W
itha prettycourtyard
gardenanda wealth
oforiginalfeatures,
it’shardtobelieve
thatDunjatenBargeandBobElzen’s
apartmentis rightinthemiddleof
thebustlingtownofArnheminthe
Netherlands.‘Bobboughtit beforewe
met,’explainsDunja.‘Hefellforits
secluded,ratherFrench,charm.Butat
thesametime,it’slocatedinthemidst
ofstores,barsandrestaurants, which is
perfectforoursociallife.’
Whenthecouplemovedin,Dunja
soonhelpedtoputanindividualstamp
ontheirhome,whichcomprisesthe
second,thirdandfourthfloorsofa
periodbuildingrepletewitha grand
originalstaircase,largesashwindows
andhighceilings.Thepairmadesome
originaldesigndecisions,suchas
rebuildingthekitchencabinetryin
plywood,whichprovidesa contrast
totheproperty’shistoricelements.
‘Ourvisionwastopreservethe
19th-centurydetailswhileintroducing
amodernedge,’explainsDunja.
‘Neitherofusenjoylivingina pristine
house,either,sotheapartment’s
imperfections,includingitswonky
floorsandwalls,areendearingtous.’
Thepairwereunafraidtorollup
theirsleevesandgethandy,stripping
backthelargestaircase,paintingthe
wallsand,withhelpfrombuilders,
replacingthebathroomandcloakroom.
Intheensuingyears,thecouple
started a family, which now includesKITCHEN
Cabinetrycraftedfromplywoodis
bothpracticalandcost-effective.
Theceilinglightis byDutchdesigner
RickTegelaar;trytheCambridge
goldmetalmeshpendant,£95,
The SoHo Lighting CompanySTAIRCASE
Sandingbackthe
originalwooden
banisterhasrevealed
itsbeautiful
natural patina