If you’re longing to spend what’s left of the summer at a breezy beachside hideaway, then you’ll love the subject of today’s home tour. Called Villa Zilverduin, it sits amid sand dunes on the Dutch island of Ameland and is the stuff minimalists’ holiday dreams are made of. What’s more, it’s packed with beautiful design ideas that can be transplanted into any setting.
The traditional thatched cottage has been renovated from top to bottom by Studio Toff, who create sophisticated, liveable spaces that combine understated Nordic design with a strong sense of place. It’s now a pared-back yet very welcoming haven, with crisp white walls and clean-lined furniture softened by natural textures, billowing linen curtains and sandy beige tones that echo the coastal landscape outside.
Most of the ground floor is taken up by an L-shaped living area, the centrepiece of which is a vast dining table set beneath sections of ceiling that have been opened up to the rafters. A cluster of low-hanging pendant lamps (Muuto’s ‘Strand’ design) acts as a focal point, emphasising the lofty proportions and creating inviting pools of light for relaxed meals.
The kitchen units are from Reform’s ‘FRAME’ range, developed by Note Design Studio and characterised by distinctive triangular edging. The mix of geometric lines and warm, richly grained oak is perfect for the villa, incorporating another nature-inspired element without detracting from the minimalist feel. White wraparound worktops create a wonderful note of contrast, while a compact wall-hung shelving unit adds a bit of additional storage without the need for upper cupboards – something which would look cumbersome and distracting in such a light, airy space.
The sitting area is tucked around the corner and decorated in the same palette of colours and materials as the rest of the ground floor, but it has a much cosier feel. The lower ceiling and large beige rug help to zone it from the rest of the space, while the low-slung sofa combines boxy shapes with an enticing softnesss. There’s also a contemporary wood-burner, set on a bespoke hearth that doubles as a cushioned bench seat for fireside lounging.
The villa has four bedrooms – a bunk room on the ground floor, and three doubles nestled in the eaves above. They’re all simple, soothing sanctuaries, and Studio Toff has employed some very clever design tricks to make the most of the awkward dimensions. Shelves above the beds take the place of nightstands where space is tight, and the shape of the Trizo21 ‘Austere’ lamps neatly follows the slope of the ceilings. Banks of made-to-measure cupboards, meanwhile, squeeze as much storage as possible into the voids beneath the pitched roof.
The bathrooms also maximise space. Some have showers behind half-height walls topped by glass screens; others occupy wetroom-style sections of loft, with basins in the bedrooms themselves. All are decorated in a calming pink-tinged beige, with sleek matt-white fittings, geometric-pattern tiles and marble accents.
If you fancy staying at this beautiful place yourself then it’s available for holiday rentals via Studio Toff’s website, with rates starting at €500 per night for up to eight people.
All photography by To Huidekoper for Studio Toff, via Reform
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