Alexandra Novo leads us through a house that could be a book, where design becomes palpable, materials touch each other, drawers open and the imagination flourishes.
On the banks of Haarlem's main canal, the 1886 building stands discreetly monumental. Inside, the spacious rooms with their tall windows, old fireplaces and richly ornamented ceilings serve as a blank canvas for one of the most striking projects by the designers Jeroen Stock and Leonie Hendrikse, the Stock Show Home. As the headquarters of their studio, Stock Dutch Design, the house also doubles as their home, where they live with their two dogs and three children. There are 500 m2 of emotional narrative, reflecting an effervescent personality, open to sharing and exploration.
The biggest challenge was to generate fluidity in such a vast area. ‘We wanted the floors to be connected both in terms of colour and atmosphere, so warm tones were mixed throughout the house. For example, the wood on the first floor is darker than that on the ground floor, but both belong to the same family of greens, making the transition feel natural and harmonious,’ says Leonie. The studio is located on the ground floor, a creative area with a kitchen that leads directly to the garden. The first floor marks the beginning of the residential area where the family cooks, socialises and relaxes. On this floor, there is also a small office for working or private calls, and this is where the fabric room is found – pleasure and work come together. The second and third floors accommodate the bedrooms.