Anyone who has visited the city of Amsterdam will be familiar with the traditional architecture of the tall narrow buildings which line the banks of the canals. It is one of these structures built in the late 19th century that was purchased in 2009 by Mark Fuller, with a view to converting it into a comfortable four floor home for himself and his family. The project was undertaken by designers Erik Gutters and Sven Smit, who worked in close collaboration with Mark and together, they created a dream home which successfully overcame every inherent challenge which must be overcome in a conversion project of this type.
As the ground floor level is a dimly lit space, rather than fight this, the designers took advantage of the lower level of lighting to create a cozy environment through a warm colour scheme. Elsewhere in the home, sufficient illumination and a visual link to the garden outside dictated a green colour palette which, though did not dominate, was evident in most rooms. This is shown in the pale green wall in the dining space, the vintage 1920s tiles on the fireplace and the couch by Paola Navone.
The remaining levels accommodate the bedrooms, where a play on textures and tones follow the organic theme with the wicker patterned wall covering and the grey/green wooden floors in the master bedroom. The dual identity of the small urban garden combines a provincial rustic vibe with a zen minimalism, furnished with a set of uncomplicated wooden furniture and decking. The result is a relaxing family home, completed by a talented team of designers who were able to translate the ideas and dreams of the owner into a workable design aesthetic.
