NATURAL CHOICE

Wil and Bertus Aldershof discovered a 19th-century farm in the Dutch countryside with so much charm it sold itself

- Sean O'Connell

For Wil and Bertus Aldershof being relocated for work to a different part of the Netherlands was a major move, but an exciting one. For a year they lived in rental accommodation, biding their time and waiting for their ideal property to reveal itself until, suddenly, they heard that a 200-year-old farmhouse within a beautiful nature reserve had just come up for sale.

‘We went ahead and bought it knowing there would be modifications to make, such as improving the staircase leading to the first floor, creating a bedroom for our son Ardan, aged seven at the time, and also installing a wood burner in the sitting room,’ says Wil.

TRUE COLOURS

The surroundings proved ideal for them – being near a forest meant that the family were able to enjoy long country walks with their dogs – but it would take a while for the interior of the house to give them as much pleasure. ‘Inside, it was quite dark and all the woodwork was painted in a deep red,’ says Wil. ‘We agreed there was only one thing to do – we painted the whole space white and the effect was amazing. We felt like we had revealed the house’s soul.’

Creating the proverbial blank canvas meant they could then start slowly reintroducing colour. ‘When decorating, I think about contrast, which is important for creating a surprising and personal interior,’ says Wil. ‘I love contrasts,as they emphasise the relative strength of each element.’ From its all-white beginnings, the interior is now anything but monotone. ‘I often use green and blue together as it creates a strong look and adds personality to a room,’ says Wil.

STUDIO