HENK at home with Jantine Vaartjes

In the 'HENK at home' series, we visit people who inspire us to give you a peek into their daily lives at home. This time, we visit Jantine Vaartjes, the Dutch editor of Scandinavian Living.

Jantine lives in a minimalist bungalow in Alkmaar with her husband Chris and two children. In addition to her job as an editor, she has worked for years as a photographer and stylist, and she is the owner of Pathou Studio. We spoke to her about her work, passion, and love for interiors, where she draws her inspiration from, and the role sustainability plays in her life.

How would you describe your interior style?
Minimalist but warm, modern yet personal, and above all, calm and serene without too much excess. I find it difficult to really describe a specific style. I primarily do many things by feeling and try more and more often to base my choices on my inner feeling and not be distracted by what others think. Ultimately, it often turns out that my first feeling was right. I still remember exactly the moment I first visited Copenhagen, and for me, it was a feeling of coming home. Finally, it was confirmed that my style wasn't boring.
 
Besides being the editor of Scandinavian Living magazine, you are also a stylist and photographer. What inspires you?
Inspiration is everywhere for me: in shops, on the street, in magazines, visiting other cities, but certainly also on Instagram by following people with their own style. This doesn't necessarily have to be only interiors; fashion also inspires me enormously. It is mainly combinations of colors, forms, and materials that can inspire me. My friends can tell exactly by my look when I like something when I observe an environment or even someone walking by in a certain way. I find it so inspiring when someone truly has their own style and dares to show it. Not standard and unique is what I find very inspiring.
 
What is important to you when purchasing a new piece of furniture?
I mainly look at what my first feeling tells me. Comfort is certainly important, especially in a family with children, so that is in most cases something that is important when purchasing a piece of furniture. I must admit that sometimes I can find something genuinely beautiful because of a certain shape where comfort then becomes secondary. I then get an image in my head where the piece of furniture becomes more of an object in the house. I also primarily look at how the piece of furniture interacts with its surroundings and the rest of the furniture.
 
What is your favorite room in the house and why?
I don't really have a favorite room; our whole house feels so nice. Because we live in a bungalow, which we have completely renovated, we make optimal use of all spaces and there is always a connection between different rooms. In winter, for example, I really like being in my study, which is actually more like a second living room with a wonderful sofa, lots of dark wood, and also a television. We love having movie nights and cocooning in our own home. But in the summer, on the other hand, the doors to our terrace and garden are always open, and we have much more of a connection with the outside, which then becomes a second living space. It almost feels like a kind of holiday.
 
How does sustainability play a role in your daily life?
Sustainability is indispensable and comes up daily in my work as an editor. It's great to see how many initiatives there are in the field of sustainability and brands that are becoming increasingly aware of this. When making choices, it's good to look at the quality, the use of materials, and to make more conscious choices when purchasing something new. For example, give something a second life by looking at it in a different way, or think a little longer about whether you really need something. In your daily life, it can be small things you change that make a difference.
 
You chose our Slant dining table and Ode dining chairs, what do you find appealing about these designs? 
What I like about the Slant dining table is its form with a subtle organic shape. Not too excessive, but just a little different from usual. The table is even more beautiful in real life than in the picture, and I am very happy with the lighter wood color in combination with our black wooden wall. I also think it combines very well with the dark wooden room divider in our house. Everything becomes a little softer due to this combination and the rounder shapes. The chairs complete the soft feeling and I think they are a truly timeless design that looks beautiful in almost any interior.