two doors down

When an apartment on her street came up for sale, interior designer Nicoline Beerkens jumped at the chance for a fresh start

- Fidessa van Rietschoten/Juliet Benning

Nicoline Beerkens has come to know that if she sets herself a deadline, an eclectic and vibrant interior follows soon after. ‘A lot of people ask me how I get a sense that a home is completed,’ says the Amsterdam-based interior designer. ‘But the answer is simple: if I know there will be a photo shoot or an interview, then everything, down to the accessories and styling, must be done before that moment.’

When the listing for this house came on the market, Nicoline and her husband Pieter lived only two doors away. At first, they convinced friends to buy the apartment, located in a building dating from 1939, but when the sale fell through they snatched it themselves. ‘ That delighted me as I was ready for an new look,’ says Nicoline. ‘I actually prefer to start a new home entirely from scratch, so our last property was sold with all its furniture. We only moved the artwork and antiques, plus the two Groovy blue chairs by Pierre Paulin that my husband inherited from his grandparents – they always come with us.’