My Houzz: Laid Back With Lots of Style

As an interior stylist, Marieke Rusticus loves to rearrange furniture and accessories around her house. However, the base style always remains the same: fuss free and laid back, with an aesthetic marked by earthy tones.

When Rusticus and her boyfriend, Eddy Spaansen, moved into their home in the Netherlands eight years ago, they wanted their interior to be light and airy. With the help of creative, hands-on family members (and some big picture windows), they slowly achieved their desired look.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Marieke Rusticus; Eddy Spaansen; their children, Mees (age 11) and Eefje (7); and their English basset hound, Simon
Location: Zwolle, the Netherlands
Size: 1,077 square feet (100 square meters); 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

The couple decided not to install wall cabinets in the open kitchen, so plenty of natural light could stream in uninterrupted from the large window.


Rusticus painted the accent wall with chalkboard paint, so the family members can leave messages for one another — including funny notes, drawings and inspirational quotes. The sleek base cabinets are from Ikea.

Refrigerator: Smeg in black


This vintage scale has sentimental value for Rusticus; her grandfather used it to weigh screws in his iron and tools shop.


The couple created a cozy seating area near the kitchen window, where they could drink a cup of coffee while enjoying the view outside. Rusticus’ brother, Tjeerd, works in construction and made the sliding door out of underlayment.

On the windowsill is a small statue made by Rusticus’ mother, Marjan, who is a sculptor. The Acapulco chair is vintage.


Rusticus made a side table from old suitcases her family used when traveling to the northern Dutch islands. Above the suitcases is a painting by René van der Hoofd; the sculpture is by Marjan Rusticus.

The pendant lamp was a DIY project; Rusticus wrapped rope around a Muuto pendant.


Rusticus couldn’t decide on a matching set of dining chairs, so she just went with four different styles. The table used to have a wooden top; the couple replaced it with a white glossy one. To save space and create more seating, the pair added a bench with storage underneath, which they made cozy with cushions.

Above the Eames rocker hangs a card holder, where different cards make a budget-friendly art piece.

Pendant lamp: CB0303, House Doctor; chairs: Loods 5


The space was ample enough to accommodate this big, timeless sofa from Sur & Plus. The old cabinet door behind it displays photos. The wooden door on the right leads to the pantry.


The family’s beloved dog, Simon, loves to lie in front of the TV on his oversize cushion, under the watchful eye of legendary French actor and animal-rights activist Brigitte Bardot.

Spaansen and Rusticus made the wooden media storage unit. The unique paper-pulp Trash Me lamp was designed by Victor Vetterlein for &Tradition.


In another corner of the living room sits a sculpture by Rusticus’ mother. Serving as a backdrop is a print from Laif & Nuver that Rusticus admired for its neutral color scheme.


The couple designed and built the coatrack in the entry hallway using pipes. Baskets and a storage trunk help keep the area clutter free.


The stairway is light and airy thanks to a skylight. Rusticus likes to create simple, quirky vignettes like this one at the top of the stairs. A branch painted white and fitted with a lamp serves as a hat rack and helps illuminate the stairs at night.





Button-shaped knobs from HK Living hang at the top of the stairs.


Daughter Eefje’s room is small, but a loft bed helps maximize space. Eefje loves to play with her dolls or read books on the sofa tucked under her bed.

Bed: Steigerhout, Jorg; closet: PS Cabinet, Ikea; string lights: Happy Lights


Spaansen and Rusticus made the desk in son Mees’ room. A pair of vintage suitcases from his grandparents helps keep clutter under control.

Bed: Steigerhout, Jorg


Both Mees and his father are car enthusiasts; a family friend who used to be a Porsche dealer gave the youngster this rim as a gift.


A few favorite family photos take the place of a headboard in the couple’s bedroom. The lamp on the nightstand is an heirloom from Rusticus’ grandparents.


Rusticus’ brother built the master bedroom closet. This is also made of underlayment, like the sliding door in the kitchen.

Folding chair: Iron Chair, HK Living


The upstairs flooring is all underlayment treated with a whitewash. Rusticus was looking for a budget-friendly solution, saw an example of this in a Dutch magazine and replicated it.

A few favorite fashion pieces are displayed on an old cabinet door.


Marieke Rusticus stands at the top of the stairs with Mees.

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