Le Journal de la Maison - September 2017
In praise of white
In Knokk-le-Zoute, built on a former polder, a contemporary house plays an immaculate score in a sophisticated bohemian style. A world of light-colored wood and wicker, where you can relax and enjoy a weekend or vacation on the shores of the North Sea.
By Laurence Thierry-Photos Claire Cillit
As an interior designer, Nancy Geernaert loves perspective, nature and places with soul. She has given shape to her desires: spaces open onto vegetation, modulated by light, immaculate white walls and sober, elegant architecture. A delightful blend of styles and bohemian inspirations, using natural materials to give the impression that the house has existed for a long time. Open as much as possible to live indoors and outdoors, whenever the weather permits. The terraces provide access to the garden, where wide benches invite you to stroll.
THE STRATEGY To create the purest, most open interior possible, we enlarged the door and window frames, knocked down the dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room and created an industrial glass roof, integrated all the kitchen equipment into two custom-designed, free-standing cupboards, and created an integrated dressing room for each bedroom! The aim is to hide what is technological and unattractive. Use only a few natural raw materials to create harmony and authenticity in the recently built house. Sophisticate with subtle details such as angled or rounded window surrounds, eliminated door frames and attractive antique radiators.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH Nancy has designed a vacation home that can be lived in all year round, with convivial furnishings such as the huge white linen sofa, the large dining room table and the hundred-year-old Chinese wooden bench. Other strong elements are the custom-made jute rugs from Nepal, which add character, and above all the photos taken by a Parisian cab driver, an amateur photographer from whom Nancy bought the rights to enlarge them. The contemporary touch!
HIDE TECHNICAL ELEMENTS
Here, all equipment deemed unsightly has been dressed up by two raw oak cabinets designed by Nancy Geernaert. The work plan of the central island, in waxed concreteThe table features storage niches. The table bar is surrounded by "About a Stool" stools by Hay, and "Bubble Lamp" hanging lamps by Georges Nelson. Waxed concrete floor Marius Aurenti.
