This Dutch Home has Color to Spare
My life has always been over saturated with brilliant hues, and what initially draws me to most homes is their color story. I can remember when my parents let me have free reign to design my childhood bathroom. It was a huge deal that I wouldn’t be sharing it. The oldest of four, I was fairly familiar with divvying up just about everything. When given the opportunity to control my space, I went all-in. The bathroom was small with only three true walls to play with, but 10-year-old Garrett knew exactly what he wanted: hunter green everything. Most designers would say that in order for a smaller space to appear larger, brighter colors should be used. Not preteen me. Nope. Blackwatch-plaid shower curtains and a few carefully chosen horse accessories brought my vision to life. It felt like a natural extension of my stable-themed bedroom. Oh, how clever I thought I was. This love of abundant color follows me to this day. When I came across Maryse and Guido’s family home in Amsterdam, its brilliant colors immediately caught my eye.
Located in the Baarsjes, an up-and-coming neighborhood near the center of Amsterdam, the couple’s two-bedroom, two-story home is filled with color and pattern. Parks, shops, and trendy coffee bars make the area a great place for families and the perfect spot for Maryse and Guido to customize their nest. Having been in the family for over 20 years, the home has seen the city around it grow to house over 126 nationalities and a diverse population from Morocco and Turkey. “(Guido’s) uncle is now 86 years old and can tell nice stories about the street and how it was before,” Maryse says. When their family kept growing, the two knew they needed the space that Guido’s family home provided. After a remodel, it was all up to Maryse to make their new house a home. Wide streets mean that natural light brightens the third-story home daily, and Maryse loves how, “in the summer…it looks like we are in the middle of the forest.” With two kids, the couple says their space was designed, “to withstand a collision,” with nooks and crannies made to store toys and trinkets. But it’s those little ones that make the house a happy home, Maryse says. “I like those days best; (when) we’re all hanging in the living room. Me reading a book or magazine, Guido listening to music on the computer and (our daughters) drawing or playing and having fun.” I can absolutely see myself doing just that in this gorgeous space — especially in that dreamy, orangsicle-colored nook. Click through for a peek inside this charming home, and prepare yourself for a serious case of color envy! —Garrett
All photos by Maryse van Liere
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