Sweet like chocolate

Behind the facade of this Tudor-style house is a clever use of colour and light, bringing the very best out of mocha tones

- Hayley Spencer

When George Triantafillou and Dan Zuidema began the journey to expand their family with the addition of son Emilio, now 18 months old, they knew it was time to leave their apartment in Amsterdam in favour of a bigger home in a family-friendly area. The couple sought out a property that combined a sense of history with the possibility to create a comfortable, contemporary space. They searched for eight months before finally finding a unique Tudor-style house in Haarlem, around 20 minutes outside of the capital. ‘We wanted to be in an area where houses retain the original feel of the neighbourhood, with a sense of old world charm,’ says George.

LIVING ROOM

The fawn tones in the grey-brown paint sing in the natural light, while the one-tone-softer curtains make the walls feel rich.

Walls in Mouse’s Back; ceiling and woodwork in All White, both Farrow & Ball. Vintage coffee table, G Plan. Ilargi double 36 ceiling pendant, Grok. Lederam wall light, Catellani & Smith

After exchanging within a month, the couple quickly completed a demolition to open up the ground floor and transform the upstairs with two additional en-suite bathrooms. To bring their plans to life, the couple enlisted the help of Avenue Design Studio. Duo Holly Marder and Hedda Pier had worked on the couple’s friend’s home, and having seen how well they worked, they commissioned them to source everything from floors and furniture to finishing touches.