Where Water Unwinds

Sitting on the fringes of Bruges' city center, this charming home, dating back to the 1920s, offers solace to a couple and their two daughters. The house was undergoing a thorough renovation, which had masked many of its original elements. When Élise came into the picture, she captured the allure of Art Nouveau and chose to bring it back into the foreground, with a proper modern language.

As the couple was looking for a serene yet familial retreat, Élise cleverly expanded the central kitchen and dining space on the ground floor. A newly landscaped courtyard now serves as an additional living area, featuring a fountain at its heart and a glazed bench that effortlessly connects the indoors with the outdoors.
The sense of holiday is extended into the three bedrooms. With each one featuring a sleeping area, a dressing area, and a shower space, they evoke the feeling of a hotel suite.

Throughout the house, vibrant colors reflect Bruges' lively spirit. Élise tactfully incorporates locally crafted ceramics into every room of the house, paying homage to the city's heritage. Contemporary elements, such as concrete features, elegantly complement the native elm wood used for both floors and custom furniture. Élise introduces mirrors and bold splashes of color, harmonizing with the building's slanted walls and unique corners, creating a joyful yet relaxed sanctuary.

(Photographs by Filip Dujardin)