Dutch Courage

Petra Postmus has brought fresh sensibilities to classic design themes in a home that surprises and delights at every turn

- Rachel Leedham

After a visit to the Palace of Versailles in France a few years ago, Dutch interior designer Petra Postmus honed her decor style. ‘I fell for the interiors of the Petit Trianon,’ recalls Petra, ‘and I realised this classic style is what I favour, albeit mixed with modern influences. I love the idea of transforming a home into a little château.’

The late 19th-century townhouse that Petra shares with her husband, Martin, is located in Utrecht, a city she describes as ‘a smaller version of Amsterdam, with its canals and a medieval town. I can get everywhere on my bike.’ When the couple bought the property, in 2011, they didn’t have far to move. ‘We were living seven doors down the street in a tiny 75-square-metre house,’ says Petra. ‘This place was a bit out of our budget but I managed to win Martin over because, at the time, he was running a cookery school and we realised we could have a big, open-plan kitchen in which he could hold classes.’