Historic Character and Timeless Elegant Interiors in a Restored Belgian Villa

Belgium is a world away from California, so when Californian-born Kate Davison Eyckerman was looking for a house in the small European country, she wanted a house abundant with natural light and a view to remind her of her home country.

Kate and her husband Arthur found their dream home in a neo-renaissance villa surrounded by beech trees on the outskirts of the Belgian city of Antwerp. The villa, built in 1875 by the architect Pieter Joseph Taeymans, was a summer retreat for him and his family.

150 years later, the house was in a bad state, but Kate and Arthur saw the potential of the house with its large windows, authentic details, and large garden. With the help of Avenue Design Studio, the villa has been transformed into a modern family home packed with historical details, luxurious materials, and beautiful (vintage) design pieces. Thanks to the sensitive renovation, this historic home has been preserved for many generations to come.

Interior Design, Photography, and Styling by Avenue Design Studio

Kate and Arthur’s brief to Avenue Design Studio was clear: maintain the home’s integrity while infusing it with modern livability. The Dutch design firm is the perfect choice for this project as Avenue Design Studio’s work is known for its beautiful palette of materials, colors, and contemporary furnishings paired with vintage décor.

‘As owners of a historic monument, we were very careful about the necessary renovations. We managed to reverse numerous outdated modifications and restored the space to a more welcoming and neutral palette that beautifully aligns with the home’s past.’ Says Kate Davison Eyckerman

They managed to preserve many original features in the late 19th-century villa, such as the grand marbleized entrance hall, the arched windows, and the intricate brickwork. These old features also inspired contemporary additions. The arched shape of the windows inspired light fixtures, scalloped detailing, and landscape design, while the brickwork returned in the bathroom flooring.

To contrast the magnificent architectural features and modern design pieces, Kate and Arthur decided to decorate their home with pieces from local makers, flea markets, and family heirlooms from America. These items add a personal touch to the spaces, turning the grand villa into a personal and inviting family home.   

The marbleized grand entrance hall is one of the prime features of the Belgian villa. It has maintained its grand proportions since the house was built, and newly laid limestone flagstone complements it, suiting the historic building so well. An oversized hand-crocheted lamp from Morocco hangs from the ceiling, contrasting the classic marble and limestone.

The open-plan living space is the heart of the home. It is versatile and centered around an authentic French limestone fireplace paired with modern light fixtures, contemporary art, and Belgian design.

The deep windows in the living room lend themselves perfectly to a window seat. The daybed base is covered in scalloped concrete tiles by KAZA and paired with a gray fabric fitted by Kussenmaatjes. From these sunny spots, you can overlook the garden with the pond and beech trees.

The dining room features a custom-made wooden table by Rinus Hout with the Champignon C pendant from Luxcambra.

‘Beech House has always been, for us and our wonderful clients, about the past. The lives lived, and the stories told. The authenticity, the architecture, and the physical context. We have drawn upon all of these factors at every stage in the interior design process, always looking towards what was there before adding or subtracting anything.’ says Avenue Design Studio

Beech House 1875 as a Location Hire

In addition to being a family home, Beech House 1875 is also available to rent as a location hire for photo and film productions. The light color palette and natural materials are the perfect backdrop for production shoots and film sets. On the website of Kate’s visual strategy & conceptual design company, an·a·logue, you can read more about the possibilities of using Beech House for your production.