Photography: DePasquale+Maffini
08 / 05 / 2026
A kaleidoscope of colour and light bathed by natural daylight, textures that send a gentle shiver down the spine, sculptures and vibrant canvases set against a blooming landscape. Alexandra Novo guides us through the imaginative world of the Belgian interior designer, Julie Thiers, portrayed in her rural retreat which has been transformed into a laboratory and way of life.
The rural landscape of Flanders is interrupted by a monolithic brick structure with wooden window frames. This mysterious, minimalist-looking solid is a tribute to Danish modernism. From the outside, the robustness of the 550 m2 volume is striking, yet there is little hint of the poetry inscribed within the walls and the openings that lead from the interior out onto the vast pasture. The realm of creativity thrives on this and other mirages.
What would become of us without the gift of imagination and the ability to transform our gaze, to let ourselves be seduced by the gentle enchantment that suggests the beauty of an object? This is the premise of the Illus brand, created five years ago by the interior designer Julie Thiers. Illus – a word derived from ‘illusion’ – brings together design objects in a collection of mirrors, accessories and hardware, all of which are handmade in Belgium and stem from a desire to reconnect with craftsmanship and the soul of handcrafted objects. These are more than merely decorative elements; Julie envisions pieces that function as interventions in interior architecture, capable of bringing poetry to everyday life.
This project, developed in collaboration with the architect Pascal Bilquin, is the home where the designer lives with her family, and which has become a manifesto and a place of experimentation tailored to her daily life.
What would become of us without the gift of imagination and the ability to transform our gaze, to let ourselves be seduced by the gentle enchantment that suggests the beauty of an object? This is the premise of the Illus brand, created five years ago by the interior designer Julie Thiers. Illus – a word derived from ‘illusion’ – brings together design objects in a collection of mirrors, accessories and hardware, all of which are handmade in Belgium and stem from a desire to reconnect with craftsmanship and the soul of handcrafted objects. These are more than merely decorative elements; Julie envisions pieces that function as interventions in interior architecture, capable of bringing poetry to everyday life.
This project, developed in collaboration with the architect Pascal Bilquin, is the home where the designer lives with her family, and which has become a manifesto and a place of experimentation tailored to her daily life.
The project is underpinned by flow and circulation patterns. Essential from the very first sketches, the internal layout sought to eliminate as many barriers, corridors and dead spaces as possible. And in this way, expansive and serene perspectives were created, both within the interior dynamics and in the connection with the outside. Bursts of greenery enter virtually every room.
Related Articles
