Classic furniture and a rich color palette bring a sense of warmth and character to this renovated maisonette in Amsterdam, which Studio Elèn Letort’s interior company designed to reference the Dutch Golden Age.
The house in the historic Dutch city’s Herenmarkt was designed for a couple who wanted a home where they could display their collection of art, design objects and personal items gathered from their travels.
The apartment occupies three floors of a former merchant’s house from the 17th century and Studio Elèn Letort drew inspiration from the building’s past when designing an interior that reflects the owners’ preferences.
“What makes the collaboration special is that they didn’t want a typical Amsterdam home,” Studio Elèn Letort founder Elèn Letort told Dezeen. “They wanted a place that felt distinctly their own: clear and classy, but also calm, refined and easy to live in.”
The property was generally in good condition so the project focused on aesthetic and spatial improvements, including the re-arrangement of the upper floor to create a clear separation between the master bedroom and bathroom.
Throughout the home, Letort chose a palette of rich wood tones, natural materials and subtle accents of color that bring warmth, depth and texture to the basement spaces.
“The main goal was to create a home that felt simple and low-key,” he explained.
“I wanted the spaces to feel calm and open enough to clear my mind after a day of work, but close enough to feel like a cocoon while cooking, relaxing or working on something creative.”
The design seeks to complement other historic features of the home such as the original wooden beams, lending an architectural rhythm to the kitchen in particular.
The kitchen’s clean lines and rounded forms are highlighted by combining walnut cabinetry and metal tops that present a modern, practical aspect.
The curved glass cabinet front was intended to add light and texture, contributing to the functional sensibility of the space while preventing it from being too dark or overwhelming.
In the dining area next to the kitchen, Claire Witteveen’s artwork incorporates rich, warm burgundy tones that are also reflected in the bathroom’s marble sink.
The master bathroom on the top floor was designed as a lighter and more refreshing space, with a carved bluestone vanity that forms the centerpiece next to warm wood, cream-colored tiles and mirrored surfaces.
The calm and refined atmosphere of the living room results in filtering the daylight through linen curtains, casting soft light on the carefully arranged furniture and works of art including the compact art deco sofa.
The house is built with materials from the owners’ collection, as well as new pieces sourced from Les Objets Amsterdam and carefully selected furniture and lighting including Nello bar stools by Serax and the Arête pendant lamp by Asca Studio.
“The combination of archival architecture, contemporary pieces, personal items and custom-made details helped create an interior that feels refined, layered and deeply connected to the clients’ lifestyle,” concludes Letort.
Other examples of renovated Amsterdam houses include a 1930s house designed to feel like a luxury hotel, and an apartment in a former sugar factory that nods to the industrial past.
Photo taken by Isabel Bronts.
Project credits:
Interior design:Studio Elen Letort
Awareness: Goed Bezig Producties
Art and materials:OODE, Newhouse Gallery, Les Objets
Studio Elen Letot