Residence of the Dutch Ambassador, Bucharest
Located in the area with embassies in the vicinity of Aviatorilor boulevard, in a building built in 1922 in the Neo-Romanian style, with Byzantine elements, the previous residence of the Dutch Ambassador was redecorated by the interior architect Iulia Iuga-Dohmen.
Included in the UNESCO heritage, the building with four levels (half-ground, ground floor, first floor and attic) and an area of approximately 800 square meters of living space is organized inside in two areas: a public space, located on the ground floor, where guests are received, invited and various receptions and dinners are held, and a private area, upstairs, where the ambassador lived with his family.
The budget available and spent with great care was not enough for the redecoration of the entire house, so it was decided that the arrangement would only cover the public area on the ground floor. It is a reception space divided into three halls and a dining area, all communicating directly with each other through wide, open arches.
Mrs. Consul Patricia van der Kleij testimonial: “Iulia knew best how to listen and put our wishes into practice”.
Moreover, Mrs. Consul and Mrs. Ambassador Tanja van Gool were the ones who got involved directly in the furnishing process, constantly communicating with Iulia throughout the entire project.
Iulia: “Despite the very beautiful architecture of the house, with wonderfully crafted stucco and arches, the interior I found was dark, with outdated furniture, worn upholstery, outdated lamps and heavy curtains, which increased the feeling of darkness even more. In these conditions, the beneficiary wanted a less heavy and congested interior, a relaxed layout, which would enjoy more space and more natural light. Starting from the classic decor available, I tried to preserve the image and the precious air of the rooms, while also adding elements of modernity. Speaking of The Netherlands, an open, transparent, even daring country, I wanted to reflect this in the design, in the furniture. Hence the set of coffee tables made of glass and metal and the modern sconces in satin glass that give a chic air in contrast to the decorated walls, which I highlight.”
But these are part of the new elements, added to the design, because a large part of the old pieces of furniture were kept and reconditioned, both for their beauty and to fit in the budget. Regarding the newly purchased furniture, the ambassador wanted only local pieces, made in Romania, which was mostly respected.
The gentlemen’s lounge or the evening lounge, with its beautiful marble fireplace received a new set, consisting of sofas and armchairs in calf leather, and a set of massive glass coffee tables. The royal color of The Netherlands can be found in the orange shades of the silk draperies. Iulia chose darker, more sober colors for the evening lounge, to match the Dutch oil paintings guarding the fireplace.
In the living room, preferred by the ladies for its elegant and bright air, the existing sofas and armchairs were kept, being reupholstered with a golden silk fabric with a striped print. Silk was also used to make the draperies, which have a Paisley, royal pattern.
And in the dining area, the basic furniture was kept and refurbished. It is a wooden table for 12 people, which can be extended up to 40 people, together with the related chairs.
To leave enough room for passage, the dining space was not cluttered with massive pieces of furniture, preferring two narrow wooden consoles, matched with the paneling. As in the rest of the salons, the walls are decorated with paintings, this time proposing landscapes from The Netherlands in watercolor.
The interior arrangement with a classical predilection also had Art Deco influences, which we find in the Pasley pattern of the curtains, the chrome of the chandeliers, the metallic accents of the lampposts and the light tones of the sofas and armchairs. In short, the interior decoration is a mix between modern decorations and eclectic influences.
