HENK at Home with Lidian van Megen
In the 'HENK at home' series, we visit people who inspire us to give you a glimpse into their daily lives at home. This time, we visit Lidian van Megen, who lives with her boyfriend Louk in a monumental building in Haarlem.
Lidian van Megen (31) is a photographer and lives with her boyfriend Louk in picturesque Haarlem. Two years ago, they bought a building from 1914 there, which needed to be renovated from top to bottom. The result is an interior where classic and modern meet in a richly nuanced palette of classic, stylish colors.
Lidian, you’ve had quite an intense renovation, it seems?
“That’s right. When we bought this house, we knew a lot needed to be done. The previous occupant had completely neglected the house. But gradually, it turned out that even more renovation was needed than we initially thought. So, although it took longer than expected, it was immensely worth it. We were able to fully design the spaces as we wanted them. For example, instead of a separate bathroom, we now have a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. I really like that because it gives your house a hotel feel.”
The colors in your home are very defining for the atmosphere. Why did you choose, for example, a kitchen in terra-rose and woodwork in a kind of olive green?
“We chose classic colors, mostly inspired by Sikkens' RIJKS fan deck, which is based on the colors used by the old masters in their paintings. This house has many classic elements, while we wanted a modern interior – and these colors make everything a natural whole. I believe that if you dare to use color, you can create a lot of atmosphere in an interior.”
We see some personal details recurring here and there?
“Indeed. I am a true collector and always bring back objects I find beautiful, such as a shell or a leaf. I now have eight boxes of such memories, and once in a while, I look through them and make a kind of collage of those objects. I have created a still life on the mantelpiece with some of these memorabilia. For example, there's a small piece of the original wallpaper from 1914 – which appeared under the stucco during the renovation – next to an ultrasound scan of our daughter, whom I am currently expecting. I think these kinds of elements really give an interior personality.”
Why did you choose a Studio HENK table?
“We have several friend groups, and one of those groups consists of ten people. So, one of the conditions in our search for a table was that it should seat ten people. Additionally, we wanted as many organic shapes as possible in our interior, because the house is a kind of building block with a lot of symmetry. That’s why, besides the Blob tabletop, we also chose a lamp and a sofa with organic shapes.”
You also have the Oblique Lounge. What do you find so beautiful about that chair?
“I love the graphic design. It again forms a beautiful, modern contrast to this old building. Additionally, I think the chic black of the frame goes well with all the colors in our house.”
Inspired by Lidian's story and her choice of the Oblique Lounge and the Blob tabletop? View the chair with its minimalist design here and the dining table characterized by its natural shapes here.