Family Home in Antwerp - “Residence Magazine”
TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH
Look, here on the floor is a small crown inlaid. That could indicate that this was indeed once a house with a royal history. Whether it truly belonged to the mistress of King Leopold, we will never know, but it is a charming detail," says interior designer Claudia Kempen of Claudia Kempen Concept Interior Design, who, together with lighting and interior designer Adje Verhoeven, designed the interior of this pied-à-terre on the Leien, in the center of Antwerp.
HISTORICAL DETAILS
It was precisely these authentic elements that attracted the residents when they found this house in Antwerp. They live most of the year in the South of France but were looking for a place close to their Dutch family and Belgian friends. A home where their university-aged children would feel at home and that would be large enough to host and accommodate guests—essentially, an additional family house. Claudia explains, “The house dates from 1910 and is woven with historical details. The richly decorated ceiling in the living room and the marble staircase with an imposing wooden banister from the church in Lier were the charming pillars I had to work around. When the house was purchased, it was a bit outdated, but the foundation was strong. The owners wanted me to transform it into a contemporary home. I immediately thought of Adje Verhoeven, the designer with whom I’ve collaborated on several projects. His lamps are legendary: timeless yet modern. He can create them in every conceivable shape and combination of materials. When I called him to think along with me about this house, he was instantly interested. And when he saw the property, he became even more enthusiastic. In the end, we designed the entire house together, of course with custom-made lamps by Adje, but also with various items from his interior and furniture collection, including small furniture pieces, mirrors, and cushions. It was a very enjoyable and refreshing collaboration.
The painters spent four months turning all the red and green into white. On the bed, designed by Claudia Kempen, lies custom-made bed linen from Verilin. All the lamps and the nightstand with Emperador marble are from Layer by Adje. In the bedroom, there is also an authentic marble fireplace. The Layer Louvre floor lamp is designed by Layer by Adje.
THE LAMPS BY ADJE
Designer Adje Verhoeven of Layer by Adje is best known for his light sculptures and custom-made lighting projects. His collection is characterized by basic architectural forms with a robust appearance and the use of honest, pure materials. Over the years, he has increasingly focused on designing interiors in close collaboration with clients and architects, and more recently, on rugs and furniture, as seen in this property in Antwerp. In 2020, he plans to take a big step forward. "I'm short on time," he says, "but I have big plans for the new year. For example, I want to move into a larger studio and showroom in Oisterwijk, where I can better showcase my vision for interiors to my clients and dealers. I want to deliver a complete atmosphere with my own products. Layer by Adje will increasingly become a total concept in the future."
A PLACE FOR EVERYONE
A great example of this total concept is this property in Antwerp, where Adje, along with Claudia Kempen, left their mark. Claudia chose the colors: the painters spent over four months transforming the originally green and red walls into Claudia's favorite color, noir-gris, combined with a soft shade of white. All the lamps and many of the furniture pieces and accessories are by Layer by Adje. "The residents are true art lovers, and I placed beautiful paintings and photographs from their collection throughout the home, making it truly feel like their own. They come here often and, for example, celebrate the holidays here with their entire family. And that was the goal: a family home where there's space for everyone."
Click here to download the article from the famous Dutch interior magazine, Residence.