My Houzz: 'Forever Finds' Fill a Chic Home with a Cool Vintage Vibe
This family is picky about what fills their vintage-chic apartment in the Netherlands, and the strategy works beautifully
Years of experience as a buyer for some of the largest retailers in the Netherlands - including Dutch department stores de Bijenkorf and Loods 5 - have made Bianca Kempenaar rather selective when it comes to furnishing her own home. ‘When you attend furniture shows in cities like Paris and Milan, you get really picky about what you like, because you see a lot,’ says Kempenaar, who lives with her husband, Jeroen Roodnat, and their 2-year-old daughter, Kate, in a renovated 1930s energy building in the Netherlands. ‘We take our time to buy something, but when we buy it, it’s forever.’
Kempenaar and Roodnat were patient when buying their apartment. But Kempenaar knew they’d found the right home after she stood on her husband’s shoulders to peek into the windows at the large, open white space with high ceilings and endless possibilities. ‘It was love at first sight,’ she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Bianca Kempenaar, Jeroen Roodnat and daughter Kate
Location Bloemendaal, the Netherlands
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Kempenaar and Roodnat were patient when buying their apartment. But Kempenaar knew they’d found the right home after she stood on her husband’s shoulders to peek into the windows at the large, open white space with high ceilings and endless possibilities. ‘It was love at first sight,’ she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Bianca Kempenaar, Jeroen Roodnat and daughter Kate
Location Bloemendaal, the Netherlands
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
White Eames armchairs surround an MDF Italia dining table made from a ceramic leaf built into aluminium legs.
The couple picked up the vintage filing cabinet from online vintage design store Neef Louis. ‘We just loved the piece and the history that came with it. There were old filing cards from 1910 still in there when we bought it,’ Kempenaar says.
The couple picked up the vintage filing cabinet from online vintage design store Neef Louis. ‘We just loved the piece and the history that came with it. There were old filing cards from 1910 still in there when we bought it,’ Kempenaar says.
The couple’s daughter enjoys a spacious play area in the family room, with a vintage school desk and chairs bought through Neef Louis. The Tomado shelf unit with multicolored shelves was bought secondhand.
‘We love to play records,’ Kempenaar says. ‘I have a very old Sam Cooke record from back in the 1970s from my parents that I love to play, and I just adore Bruce Springsteen.’
Probably one of her most sentimental pieces is the original photograph of Johnny Cash taken in 1965. Kempenaar’s husband gave the photo to her upon the arrival of their daughter. ‘He really wanted to give me something special, so he wrote a letter to the photographer, Baron [Wolman], saying that he really wanted to give me this photograph,’ she says. ‘The photographer wrote a letter back describing what was happening at the time he took that picture in about 1965. He never realised that June Carter was standing there in the mirror when he took the photograph. It’s very dear to me. There is something very magical about it.’
Framed abstract pieces by illustrator Charley Harber that revolve largely around nature hang nearby.
Probably one of her most sentimental pieces is the original photograph of Johnny Cash taken in 1965. Kempenaar’s husband gave the photo to her upon the arrival of their daughter. ‘He really wanted to give me something special, so he wrote a letter to the photographer, Baron [Wolman], saying that he really wanted to give me this photograph,’ she says. ‘The photographer wrote a letter back describing what was happening at the time he took that picture in about 1965. He never realised that June Carter was standing there in the mirror when he took the photograph. It’s very dear to me. There is something very magical about it.’
Framed abstract pieces by illustrator Charley Harber that revolve largely around nature hang nearby.
Armchair: Vitra
The couple bought the white shelf unit in the hallway between the kitchen and dining room from Habitat to display books and special ceramic pieces.
See 10 fabulous ways to display your books
See 10 fabulous ways to display your books
Kate's artwork is proudly displayed in the kitchen.
‘We spend loads of time in the kitchen,’ Kempenaar says. ‘Kate stands on the pink stool while I’m cooking.’
When the couple moved into the flat seven years ago, there was no kitchen, and the floors were concrete. They installed three charcoal-grey modular kitchen units by German kitchen company Baulthaup. ‘We didn’t want a typical built-in kitchen,’ Kempenaar says. ‘We love the simplicity of the three separate pieces and the huge drawers for storage. After all these years, we are still really happy with the design.’
Stool: Ikea
When the couple moved into the flat seven years ago, there was no kitchen, and the floors were concrete. They installed three charcoal-grey modular kitchen units by German kitchen company Baulthaup. ‘We didn’t want a typical built-in kitchen,’ Kempenaar says. ‘We love the simplicity of the three separate pieces and the huge drawers for storage. After all these years, we are still really happy with the design.’
Stool: Ikea
A neon ‘Yes’ sign hangs over one of the worktops. ‘"Yes” is just such a positive word,’ says Kempenaar, who loves cooking and entertaining in her family kitchen.
A single vintage coffee tin sits on another worktop. ‘I love to have all these old things around me,’ Kempenaar says. ‘It makes a house a home. Not everything has to be stylish or designer.’
Floors in what was previously a dark basement for storing charcoal have been treated for a light, smooth and durable finish.
Kate’s room is a colorful space showing Kempenaar’s vintage design style. She sells the paper honeycombs through her online shop, A Day with Kate.
Rug, dressing table: Ikea; prints: Isak London; bed: Leander
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Rug, dressing table: Ikea; prints: Isak London; bed: Leander
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Kempanaar added colourful ceramic handles to the Ikea dresser.
A yellow Eames armchair by Vitra adds a bright jolt of colour to the little girl’s play area. The dollhouse belonged to Kempanaar when she was a girl.
Shelves: Ikea
Shelves: Ikea
In the main bedroom, a soft grey and white colour scheme creates a soothing escape.
Old photographs of Kempenaar as a child hang over the bed. ‘There’s something about pictures taken back then,’ she says. ‘They’re less polished.’
Bed: Auping; side tables: Invisible Table, Kartell; floor lamp: Artemide; chair: Friso Kramer for Revolt; rug: Ikea
Old photographs of Kempenaar as a child hang over the bed. ‘There’s something about pictures taken back then,’ she says. ‘They’re less polished.’
Bed: Auping; side tables: Invisible Table, Kartell; floor lamp: Artemide; chair: Friso Kramer for Revolt; rug: Ikea
Sideboard: Webe; lamp: Front’s Rabbit Lamp, Moooi
Wooden figurines by Muji sit on top of the vintage sideboard.
Prints hang uniformly above the toilet.
The flat is housed in this stately 1930s building, which boasts a grand entrance featuring original marble and brass detailing. ‘I love that during the renovation, the exterior was left in its original state,’ Kempenaar says.
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Like this flat? Tell us why in the Comments below.
The couple’s most prized possession is without a doubt their vintage sideboard in the dining room. ‘It’s the love of my life, after Jeroen of course,’ Kempenaar says. ‘It’s got a Mad Men feel to it, with a foldout bar.’
The radio that sits on top was a gift from an elderly neighbour who recognised the buffet as being similar to one he had owned back in the 1950s. ‘He received the radio as a wedding gift and wanted me to have it, so he donated it, and we absolutely love it. It still works,’ Kempenaar says.
Pendant lamps: Bertjan Pot’s Random Light, Moooi; chairs: Eames armchair, Vitra; table: MDF Italia; pink vase: Hella Jongerius for Ikea