Restoration Hardware has done such a good job appropriating the Belgian look in interior design that it's easy to forget the real thing. And while antiques dealer and designer Axel Vervoordt still rules this domain (he operates out of the Kanaal, a complex of restored 19th-century warehouses and grain silos in Antwerp), it would be remiss not to mention his compatriot Walda Pairon. Pairon, who lives and works in a small town north of Antwerp, is one of Belgian's most influential designers and offers a restrained version of Belgian luxe where materials and light take center stage.
Below we feature several of her projects including photographs of her own home that she shares with her celebrity chef husband, Roger Souvereyns. To learn more, visit Walda Pairon.
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Above: Lime-washed walls with a simple vintage wooden trestle table and an antique upholstered armchair.
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Above: Pairon's own table, decorated with flora from the garden.
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Above: Tiled floor to ceiling walls are a common Belgian feature as are the stone walls. Pairon firmly believes a kitchen should both be functional and welcoming.
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Above: Pairon's own kitchen, clearly designed for her husband chef. Noteworthy details include the black farmhouse sink, the Lacanche range and the rope drawer pulls.
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Above: Brass kitchen tools and copper pans hang above the range.
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Above: Waldo's living room features a muted palette.
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Above: Two balls sit atop of pile of books covered in paper. Pairon puts great importance on the placement of objects; nothing should be gratuitous.
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Above: A bedroom with an antique four-poster bed and flowing green window drapes.
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Above: A minimalist bath in a pared-down white bathroom set into a fireplace niche.
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Above: Walda Pairon has three books to her name; her latest, Walda Pairon, Interiors with a Soul, features text by renowned garden and lifestyle writer Ivo Pauwels with photography by Cees Roelofs. Available from Amazon for $58.40.
To see more from another Belgian designer, check out the work of Karin Draajier.
For a bigger dose of Belgian design, check out our previous Posts.
