Charm and comfort, even in the laundry room.
A reclaimed stone floor, natural oak woodwork, and a play of raw and finished surfaces is mixed with carefully chosen antiques in an ancient farmhouse that shows why Belgian style has become so celebrated. Rustic but elegant, the house was renovated by interior designers whose taste range from mid-20th accessories to traditional European furniture.
The kitchen and dining areas are open spaces unified by the midnight-blue reclaimed stone floor, which appears so black it ties into the black-painted wall in the business end of the kitchen. There, a shallow stone sink is flanked by oak shelves on each side of the sink window. Oak doors on the base cabinets below are framed in white. The big Lacanche range, topped off by a squared-off vent hood, sits right at the entrance to the dining space and shows how tight space can be in an old house. Dining room built-ins echo the oak and white kitchen finishes, while a pair of mid-20th century Scandinavian style pendants (similar in style to the iconic Poul Christiansen Le Klint) add a welcome note of urban design that brings a little edge to the country and pull attention away from the narrowness of the room.
Stunningly simple, the white-stucco-walled laundry features a Louis XIII armchair, upholstered in white linen, as a place to perch. A minimalist approach to overhead lighting is evidenced by the tiny spotlights and opportunities for hanging objects to dry from the massive low ceiling beams are equally spare.
The sink, another shallow stone basin, boasts simple hot and cold pillar taps. A line of Moroccan tiles, favored in Belgian homes, create a minimal backsplash. The cabinet below the sink actually conceals a washer and dryer while rough oak shelves on wrought iron brackets overhead are used to store and display various objects and a collection of Provencal jugs. Just around the corner, an open area that leads outside is simply furnished with a church pew bench while a black marble mortar stands guard by the window.
I love the sink and the collection of provencal confit pots
What a stunning kitchen! The pendants over the dining table are gorgeous! And I love the simplicity of the laundry room! Incredible that they could conceal the laundry units below that sink. Love the whole space! Thanks for sharing.
What a great kitchen! At first I wasn’t sure about the two walls of glass door cabinetry since they were so similar, but what great storage.
Good to see you Melanie!
I thought it was interesting that the white cabinet is apothecary style (with sliding doors) and the wood cab has pairs of doors. Expect it’s wider than it looks in the photo. I just couldn’t keep my eyes off that floor.
Be still my heart! That sink is perfect!
Wow, simply amazing. I can’t even imagine having a laundry room like that. Thanks for sharing, liz
That laundry room has recaptured my heart – but I find the black rectangular electrical (lighting?) boxes in the ceiling very intrusive…
Tricia, it’s spot lighting, of course. I like overall much better. Cannot imagine in Europe that they’re behind on that sort of thing. The lighting looks so much better these days though not every designer handles it especially well.
Quite a laundry! Who wouldn’t feel stylish in here?
This is a unique space!