Velvet & Linen

the beautiful brussels hotel le dixseptieme and a few other fantastic places to visit in belgium...

This is a bit of a rambling post that will take you to some of our favorite places in Belgium. I hope you enjoy the trip as much as we did! 

One place I know you will love is the hotel we chose in Brussels (thank you Greet!)  Le Dixseptieme.

 

Le Dixseptieme was originally built in the 14th Century and was rebuilt in the 17th Century as the residence to the Spanish Embassador.

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The main salon is a beautiful room with tall steel doors lining the entrance hall.

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 The salon is a sunny comfortable room furnished in classic Belgian neutrals with splashes of color. 

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 The salon was also the only room with WiFi...

 

I'm always looking for beautiful details... This door hardware on the steel doors is classically Belgian.

 

While waiting for our room, I visited the lobby bathroom and was not disappointed with the decor.

 

Although this image is a bit blurry, I  had to share this faucet. You twitst the piece at the spout to turn on the water!

We ate breakfast here every morning.

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We didn't eat dinner at the hotel, but perhaps we should have!

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Please join me upstairs for a tour of some of the suites.

 

We stayed in the Classic Part of the hotel. This isn't an image of our suite, but our room was equally as spacious and lovely.

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All of the accomodations are beautifully appointed.

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The Contemporary Part of Le Dixseptieme is just as gorgeous and Belgian.

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During our stay in Brussels, we took a day trip to Ghent. Please forgive me... although Ghent is a gorgeous city, I was a bit jet lagged and didn't take any scenic photos.

However, I did manage to document our visit to Peter Van Cronenburg's Architectural Hardware!

 

Peter and I view hardware in the same way: "Hardware is the jewelry of a house".

 

As Peter states in his philosophy: "You don't enter a library room in the same state of mind you do with a workshop. This diversity not only creates a dynamic of its own in the house, but allows you to make priorities given a budget".

 

All of Peter's hardware is handcrafted, allowing for any customization. 

 

This handmade quality of his hardware gives each piece an authentic patina. 

 

The natural finishes of Peter's hardware only become more beautiful with time.

 

Steve and I plan to use Peter's hardware at Patina Farm.

 

The only challenge is narrowing down our selections!

 

 

After a couple of hours at Peter's studio it was time to leave...

 

Another "not to miss" city in Belgium is Bruges. 

 

I loved the architecture of this charming place!

 

I could imagine living in this home with its cottage garden and vine covered exterior.

 

Couldn't you?

 

Because of its scenic canals, Bruges is often called the "Venice of Belgium".

 

Leila loved our visit. 

 

This was one of my favorite houses.

 

I need to have a window like this at Patina Farm.  It will give a glimpse into a secret garden...

 

I think Nick was still feeling a bit jeg lagged at the beginning of the day!

 

Many of the street corners had beautiful religious statues. 

 

There were amazing views around every corner!

 

 

 

 

 

By the end of the day we were all intoxicated by the beauty of Bruges!

 

We said goodbye to Bruges filled with inspiration...

During the next couple of days, we visited several architectural salvage yards scattered in the Belgian countryside.

 

We weren't expecting such a stunning garden in the front of a salvage yard. This was no Home Depot!

 

Marubo was an amazing find!

 

Inside these gorgeous gates is some of the most fantastic architectural elements I've ever seen. 

 

Benny, the owner of Marubo, is a kind man who was patient with me and my inability to speak understandable French or Flemish!

 

I am definitely in my element.

 

Where can I use this, and how can I get it home? Can I stow it in the overhead bin of the airplane on the way home?

 

We took one last look at Benny's garden before heading out...

 

One place that will be on our list to revisit on our next visit is Van Huele. 

 

Unfortunately Van Huele was closed when we came by, but we weren't disappointed by the gardens and the exterior inspiration.

 

The Van Huele's charming front door. 

 

I need a stone window at Patina Farm!

 

I could have spent all day in the lush green garden. 

 

 

As we got into the car I took one last look at the Van Huele's home...

 

We rode down the cobbled drive, but I know I will return!



I hope you enjoyed your Belgian vacation with us!

I'd love to hear what you enjoyed.

 

xo

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as "to the trade" furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

 To Subscribe to Velvet and Linen click here.

Please visit the Patina Style Barnes and Noble page or Amazon page  to order our new book.

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.

 

de witte lelie: a charming hotel in antwerp...

Finding a wonderful hotel in a place that I have never visited is always a challenge. However I was fortunate to receive wonderful advice from Greet at Belgian Pearls before we made our travel plans for our recent trip to Belgium.  Both of the hotels we chose were fantastic, and I thought you would enjoy seeing them.

During our stay in Antwerp, we called De Witte Lelie (The White Lily) home. Located in the center of the city, the hotel was built in the 17th century.

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The lobby is a tall sun lit space...

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with a beautiful view of the courtyard garden.

 

The hydrangeas were in full bloom during our stay.

 

I found this image of one of the sitting areas that gives you a sense of  glamorous decor that gives De Witte Lelie it's European ambiance. 

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A modern piece of artwork was a recent addition to this room.

 

The curved brick inside the fireplace is a classic Belgian detail that apparently this little bird and I both admired.  

 

Nick and Leila spent some time on these plum velvet poofs enjoying the view of the garden while they played chess.

 

The beam ceiling was my favorite detail in this room. 

 

A peek of the back hallway and the kitchen beyond could be seen from the sitting room. 

Looking from the hallway back to the sitting room. 

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The kitchen was open to the  breakfast room. 

Champagne buckets, glassware, spirits and dishes are all on display on the open shelves in the kitchen.

 

 

Modern white tables and chairs add to the light decor in the breakfast room. 

 

Votive lights on the mantel and candles on the tables create a romantic dining experience.

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As we open the door to our rooms, Nick immediately climbs spiral stairway.

 

The stairway is a sculpture in the middle of the room.

 

I'm a detail gal...

 

All of our own photos of our rooms were a bit blurry, but I found this image of what our room, with its 300 year old beams,  looked like. 

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Although our room was quite modest, some of the other suites were more luxurious.

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If your plan to visit Antwerp, I highly recommend De Witte Lelie!

Have you stayed at De Witte Lelie or do you have other Antwerp hotel recommendations? I'd love to hear from you!

I'm looking forward to sharing another fantastic hotel with you in my next post. 

xo

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as "to the trade" furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

 To Subscribe to Velvet and Linen click here.

Please visit the Patina Style Barnes and Noble page or Amazon page  to order our new book.

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.

 

 

 

our belgian holiday: visiting the home of mark and hilde of am projects...

About a year ago I started receiving emails from AM Projects in Belgium announcing their new shipments of antiques.

All of the images were simply and beautifully composed.

 

I fell in love with this table and imported it for the shop.

 

I started spending time on the AM Projects website and became intrigued by the owners' Mark Mertens and Hilde Anseeuw. They had an interesting design aesthetic that combined rustic, antique materials in a fresh, contempory way. 

As I looked at the images of their own home on their website, I realized that it was the same house that I book marked in my "Family Houses" book by Beta Plus.All of the images below are from Beta Plus:

Mark and Hilde's home is inspired by the classic farmhouses of Belgium. 

 

They used classic Belgian building materials in their kitchen: Belgian bluestone on the floor and countertops, white oak cabinetry and gorgeous antique beams.
 

 

The white brick fireplace wall adds a bit of texture and warmth.

 

The main living room in their home is a beautifully sunlit space with white plaster walls and antique beams.

 

Mark and Hilde use a combination of steel and wood doors and windows to allow plenty of light into the rooms of their home.

 

The office in the front of the house is paneled in white oak.

 

The walls of the upstair's hallway have a sculptural quality.

The Master bedroom feels ancient and contemporary at the same time. 

 

A large low window offers a view of the gardens below.

 

One wall paneled in white oak adds natural warmth to the space.

 

Hilde and Mark use neutral Belgian materials in the Master bath, creating a calm soothing place to begin and end each day.

 

Covered in weathered white oak, the pool house is a gorgeous outbuilding with a fabulous low tiled roof.

 

When we were planning our trip to Belgium, I knew that a visit to Mark and Hilde's home had to be on our itinerary. 

Here are some of the images we took during our visit...

Hilde and Mark's home is even more beautiful in person!

 

We caught a glimpse of their pool house before we enter the back of Hilde and Mark's home.

 

Although Mark and Hilde use classic Belgian building materials, many of the details are quite contemporary, like the large glass walls of their breakfast room.

 

Let's go inside...

 

Steve and I were obsessed with every detail of the house. Since the wood beams cover the frame of the door, a niche was carved into the beam for access to the door hardware. 

 

The large glass walls of the breakfast room create a vanishing threshold to the gorgeous gardens outside.

 

The glass dies straight into the floor, an perfect example of the clean detailing that Mark and Hilde used throughout their home. 

 

The natural materials and subtle textures in the kitchen create an inviting space. 

 

A Belgian bluestone sink is integrated into the countertop.

 

Most of the materials used are left in their natural state, allowing their innate beauty to come through. 

 

The painted wood wall houses the refrigerator and the pantry.

 

In the breakfast room, Mark and Hilde store all of their dishes in a beautiful antique cabinet. 

 

Glasses and carafes displayed on a tray add sparkle to the kitchen.

 

A collection of cutting boards are both beautiful and useful.

 

Did I mention that most of the antique pieces in Mark and Hilde's house are for sale? I couldn't resist this Swedish buffet.

This French door visually connects the breakfast room to the entrance hall.

 

All of the glass doors balance the natural light in the rooms.

 

The plaster walls feel as if they have been carved like a piece of art.

The stone Powder room sink and brass spout float elegantly off the wall.

 

The water is controlled by a button on the floor.

A clear glass chandelier floats in the middle of the main living room.

 

A group of rustic bowls and vases sits on top of a charming antique cabinet.

 

The wood beamed ceiling is one of the main focal points in this room. 

 

The pool house can be seen through the large steel door.

 

The earthy red wall of the family room is visible through the glass of the French door.

 

The door is hung flush to the drywall without any trim on this side of the doorway.

 

A thin wood trim detail is seen from the family room side of the doorway.

We were so busy taking pictures of the details that we forgot to take a picture of the entire room. This image is from the Beta Plus book.

 

The glossy deep red front door of Mark and Hilde's house looks beautiful in the white plaster wall. 

A small niche is carved out of the plaster to allow the arched door to open.

 

From the front door, our eye is led to the view of the back gardens through an arched sheet of glass.  

 

A storage closet is placed in a white oak wall under the stairway in the entry hall.

 

The study at the front of the house is a warm space, paneled in white oak.

 

We snapped a few images of Mark's beautiful hardware and plumbing fixture samples lying on his desk.   

 

The finishes are stunning.

 

We want to use these fixtures at Patina Farm!

 

We head upstairs to finish our tour. 

 

The stairs are made out of thick pieces of wood. 

 

Steve created a few sketches on his ipad before walking up the stairs (note shelf is a great app!). 

The hand forged iron railing is so simple and elegant.

 

 

A beautiful wood window carved in the plaster wall illuminates the upstairs hallway.

 

A detailed picture of the low window in the Master bedroom. 

 

Another large arched window provides a view of the back yard. 

 

Steve's ipad sketch of Mark and Hilde's bedroom. 

 

Finally, I'd like to share a few images of my favorite details:

Wonderful door hardware....

 

A couple examples of  windows, carved into the plaster to allow for maximum light to stream into the room.

 

Steve's sketches help him to remember every detail.

Our family spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying a delicious meal around a farmhouse table in the shade of the pool house with Hilde, Mark and their family.

Thank you to Mark and Hilde of AM Projects for a beautiful day that our entire family will never forget!

I'm sure Mark and Hilde would love to hear from you... Please leave a comment sharing what you love about their gorgeous home?

To see more images of their work and view their latest antique shipment please visit the AM Projects website.

xo

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as "to the trade" furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

 To Subscribe to Velvet and Linen click here.

Please visit our Barnes and Noble page to order our new book,Patina Style.

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.

 

 

 

our belgian holiday: rik storms part 2...

I'm so glad that you are enjoying our tour of Gina and Rik Storms' gorgeous home in Belgium! In this post you'll see that the Storms have created an amazing Belgian country estate... the perfect location for their home.

 

Walking through the garden door of the Storms' home we are greeted by a large expanse of  greenery and a peek of the Storms' aged wood out building.

Like the design of their house, the Storms' garden combines formal and informal elements.

 

The Storms' garden design includes a series of lushly landscaped walkways that lead to secret outdoor garden spaces and outbuildings.

 

The cottage garden compliments the rustic outbuilding.

 

Two gray wood chaises provide a wonderful resting place under the shade of a tree. 

 

I love all of the simple iron hardware the Storms selected. 

 

As we walk back down the same path heading towards the Storms' house, we can see how the tall hedges create outdoor spaces.

 

A classic stone sculpture is displayed in a hedged niche by the pool. 

 

A brick walkway, edged in a profusion of hydrangeas, leads the way to another private space. 

I try to take in all of the beauty as we walk down the path!

 

A stone cherub, perched on top of a fluted column, is the focal point of another lovely garden moment!

 

What appears to be an ancient stone wall surrounds this part of the garden. 

An array of petit lavender wildflowers flows over the top of the wall, adding natural softness. 

As we walk closer, I realize that the wall is actually a planter. I have to remember to add that detail to the long list of inspiration I now have for Patina Farm thanks to the Storms' magnificent home!

 What? There's more? 

 

An antique iron gate, hung between two brick pillars, demarcates the entrance to another area in the garden...

 

Large scale boxwood balls add height and a bit of whimsy throughout the garden.

 

As we turn the corner, we discover a part of the Storms' property that they have yet to develop. Unbelievably the Storms' entire property was just dirt before the Storms created their estate. 

 

For now, this area serves as a storage place for some of the Storms' architectural elements. 

 

As we turn around, we are once again surrounded by the verdant garden. 

Two chairs and a rustic metal table are placed by the pond, another charming place to sit and enjoy the serenity that the Storms have created. 

 

We walk on a stone pathway along the side of the Storms' house. 

 

In the side courtyard we find the exquisite stone sculpture that is the focal point seen through the arched glass window. 

 

Another view of the courtyard...

 

A pair of stone columns become sculptures, placed on the edge of the patio. 

 

My head is swirling with ideas and inspiration as I take one last look at the Storms' house before we drive to their architectural salvage yard. 

 

As we walk in, we find ourselves surrounded by mantels and gorgeous stone!

 

Stacks of Belgian bluestone and French limestone fill the yard. 

 

I want to use this sink in my pantry!

 

Inside the building there is more beauty to discover...

 

Through a steel window, we spy a room filled with antique mantels. 

 

An antique door is placed in a clean white plaster wall. 

 

A few antique stone sinks on top of a substantial mantel catch my eye. 

 

Another sink, made of a rare stone embedded with seashells, would make a beautiful addition to one of our bathrooms!

 

A classic stone sculpture reminds me of the sculptures in the  Storms' garden.

 

The combination of the rusted steel window and the beautifully sculpted bust of a little girl is divine!

 

The walls in one room are covered in antique pine paneling.

 

Steve and I adore this limestone mantel. 

 

Although we both love the details, unfortunately the mantel is too wide to use in our new Master bedroom. 

 

I could have spent the rest of the day digging through the stacks of stone in the yard, but  I realize that my children have "enjoyed" our day at the Storms' for as long as they can. 

Our family thanks Gina and Rik Storms  again for their generosity and kindness. We know that we will be contacting them when we return home to inquire about pieces for Patina Farm!

We have so much more Belgian Inspiration to share with you in our next posts!

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Thank you to my dear friend Greet at Belgian Pearls for the Natural Sharing Award! 

 

I would like to give this award to all of you who have purchased our book Patina Style. Thank you!!!

 

xo

Brooke

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as "to the trade" furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.

 To Subscribe to Velvet and Linen click here.

Please visit our  Barnes and Noble page to order our new book,Patina Style.

Signed Copies of Patina Style are available through Giannetti Home.