While the existing townhouse offered certain restraints, all of this was still possible. Vercruysse designed a calming ground floor living space, which now fully opens up to the green walled patio garden with a new floor-to-ceiling wall of windows. Its interior is lined with oak wood panels and a bespoke patinated stainless steel fireplace, and furnished with a deep sofa, an inherited Axel Vervoordt coffee table, and an upholstered Bachelor chair.
The atmosphere of the bedroom and bathroom is similarly cosy, with layers of natural materials and custom furniture such as the bedside tables and lamps. “Why is white paint always our default?” asks Vercruysse. “Humans lived in caves for centuries, and darker colour palettes feel more natural – they attract you, keep you, embrace you, and offer more intimacy. It seems like a bold departure from contemporary living, yet in fact it is a homecoming.”
Upstairs, the oak panelled walls and ceilings continue in the kitchen and dining space, alternating with taupe-coloured paint. Flooring divides the room, with a wide wood plank beneath the dining table, and brown square tile in the kitchen, which has grey stone countertops and opens up to a sunlit terrace. A single shelf displays artwork and treasured objects, while the majority of storage is beneath the countertops.
