Minimalist Living in Rotterdam

3 Nov

Minimalist Living in Rotterdam

For Bram Gloerich and Martje van der Brugge, a clean, open and nominal distance feels like home. In their five-story house in Rotterdam, they keep things super simple, injecting colour through a chosen few accessories.

Gloerich began developing their city home in 2007, changing a multi-story property by a demolition site into a large and spacious home. The job is part of a major community development of which Gloerich was the chairman, and has been completed in January 2011. Even though a few finishing touches are yet to be created, the couple love their new spacious house, and are proud to have created a home where they could grow old together.

in a Glance:
Who lives here: Bram Gloerich and Martje van der Brugge
Location: Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Size: 250 square meters. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and guest toilet, spacious kitchen and dining, living room, two home offices, deck and shared rooftop terrace.

Holly Marder

Just off the entrance, the living room sets the tone. Crisp white walls along with the home’s sheer distance highlights the contemporary furniture. Lightly whitewashed oak floorboards run throughout.

The couple diminished the size of this living room in favor of creating a balcony overlooking the ground floor beneath. This permits light to stream in from large windows to the ground floor and the first floor.

Chairs: Gispen, recovered by De Ploeg fabric
Sofa: Gerard van den Berg by Montis
Coffee table: Linteloo
TV cabinet: Ikea

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A wooden staircase winds its way up either side of this five-story residence.

Sofa: Gerard van den Berg by Montis
Coffee table: Linteloo

Holly Marder

Gloerich and van der Brugge added a kitchenette in the living room to have the ability to make tea and coffee without having to run upstairs into the kitchen.

Kitchenette: ‘Attityd’ by Ikea

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After the couple first bought the house, it was actually two homes in one building, hence the two front doors. When their neighbors chose to market, Gloerich and van der Brugge jumped on the chance to buy their half and create a single large home that would be big enough for a family.

In the front entrance, a brief staircase leads into the living room, and yet another staircase leads down into Gloerich’shome office.

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The ground floor home office is long and spacious, with only a desk and 2 chairs. “I discovered that when it’s empty around me, my head is clear,” Gloerich says.

Double doors lead on a sunny patio; the perfect place to unwind. When the couple ended the patio in the end of the summer this past year, they obtained roughly one week of nice weather before it was too cold to enjoy being outdoors. They anticipate making more use from it this summer.

Chairs: Lord Yo by Philippe Starck
Table: Ikea

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The first design of this kitchen took place before the couple took over the next area of the house, and out of this perspective you can see through the kitchen. The living room was where the dining room is currently.

The fuss-free, spacious dining room features an eclectic mixture of chairs and a custom heavy oak abbey table.

“We did not really think too hard about layout,” van der Brugge says. “We were given a great deal of stuff and it all just came together quite well with what we had.”

Candlestick: Bauhaus
Chairs: Lord Yo by Philippe Starck

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Gloerich and van der Brugge wanted to maintain the kitchen as simple, spacious and light as possible. “When a space is open, empty and full of light, I feel fresh,” Gloerich says.

Gloerich and van der Brugge chose against wall cabinets to accentuate the height of the kitchen ceilings and keep open. “I needed it all to look really open, and think that cabinets up into the ceiling can close off a space,” he says.

Stool: Lyra for Magis
Wooden side table: Ikea

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The kitchen features 4-mm stainless steel countertops with a sunken cooktop.

“I like stainless steel a good deal. I chose this design because it’s so no-nonsense,” Gloerich says. “We did not want details that appear to be more than they’re. Everything you see is what you get — that’s what we wanted.”

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The i-cooking gas cooktop from ABK InnoVent features a flush-mount gas burner cooktop. The look is sleek and minimal, and keeps countertops free of this mess that accompanies cooking. Without a trickle plate, cracks or corners, food and dirt particles can be easily wiped away.

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With no wall cabinets, extra storage is essential. The cabinets along the opposite wall supply storage space and homes the oven. “A timeless design was important to us, something that would still do the job for us in five decades and beyond,” Gloerich says. “You just don’t understand what you’ll like in 10 years’ time, and I think we will still be very pleased with our kitchen,” van der Brugge adds.

Stool: Lyra for Magis
Wooden side table: Ikea

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A todaycollection of cooking books and crockery provides a splash of colour.

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Against a crisp white backdrop, these colorful glass vases include a little bit of playfulness. The vases were a present from Gloerich’s mother, whose glass collection includes pieces from Sweden, Scandinavia and Venice.

Glassware: Kosta Boda

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“Like Bram, I like a brand new, clean — perhaps for some people a bit empty — distance that’s nominal,” van der Brugge says. “I would go crazy in a space in which there are things, other things and much more things all around the place! … Eventually we will include more things that we like, but we don’t just go out to buy stuff simply to fill out the house.”

Light fixture: Knappa by
Ikea
Candlestick: Bauhaus
Chairs: Lord Yo by Philippe Starck
Table: Custom

Holly Marder

An original lithograph from the famous Dutch artist Corneille, a present to Gloerich out of his parents, adds colour and fun into the space.

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Van der Brugge’s home office on the third floor is light-filled and clutter free. A classic writing desk given to the couple by Gloerich’s parents is paired with a modern desk chair to get a clean and compact appearance.

Holly Marder

Holly Marder

Two side-by-side windows pour ample natural light into the master bedroom.

Straightforward white bed linen and crisp white walls and natural wood floors makes for a soothing escape.

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During the reconstruction, Gloerich and van der Brugge created an open-plan bathroom from the master suite.

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Inside the restroom, floor-to-ceiling rock tiling makes for a fresh and modern appearance. Behind a glass divider is a rain shower and ample space for 2.

White sheepskin rugs on either side of the bed are the only accessories in an otherwise crisp white bedroom.

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The couple decided quality Clou fittings to their toilet.

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On the same floor as the master suite, a multi-functional room offers a spacious spot to store hanging clothing, dress, sleep or relax.

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A day bed offers visitors a place to sleep, though Gloerich and van der Brugge often use this room for relaxing and watching TV. A 1970s original Alky chair in electric blue and the throw adds pops of colour.

Chair: Alky by Piretti for Castelli

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The rooftop terrace offers 360-degree views over Rotterdam. In the distance is the mast of this city’s iconic Erasmus Bridge. Located in the up-and-coming Katendrecht neighborhood of Rotterdam, the home offers city living in addition to space along with a friendly atmosphere for families and young professionals. Gloerich and van der Brugge enjoy Rotterdam’s metropolitan way of life, and believe their home offers all they may need for household life in the future.

Holly Marder

Bram and Martje at home.

More:
Ultra Modern at Rotterdam
Early 20th Century Meets Contemporary
Lofty Living at the Heart of the Randstad

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