A Schaerbeek Revival

The family owns a beautiful Bruxelloise house in a desirable residential part of town. The house boasts original features much cherished by the owners, from beveled glass grand doors to elaborate moulding throughout the ground floor. Not to mention the fireplaces, including one in the kitchen! This is one of those houses that once you buy you will never want to let go of.

The brief:

• The client wanted an overall refresh with the last renovation work has taken place in 2009.

• This project was not about structural changes but rather about updating each room. One of the points on the brief was to future-proof the kids’ room by designing a functional and well-defined space for playing/ studying / relaxing.

• The parents’ grand room in the attic was to have an uplift as was the case with the shower room.

• The dark green lounge had run its course and was now ready for a new look

• The clients are a busy full time working parents of two, so they have opted for an all-round design and project management package thus delegating the extra work volume and being able to carry on business as usual

My role:

• source a reliable, tried and tested decorators team

• brief them on work needed

• supervise project on a daily basis, ensuring it was on track and ensuing problems were resolved smoothly

• source materials for the renovation: paint, wallpaper, moulding

• design the rooms to the clients’ specific brief

• source furniture and accessories

• organize and oversee delivery

• constantly keep the client in the loop

• created a project document online for the client to be aware of and contribute to costs, timelines, sources and other elements of the project

The outcome:

• we sanded and re-oiled the wooden floorboards, giving them a new lease on life

• we fixed the ceilings where they were bearing the signs of past water leaks

• the coving was replaced where needed

• we departed from the original plan of ‘just a lick of wall paint’ and opted for beautiful luscious wallpaper in the parents’ bedroom and the lounge

• the kids’ rooms were painted in vibrant happy colours, with one room featuring a fabulous geometric patterned wall.

• we added to the character through a choice of wallpapered pendant lights with colourful cords as well as a demure white feather pendant

• we embraced the owners’ liking of brushed gold accessories with discreet golden accents in the lounge wallpaper, coffee tables and bedroom floorlamps