My Houzz: Cashmere Adorns a Bright, Cozy Amsterdam Loft

Isabelle Cajfinger enjoys views from her Amsterdam loft of one of the city’s iconic landmarks, the illustrious Amstel Hotel. Its exclusive location and distinct exposed beams were just enough to push Cajfinger, a marketing executive at Cashmere Touch, to overlook the salmon-colored carpeting, which she immediately changed anyway.

"I loved the light in the living room, and I knew right away that changing the horrible carpet for a light wooden floor would do justice to my furniture and particularly my collection of tapestries, rugs and throws," Cajfinger says. The space, a rental, had to be just right, since she uses her home as a private showroom for her hand-woven cashmere decor pieces.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Isabelle Cajfinger and her 2 daughters
Location: Amsterdam
Size: 170 square meters (about 1,829 square feet); 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

The existing white walls and creamy exposed beams played a major part in boosting the natural light, but the salmon carpeting had to go. Cajfinger ripped up the drab carpeting in favor of pale oak floorboards, a move that amped up the brightness factor and added style.

"The high ceilings and exposed beams seduced me instantaneously," Cajfinger says. "I saw right away which beams I would use to hang my tapestries and how the light would reflect on the chain stitch, how my craftsmen's work will live with the light and reflect it." The tapestry of four colorful fish is a hand-embroidered piece made of merino wool on a cotton canvas.



All of Cajfinger's cashmere designs, from cushions to throw blankets to decorative pieces, are produced in the mountains of Kashmir. “The air is so cold that the wool is at its absolute finest,” she says. The process in which the wool is cut, cleaned, combed and woven into the beautiful products that are strewn throughout Cajfinger’s home has led high-end labels like Hermès to inquire about them.

Because she uses her home as a showroom, the decor is constantly changing as new items are created and then sold.


“I am drawn to minimalist spaces that are warm and filled with quality pieces,” Cajfinger says. In this less-formal setting of the TV lounge and guest room, an Italian sofa bed folds out into either a double or two single beds.

A hand-embroidered mural of the Singel canal in Amsterdam hangs from a sloped wall here.


This little antique butler's table is a lucky rescue from an Amsterdam sidewalk. Cajfinger painted it a pale pistachio green, and the piece is now proudly displayed in front of one of the apartment's many dormer windows.

Cajfinger prefers to stick to a palette of muted tones in her home. Every so often a dash of vibrant orange or red adds variety.


Cajfinger had this ottoman in the living room reupholstered with hand-crafted blue and white cashmere.



Cajfinger enjoys the central location of her kitchen, which enables her to converse with guests in the living room or dining room while preparing meals.


Cajfinger owes much of her style to an upbringing filled with creativity and style. “My mother was always incredibly elegant, as were my grandparents; and my brother, Paris-based fashion designer Serge Cajfinger, is incredibly visual," she says.

The contemporary Asian sideboard here is made of old Chinese electrical poles. "Since there is never enough [storage] in Amsterdam to stock tableware, it's a very practical piece," she says.


Despite the history that surrounds her in the Dutch capital, Cajfinger’s personal style has become more modern during her time in Amsterdam. “There are so many modern designers in Amsterdam," she says. "Discovering this, I realized I was very traditional, although I am increasingly drawn to modern design."

Though some may be apprehensive about opting for white dining chairs, Cajfinger finds them highly practical. "White is about the only color that can remain clean, and [the chairs are] very practical with younger children, as they can be soaked and bleached white when needed," she says.



The hallway is a light and bright extension of the living room, with exposed beams and vibrant accent pillows. "This was the first time we used suédine [faux suede] on one of our products; usually we only have wool and canvas on our pillows," Cajfinger says.


Intricately detailed cashmere plus linen dresses the bed. The throw cushion on the end is adorned with a drawing by a child.


Both the dresser and chair are antiques. The suede blazer hanging on the door leading to an en suite bathroom is a favorite piece, designed by Cajfinger’s brother for Paule Ka.


“My apartment feels as though it could be in any of the major cities that I love, such as New York, London or Paris, but facing one of the city's most historical landmarks that accommodates celebrities from across the globe gives the apartment a unique balance between local and international,” says Cajfinger, shown here.

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