At home with Anthea

WHOPPAH PORTRAITS

(Whoppah) Hi Anthea! First of all, thank you for letting us visit your beautiful home. Can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? Maybe something about your roots too.

(Anthea) I grew up in Zwijndrecht, a small village in South Holland. I am half Romanian, half Dutch. When I turned eighteen, I moved to Amsterdam to study Allround Styling & Design at Academie Artemis. Now I work as a creative director at PK Studios (a creative and all-round production agency that focuses on devising and executing a wide range of brand activations) and I have my own company 'Gaudy' for tailor-made event styling. With this, I create the most beautiful table settings, for example with moss or flowers and unique centerpieces.

When did you move to Amsterdam?

I moved to Amsterdam when I was eighteen. That was eleven years ago because I just turned 29 years old. I have lived in various houses; from a rickety room in the middle of the center to a sleek apartment in the East with a large bedroom. My current home is located on the Brouwersgracht in a beautiful building with many charming characteristics and a romantic view of passing boats.

Can you tell us something about the decor of those apartments? Did you already go all out with styling back then or did you wait until you started living together?

I have been involved with interior (styling) since I was young. As a young girl, I always wanted to make my room as beautiful as possible. For instance, in the bedroom at my parents' house, I created a sort of three-dimensional wall with snake print. So, I was always a creative girl. In all my rooms, I managed to create my own little spot. But, of course, it was still just a bedroom. When I moved to the Brouwersgracht five years ago, that's when it really started to get fun. Now, for the first time, I can decorate an entire home; from the living room to the kitchen. There's so much more to consider, and I find that very enjoyable.

And making it your own... How would you describe your style?

I think you could describe my style as classic with a modern twist. My interior has a lot of influences from Art Deco, late twenties, early thirties. We also have a lot of Chinese antiques in the house, but there are also Italian influences. My style is a bit of a mix of everything, but overall it has a modern classic look. In terms of materials, I love the Art Deco period; velvets, deep colors, and beautiful types of wood. Oh, and marble; I love that too.

What are you currently interested in?

At the moment, I'm in love with Art Deco and Italian design. When I moved in here, the house was very dark and robust. At a certain point, I felt it was really time for a transition and started replacing many things. I tried out all sorts of colors; from gray walls to bright red cabinets and colorful cushions… The house was really a mix of everything. Now, I find peace in an interior with wood, white, and brown tones. But at the same time, I also love contrast. The interior should exude calmness while having a bold character. It should make a statement.

Where do you find your inspiration? 

Where do I find my inspiration? I love hotels and hotel lobbies. The most beautiful interiors often can be found in hotels. Additionally, Whoppah is a great source of inspiration for me. I can endlessly scroll on Whoppah to source vintage design. Furthermore, I enjoy reading magazines like AD Magazine and get inspired by the Instagram accounts of interior designers and stylists. Particularly, Necchi Architecture and Camille Vergnes inspire me because of their classic style.

“The most beautiful interiors out there are often found in hotels.”

When you're looking for a new item, when you're sourcing, what are the things you pay attention to?

I have to fall in love with the item at first sight. For instance, with this sofa (she points to the beautiful Italian designer sofa she bought via Whoppah), I just thought: 'I must have it.' Actually, I have this feeling with all the items I source vintage. If I don't have that feeling, then I don't buy it. It really has to be a case of love at first sight. Furthermore, I pay a lot of attention to price/quality, but the choice of material/form also has to be right. I am always looking for something special, something unique.

What is your biggest lesson learned while styling homes? Do you have a golden tip?

Light is something I initially greatly underestimated. For example, I had painted the house entirely gray while we have quite cold light from the north. This made the space incredibly chilly. Lighting is therefore essential; for instance, place spotlights on certain items to highlight them or create a beautiful effect. Not only light, but also materials have an effect on the space. My wooden walnut sideboard, for example, warms up the room immensely. The second tip I would give is: 'learn to properly assess the space.' We had a huge tank of a corner sofa here that turned out to be far too big for the space.

“I had a real urge to find something unique, and that's how my love for Whoppah was born.”

As you mentioned, many items in your house are secondhand. How did this come about?

I started sourcing vintage because I couldn't find unique items in regular stores anymore. At a certain point, I felt like all interiors looked the same, and I saw the same standard items everywhere. I had a real urge to find something unique, and that's how my love for Whoppah was born. I’m on Whoppah daily and have a long list of favorites. By liking items, I create a sort of mood board and simultaneously a wishlist of all the items I still want to have. The list of favorites is a good reflection of my taste. It really includes everything; from Art Deco candlesticks to garden furniture for the rooftop terrace. Since I stumbled upon Whoppah a few years ago (one of the first Whoppah lovers), I hardly look anywhere else. It has really become my go-to website, and I can’t do without it anymore.

Tell us something about your favorite items in the house?

I love the brown velvet sofa from Galleria Nieri that I recently purchased via Whoppah. I also get a lot of compliments on the wooden walnut sideboard. But if I had to choose one item, it would absolutely be the mirror. In my house, there is an extremely large mirror that connects the living room with the kitchen, giving the space a playful, optical effect. The baroque-style frame might not be something you'd expect from me, but it brings everything together so beautifully, and that’s why it works. Tip: by hanging a large mirror, you can easily create a unique element in your home.

What is your dream in terms of interior design? Do you have any specific goals? Either in this house or maybe for a future home?

For now, the focus is on making this house completely our own. We are well on our way with the kitchen and living room, but after that, I want to move upstairs to tackle the bedroom and rooftop terrace. The goal is to finish those spaces completely and make it truly a dream apartment. After that, there will be room to look at the next project!

“Create (optically) more space by, for example, hanging a large mirror.”

And then the last question: what makes a house a home for you?

I have a very loving fiancé and a very sweet cat who make my home incredibly warm and cozy. But also, lighting and candles are important for creating atmosphere and warmth. You can make a house a home by surrounding yourself with items that are dear to you. These kinds of unique items make the house personal, and by putting love into a house, you create a home.

Thank you for having us, Anthea!