Bathroom Furniture Company