11.02.14

Kicking off a new week today with a bright and cheerful home! This time, it is the bright and cheerful home belonging to Nancy Berendsen, which I photographed last year my Decor8 column, Homes with Heart. The moment I stepped inside this Oostzaan, The Netherlands, abode, I was in love. Calm but colorful, eclectic but contemporary. It was all of those things and more. It was a feast for the eyes, so as you can imagine, a lot of clicking of the camera ensued and I’m excited to bring you the full scoop today. Just the ticket too because it’s starting to feel a lot like spring around these parts and this tour inspired me to boost the colour factor at home and start getting excited about the warmer temperatures that are on their way and will have us enjoying the outdoors in no time!

“Don’t pin me on to just one type of style, it would kill me,” says Nancy Berendsen. The blogger behind Nice Nancy and magazine editor prefers an eclectic mix of old and new in the home she shares with her husband, two children and puppy, Molly. “I love mixing old with new, such as vintage leather with soft cottons or fluffy sheepskin, to draw the eye in.”

Nancy layers in pastel, brights and antiques and design pieces alike against a fresh white canvas. “I wanted to create a joyful home where family and friends feel welcome, warm and energized,” she says.

When they first laid eyes on what would become their family home, it had everything that they were looking for – space, fresh country air and loads of potential. The couple immediately began a full scale renovation – aided by an architect – in which injecting as much natural light as possible into the dated home was the first priority. Having always been drawn to bright Scandinavian interiors in which natural light plays a crucial role to the home and its inhabitants, Nancy wanted her home to be a cheerful place for her family, even in the darkest of days. During the renovation, the combined living, kitchen and dining room were completely reworked to maximize natural light. A section of the roof and exterior wall of the home was removed and replaced with a steel framed glass window that follows the contours of the house.

Glass sliding doors that run the length of the house leading out onto the patio also worked to open up the space and invite the outdoors in. With views over the neighbouring farms and a small stream, the patio is as much apart of the home’s living space as the interior itself during the warmer months.

Nancy’s keen eye for detail, texture, colour and shape, and a love of vintage and preloved treasures, has her regularly scouring flea markets and online marketplaces for treasures to add to her home’s interior. “I love to play with different materials to create a cozy atmosphere at home,” she says.

Bright pops of colour combine effortlessly with pastels and neutrals alike. “I love colours. They add optimism to a space, but it has to be in a soft, balanced way,” she says. Nancy also uses colour to balance out the mix of design styles throughout her home.

“I love to go thrifting and I’m always on the hunt for simple, strong and beautiful design,” says Nancy. But there’s more to clever thrifting than meets the eye. Nancy takes all things into consideration before bringing scoured treasures home with her, but shape plays a primary role in the selection process. “Shape is incredibly important, whether it’s the curved legs of a chair or the bow of a spoon,” she says. “At the moment I’m deeply in love with old-fashioned candle holders with a handle.”

Aren’t Nancy’s children’s rooms adorable? I love the simplicity of their spaces but their strong feminine and masculine qualities that combine old pieces with newer items. But to me the best part of this home was Nancy’s ability to casually mix vintage, boho and modern looks in one consistent space without it looking cluttered and incoherent.

A huge thank you to the very lovely Nancy for opening up your gorgeous home to me, and sweet puppy Molly for entertaining me for the day. My goodness, what a cute pup! I was considering sneaking her into the car and taking her back home with me, I tell you.

To read the full story and see more images from this tour, be sure to stop by Decor8 and take a peek.

Have a great day, and I’ll be back again soon with wedding inspiration!

Holly x

* Photography by Holly Marder/Avenue Lifestyle

Posted in Inside Scoop, Interior, Styling