For part eight of my Sunday tradition, I’m pleased to share with you another one of my cherished archives, the Belgian home of Edouard Vermeulen. Located in a pretty village outside Antwerp, the 18th century manor house, or gentilhommiere, is a 20 minute drive to Brussels where Edouard runs the couture house Natan (commissions include weddings dresses for the royal families of Belgian and Luxembourg). Working with expert builders and architects, Edouard designed and managed the twelve year restoration from start to finish. Majors changes to the property included restoration to the facade and construction of a new main entrance at the front of the house. For the interior palette, he stayed true to his fashion philosophy ~ “I prefer not to be surrounded by pattern, so I opted for a simple, contemporary look that is easy to live with, but also sympathetic to the age of the property.” Using reclaimed rather than modern materials, he was able to capture the spirit of the 18th century. The black and white marble floor tiles in the hall came from a chateau in the Loire Valley, and the boiseries in the salon were found locally. Please enjoy this lovely trip to the Belgian countryside…
photos and resources from British Homes and Gardens, July 2005
danielleboudrot
a thoughtful eye 