- Interior
What if a graphic designer and an interior designer teamed up to create their own dream project? Then you get a beautifully balanced design that exudes boldness. Tony and Kristof from Diapal, our partner in kitchens and interiors, designed their own love nest, and we got to take a look at their most personal project yet.
Thanks to their professional expertise and eye for detail, Tony and Kristof immediately knew what they were looking for when they searched for their own property: a renovation project with a soul. They found it just outside the city walls of Bruges. There, they were able to get their hands on a stately town house that had a lot of renovation potential. A property where Kristof could not indulge himself would have been a no-go. Fortunately, this house showed off a lot of original neoclassical elements that they could get to work on. In fact, it was built around 1900 by order of Baron De Crombrugghe de Looringhe. The duo was completely enchanted by the original stairwell, the marble ornamental fireplaces, the cornices and rosettes, and the ornamental ornaments with beautiful, symmetrical arches.
The duo was completely enchanted by the original stairwell and the marble ornamental fireplaces.
The fact that the property needed to be eagerly taken care of did not deter Tony and Kristof at all; it only gave them more butterflies. By selecting good craftsmen they always work with through Diapal, they were able to make their dream come true. The restoration of ornaments in plaster, wrought iron, bluestone and wood was done perfectly. The interior custom work Kristof took great pleasure in doing. ‘When designing, I tried to work in the same way I guide clients. Keep an open mind, combine mood boards, make sketches, and above all: keep searching until the feeling is really right.’ Still, he proved the cliché: ‘you are your own biggest critic’ because sometimes he kept making changes. Fortunately, these always turned out to be the right choice afterwards. 
In the end, everything came together in a timeless and soothing design. Although the house has five floors, the couple managed to infuse the same fresh atmosphere into every room. They also allowed the property to retain its neoclassical beauty. They did this by limiting the main colors and materials in the interior: white, parquet, marble, microtopping, and veneers take precedence in the entire light-rich concept. They painted the whole interior in a warm, white hue and for the exterior they worked with the Bruges Heritage Service to search together for the original facade colour. By respecting the past and merging cool, contemporary elements with antique aspects, Tony and Kristof from Diapal finally succeeded in creating a beautiful project. 
Photography by Cafeine