House by the water, Haarlem | The Netherlands

In Haarlem, before the gates of Amsterdam, a young family found their new home in a beautiful old building directly overlooking the river Spaarne as it cuts through the town from north to south. The family contracted Juliëtte van der Hulst and the DE JUUL Interior Design Office from Aerdenhout, a suburb of Haarlem, with the renovation of the house. Initially an extension was planned. But as the municipality did not grant permission for this, the owners, together with their interior designer, decided on an extensive renovation from within. On the ground floor in particular, the fabric of the building was almost completely stripped down to create a spacious living and dining room, which now serves as a new central living area for the family.

An open-plan kitchen and living area forms the heart of the ground floor. It all flows smoothly to include a cosy seating area which was gained at the expense of the garage. The large dining table connects the two areas. It is complemented by a built-in wooden cupboard that extends to include an intimate alcove by the window. All the fixtures and fittings including the kitchen are custom-made to the interior designer’s specifications. The copper-coloured kitchen stands out as a real eye-catcher. The two upper floors of the house were also renovated in the course of the alterations – from the electrical installations to the design of the floors and walls. The master bedroom was fitted with a walk-in wardrobe and an alcove for the dressing table. A new dormer structure was realised on the second floor, which has enabled the creation of two spacious rooms and a new bathroom.

The owners wanted to use robust and durable materials with vibrant textures here. This choice is also reflected in the switches and sockets used in the house. On the ground floor they decided in favour of items from the JUNG LS 990 range in the real metal antique brass version. This looks particularly fine and elegant in combination with the wooden fixtures in the kitchen and dining area. The master bedroom, designed in a cool shade of blue, was fitted with elements from the LS 990 range in stainless steel. The same items were also deployed in the bathrooms. The LS 990 versions in white were used in the other rooms in the upper floors. They calmly support the changing design and underpin the overall concept, with its focus on durability and robustness.