Inside her apartment in Paris, our Creative Director opens the doors to a space where work, memory, and design come together. Located in the heart of Le Marais, the home reflects a layered mix of contemporary Zuiver designs, vintage Dutchbone pieces, and personal objects collected over time—from family heirlooms to Parisian brocante finds. Set within a historic building, the interior is shaped by contrast: old and new, structure and softness, Dutch design and French character. This is not a showroom. It is a home—lived in, evolving, and deeply personal.
"35 years ago, I lived in Paris. I was young, curious, and instantly felt at home in the rhythm of the city."
The light here is different. Softer. More layered. As if it makes everything look just a little more beautiful. Or perhaps it was the Haussmann architecture that drew me in so deeply. That’s where my love for Paris began, and it never really faded.
Fifteen years ago, I found myself here again, this time with Zuiver for the Maison & Objet fair. In the middle of setting up our stand and presenting our collections, I caught myself having a thought that came to me with surprising clarity: how special it would be to one day have a place of my own here. Not a hotel, not a temporary stay, but something that truly belonged to me. It remained a quiet dream, gently moving with me in the background.
It started in the hallway.
Those characteristic beige stone walls, weathered and full of history. The moment the door opened, the light poured in—warm and fresh at the same time. I saw the old spiral staircase, the wooden beams, the ceiling opening up above me.
Everything felt right. I knew immediately: this is it.
And at the same time, I could hear myself thinking: stay calm, don’t decide too quickly—but pay close attention now.
The next day, I brought my French colleague with me. Someone who knows both the city and me well. She walked in, looked around, and said, “This is so you.”
That was the moment it stopped being just a feeling and became a decision.
What followed was an intense and beautiful process. Negotiating. Finding an architect. Finding a contractor. Making plans. Deciding what to remove and what to preserve.
For me, one thing was clear from the beginning: the character of the home had to remain at the heart of it. The beams, the staircase, the light… they tell the story.
The interior became a composition of everything I hold dear. New designs from Zuiver found their place here. Vintage Dutchbone pieces enhance the historic character of the apartment, while the kitchen carries a subtle touch of Bold Monkey.
And then there are the heirlooms from my mother and Uncle Jan. Objects filled with memories. Paintings and accessories I discovered at Parisian brocantes. It’s a mix of new and lived-in, of Dutch design and a distinctly French soul.
It’s not a showroom.
It’s my home.
But it is a home where my work, my taste, and my personal history all come together.
The last Spring, we captured the apartment during a photoshoot. Chris from Chris by Design—a Parisian, Zuiver client, and interior decorator—styled and photographed the space. He brought props he had only just found that weekend at a brocante.
The weather was beautiful. The light maybe even more beautiful than on the day I first stepped inside.
And the furniture… I’ll say it carefully, but it comes into its own here in such a beautiful way. The contrast between the historic building and the contemporary designs makes everything stronger.
Every day I spend here, I feel how special it is. To live in Le Marais, in one of the oldest parts of Paris. To step outside in the morning and immediately feel the energy of the city—and then return to a place that feels completely right.
Some dreams take time.
And sometimes you discover that a city has been quietly moving with you all along.
