Sadly, following the Second World War, the original family left the house and it was taken over by the French diplomatic corps as its consulate in Belgium. While the new occupants retained the magnificence of the original façade, the once-elegant interiors were converted into standard corporate working spaces. Indeed, by the time the current owners bought the house in 2012, the interiors had been virtually stripped of their original elements. Voorjans, however, saw this as a chance to bring the house into the 21st century by incorporating his vivid aesthetic with the family’s own preferences.

Avant-Garde Cosiness

As the new owners work in the fashion industry, Voorjans’ vision entailed a 180-degree turn from coldly staid and formal to warm and whimsical. He has given the house a bohemian makeover that is as luxurious as it is playful, bold, and vivacious. Here, the designer has woven together the elements of colour, expert craftsmanship, and homage to the place’s history into a hip, exuberant whole.

Guests coming into this home will find themselves ushered into a salon with subtle yet palpable references to the building’s French past. on one wall, Voorjans has embedded a neo-renaissance trumeau mirror which he has completely redesigned with Art deco sensibilities—a piece that works harmoniously with the Aubusson carpet on the floor and the exquisite, vibrantly coloured, and hand- woven Lyons silks that cover the walls or hang as curtains in the windows. the same silks, all crafted by the historic fabric studio tassinari & chatel, also cover the mèdaillon and chauffeuse chairs in the room. It is an interesting blend of classic and contemporary elements, one that reflects the owners’ flamboyant personalities as well as their penchant for modern art and travel.

Voorjans also pays homage to the house’s original owner in his transformation of the winter garden into a dining room with plenty of tropical flair. Villinger’s love for exotic materials can be seen in the designer’s use of textiles with funky floral patterns, whimsical accents such as a porcelain parrot, and a custom-made fumoir built out of beautifully polished rosewood. It should also be noted that the room’s mirrored walls reflect the lush garden outside, giving the illusion that one is dining in a verdant, leafy space.

But to see luxury at its apex in this house is to see what Voorjans has done to the master’s bedroom. This space calls to mind a truly magnificent hotel suite with all the accoutrements for comfort: plush bedding, a restrained yet elegant aesthetic, and a soothing colour scheme accented by golden yellow curtains. The adjacent bathroom is equally magnificent with its Art Deco motif and stark black and white palette.

For Voorjans, this house was a collaborative project of sorts with the owners; working on it in such a way that, instead of clashing, their respective styles seem to have merged together harmoniously. “People should be able to feel free in my designs,” the designer says. “Otherwise I’m literally suffocating them with my taste. I took the liberty of playing with the stylistic grammar of the past 300 years in designing the interior. Obviously, I’m willing to grant the occupants the same freedom.”