Cozy Brussels Residence of Local Fashion Innovator Unveiled
Michele Bogaert, founder of Icon boutique in Brussels, sought an escape from her work in fashion when she collaborated with interior designer Merijn Degraeve on her new home. Located in a 1950s building in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, the L-shaped apartment, renamed Residence Michelle, presents a fusion of Bogaert's and her partner Frederik's furniture and art collections, combined with Degraeve's flair for blend modernist precision with eclecticism.
The home, devoid of any fashion influence, highlights a harmonious marriage of diverse materials and objects. Bogaert and Degraeve emphasized a layered design that builds over time, taking into consideration the needs and preferences of their blended family. This approach results in a visually stimulating and unique living space without a single dominant style.
Material diversity is evident throughout the apartment, with Campanelli Rosso marble adorning the bathroom and the kitchen boasting a similar earthen red hue. The Abimis stainless-steel kitchen module, customized with white lacquered fronts, coexists amicably with a white oak cabinet, harmonizing natural and industrial elements.
Living and dining areas feature herringbone wood floors, showcasing extroverted Italian design pieces. A 'Quaderna' table by Superstudio for Zanotta merges with another to form a large family-sized dining table. An 'Atollo' lamp by Vico Magistretti, a 'Utrecht' chair by Gerrit Rietveld, and a gold-tone Memphis-inspired shelving system create a dynamic dialogue among art pieces. Vibrant paintwork by Sanam Khatibi and a 17th-century Pieter Van Lint artwork provide splashes of color and narrative detail.
The family prefers reading and listening to records in their living room, designed for encouraging connection. Conversation-starting art pieces, such as Tony Matelli's painted bronze sapling and Lucas Blalock's photograph of canned sausages, dot the apartment, adding intrigue.
Slower living—disconnected from fashion's relentless pace—is achieved through Degraeve's design interventions, such as the rounding of hall corners and the integration of a walk-in closet in the intimate primary bedroom for a luxurious feel. The space flows seamlessly into the bedroom, offering Bogaert a sanctuary from work.
In her personal retreat, away from work's busy calendar, Bogaert finds no better invitation to disconnect than Residence Michelle itself.
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The layout of Residence Michelle, a harmonious blend of diverse materials and styles, embodies a unique lifestyle that distinctly deviates from the fashion industry. With a focus on layered design and incorporating art, the interior-design project transformed a 1950s building into a home that provides a personal retreat, encouraging slower living and offering Michele Bogaert a respite away from her work in fashion.
