A Fairy-Tale Castle in Belgium: The Architects' Version - Remodelista
Photography by Frederik Vercruysse via This Is Paper. Imagine cycling in the Flemish countryside and discovering an abandoned ruin of a once-grand house, 17th-century tower included. Founding partners of Buyse Seghers Architects, the couple bought the house to renovate and to live in with their two sons. “Our interventions do not have to be noticed; nor do we think that a strong contrast between the new and the old is always necessary.”. The architects discovered the picturesque property while cycling in the Flemish countryside in Lovendegem, a town on the outskirts of Ghent. In the entry hall, the bluestone floor tiles are arranged in a classic Belgian pattern. From the dining room, there’s an uninterrupted view of the kitchen back to the entry wall, showing three different floor finishes, soaped solid oak, Rouge Belge marble, and bluestone tiles. In the kitchen the pale green of the cabinets complements the Rouge Belge marble countertops and floor. “The red marble is Rouge Belge, chosen by the slab and selected for the combination of white veining that adds freshness,” Seghers says. The spare decor in the dining room with pale green walls is offset by the crystal chandelier, which was a family hand-me-down. The architects chose the white cotton fabric for the curtains for its ability to drape into soft but distinct folds. Large interior openings throughout the house provide glimpses of other rooms; the living room, seen here from the dining room, allows large amounts of natural light to flow through. A dark green classic French bistro teacup with saucer and milk jug set from Limoges sits on a stone fireplace mantel with a powdered white finish that has been handcut to the architects’ design. A view from the kitchen into the living room and dining room beyond. In the office, the architects installed a small oval window, called an Å“il-de-bÅ“uf, on the side of the house to allow more light in. Pale blue walls in the master bedroom complement the dark wood floorboards. A childhood desk lamp is repurposed into a bedside lamp. “Old floorboards that span the room were removed, restored, and reinstalled along with the original staircase,” Seghers says. Double doors lead to an expansive bathroom. The palette of the bathroom is off-white and neutral. Porcelain tiles line the walls of the shower. A portrait of the architects Bram Seghers and Inge Buyse as captured by photographer Frederik Vercruysse. In the back, the architects opened up the house to the garden and mirror pond by adding windows and carefully widening existing openings. A view through the back with the mirror pond frozen over. The entry level floor plan to Roode Port, the property’s official name, illustrates how the house can be used as one large unit or separated into two smaller ones. The master bedroom is located on the second floor. The third floor houses studios and additional family members. A cross section of the house. On Gardenista, we share 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Belgium.