Ph o t o s & t e x t : Pi a v a n S p a e n d o n c k . Ed i t e d b y : R i k k e V & L o n n i e .
FRENCH VINTAGE WITH A TWIST
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WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AT BIE BAERT'S CHARMING HOUSE IN SINT JOB IN'T GOOR, 12 MILES FROM THE CENTER OF ANTWERPEN IN BELGIUM, IT’S LIKE ENTERING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WORLD. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR BIE THAT HER CUSTOMERS FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN THEY ENTER HER HOUSE. SHE WANTS THEM TO FEEL AT HOME: YOU CAN JUST SIT DOWN IN ONE OF THE ARMCHAIRS BY THE QUIETLY CRACKLING FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE AND LET THE HEAT WRAP YOU UP. ENJOY A NICE CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME TO STUDY THE UNUSUAL WOODEN ITEMS AND BEAUTIFUL PIECES OF FURNITURE. DREAM AWAY AND IMAGINE HOW EACH ITEM WOULD LOOK IN YOUR OWN HOME. BIE LIVES HERE BUT SHE ALSO RUNS HER ANTIQUES SHOP FROM HER HOME. THIS IS ALSO HER ATELIER WHERE SHE CAREFULLY RENOVATES MANY ITEMS SO THAT EVERY 103
ITEM IS IN A REALLY GOOD STATE BEFORE IT’S TAKEN HOME BY THE CUSTOMER. ANTIQUES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PASSION FOR BIE AND IT’S HER LIFESTYLE. AFTER 22 YEARS AS AN ANTIQUES DEALER SHE KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT SHE SELLS. SHE LOVES THE ORIGINALITY OF EACH ITEM THAT SHE BUYS ON HER TRIPS THROUGH EUROPE, AND EACH ITEM HAS TO HAVE SPECIAL PATINA AND A GOOD STORY, AND IT HAS TO APPEAL TO HER HEART. IF NOT, SHE WON’T TAKE IT HOME TO HER SHOP. BIE LOVES VERY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL THINGS: ANYTHING FROM FRENCH ANTIQUES TO DESIGN FURNITURE AND NOT LEAST A VARIETY OF WORKS OF ART. HER ONLY CRITERIA IS THAT IT HAS TO BE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. SOME OF THE THINGS IN HER HOME SHE JUST DOESN’T WANT TO SELL, OTHERS ARE QUICKLY SOLD. 104
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THE HUGE PAINTING IN THE BATHROOM IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT HAVE A SPECIAL MEANING TO HER: THE NAKED WOMAN IN THE PAINTING TOUCHES HER DEEPLY AND THE BEAUTIFUL PAINTING CREATES CALMNESS. SHE BOUGHT IT DURING ONE OF HER TRIPS THROUGH ITALY A FEW YEARS AGO. TO BIE, A HOME HAS TO REFLECT THE OWNER’S PERSONALITY. IT ALSO HAS TO BE WARM AND HAVE A GOOD ENERGY THAT KEEPS YOU GOING. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO WONDER, BE HAPPY AND NOT LEAST HAVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN YOUR HOME. THESE ARE HER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SHE SHOPS FOR BEAUTIFUL OBJECTS FOR HER SHOP AND HER OWN HOME.
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THE GARDEN IS JUST AS AMAZING AS THE HOUSE AND IT’S ALSO FULL OF A COMBINATION OF WORKS OF ART AND OLD THINGS. ON THE TERRACE IS A BIG STONE SCULPTURE, ACCOMPANIED BY A PAIR OF OLD ZINC BUCKETS FULL OF WONDERFUL SUMMER FLOWERS. IN ANOTHER PLACE, A MODERN IRON FRAME WITH A STONE PLATE ON TOP CREATES THE BACKDROP FOR AN ARRANGEMENT WITH TWO OLD FIGURINES. THE GARDEN OFFERS LOTS OF ADVENTURES FOR YOUR EYES AND YOUR SOUL. IT’S FULL OF NEW IDEAS FOR YOU ON HOW TO DO INTERIOR DESIGN WITH A TWIST, USING MODERN ART AND SCULPTURES - AND NOT LEAST ADDING LOTS OF PERSONALITY. IF YOU’D LIKE TO SEE MORE: W W W.B I E B A E R T.B E 111