Christmas In A Home Of Their Own

Claartje and Edgar were among the lucky ones who realized in time how much potential a run-down backwater area on the Amstel River in Amsterdam had. As a result, they dared to take the gamble to register for a plot in this new residential area. And because there was no question of a lottery but of a “first come, first served” rule, it remained very exciting until the very end to see how they could win their beloved plot. What a surprise it was when it turned out that almost no one had registered….

Architect Lidewij Lenders outlined a plan for a modern family home. Claarjte: “Our program of requirements was very much about the experience. In our previous house in the Rivierenbuurt area of Amsterdam, we were used to a lot of height which gave us a lot of air in sight. That seemed like a good basis for our new house. Furthermore, it had to be a functional family home with few frills, where everyone in the family would have enough privacy.

The house was designed according to the Amsterdam school style. A lot of stone has been used on the outside of the facade as well as on the inside. The combination of the concrete on the floor with the steel of the doors works very well. It is a huge plus that you can close the doors when there are guests, allowing the children to continue watching television quietly. The staircase is made of wood and provides good acoustics in the room.

The Ikea kitchen in the house was designed using a kitchen planner. Claartje had the concrete countertop poured herself and then painted it. You can walk all the way around the kitchen island. The cooking itself is done with your face to the wall, but Claartje finds cooking with your back to the guests an advantage rather than a disadvantage “When you’re cooking you’re often busy, then I prefer to stand a little further away from my guests.”

The décor stems from their love of Danish Design. You can see it in the black chairs around the table. Claartje: “The whole interior is a mixture of what Edgar and I used to have in our homes. Our current house is more austere than the house we lived in before. The desk, for example, we had it made new here. It is made from the wood of the stairs with two drawer blocks underneath. We like to choose warm materials, such as wood in an authentic colour scheme.

The dark days are here again, at night we light the candles. Claartje: “Summer may be a time of long live the terraces, but the atmosphere of sitting together at the table, enjoying delicious food can more than compete with that. The tree above with the packages underneath. The branch with lights against the concrete loft, and the pine branches attached to the railing; all together this creates a very nice warm Christmas atmosphere.”