AT ONE with nature
25 Beautiful Homes
|February 2024
The couple who built this home on the outskirts of Antwerp were influenced by their experience of living in Japan, so the inside is as peaceful as the outside
Years ago, during a walk, I stumbled upon an isolated farmhouse and barn in a rural area between Antwerp and Mechelen. It clearly was empty and dilapidated. But I immediately felt the energy and potential. You could turn it into something beautiful,' recalls the Antwerp doctor who owns this rather special Belgium home with his wife. 'Shortly afterwards, we moved abroad for five years. When we returned, I was surprised the property was still there. An omen, I thought, so I took a chance and tracked down the owner, who wanted to sell the property.
The package not only included a 19th-century farmhouse with a bread oven, but a barn, a meadow and a private forest, plus a polo field. A rural paradise. When we agreed on the price, I thought: "now we can start renovating". But to our surprise, the municipality allowed us to build a new house on the plot. Suddenly we could realise our dream home, instead of restoring the farmhouse."

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2024-Ausgabe von 25 Beautiful Homes.
Abonnieren Sie Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierter Premium-Geschichten und über 9.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Sie sind bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON 25 Beautiful Homes
25 Beautiful Homes
A winter's TALE
A fortuitous meeting in an antiques shop on a winter day led to the perfect property for house-hunter and interior designer Martin Wharton
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
DESIGN solutions
We've picked the best style inspiration, interior advice and takeaway ideas from the homes in this issue
1 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
SNOW WHITE
The all-white interior of a Cornish cottage is magically transformed for the festive season with natural textures, rustic finds and soft candlelight
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
Dream come true
A couple with no DIY experience decided to take on a self-build and now live in a beautiful oak-framed cottage
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
Fairytale of NEW YORK
Designer Lisa Frantz reveals how she transformed this formerly dark Park Avenue prewar apartment into a stunning and light-filled family home
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
A KIND of MAGIC
As soon as they saw this Edwardian house, Katie and David Curtis knew it would be the perfect setting for Christmas
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
SPARKLE & SHINE
At Christmas, Amber and Nick Hopkins' Victorian terrace is transformed into a magical space filled with glittering and joyful touches
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
GENTLY DOES IT
Completely serene yet also full of character, this sleep space is the ideal retreat during the busy holidays and the rest of the year
1 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
LIFE IN COLOUR
This 1980s home was yearning for vibrancy and Laura Stephens delivered that with the most beautiful palette
2 mins
January 2026
25 Beautiful Homes
STRIKING A BALANCE
Designer Philippa Thorp has managed to satisfy a complex brief for a calm and neutral LA vibe that also incorporates colourful pop art
2 mins
January 2026
Translate
Change font size

