A 1930s villa in North Holland

Antiques are never dull or old-fashioned. Each piece is unique, which is why they never date,’ explains Inge Bemelmans, an antiques dealer and long-term lover of everything and anything old and characterful. Inge comes from a family of collectors and so buying beautiful items wherever she goes is second nature for her. ‘A love of antiques is built into my DNA,’ she says.

‘My father and his family are passionate collectors of antique furniture, paintings and accessories, so I grew up surrounded by intriguing items. My father also loved to mix eras – combining classic pieces with modern design and African art.’ This talent for blending pieces from different periods and places can today be witnessed in Inge’s home – a 1930s thatched-roof villa in north Holland that she shares with her husband Willem and their two children.

The couple moved here after marrying in 2004. Inge had ridden her bicycle past the house a number of times and loved how tucked away it was. ‘When I saw the property on the market I convinced Willem to come and have a closer look with me. When we stood in the hallway Willem looked at me and whispered “Sold” in my ear. At that point we could only glimpse the beautiful stairway but that was enough for us both.’

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The decor was far from remarkable back then but today it is filled with art, collections and antiques that span the eras. Pieces that date from the 18th and 19th centuries are Inge’s favourites ‘because of their character and craftsmanship’ and she has a particular fondness for pieces from France; ‘they’re just so elegant. We love going to the south of France; it’s like a second home to us. The French have such good taste and the landscape there is so lovely. We always come back feeling so inspired and with a suitcase full of new findings.’

Inge’s tastes aren’t just restricted to the rustic elegance of French antiques though. She has buying trips planned to Turkey and Morocco where she is passionate about ‘the vibrant colours’ and also has a penchant for Swedish pieces. ‘I love Swedish antiques because of their bright colours and simplicity,’ she explains. ‘My Swedish painted rococo chairs in the dining room are favourites of mine.’

Indeed, her home certainly isn’t one-note and the clever mix of styles keep it from feeling like a museum. Collections of coins and botanical prints are teamed with quirkier items such as fragments of antique crockery, a leather hippo and a Santos doll. In the living room alone, a Turkish baby cradle is used as a coffee table, while the cupboard is classic French and the sofa, Swedish.

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‘For me, it’s important to have a loose – even haphazard – approach to interior decoration. Aesthetics are key but this is also a home for two children and two dogs – it needs to feel relaxed.’ Colour also adds to the warm, homely feel of the house and Inge hasn’t been afraid to opt for deep shades. ‘Using more contemporary colours with antiques is a great way to emphasise the beauty of a piece. It also tends to unwind things a little,’ she says.

And what does Inge’s husband Willem think of their constantly evolving home, where furniture is often rearranged and pieces regularly come and go? ‘The deal when Willem asked me to marry him was that I could have my way with the interior decoration and he could hang on to the antique Frisian longcase clock that he inherited from his mother,’ Inge laughs.

It’s an arrangement that seems to work beautifully for the couple and also happily for their enduringly captivating home too.