A glimpse into the home of graphic designer Roel Vaessen reveals an alluring mix of the past and the present.
Recently spotted (and admired) on Bloesem: the home of Roel Vaessen and his partner Ruud van den Akker. The couple's home is a light-filled flat in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, a city near Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Using a palette of grays, they created a neutral backdrop, skillfully punctuated by colorful, eclectic objects and furnishings. "Our home is very personal," says Vaessen. "We have collected many things from our grandparents, some unique pieces on our holidays in Sweden, England, and France, and we combine modern furniture with inexpensive but cool flea market finds. For us, this is an interesting and timeless combination."
Above: The house, built in the 1950s, is in the Bossche School style; a sober, mid-century reaction to the expressionism of the Amsterdam School. The large openings of the steel windows give the space an industrial quality.
Above: Vaessen selected a light gray for the walls and a warm gray for the floors, a color palette designed to maximize a sense of light.
Above: Spring like shades of green add color to otherwise neutral spaces.
Above: On a kitchen wall, an Ixxi photo collage depicting a collection of patterned plates adds a note of whimsy.
Above: Vintage plates add a decorative note in the kitchen.
Above: The study space features the Paperback Bookshelf from Studio Parade.
Above: Vaessen uses a subtle floral wallpaper from Designers Guild for a textural difference.
Above: The vintage and modern coexist happily.
Above: In the living room, In the Month of July, an 1889 painting by Paul Joseph Constantin Gabriel, has been reproduced as an Ixxi.
Above: Another Ixxi, The Threatened Swan, by Dutch painter Jan Asselyn, takes flight in the bedroom. Photography by Roel Vaessen.
Vaessen painted his floors a warm gray for a neutral effect. See 2260 images of Painted Floors in our Gallery of rooms and spaces for other effects.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on April 2, 2012.