GHENT HOME

Evelyn and Stefaan’s neoclassical townhouse beautifully blends modern design with period details – which all gleam in the rays of the sun

What started as a kitchen redesign became an epic renovation at this city centre townhouse, complete with showstopper staircase and a serene courtyard

one of the things that struck us most about this house is the sense of serenity,’ Evelyn Moreels says of her family’s new home. Swapping a larger property in the green and sleepy suburbs of Ghent, Belgium, for a townhouse in the centre, Evelyn braced herself for a faster pace but instead found a sanctuary. ‘The garden is surrounded by high walls and the glazing in the windows is very thick so we hear nothing of the outside world. It’s like living in a cocoon,’ she explains.

Prompted by the social needs of their two teenage children, Camille and Henri, Evelyn and her husband Stefaan felt a home in the heart of the city would provide an advantageous base. ‘We’re a five-minute walk from the city centre and the schools are within a two-minute walk,’ says Evelyn. ‘We’d been looking for two years before this property came up because our requirements weren’t easy to accommodate in the centre – we wanted a small garden and somewhere we could park our cars.’ Their patience paid off when a beautiful townhouse built in 1861 overlooking a park came up for sale, with the pair becoming its new owners in December 2018.

Finding the house to be in good condition, the couple never intended to take on a major renovation, focusing instead on a kitchen redesign. ‘It was the cooker hood that had to go. It was obtrusive and ugly and we were eager to change the cabinets too,’ Evelyn recalls. Returning to the house a few weeks into the project after a kitchen wall had been removed, it began to dawn on Evelyn and Stefaan just how much could be done with the house. ‘We could see the plumbing and electrics were in bad condition, so we began to change everything.’ Shifting the goalposts dramatically, the couple embarked on what was to become an epic renovation that would take over a year.

‘Normally I work out all the design and layout myself, but in this case I felt I could use the help of Pascal Bilquin, an architect I had been working with for the last two years on client projects,’ Evelyn says. The main layout changes involved taking a bedroom out of the second floor to make more room for three bedrooms and a bathroom, with the main bedroom having its own bathroom and dressing area. ‘We wanted to use sliding doors between bath and bedroom and upholstered wardrobe doors to evoke the mood of a hotel bedroom,’ Evelyn says. A sculptural showstopper of a modern staircase between the first and second floors replaces an ugly spiral stairway.

‘When it came to the colour palette, I let the spirit of the house tell me what to do,’ she reveals. ‘Because of the high ceilings, original floors and staircase, I was somehow reminded of Paris, but I wanted any reference to have a modern twist. I felt that white was the best colour in most rooms as it would enable us to draw out the original mouldings. There are elements of black but these are restricted to the study and some furnishings and light fittings.’

The courtyard garden was masterfully conjured from what was previously a blank meeting of walls and gravel. ‘There wasn’t really a garden here at all when we first moved. By planting lots of large shrubs and small trees we were able to give the impression of a much larger space. We have a dining area where we get the sun all morning and a covered terrace that evokes the spirit of Ibiza,’ says Evelyn.

Following the renovation, the dignified and calm character of the building has not gone unnoticed, with the shifting daylight striking an ethereal note. ‘The light falls on the front facade in the evening and as the night draws in the atmosphere becomes more mysterious,’ Evelyn observes. ‘Moving from a much larger house and garden, we didn’t know what to expect but we felt at home from the first day.’ A precious enclave amidst the city, once the world is back on its feet Evelyn plans to throw open the doors and welcome her guests.

evelynmoreels.be; pascalbilquin.be

SITTING AREA ‘We love having drinks here by the gas fire. The view of the sunset over the park is fantastic,’ says Evelyn. Austere chandelier, Trizo21. Sofa, AM Designs. Floating back armchair, Pierre Jeanneret; source on 1stdibs. Knitted artwork, Delphine Cobbaert. Armchairs, Gubi. Curtains, Pierre Frey. Kops round table, Van Rossum

COURTYARD GARDEN ‘The garden feels like an oasis in the midst of the city centre,’ says Evelyn. Landscape gardener Aldrik Heirman strategically planted mature shrubs to soften the architecture that divides the seating and dining areas. Manila leather and cane chair, Baxter. Tibbo armchair, Dedon. Curtains, custom made by Evelyn Moreels & Team. Dining table and chairs, Huis Van Oordeghem

KITCHEN The beading on the cabinetry mimics the panelling in the dining room, creating cohesion between the two spaces. Cabinets designed and supplied by Veldeman DB. Surface in Bianco Lasa, Potier Stone. Pendant light, Viabizzuno. Tara bronze taps, Dornbracht, available at C.P. Hart. Tractor bar stools, Bassamfellows. Bronze island panelling, My-bronz. Small artwork (seen far left), Kat Klerks for AM Designs

DINING ROOM ‘The unconventional shape of the table works for the whole family but it also allows a more intimate and close setting for just the two of us,’ says Evelyn. Dining chairs, Niels Otto Møller for Møllers; source on 1stdibs. Table, Bieke Casteleyn. Rug, Carine Boxy

The sleek and contemporary bulb wall lights riff with the more ornate period details. Wooden floors by Xavier Vannieuwenhuyze. Wall lights, Viabizzuno for Light-point Europe LANDING

SPIRAL STAIRCASE This magnificent piece was too big when it arrived so had to be cut into pieces and assembled. Its sculptural form gives the space an art gallery-like feel. Staircase built by Trappen Steels. Lighting design by Trizo21. Artwork (right), Alex de Bruycker for AM Designs

CAMILLE’S BEDROOM Cabinetry in pale birch wood gives a serene Scandinavian feel and the storage and display mix is a design triumph. Desk and chair, Bulo. Rug, Delphine Cobbaert. Austere F brass floor lamp, Trizo21; available at dmlights. Cabinetry made by Van Cronenburg