Open house

Building a home in the Netherlands countryside gave Saskia and Martijn Dijkstra the chance to indulge their architectural whims and create big, light-filled spaces

- COCO FEATURES, GERALDINE NESBITT, LISA FAZZANI, VANESSA RICHMOND

Exterior

The design of the house is simple, symmetrical, and ultra-modern. ‘We’ve achieved an open and light home, with almost no dividing walls, yet by playing with the lines and angles, it still feels cosy and inviting,’ says Martijn.

Seating area

‘We fell in love with this eyecatcher of a sofa,’ says Martijn. ‘The house is strong and industrial looking, so this powder pink is a welcome feminine accent.’

BUY THE KEY PIECES Try Karson Dusky Pink sofa, £499, Made

Saskia Dijkstra, an events manager, lives here with her husband Martijn, a tile supplier, and daughters, Zenne, 11, and Julie, nine.

THE PROPERTY

A four-bedroom house built in 2017 in a village in the southern Netherlands.

''We’ve made it welcoming with a mix of souvenirs brought back from our travels, natural materials and greenery ”

Building their own home wasn’t part of the plan when Saskia and Martijn Dijkstra bought a plot of land three years ago. ‘The plot was in an idyllic spot and included property, so the initial idea was to extend and build on to the existing house,’ says Martijn. However, the couple’s plans were rejected by the council, who said they must demolish the old house and build something completely new.