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Home tour | A calming apartment in Amsterdam

May 12, 2020

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Today’s home tour comes to you from Amsterdam, where design studios The Nieuw and Ibiza Interiors have teamed up to create a stunning apartment overlooking the famous Prinsengracht canal.

The aim was to provide a calming sanctuary in the heart of a busy city, and so soothing neutrals and natural textures have been used throughout. There’s also a wonderful mix of Scandinavian design classics and more contemporary pieces, creating a feel that’s minimalist, elegant and inviting.

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Stretching across the front of the apartment, the west-facing living and dining room has textured grey walls and dark hardwood flooring that work beautifully with the golden light, making the large, open-plan space appear cosy and cocooning. At one end is a sleek dining table flanked by iconic CH24 ‘Wishbone’ chairs, with a leaf-like rattan pendant lamp acting as a focal point; at the other, Fredericia’s ‘Calmo’ sofa and marble-topped ‘Piloti’ coffee table, both designed by Hugo Passos, form a comfortable sitting area. There are also versatile wall-mounted lamps from DCW Éditions, together with conceptual designs such as Frama’s eye-catching aluminium ‘Rivet’ side table. I particularly love the way floor-to-ceiling linen curtains run the length of one wall, softening the grid-like steel-framed windows, and the way a large green and blue rug has been used to define the different ‘zones’ while adding a subtle pop of colour.

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

There’s a similar mix in the bedroom at the rear of the apartment, but here the feel is brighter and breezier to make the most of the morning light. A linen-covered ‘Ghost’ bed, designed by Paola Navone for Gervasoni, enhances the airy, laid-back atmosphere, as does Ay Illuminate’s rustic bamboo and silk ‘Z1’ pendant. A few darker elements with strong geometric forms, including Frama’s ‘Triangolo’ chair, have also been incorporated to add structure and depth.

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

Home tour - a calming apartment in Amsterdam | These Four Walls

All in all, the apartment is a fantastic example of how texture, colour and material choices can be used to create subtle shifts in mood, and it looks like the perfect place to disconnect from the urban world outside. Perhaps most importantly, atmosphere and wellbeing have been considered as integral parts of the project rather than afterthoughts – and that, to me, is what good interior design is all about.

All photography via Ibiza Interiors

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HELLO

Abi Dare | These Four Walls blog

I’m Abi Dare – a stylist, photographer and writer based in Bristol (UK). I set up this blog to share interior design, travel and lifestyle inspiration for simple, relaxed living at home and beyond. You’ll find home tours, advice and tips, interviews, reviews, postcards from places I love and more – always with a focus on soft minimalism, muted colours and timeless, considered design.

‘Top 10 UK interior design blogs’ 2025, 2024, 2023 & 2022, Vuelio

‘Best Interior Design Blog’, uFurnish Home Awards 2024

Winner of the ‘Blogger’ category in the Sweetpea & Willow Home Influencer Awards 2023

‘Best Design & Architecture Blog’, UK Blog Awards 2019

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Back on the grid after more than two weeks. Thanks Back on the grid after more than two weeks. Thanks to everyone who sent messages checking I was OK - I just lost my Instagram mojo and needed a bit of a break. Anyway, here are some phone-camera snippets of life lately...

1.  Guard cat on duty while I work
2.  Evening light hitting the last of the Japanese quince blossom in the garden 
3.  Country drives
4.  Coming across 17th-century graffiti while house-hunting
5 & 6.  A lazy Sunday stroll on Clevedon Pier, on one of those hazy days where the sea and sky seem to merge into one
7.  Keeping drooping spring blooms going for as long as possible 
8 & 9.  Wisteria at @ntbarringtoncourt in Somerset 
10.  Brunch at the always-wonderful @lunitapasteleria 
11.  Enjoying the balmy spring breeze 
12.  Stunning mosaic floors at Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire 
13.  Bluebell season
14.  My kind of wine
15.  Wild garlic 

#springhassprung #slowsimpleseasonal #cornersofmyworld #lifelately #blossomseverywhere #thisprettyengland #thelocalwayfarer #westcountry #littlestoriesofmylife #poetryofsimplethings #seeingthepretty #tinytinymoments
[AD - PR product] I've always loved marble as a ma [AD - PR product] I've always loved marble as a material, and the beige Kunis Breccia version of the @newworksdk 'Kizu' table lamp caught my eye immediately. I now have this design in three different colourways around the house, and this is definitely my favourite to date! 

#softminimalisthome #softminimalstyle #neutralhomedecor #simplehomestyle #minimalistdecor #simpleinterior #mycosyhome #neutrallivingroom #minimalistlighting #scandiinterior
A few weeks ago I travelled to Drammen in Norway f A few weeks ago I travelled to Drammen in Norway for the big project I'm working on (more on that soon), and while I was there I had a look around @askogeng's workshop. I've been a fan of their sustainable bamboo kitchens and furniture for a long time, so this was a real treat. And the space itself is full of the time-worn textures and beautiful details that always catch my eye.

#texturesandtones #warehousestyle #kitchendesign #scandinavianinteriors #scandinaviandesign #bitsofbuildings #ihavethisthingwithwindows #perfectlyimperfect
Is it just me, or are slightly droopy flowers the Is it just me, or are slightly droopy flowers the most elegant? Anyway, these are butterfly ranunculus - always a favourite. I couldn't resist the lovely soft peach ones - such a pretty colour for spring.

If you've seen my Stories, you'll know we've had a stressful Sunday and Monday thanks to a poorly cat and some big house news. At least it's only a four-day week!

#springflowers #springhomedecor #simplehomestyle #softminimalhome #springdecor #simpleinterior #neutrallivingroom #victorianterracerenovation #myminimalhome #springhomestyle

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