More Vervoordt

Today's blog covers other homes in the Vervoordt family- son Dick's home, son Boris' apartment and the Vervoordt family's chalet.  As you will see, all the homes have the same Vervoordt spareness enhanced by antiquities.  Enjoy.

Below is Dick Vervoordt's home, Axel and May's youngest son.  The home, not far from the castle, was a property owned by the family until Dick and his wife decided to make it their own.  With their two young daughters, I'll bet the senior Vervoordts delight in their proximity.  As you will see, the home has the stamp of wabi sabi all over it.

Many of these first images were taken from the Belgian magazine More Than Classic.  I am a longtime subscriber but sadly not a Belgian speaker.  You're on your own with the words that follow.

Beautiful lace cap hydrangeas at back entrance - flowers speak a universal language

Love their kitchen (of course).

Interesting, how different the colors look in the above image which is from the internet.  It's the same room maybe just a different time of day.  Now back to MTC images.

Same room, slightly different perspective.  Interesting faucet set-up.

Kitchen's long view.

Great table and chairs and tablescape beyond.

Long view.  Love that sphere.

Different perspective.

Dick's workspace with a peek into living room.  If I could read Belgian, I might know if this room doubles as a dining room.  (A dining room/office/library is a useful room in any house.  As my collection of books increases, I often think how handy this would be.  But then, what does one do with all one's china?)

This image from Veranda and shows a bit more of the living room.

Below is the upstairs bedroom and living space.

What follows is an image of Axel and his two sons - Dick at the rear of the table whose home we just saw. Boris is at the front of the table.  It's his apartment in the Kanaal district of Antwerp we are about to see.

While Dick Vervoordt focuses on the real estate aspect of the Vervoordt empire, Boris focuses on design and collection of the antiques.  His apartment is a bit more "funky" and contemporary than is Dick's home but still contains all the antique spareness.  This Secret Attic article is from Vogue Living.

Architectural Digest image

Love how the tilt of the mirror reveals other parts of the bath, and the light fixture is so cool.

And my very favorite room in Boris' apartment is the kitchen.  (No surprise.) I love the black island, the wood table, and light cabinets.  Not a fan of Aga stoves, but his looks great here.  And the ceiling light fixture - love it all.  Looks like a burl bowl (which I covet) resting on the table.

This is a random image found on the internet.  Not sure if it is a dining area or an office area, but thought I'd include it here.

If I could choose any attic apartment/loft in which to live, this would be it.  But alas, the lottery is just not cooperating.

On to the Vervoordt chalet in Switzerland.  Don't know if I'd ever ski or just ogle the scenery...

or the chalet's interior which all looks so warm and snuggly just as a chalet should.

So there you have it: a home in the country, an apartment in Antwerp and a chalet in Switzerland - all beautiful, all with the Vervoordt touch.  Do you have a favorite?  You know mine already.

My next post will sadly be the last on the Vervoorts, some of my favorite designers.  Axel's books abound so his work is available to pine over anytime.  Just wanted to share some of my favorites.

Snowing here today.  Stay warm and enjoy your week-end.

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Vervoordt, Costanza, and Tater

As promised long, long, too long ago, today I post about Axel Vervoordt, one of my most favorite designers.  I started following him years ago, have all his books, and have read every article bearing his name.  The only trouble is I am not alone.  So many follow his work - good for him, bad for today's posting.  I will share some of my favorite Vervoordt images, and if you have seen them all before, skim.

His castle and orangerie where his antiques are displayed and may be purchased.

Another view of castle.

View of entrance to grounds.

Sorry to be so repetitious, but the buildings and grounds are so beautiful.  And we have very few moats in the US.

This image below has been everywhere on Pinterest, blogs, magazines, but is so simple and lovely that I had to include it.  (Speaking of simple, Nancy Braithwaite's new book, Simplicity, is out now and is a stunner.  Look for it and buy it if you like simplicity.)  I fell in love with this room.

Every time I see it another object must be removed from one of my rooms.

Perfection.

Orangerie perfection.

Perfection inside the orangerie.

Inside to the castle's kitchen.

And to a Molteni stove and beautiful copper cookware.

Dining room.

El fresco dining at the castle.

Now, leaving the castle and onto Antwerp and Vervoordt's Kanaal, a former distillery bought and redesigned for living and viewing.

He gives the old distillery a museum quality.

With spaces for living.

Axel with his son, Boris who is now taking over some of the design work.

Showroom.

As the Vervoordt style becomes more and more Wabi Sabi...

I love its purity...

Pure and simple and my colors or non-colors.

More about this Belgian master next time.

Now to the George Costanza episode of today's post.  At the end of September and into October, I visited Maine, one of my favorite places on earth.  I was on a Wyeth quest - to see as much as was possible of the family's art and their Maine inspiration.  We stayed at East Wind Inn in Tenant's Harbor, 

Inn's view with lobster boats

visited the Farnsworth museum in Rockland, 

and toured Rockport, Camden and Wiscasset.  

Camden Harbor

One of the days, we took the ferry to Monhegan Island where Jamie Wyeth once lived and painted.

The trip over was smooth as my anticipation grew.  Below is what we found.

A painting everywhere.  But have you noticed the dark clouds rolling in to say nothing of the high swells.  Do you remember the Seinfeld episode when George Costanza pretends to be a marine biologist.  In the restaurant he is explaining how he saved a whale but prefaces his tale with, "the sea was angry that day, my friends!"  Well, our sea was angry that day, my friends, with 9 foot swells.  I live on a Finger Lake in New York state, which never gets 9 foot swells!   For an hour, I was terrified.  Black waves rolled over the ferry and as it pitched from side to side, I tried to remember if any ferries had ever been lost off the coast of Maine.  People were getting seasick and were all clinging with death grips to the seats ahead.  I was doing deep breathing just as in child birthing. When the ferry blessedly arrived at shore, I wanted to kiss the ground, but instead hugged the captain.  I really thought I might die that afternoon.

When returning to my quiet little lakeside town, I vowed not to leave home for awhile.  The leaves and laundry needed my attention, but then my daughter-in-law took a spill down her staircase and needed some help.  Off I flew to Bedford.  The pilot said the trip might be a little rocky till we got above the clouds, but it was absolutely nothing compared to the ferry.  That's one positive result of that terrifying trip - everything else pales by comparison.  Ted, Tater, was in rare form on my errand of mercy.  He loves balls and is talking a blue streak.

Sorry this has been such a wordy post.  Just be happy you did not see me in person after our trip.  Even the bartender "got an earful" as we sipped our Cosmos.  Next time more images, less chatter.

Stay on dry land-

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