THIS GOLDEN AGE

Softness, warmth and a deftness with light link this home in Delft to the work of the great Dutch artists

his home’s relationship to Dutch masters Rembrandt and Vermeer is a geographical one – it sits in the picturesque Vrijenban neighbourhood of Delft, where many of the roads are named after the area’s artistic greats – but the connection runs much deeper than that. ‘It’s in the colours I chose and the art,’ says its owner, South African-born Holly Marder, partner at interior design firm Avenue, who lives here with her husband Dirk Kraaij and their two children – Lola, eight, and Pippa, not yet one.

The summer before last, while still pregnant with Pippa, Holly began the renovation project that opened up this 1920s terraced house, improving the flow and bathing it in natural light. An extension, which now holds the living room, was added, the staircase was moved to the middle of the space and a new, larger kitchen was created. Throughout, the look is minimalist but warm and welcoming.

The home’s organic, painterly palette of white walls, oatmeal-hued linen drapes and wood may call to mind Delft’s artistic history, but it’s Holly’s own past that is the biggest influence here. ‘As long as I can remember, I’ve shied away not from colour, but from primary hues and anything that jolts the system,’ she explains. ‘I have an eye for fabrics and texture. I studied fashion design and my mother was an interior designer, so I think I’ve always been that way inclined.’

Going hand in hand with her love of natural materials is Holly’s commitment to sustainable design. Her new kitchen by Danish brand Ask og Eng is made using bamboo – a fast-growing plant that is a more eco-friendly option than most timbers – and several elements, including the sink, were salvaged when the old room was ripped out. ‘I prefer to buy once,’ she says, championing the layered look that comes from carrying pieces with you as your home evolves.

When on the hunt for furniture and art that will be cherished for years to come, Holly likes to head to Delft’s many antiques stalls – ‘I often say I came here for my husband but stayed for the markets,’ she laughs. Top of her shopping list are vintage ceramics. This is Delft after all, a city with such a strong link to pottery it has its own type, Delftware, named after it. The pots, vases and bowls that catch her eye are likely to share the pared-back qualities of her interior. ‘I want there to be no visual stress here,’ she says.

With a busy business and two small children, life can be hectic, so it’s no surprise that Holly craves a home that’s a place of calm. ‘I don’t sit down a lot,’ she admits. But, in the afternoon, when the sun is going down and painting dappled light across the living room walls, she likes to take a moment to enjoy the stillness. ‘It’s a beautiful time to just sit, have a cup of coffee and breathe.’ avenue-designstudio.com

Living room Oatmeal-coloured drapes from Magic Linen give the light in this room a sepia glow. The sofa is the ‘Söderhamn’ from Ikea, but with a cover by Designers Guild for Bemz and cushions from Avenue. A vintage 1980s marble coffee table sits on the ‘Hennep’ rug by Avenue, beside a ‘Not So Low’ chair from Kovac Family. The rice paper lampshade is by Hay. By the window (above), the ‘Climb’ shelving unit by Munk Collective is packed full of mementos and ceramics by Ineke van der Werff

Details, from top Next to the ‘Climb’ shelving unit in the living room, there’s a ‘Parentesi’ lamp by Achille Castiglioni & Pio Manzù for Flos and a vintage Thonet chair; homeowner Holly; cat Binky, who adopted the family, takes a stroll through the dining room

Dining room A ‘CH23’ chair by Hans J Wegner for Carl Hansen & Søn, a ‘CC’ stool by Niko Kralj for Rex Kralj and a selection of vintage seats surround the table from Hübsch. The artwork is by Antoinette Gispen and the pendant light above is the ‘IC’ by Michael Anastassiades for Flos. To the side of the dining table (opposite page), a shelving unit by String provides storage