Adventures in History & Culture

Written by Amelia Jeffers / Photography by James Henthorn and courtesy Waltmann Real Estate

For Markéta and Ewout Leeuwenburg, an empty-nest departure from an affluent Columbus suburb was guided by a desire to simplify, but also to seek a vibrant, walkable neighborhood that matched their enthusiasm for culture, the arts, and an international lifestyle. Throughout several relocations since leaving their native Netherlands 30 years ago, Markéta had sought community and engagement through a familiar institution: art museums. Having visited while accompanying Ewout on business trips to the city, Markéta saw the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) as a way of broadening her horizons and fostering her passion for creative expression that had begun as a child when she visited art museums with her family.

As a dedicated volunteer, she eventually pulled her entire family into the fold. Together with her father, a longtime volunteer at the 200-year old Dordrecht Museum south of Amsterdam, Markéta and Ewout made connections between the leadership of both institutions that would lead to an innovative international partnership and the acclaimed 2019 CMA exhibit, “Life in the Age of Rembrandt: Dutch Masterpieces from the Dordrecht Museum.”

Their Dordrecht condo overlooks a historical canal

Today, Ewout (an executive retired from a corporate career and currently involved as CEO and Investor in a local company that manufacturers instrumentation for preclinical life science and environmental research) serves as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Columbus Museum of Art, and Markéta has chaired innumerable events, most recently bringing celebrity design professional Carson Kressley for the Art in Bloom fundraiser in early 2021.

Fittingly, the pair identified an appealing historical brick Italianate on Schiller Park in German Village. Reminiscent of their home country that shares its largest border with Germany, the Village would provide rich layers of colloquial charm with rugged brick streets, old buildings nestled next to high sidewalks, and a hive of activity from performances in the park to upscale dining and shopping. Originally a double and later converted into four apartments, the well-documented, storied home has undergone nearly as many notable changes to the interior as owners since it was constructed in the 1860s. There was the period of stately elegance imbued by an antique collector; next an urban chic overhaul; then a contemporary decor with textured walls and a slate-gray palette.

Wherever possible, architectural elements are highlighted and exposed

With a vision to merge familiar Dutch minimalism with luxurious finishes, Markéta and Ewout set about designing a comfortable and welcoming sanctuary in the heart of the city. Wherever possible walls were removed, at places revealing larger projects like the necessary removal of a previously concealed cantilevered chimney and the installation of steel reinforcements.

European fixtures bring this historical German Village brick into a Dutch modern aesthetic

The formerly dark kitchen was moved to the back of the residence, where it steps out to the stunning private backyard with a large, tranquil pool and patio. The floors were bleached to further brighten the home, and the walls were painted a brilliant white with bold black accents setting off architectural features. A closet was sacrificed creating an open loft that functions as an office.

Bleached floors and bright white walls provide a cheerful backdrop for their antique furnishings and art collection

Only three years later, the project complete, the pair have embarked on their next project: a pied-à-terre in their hometown Dordrecht, a city in The Netherlands dating to 1220 and the oldest city in the provinces of North and South Holland. The 16th Century grain warehouse in which their condo is housed could easily be mistaken for a German Village factory, with hand-hewn beams and a weathered facade tilting toward the cobblestone street.

Shutters keep the room sleek and allow light to flood the space

The kitchen was relocated to the rear of the home, opening the floor plan and maximizing the outdoor living space

The white and black backdrop is anything but stark

It is difficult to believe that such a peaceful setting is in the heart of the city

A lush backyard is the picture of peace and tranquillity Uneven brick pavers and the shallow setback are some of the features that connect this German Village residence to the Leeuwenberg's native Netherlands

NEW NEW ALBANY REALTYALBANY REALTY

Alan D Hinson

(614) 348-8000 AlanH@newalbanyrealty.com

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A privately gated estate home on 2.84 acres with 9976 sqft of finished living space. This 6 bedroom home enjoys well proportioned rooms with generous scale and quality finishes throughout. Marketed at $2,595,000.

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Brick Cape Cod three-bedroom, 4-1/2 bath home on a 0.4-acre lot in the New Albany Country Club communities. Seller has made extensive improvements and updates. Finished lower level with family room, office/den/workout area with sauna & shower. Private side patio, steps from the NACC, golf course & walking trails. Move-in ready. Offered at: $719,000.

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(614) 939-1234 TonyT@thomasriddle.com

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