A love letter to personalised design written in strong, vivid colours. That is exactly what one feels in this family home, named ‘Elinor’, which is nestled within the extremities of Brussels and transformed by Germany-born interior architect and designer, Victoria-Maria Geyer. A cornerstone of the remodel was the amalgamation of new additions to the existing build. The masterful use of colour here works to incorporate a sense of cosiness, while still lending itself to layered vibrancy. “For us, colour is never just an aesthetic choice; it’s a structural one,” she notes. “We use it to manipulate space – compressing or expanding rooms, anchoring particular zones, and creating emotional pacing throughout the house.”
This sentiment is exemplified by the Amoir Fou wallcovering by Dedar in their moiré fabric collection, which coats the dining area walls. The deep blue shade with nuanced grey undertones, features characteristic wavy textural details typical of moiré. Here, even the ceiling is painted blue, and the mid-century sensibilities of floor-to-ceiling windows truly make one imagine that the sky is extending itself into the home, while framing a grand, vintage chandelier. The Brionvega radiofonografo in the corner delightfully adds historical nuance. Continuity and legacy are an enduring part of this sanctuary’s design story.
The house carries a strong emotional charge, having once been the current resident’s childhood home. Now, living here with his spouse and two children, there is a special familial warmth that extends from the past into the present atmosphere. This is further reflected in the materials selected by Victoria-Maria. “Materials like terrazzo and travertine bring gravitas and permanence, while velvet and moiré introduce softness, warmth, and acoustic comfort. We also incorporated antique fabrics to counterbalance the precision of the new construction, offering a sense of accumulated history and layering.”
Pronounced colours in saturated swathes allow for playfulness against the amply disbursed calming mellow-toned wooden elements and parquet flooring. “The living area is anchored by sumptuous berry-toned velvet sofas that add both warmth and elegance. The vibrant red and orange hues of a Peter Halley artwork complement these tones, creating a rhythmic visual harmony,” elaborates Victoria-Maria. As evidenced in the second living room, which features a Pierre Frey carpet with burgundy patches and red-painted walls alongside bubble-gum pink seating – delving into the interplay of pigmented shades in the home is a consistent choice.
Mid-century modern design forms the bones of the vision here, but the vintage, personalised pieces and unparalleled colour choices raise the aura from cookie-cutter cleanliness to a personalised abode. “Playfulness was embedded subtly in the design through the use of colour, tactile surfaces, and flexible rooms that can adapt to the needs of the family – whether it’s a space of calm or chaos,” Victoria-Maria says. “The aim was to create a home that grows with its inhabitants, where elegance is not fragile but lived-in and approachable.”
This blend of intricate and curated elements brings to life a home with indelible character, which embodies a family legacy, weaving the threads of memories and present moments in a striking way.
