What has been your best house upgrade?
The kitchen. The whole place is made from old doors, skip-dived from the street. It looks custom, but everything is handmade with reclaimed materials.
My unpopular design opinion is…
Reuse everything—I mean everything. Just use paint to make it look different.
Unexpected design opinion?
The interwar period was a time of innovations—sober yet still very elegant. I love that period. I also love the famous painters of that time, like Matisse and Bonard. After World War II, designs became a bit tighter and more businesslike, which doesn’t suit me as much.
My go-to kitchen utensil is…
The mandoline slicer—food immediately looks so much nicer and more professional.
Three words that describe my design style:
Brocante, upcycled, and clustercore. (Also cluttercore, but clustercore is more accurate for me.)
Favorite design shop to visit (online or in person)?
Because I buy almost nothing new and rarely anything online, my favorite stores are secondhand shops. In Amsterdam, I love Tableware and Golden Bend. In France, I visit thrift stores and the Emmaus.
What is the last thing you purchased for your house?
For my French home, an old, compartmented wooden cupboard, which was once used to sort mail.
Something you’re coveting?
A beautiful pergola filled with wisteria. In a few years, it will hopefully get there.
Thanks so much, Helma! Follow her work at @helmabongenaar.
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