OK, girls and boys (yes, a few men visit my blog too), this post is a summer repeat. Many bloggers do it, TV stations do it, so why not me: repeating an old issue. December 6, 2012 I have published this post about my living room. Or as my husband would shout at me: “OUR living room!”
In December 2012 there were not many people following my blog (the understatement of the year). So good chance that you haven’t seen it before. A few trusted followers have seen it as I sent them the link of our colourful living room. They can take a break from commenting. Relax…. it is summer.
Five years ago we decided we needed another couch and (easy) chairs. Again. We replaced them before but could not create unity and cohesion.
So we saved (we are Dutch, we save) and with some money in the bank, off we went to a furniture store. A very good one. To make a long story short….we ended up replacing everything in the living room, including the paint and the wallpaper. The only things that remained were the table, the dining chairs and the parquet floor. Which led to a loan…. The loan is paid off by now, but we will probably die in this setting as we do not have the money to do this again.
No big problem as we absolutely love it. Although it is colourful we do not get bored with it, nor do we find it “busy”.
It is not everybody’s taste, far from it. So you don’t have to like it. If you comment, please be honest!
Below: the sculpture on the mantelpiece and the painting you can see in more detail further down.
Below: the painting you can see in detail further down.
Below: sculpture on the mantelpiece by Jeroen Henneman. He creates beautiful things, often with optical illusions. 
Below: this painting is by Ewoud de Groot, a Dutch artist who is a great bird painter. 
Below: last but certainly not least: a painting by Annemarie de Groot (no relative of Ewoud de Groot, as far as I know). The artist Corneille was one of her teachers and she worked with him as well.
The strange black vertical lines you see at the left side of the painting are from the lamp hanging in front of the painting. Sorry guys. Didn’t feel like doing it again. This is a repeat, remember? 
Below: the photos below show you our corridor. As it is a very tiny house, the hallway is very small. I had to photograph it in parts. We had so many little drawings, paintings etc. left that we decided to create this “gallery”. The big silk-screen print in the bottom two photos is by Jan Sierhuis and was a lucky find on (the Dutch equivalent of) Ebay.
Greetje
All the light is fantastic! Love the windows and floors, and yes, all the colorful art and furniture. We are currently redecorating and I am stealing ideas from you! Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xo.
Wow, Patti, I am flattered. Such a fun job, decorating a house.
Great job…love all of the color. SInce I did not see it the first time, I am glad you did a repeat! Have a wonderful, colorful week ahead!
Thanks Pam. We still like it very much.
What a lovely light streaming in from the tall windows. And what a beautiful living space you’ve created.
Thanks Bella. I thought I would show it as usually a home says a lot about a person.
I love the vivid color and modern furniture and art. Best of all, the gorgeous dining set in front of the French doors. Must be lovely to have your meals there.
Usually I sit with my back to the garden haha. No, just kidding, we have created the garden in such a way, it is an extension of the living room. Have a look:
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2013/01/the-garden-html
Greetje, I only just started following your (or any) blog this past fall, so thank you for reposting. I am a real house snoop, love it when I pass by someone’s house at night, their blinds are open, and I can see in. Don’t give a hang about what the people are doing, I just want to see the house! My own house is decorated more in an English country style, with blue and white porcelain plates hung on the walls, lots of prints and different fabrics, overstuffed chairs and sofas, am sure you get the picture. So, your moderne style and the bright colors are outside my normal comfort zone, and I generally don’t like either. However, I adore your living room! omg, I really do! So fresh and original and happy! With results like that, I’d say it was worth taking out a loan. And I don’t blame you, I would never change it either.
There are more beautiful styles to decorate a home. Yours sounds terrific too.
It was rather a risk. We don’t really know what we are doing, we are no decorators. So we took the advice of somebody who could tell us why a certain choice was right or wrong. But he did not guide us all the way. The purple wall was our own idea from a different shop. And there were moments when we nearly blew it completely. Fortunately it came together again when the curtains arrived, connecting left to right and back to front.
And I hope I can keep you entertained with my blog.
Right on with color and the blending of classic and modern. Sometimes I buy some the European interior design magazines and I see a more modern take on design than most American homes but this is changing. The purple wall pulls everything together. I like this bold move! Lovely collection of art, this makes a home so personal.
blue hue wonderland
Thank you very much. A compliment from an artist… I am so pleased.
That purple wall nearly brought us to our knees. At one point, when we did not have the curtains yet, nor the big bird painting, the room had a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde look. If you looked at the side of the purple wall, everything was busy and outspoken. When you turned and looked at the other wall, everything was quiet and grey/kaki. At that point I thought we did it again: spent lots of money and still had no cohesion. The bird painting and especially the curtains pulled everything together. The curtains connected left to right and front to back.
OMG your abode is awesome….love the airy & Summer-fresh colors!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
Thank you Rebecca. It is small but because of the high ceilings it doesn’t feel like that.
I would have to been pretty mundane to say I don’t like it. I think it’s fun, beautiful, whimsical, inviting…It makes me want to entertain.
No, it would not be mundane to not like it. It can be totally NOT your taste. I accept that as a fact. But apparently you do like it. See how small our house is?
I am so jealous! All that natural light! And the colour! Oh how I love the colour and art! A really eclectic room…just like your taste in art.
Keeping the lines clean and simple gives the illusion of a bigger space. You’ve done a brilliant job. Also having that massive painting and the higher ceilings really make it look spacious.
I hope I get to see this IRL soon : )
bisous
Suzanne
Glad you like it. I would have thought it would be too colourful for you. But there you go. Cannot understand your remark about all that natural light. Most living rooms have natural light haven’t they?
You will get a proper tour of course. Rest of the house is very different (we ran out of money haha).
We have almost zero natural light. Our house is built facing north and very close to the other houses. There is only one window in the living room and it faces north, so no natural light to speak of. The two bedrooms upstairs have some, but nowhere like what you have. Also, we have lower ceilings than you. Those tall ones are very European.
You live in a really beautiful house, and I find it is very you! It looks so full of light and colours…I love the big window and the door looking on the garden! And the idea to put the drawings in the long corridor is delightful… the black and white floor of the coorridor is wonderful! Very nice post !! Your house tell us something more about you…
.o
Yes, houses do that. I remember that fun table you showed us once.
Upstairs is totally different though. As you have seen on the photos.
I read your commento on Glenda´s blog about angels and I loved it. An atheist like you I also have a soft spot and hope for souls with wings. Must red the book
See you in white
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Love you
I am so impressed by your room. One of those moment where I can admire something that is not my style, and yet be so clear that it’s beautifully done.
Thank you Lisa. It is a great gift if you can beyond your own taste. I know our room is certainly not everybody’s taste but it does reflect perfectly who we are. Would be boring if we were all the same, wouldn’t it?
The world would be a far less interesting place, yes, if we were all the same. I hope I made clear that I think your aesthetic is stunning – although living in California I find myself always seeking serenity when I’m inside. Maybe because we are outside so many days of the year? In any case, your room is absolutely beautiful, and indicative of real visual talent, I think.
I understood you loud and clear and agree. I am also a bit proud that you like our room even though it isn’t your taste.
What a lovely room!! And a nice and great house! And regarding the ballerina’s and the black and white dress; I think it’s a great combination, flattering en really something for hot summer evenings!
Thanks Jolet. Does the dress show up black and white? It is actually blue and white.
I love all the color in your living room. No need to ever change it because that is a great room. I have been thinking of a purple wall in my house for several years now but have not had the courage to actually do it. Then just yesterday I thought I might like a muted rose color in my kitchen which is L shaped to my living room. I love, love, love color and if my husband were to go for it my house would be full of colors. I also love that picture of the birds.
You are going through my old posts. That is fun. Well fortunately we don’t like change much and we are very happy with our colourful room. We did have the help of a few experts. The purple wall only works because of the large light painting (not a very good one, but try and find something similar which is good art and still affordable.. we haven’t succeeded yet). We tried switching the bird painting and the flower painting once. OH NO, not really. It makes that purple wall gloomy, sombre and threatening. Bear that in mind if you go for a purple wall. Muted rose colour in the kitchen is very English and light.
Thank you I will keep that in mind. I am still playing with color but have to choose soon.
What a lovely living room! I love the stained glass and the floral piece on the wall. So cheerful & welcoming. Thank you for sharing.
It was my pleasure entirely my dear.
How beautifully decorated, I absolutely love it! It’s certainly given me some ideas, as although we’ll probably go for something a bit more traditional in keeping with the style of our 1930’s house, we love artwork and the walls are currently very bare, so it’s good to see just how much you’v’e got onto your walls and how you’ve displayed it all. What a lovely light lounge you have, it’s great to have good lighting naturally. Thanks for sharing! P x
I will give you a tip for hanging anything on the wall. (But perhaps you know this already..).
Bang in a nail at the top of the wall and hang a plastic thread from it with a hook (you can get them at a frame shop). That way, if you want to remove the painting there is not a great big hole in the wall at eye height. A hole at the top of the wall you can fill and is unnoticable, a hole on eye height is very visible. These plastic threads with a hook are special frame hanging systems.
I have never understood how people can tolerate all white spaces. Enjoying colour is something our minds and souls crave. I think your space is smashing!
Some people need peace and quite at home. For instance because they are hyper sensitive. They would go mad in a house like ours haha.
Glad you like our digs.
Hey greetje, i was rereading in case i read over it, but where did you find the colourful couches? I love everything, you are lucky to share a colourful style with your husband, mine is more ‘ minimalistic’. Cheers!
I only have one couch, the purple/pink one and that is by Gelderland, a very well-known brand of excellent couches. It will last a lifetime. It is the 6511 (the numbers of the couches are above the pictures in this link):
http://www.gelderlandgroep.com/collectie/banken.aspx
If you mean the chairs, then this is a combination. The frame is model DON by Label. Here is the link (usually they make them with leather upholstery):
http://www.label.nl/collectie/fauteuils/
Our stripes fabric is by Designers Guild and the red velvet of the seat is by another brand. I don’t know whether they are still for sale. If you want to chase it, I will look up the names of the fabric for you.
I LOVE your home and your decor. It’s so bright, vibrant, yet cool and classy.
Oh thank you Pam. We are indeed very happy with it. Fortunately, as it has to make do for a long time haha.
Very extensive reply already…many thanks and take care!
I hadn´t seen this post, repeat is a brilliant idea.
iI have repeated a few post for my new followers and for the old ones who didn´t see them at the time
Your house is warm, cosy and colourful, just up my alley. I can see the arm of a fucshia chair or armchair that would my favourite place when I visit you, lol
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It is the arm of my couch I think. Glad you like my home. I thought you might have seen it as you were the first person to see / discover my blog. You and Josep-Maria. And you encouraged me to really start a blog. I have not forgotten that.
He was good because he not only helped you, but he also listened to you and what was also important to making you happy. Being able to listen to a client and then give helpful suggestions is a great quality for a salesman in the interior design business.
lovely living room I relly like the colors!!
MYEMPTYBAG
Thanks. We are quite fond of it as well.
Beautifully colorful! And love the art gallery in the corridor. Your living space is very inviting and I can see why you love it. I love it too!
It is small but carefully put together. I think the whole house fits in your hat room hahaha.
Oh, hello again, darling Greetje! So glad to see your face … I’ve missed checking in with you. Nope, I haven’t seen your gorgeous living room, and it is a lovely place! Your color sense is infallible. Very high charming factor, and I especially love your taste in art.
Cool puppy bed, too.
You can do repeats anytime. Fine with me!
Glad you like it. Always stay honest with me Jan. So I know that when you pay me a compliment, it is sincere.
And compliments about colour, decoration and art, coming from you… well that makes me smile with contentment. After all, you know what you are talking about. (Respect.)
I do remember seeing this but since I love it even more this second time, I’m commenting again. I could easily transport this lovely space right into my home and enjoy it immensely. It’s refreshing, inviting, and unique which are three wonderful elements of style (at least in my book). I enjoy rooms that can bring in the natural light and the two of you did a fantastic job of letting this happen. I also love how you weren’t afraid to play with colors, which so many people stay away from, its just a wonderful wonderful room.
The man in the shop who helped us a great deal wanted us to pick a grey couch and add colour with cushions. But he gave in when he heard us going on about colour haha.
He was good though, he protected us from making some bad mistakes.
By the way, do you spend a lot of time in this lovely room? I know I would.
Yes, us Dutch are very homy. We spend a great deal of time indoors. Invite friends round for coffee or diner, so we love decorating our house. Besides, the greater part of the year it is too cold to spend time outside anyway. In England people tend to go to pubs a lot more than we do (apart from the young ones of course).
wow!!! I m so glad I have checked out your blog. What a beautiful living room. I love the art pieces as well.
There is nothing like sources of inspiration.
Kim
Thank you Kim. Much appreciated.
I love all the color in your living room. No need to ever change it because that is a great room. I have been thinking of a purple wall in my house for several years now but have not had the courage to actually do it. Then just yesterday I thought I might like a muted rose color in my kitchen which is L shaped to my living room. I love, love, love color and if my husband were to go for it my house would be full of colors. I also love that picture of the birds.
You are going through my old posts. That is fun. Well fortunately we don’t like change much and we are very happy with our colourful room. We did have the help of a few experts. The purple wall only works because of the large light painting (not a very good one, but try and find something similar which is good art and still affordable.. we haven’t succeeded yet). We tried switching the bird painting and the flower painting once. OH NO, not really. It makes that purple wall gloomy, sombre and threatening. Bear that in mind if you go for a purple wall. Muted rose colour in the kitchen is very English and light.
Thank you I will keep that in mind. I am still playing with color but have to choose soon.
I am so impressed by your room. One of those moment where I can admire something that is not my style, and yet be so clear that it’s beautifully done.
Thank you Lisa. It is a great gift if you can beyond your own taste. I know our room is certainly not everybody’s taste but it does reflect perfectly who we are. Would be boring if we were all the same, wouldn’t it?
The world would be a far less interesting place, yes, if we were all the same. I hope I made clear that I think your aesthetic is stunning – although living in California I find myself always seeking serenity when I’m inside. Maybe because we are outside so many days of the year? In any case, your room is absolutely beautiful, and indicative of real visual talent, I think.
I understood you loud and clear and agree. I am also a bit proud that you like our room even though it isn’t your taste.
What a lovely room!! And a nice and great house! And regarding the ballerina’s and the black and white dress; I think it’s a great combination, flattering en really something for hot summer evenings!
Thanks Jolet. Does the dress show up black and white? It is actually blue and white.
What a lovely living room! I love the stained glass and the floral piece on the wall. So cheerful & welcoming. Thank you for sharing.
It was my pleasure entirely my dear.
How beautifully decorated, I absolutely love it! It’s certainly given me some ideas, as although we’ll probably go for something a bit more traditional in keeping with the style of our 1930’s house, we love artwork and the walls are currently very bare, so it’s good to see just how much you’v’e got onto your walls and how you’ve displayed it all. What a lovely light lounge you have, it’s great to have good lighting naturally. Thanks for sharing! P x
I will give you a tip for hanging anything on the wall. (But perhaps you know this already..).
Bang in a nail at the top of the wall and hang a plastic thread from it with a hook (you can get them at a frame shop). That way, if you want to remove the painting there is not a great big hole in the wall at eye height. A hole at the top of the wall you can fill and is unnoticable, a hole on eye height is very visible. These plastic threads with a hook are special frame hanging systems.
I read your commento on Glenda´s blog about angels and I loved it. An atheist like you I also have a soft spot and hope for souls with wings. Must red the book
See you in white
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Love you
I have never understood how people can tolerate all white spaces. Enjoying colour is something our minds and souls crave. I think your space is smashing!
Some people need peace and quite at home. For instance because they are hyper sensitive. They would go mad in a house like ours haha.
Glad you like our digs.
Very extensive reply already…many thanks and take care!
Hey greetje, i was rereading in case i read over it, but where did you find the colourful couches? I love everything, you are lucky to share a colourful style with your husband, mine is more ‘ minimalistic’. Cheers!
I only have one couch, the purple/pink one and that is by Gelderland, a very well-known brand of excellent couches. It will last a lifetime. It is the 6511 (the numbers of the couches are above the pictures in this link):
http://www.gelderlandgroep.com/collectie/banken.aspx
If you mean the chairs, then this is a combination. The frame is model DON by Label. Here is the link (usually they make them with leather upholstery):
http://www.label.nl/collectie/fauteuils/
Our stripes fabric is by Designers Guild and the red velvet of the seat is by another brand. I don’t know whether they are still for sale. If you want to chase it, I will look up the names of the fabric for you.
Oh, hello again, darling Greetje! So glad to see your face … I’ve missed checking in with you. Nope, I haven’t seen your gorgeous living room, and it is a lovely place! Your color sense is infallible. Very high charming factor, and I especially love your taste in art.
Cool puppy bed, too.
You can do repeats anytime. Fine with me!
Glad you like it. Always stay honest with me Jan. So I know that when you pay me a compliment, it is sincere.
And compliments about colour, decoration and art, coming from you… well that makes me smile with contentment. After all, you know what you are talking about. (Respect.)
I LOVE your home and your decor. It’s so bright, vibrant, yet cool and classy.
Oh thank you Pam. We are indeed very happy with it. Fortunately, as it has to make do for a long time haha.
I hadn´t seen this post, repeat is a brilliant idea.
iI have repeated a few post for my new followers and for the old ones who didn´t see them at the time
Your house is warm, cosy and colourful, just up my alley. I can see the arm of a fucshia chair or armchair that would my favourite place when I visit you, lol
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It is the arm of my couch I think. Glad you like my home. I thought you might have seen it as you were the first person to see / discover my blog. You and Josep-Maria. And you encouraged me to really start a blog. I have not forgotten that.
lovely living room I relly like the colors!!
MYEMPTYBAG
Thanks. We are quite fond of it as well.
By the way, do you spend a lot of time in this lovely room? I know I would.
Yes, us Dutch are very homy. We spend a great deal of time indoors. Invite friends round for coffee or diner, so we love decorating our house. Besides, the greater part of the year it is too cold to spend time outside anyway. In England people tend to go to pubs a lot more than we do (apart from the young ones of course).
He was good because he not only helped you, but he also listened to you and what was also important to making you happy. Being able to listen to a client and then give helpful suggestions is a great quality for a salesman in the interior design business.
I do remember seeing this but since I love it even more this second time, I’m commenting again. I could easily transport this lovely space right into my home and enjoy it immensely. It’s refreshing, inviting, and unique which are three wonderful elements of style (at least in my book). I enjoy rooms that can bring in the natural light and the two of you did a fantastic job of letting this happen. I also love how you weren’t afraid to play with colors, which so many people stay away from, its just a wonderful wonderful room.
The man in the shop who helped us a great deal wanted us to pick a grey couch and add colour with cushions. But he gave in when he heard us going on about colour haha.
He was good though, he protected us from making some bad mistakes.
Beautifully colorful! And love the art gallery in the corridor. Your living space is very inviting and I can see why you love it. I love it too!
It is small but carefully put together. I think the whole house fits in your hat room hahaha.
wow!!! I m so glad I have checked out your blog. What a beautiful living room. I love the art pieces as well.
There is nothing like sources of inspiration.
Kim
Thank you Kim. Much appreciated.
You live in a really beautiful house, and I find it is very you! It looks so full of light and colours…I love the big window and the door looking on the garden! And the idea to put the drawings in the long corridor is delightful… the black and white floor of the coorridor is wonderful! Very nice post !! Your house tell us something more about you…
.o
Yes, houses do that. I remember that fun table you showed us once.
Upstairs is totally different though. As you have seen on the photos.
I love the vivid color and modern furniture and art. Best of all, the gorgeous dining set in front of the French doors. Must be lovely to have your meals there.
Usually I sit with my back to the garden haha. No, just kidding, we have created the garden in such a way, it is an extension of the living room. Have a look:
https://www.nofearoffashion.com/2013/01/the-garden-html
All the light is fantastic! Love the windows and floors, and yes, all the colorful art and furniture. We are currently redecorating and I am stealing ideas from you! Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xo.
Wow, Patti, I am flattered. Such a fun job, decorating a house.
Greetje, I only just started following your (or any) blog this past fall, so thank you for reposting. I am a real house snoop, love it when I pass by someone’s house at night, their blinds are open, and I can see in. Don’t give a hang about what the people are doing, I just want to see the house! My own house is decorated more in an English country style, with blue and white porcelain plates hung on the walls, lots of prints and different fabrics, overstuffed chairs and sofas, am sure you get the picture. So, your moderne style and the bright colors are outside my normal comfort zone, and I generally don’t like either. However, I adore your living room! omg, I really do! So fresh and original and happy! With results like that, I’d say it was worth taking out a loan. And I don’t blame you, I would never change it either.
There are more beautiful styles to decorate a home. Yours sounds terrific too.
It was rather a risk. We don’t really know what we are doing, we are no decorators. So we took the advice of somebody who could tell us why a certain choice was right or wrong. But he did not guide us all the way. The purple wall was our own idea from a different shop. And there were moments when we nearly blew it completely. Fortunately it came together again when the curtains arrived, connecting left to right and back to front.
And I hope I can keep you entertained with my blog.
OMG your abode is awesome….love the airy & Summer-fresh colors!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
Thank you Rebecca. It is small but because of the high ceilings it doesn’t feel like that.
What a lovely light streaming in from the tall windows. And what a beautiful living space you’ve created.
Thanks Bella. I thought I would show it as usually a home says a lot about a person.
I am so jealous! All that natural light! And the colour! Oh how I love the colour and art! A really eclectic room…just like your taste in art.
Keeping the lines clean and simple gives the illusion of a bigger space. You’ve done a brilliant job. Also having that massive painting and the higher ceilings really make it look spacious.
I hope I get to see this IRL soon : )
bisous
Suzanne
Glad you like it. I would have thought it would be too colourful for you. But there you go. Cannot understand your remark about all that natural light. Most living rooms have natural light haven’t they?
You will get a proper tour of course. Rest of the house is very different (we ran out of money haha).
We have almost zero natural light. Our house is built facing north and very close to the other houses. There is only one window in the living room and it faces north, so no natural light to speak of. The two bedrooms upstairs have some, but nowhere like what you have. Also, we have lower ceilings than you. Those tall ones are very European.
Right on with color and the blending of classic and modern. Sometimes I buy some the European interior design magazines and I see a more modern take on design than most American homes but this is changing. The purple wall pulls everything together. I like this bold move! Lovely collection of art, this makes a home so personal.
blue hue wonderland
Thank you very much. A compliment from an artist… I am so pleased.
That purple wall nearly brought us to our knees. At one point, when we did not have the curtains yet, nor the big bird painting, the room had a Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde look. If you looked at the side of the purple wall, everything was busy and outspoken. When you turned and looked at the other wall, everything was quiet and grey/kaki. At that point I thought we did it again: spent lots of money and still had no cohesion. The bird painting and especially the curtains pulled everything together. The curtains connected left to right and front to back.
I would have to been pretty mundane to say I don’t like it. I think it’s fun, beautiful, whimsical, inviting…It makes me want to entertain.
No, it would not be mundane to not like it. It can be totally NOT your taste. I accept that as a fact. But apparently you do like it. See how small our house is?
Great job…love all of the color. SInce I did not see it the first time, I am glad you did a repeat! Have a wonderful, colorful week ahead!
Thanks Pam. We still like it very much.