My Houzz: A Dutch Home's Gorgeous Vintage Style

Television shows such as Mad Men and movies by Wes Anderson (think Moonrise Kingdom) may have ignited the world’s love affair with all things retro, but stylist and blogger Kay de Bruin began collecting vintage furniture, paintings and accessories long before Mad Men first aired. Although she was born and raised in England, Kay lives in a small town in the Netherlands. “Most of my vintage I get from the U.K. and from the spring flea markets here in the Netherlands,” she says of the finds that fill the home she shares with husband Roel and daughter Nila. She has a knack for finding an array of vintage pieces, creating a beautiful blend of vintage colors, design and functionality.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Roel and Kay de Bruin, and their daughter, Nila
Location: Zuid Holland, The Netherlands
Size: 1,830 square feet (170 square meters); 3 bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms
Year built: 1901

The home’s main floor consists primarily of one large room that serves as the living room, dining room and study. Kay has divided this open space into different functional areas without making things confusing.

Although most of the walls in the house are painted, Kay added wallpaper to one wall — the first one a visitor sees while coming through the front door.

Lamp: Fase, The Kula; vase: Hella Jongerius for Ikea; coffee table: Isamu Noguchi; black armchair: Arka, Yngve Ekström


This unique chair with its orange fabric makes a bold statement in one part of the main room. The addition of a floor lamp turned the space into a reading area.

Chair: Orange Slice, Artifort


Tucked in a quiet corner of a busy room is a writing desk.


Sun from the back garden streams into the kitchen and dining area. “My husband has a nice collection of colorful Eames chairs,” Kay says, and they are at home around the dining table.

Table: Super-elliptical by Piet Hein and Bruno Mathsson


The kitchen is set apart but still visible from the main room, near the dining space.

Chair: F510 by Geoffrey Harcourt; pillows: Nicework, Etsy


“We just painted our kitchen a couple of months ago,” Kay says. “We got most of our paint from the U.K.”

Light fixture: PH50, Poul Henningsen


Kay’s ability to mix and match random pieces and create offbeat vignettes can be seen throughout the home. One example is this swan set on top of the record player, a Beogram 1500, designed by Jacob Jensen for Bang & Olufsen.


Another example can be found in a vignette featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth sitting beside a 1950s four-drawer stand. Every shelf throughout the room is perfectly styled. Another vintage media piece, the radio on top of the cabinet, is an old Philips.

Eames House Bird: Vitra


Both Kay and Roel are avid collectors. She collects furniture and art, while he is interested in vintage cameras. A little collection of vintage things in pale blues sits inside a small, colorful cabinet.


Etta James is playing on the Technics turntable.


A small vintage teak trolley from Sweden stores magazines and books.

Pottery: Vicky Hageman


Kay is also a big fan of pastel ceramics from the ’50s. Part of her collection is showcased in this hutch.


Art and collectibles can be found throughout the home. One of Roel’s handmade mobiles hangs in the stairway. The German wall masks are from the 1950s.


The master bedroom holds a collection of handmade pillows, all purchased on Etsy.


A small dresser also fits into the space. As with other pieces in the home, the top and stool beside it are perfectly styled.

Vintage print: Vladimir Tretchikoff


A corner of the room holds two distinctly different chairs.

Louis Ghost chair: Philip Stark


The prints that hang in Nila’s room were purchased from Etsy.


The third bedroom was turned into a small office, where “our vinyl collection is growing fast,” Kay says.

La Fonda side chair: Eames


Part of Roel’s collection of cameras from the 1940s to ’60s fills the small shelves in this room.


The back garden features plenty of greenery and places to relax. “I guess you could call my style tropical cottage garden,” Kay says.


The sunny backyard is also a favorite spot of the family cats.


Kay has made some small outdoor rooms, like this one at the back of the house. “In the summer we live outside,” she says.


The pleasant view from the front door is equally enchanting, and includes the nurseries and the flowering rhododendrons of the neighbors.


Kay relaxes in her backyard.

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