Renovation or New Beginning?
The client’s initial request was to adapt their existing home. Porters Antwerp quickly realized that a renovation would not deliver the desired result - and proposed a complete change of direction.
That same day, we visited an outdated, dark English villa together - yet one with fresh and youthful potential. After some reflection, the client decided to purchase it.
An Interior with Emotional Impact
The soul of the dark English villa was preserved, but the space was given a new life. Several original elements were maintained, while the kitchen, staircase, parquet flooring and library cabinet were patinated and softened in tone to lift the heavy atmosphere. They were complemented with fresher, contemporary furniture to create a light and youthful French country home.
The layout was subtly adjusted to ensure natural flow between rooms, and the pool house was given the same bright, airy feel.
In the master bedroom, the dark mahogany wood was largely removed. Light tones on the walls, ceiling, and bedding created an open, calm atmosphere. The children’s rooms each received a distinct personality - one with a New York loft feel, the other romantic yet modern.
The result was deeply moving - tears of joy during the very first tour. That emotional moment marked the beginning of a new chapter: the transformation of the exterior and the garden.
Photography: Claude Smekens
