Home tour | A soulful period restoration in the Netherlands

If you want an example of how to mix old and new to stunning effect, then look no further than the beautiful Dutch home of photographer Michiel Bosman and his partner Tomas. Over the past few years the couple have lovingly restored their period house near Rotterdam, bringing the original features back to life and filling the rooms with a combination of contemporary design, mid-century Scandinavian classics, vintage finds and family heirlooms. The result is a considered space that’s brimming with soul and personal meaning. It also has a wonderful warmth to it, with calming neutrals and pale oak sitting alongside darker woods and occasional splashes of colour.

I chatted to Michiel to find out more about his interior-design inspirations, the renovation journey to date and the importance of making a home your own…

Hi Michiel! Firstly, please can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

“Hi! I’m a self-taught photographer and mostly capture beautiful homes for brands and magazines. I’m also an art therapist and I work with children with Down Syndrome alongside my photography. It’s the perfect combination! I live with Tomas in Bodegraven, in the western Netherlands. It’s a small town, but we really enjoy life here after years in the big city.”

Where’s home, and how long have you lived there?

“We bought our home three years ago and we’re still working on it. Most of it is finished, but we still have the bathroom and some smaller projects to do. It’s a beautiful house from 1914, with lots of character. The stained-glass windows are real eye-catchers!”

Have you made many changes since moving in? 

“We’ve completely renovated, from the roof down to the foundations. We’ve tried our best to return it to its original glory by bringing back authentic details like the ornamental ceilings and doors.” 

Michiel and Tomas have poured love into restoring their home’s period features, breathing new life into the plasterwork ceilings and ornamental doors, and sending the gorgeous stained-glass windows for specialist repair. The herringbone parquet floor is new, but was chosen to match the style and era of the house.

How would you describe your interiors style?

“Neutral and thoughtful, with lots of personal items that I’ve been collecting over the years. I’m also slowly introducing some colour, as it used to be all white and beige.” 

What does home mean to you, and has that changed at all during the pandemic?

“We started renovating during the pandemic, which gave us extra time to be together and work on our home, as we mostly did everything ourselves. We of course missed seeing our friends and families, but having that to focus on was very comforting in a way.”

Where do you find inspiration for your home?

“I find a lot of inspiration on Pinterest, via (online) magazines and of course on instagram.” 

The kitchen features dark bamboo fronts and open shelving from Norwegian design studio Ask og Eng, marble worktops from Netherlands-based De Keukenbladenfabriek and a patinated brass tap from UK brand deVOL. It opens to the dining room, where an array of iconic Danish chairs (Carl Hansen & Søn’s CH24 ‘Wishbone’, Fredericia’s ‘J39’ and &Tradition’s ‘In Between’) sit around a clean-lined oak table by Table du Sud.

What’s your favourite part of your home and why?

“I’d have to say the kitchen and connecting dining room. We enjoy sitting at the table together, and we’re really happy with how it all turned out. We’re starting a new project in the dining room soon, which we’re really excited about.”

And your favourite piece of furniture or home accessory…?        

“I guess it’s the antique pieces I inherited from my grandparents. I love their classic style and they hold a lot of memories. But we recently found a Vitra ’10A’ floor lamp after searching for one for a long time, so that’s my current design favourite!”

Like the rest of the house, the living room contains a thoughtful blend of old and new, with a Studio Henk sofa and coffee table, a New Works ‘Covent’ lounge chair and an &Tradition ‘Lato’ side table alongside secondhand pieces such as the FDB Møbler chair (now reupholstered in Dedar fabric). The Vitra ‘Akari 10A’ floor lamp – a classic designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951 – is one of Michiel and Tomas’ latest finds.

Where do you like to source items for your home?

“I find most things via vintage markets and secondhand marketplaces. I love to treasure hunt! My favourite brands are Carl Hansen & Søn, Skagerak and Frederica, and for smaller items and gifts for friends and family I love to shop at The Fine Store.”

Do you have any future plans for your home? 

“Yes, redoing our bathroom. I’m really into the English bathroom vibe at the moment, so we’re going for a similar kind of style.”

The main bedroom is fairly minimalist, with neutral walls and built-in wardrobes. Michiel and Tomas use the wall nook and ledge-like bedhead to display a rotating collection of artwork and vintage curios.

Finally, what are your top interior-design tips?

“I can honestly say that trusting yourself and just going for what you love is the only way to make a home your own and let your personality shine through. And only hold on to the things you cherish the most. I don’t enjoy having lots of items that I barely use – it only takes away positive energy.” 

Wise advice – thanks Michiel!

See more of Michiel and Tomas’ beautiful home on Instagram.

All photography by Michiel Bosman