Curated Treasures

Beyond the classic 18th and 19th-century continental furniture in Inge Bemelmans’ home is a surprisingly eclectic mix of curios from across the world – from an Italian Santos doll to a Turkish crib 

- Mieke Vendel

Antiques are never dull or old fashioned. Each piece is unique, which is why they never date,’ explains Inge Bemelmans, an antiques dealer and long-term lover of everything and anything old and characterful. Inge comes from a family of collectors and so buying beautiful items wherever she goes is second nature for her. ‘A love of antiques is built into my DNA,’ she says. ‘My father and his family are passionate collectors of antique furniture, paintings and accessories, so I grew up surrounded by intriguing items. My father also loved to mix eras – combining classic pieces with modern design and African art.’ This talent for blending pieces from different periods and places can today be witnessed in Inge’s home – a 1930s thatched-roof villa in north Holland that she shares with her husband Willem and their two children.