INSPIRING
Drawing on her skills and experience and influences from around the world, an interior designer has infused her beautiful period home with a minimalist look that is both contemporary and cosy
HOME PROFILE
Elly Vriens, an interior designer and founder of El-Interiors (el-interiors.nl)
An apartment in a six-storey canalside house built in 1890 in Amsterdam
SITTING AREA
This first-floor space at the front of the house has lovely views over the water. Three-seater sofa and leather-topped coffee table, Rupert & Rupert. Petra chairs and footstools, &Tradition. Double-faced linen curtains, Designs of the Time
DINING AREA
Part of the large open-plan space, this section has vintage Arne Jacobsen chairs upholstered in woven fabric and cognac-coloured leather. Upholstery fabrics, Designs of the Time. Pendant lights, Penta
when an interior designer finds the house of her dreams, it’s the chance for a little bit of magic to happen. And this was certainly the case for Elly Vriens, an interior designer from Amsterdam who has transformed properties all over the world with her chic minimalist style combined with a relaxed approach focusing on warm natural materials.
The house she fell in love with was a six-storey property located right in the heart of the old city, overlooking the river Amstel and with views of the Magere Brug (or Skinny Bridge). ‘This is a typical canal house, with large windows, high ceilings and decorative mouldings,’ explains Elly. ‘It’s now divided into two apartments but it was important to me to keep the original structure and the beautiful ceilings.’
As with many canal houses, the floors don’t align with street level; basements are half a floor underground and so, Elly explains: ‘That means the ground floor is also a half-floor above street level with a few steps up to the front door. My home consists of the basement, ground and first floor and, while the apartment itself is beautiful, I felt I needed more space, so I added a glass extension across the three floors at the back of the house, which provided two extra rooms and a terrace.’
Even before moving in, in February 2019, Elly had plans for the property: ‘When I bought the house, I knew I wanted four bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms, so my children would be able to come and stay. My office and showroom were to be on the ground floor to keep my work and home life separate as far as possible, and a living area was to be located on the first floor to take advantage of the stunning view of the canal,’ she explains.
‘I designed everything myself, including many of the fitted elements such as the kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and bathroom vanity units, and then had them custom made by a carpe
