Belgium Project by Sulina Design

Sulina Design has transformed a renovated property into a natural-toned retreat taking cues from a nearby lake in Belgium.

This project was intended as a weekend residence, where a large family could gather and spend weekends or holidays together.

“We received a property with finished renovations, but it didn’t align with the requirements of the new owners at all,” said Sulina Design.

“It was decided to demolish everything possible and create a layout from scratch, based on the needs of our clients.”

The house features a sleek facade and is arranged across three levels.

According to the studio, the entire project was completed within a year, including the complete demolition of previous walls.

“The main inspiration came from the lake, near which the house is situated,” said the studio.

“A series of floor-to-ceiling windows allowed us to bring the natural landscape into the house, guiding us in the design of the future interior.”

Sulina Design arranged the interior by dedicating an entire floor to children and play.

“We wanted to create a space that one could easily breathe in and provides the opportunity to relax after a long work week,” said the studio.

“The main focus was on high-quality materials and their textures, along with shades of wood, walls, and furniture borrowed from the surrounding landscape.”

A unique feature of the design is that one can enter the living room from two sides – through the main entrance and through the kitchen.

“In the playroom on the second floor, we decided to place a large window facing into the house to make it more comfortable for parents to supervise children from the first floor,” the studio continued.

The living space features a neutral-toned colour palette complemented by earthier tones popping through different textures.

The oak flooring laid throughout the lower level provides the space with an organic feel.

“In the project, we wanted to achieve a sense of unity between the outdoor and indoor space,” said the studio. “The only background colour of the walls was chosen from almost 20 similar tones.”

One of the design challenges arose from existing structural elements, including the numerous load-bearing columns from the old house.

“Due to the significant changes in the room layouts, they literally obstructed the part of the future living room space,” explained the studio.

“We managed to conceal most of them by constructing small partitions that divide the living room into small zones,” it continued. “For example, a library appeared in the living room.”

In the kitchen, a utility room was camouflaged behind a kitchen cabinet.

The large kitchen island was designed to Sulina Design’s drawing and divided into two asymmetrical parts.