We’re off to the Belgian town of Kortrijk to wander through a circa 1950s French-inspired villa of the same name, refurbished by Hans Verstuyft.
Known for its medieval architecture, Kortrijk is located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, close to the French border. This French influence informed the design of a 1950s villa that landed on the desk of designer Hans Verstuyft, famed for his minimalist interiors that hone in on what’s important through aesthetic restraint. In Kortrijk House the designer has achieved exactly that, expressing the raw beauty of natural materials, bespoke design and few – but iconic – furnishings.
When Hans Verstuyft was welcomed inside the home, the layout was spacious and timeless, but the decoration was outdated. “We stripped the dated interiors,” Hans says. “So what remained was a good starting point to re-express the timeless character of the house.” What they did alter was the position of the kitchen to create an open and centralised space that spoke more to a modern way of living. As in the kitchen, the walls, french doors and gridded window trimmings are kept-all white to enhance the flow of light throughout the home.
Hans and his team preserved the Herringbone parquetry flooring and much of the existing joinery throughout, tailoring the palette of materials ‘to the soul of the home’. Deco-Lust natural stone was selected for both the kitchen and bathroom to create custom islands in each space; sharp and clean-cut forms that are punctuated by the sculptural simplicity of jet-black Vola tapware. In the bathroom, a custom black mirror features overhead, echoing the internal steel frame doors that encase the shower.
The kitchen features black Vola tapware, a Deco-Lust natural stone island, the CH30P Chair designed by Hans J. Wegner for Carl Hansen + Son and streamlined joinery.
The formal dining room features an Austere Elements Chandelier by Hans Verstuyft for Trizo21.
The grand staircase has been stripped of paint and left exposed in a tribute to the home’s original features.
True to form, furnishings are kept spare throughout, with appearances from a rich burgundy 637 Utrecht Chair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld for Cassina. Design highlights also include Hans Verstuyft’s Austere lighting range designed for Trizo21 in the kitchen and formal dining room.
Hans Verstuyft’s refurbishment of the Kortrijk House builds on a timeless portfolio of classic homes brought into the modern day through time-honoured materials and a gentle summoning of natural light.
The bathroom features black Vola tapware, a custom Deco-Lust natural stone island and a custom mirror overhead.
