This family home that is Dutch adopts each facet of its owners’ lives. Wendy and Peter den Ouden spent two years building it from the bottom up, patiently creating a relaxing and thoughtful home and decorating it with a gorgeous mix of old and new. The home office suite for Wendy’s company, charming children’s rooms, open living spaces and backyard garden perfectly balance the den Ouden’s work and family life.
at a Glance
Who lives here: Wendy and Peter den Ouden and their children, Mees and Marit
Location: In the edge of a nature reserve in Maasland, the Netherlands
Size: 300 square meters (3,229 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, home office suite
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The property’s exterior includes dark brick along with a gabled roof, with easy-to-maintain landscaping — particularly in the cooler months.
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This is a brand new residential area, along with the views in your kitchen, living room and bedroom remain unobstructed. “The garden is situated on the edge of a nature reserve,” Wendy den Ouden states. “Each year brings with it a different view.”
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Wendy conducts her mediation and training business from a home office which has oak herringbone parquet flooring, treasured antiques along with a contrasting modern dining table.
“Considering our prior residence was laden with historic details, we desired to carry that warm and timeless appearance to our new home,” she states. “The mix of old and new is quite beautiful.”
Table, chairs: Cartel Living
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Wendy bought the classic cabinet and dresser in her office about 20 decades ago. “They had been my biggest purchases at the time,” she states, “but I was mad about them and I’m.”
The cabinet displays the few most prized objects, including classic crockery inherited from Wendy’s grandmother and a silver teapot that used to appeal to Peter’s grandmother.
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The couple wanted the office to adapt Wendy’s customers comfortably, so they constructed a separate entrance and powder room just beyond this door. An integrated shelving nook functions as a coffee station, while an extra door to the left leads to the remainder of the home.
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The main living room space echos family life and keeps a classic country aesthetic against a contemporary background. “It is lovely when we all get together in front of the fireplace during colder months,” says Wendy.
The classic mirror above the stone fireplace also hung above the fireplace at the family’s previous residence. Wendy discovered the mirror over ten decades ago at an antiques store in East Netherlands.
Sofas: Ektorp, Ikea
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“Having lots of living space means we could enjoy our home as a family, but everybody has space to do their own thing without getting in each other’s way,” Wendy says. Steel-framed sliding doors lead from the living space to the kitchen and dining room.
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The colour palette flows through the kitchen through soft gray cabinetry and Caesarstone counter tops.
A island block along with a window above the sink allow the family to respect views of the nature reserve outside. Storage cupboards flank the sink, keeping everything neatly tucked away.
Kitchen: Keukenhuys De Tweede Kamer; step stool: Nu Interieur | Ontwerp
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The family enjoys gatherings around the dinner table with perspectives of the backyard garden along with the nature reserve.
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A farmhouse-style wood table and plush Cartel Living dining chairs help maintain a comfy feel in the dining room, surrounded by glass.
Pendant lamp: Tierelantijn
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Place behind a partition wall just off the living space, this small TV lounge creates a fantastic family gathering place.
Sofa, chair: Cartel Living
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There hangs It’s About Romi A pendant lamp above the most important entrance of the home.
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Marit’s white and pink bedroom is fit for a princess. A dividing wall between the wardrobe and the bed gives the space an additional comfy dimension while making sensible use of the massive space.
Wardrobe: Valentine, Maisons du Monde
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Floral wallpaper by Eijffinger and charming French furniture from Maisons du Monde complete this pretty picture. Simple bedding in fuchsia allows the wallpaper take centre stage.
Headboard, bedside table: Valentine, Maisons du Monde; wallpaper: Un Bisou, Eijffinger
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A very long customized desk provides Marit lots of space to spread her out arts and crafts projects and schoolwork. When homework is finished, she can stretch out on the adjoining sofa/storage games console that has a good book.
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Mees has an equally striking bedroom. A customized wardrobe and shelving unit contrasts its distinctive design.
Wardrobe: Bopita
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Mees enjoys playing with friends in this comfortable sitting area under the eaves. Oversize galvanized tins maintain toys tucked away.
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Geometric eaves plus a bunk bed offer Mees’ bedroom a loft-like feel. A stash of his favorite books and a special stuffed toy are in reach, propped upon the ledge of his bed.
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This built-in wall unit, constructed by local carpenters at T&K Timmerwerk, has ample space for clothes, toys and books. “A great deal of focus has gone into the design of the different rooms throughout the home, including some surprising markets and nooks that maintain the rooms interesting,” says Wendy.
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The children share this exact clean-lined and modern toilet — every child has a separate sink and mirror.
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Wendy has traveled a lot internationally and desired the master suite to re-create the appearance and feel of a few of her favorite resorts. The bedroom was initially three different spaces; the couple made them into a single room.
Bed: Cartel Living
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Peter bought this classic Chinese wedding cabinet about 15 decades ago. “When we moved in together, he attracted the cabinet together with him, and it was mainly used as a wardrobe in our baby nursery,” says Wendy.
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Belgian bluestone tiles extend the side of the bath and a shower corner, at the couple’s luxurious bathroom. On the other side of the wall, a separate field of the bath has a vanity and storage.
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A custom built-in storage unit plus double basins finish.
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Wendy with Marit and Mees in the living room.
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