In 2022, our Amsterdam based interior design studio was commissioned to renovate a light-filled apartment in a pre-WWI building in Amsterdam, once home to an orphanage founded in 1861. With high ceilings, wooden floors and large windows, the property’s loft-like atmosphere offered a unique canvas. At the client’s request, we embraced a modern design language interwoven with vintage collector pieces and subtle Brazilian influences. The result is a refined and characterful residence where linear forms meet soft geometries, brought together through warm materials like walnut, marble, brass and leather. Every element contributes to an understated yet sophisticated whole.

At the heart of the apartment, the open-plan kitchen and dining area form a cohesive yet characterful whole. A sculptural kitchen island anchors the space with its unpredictable geometry and soft curves—an intricate design project in itself. The island’s walnut base is topped with a richly veined marble countertop and finished with refined brass detailing, echoing the brass hinges and poetic lines found throughout the cabinetry. The built-in walnut units form a striking contrast to the bright walls, lending the space a sense of warmth and elegance, while concealing functionality behind their seamless facade. A tinted mirror backsplash reflects natural light and adds subtle depth, mirroring the wall opposite and visually expanding the space.

A harmonious dialogue between cooking and dining

In the adjoining dining area, beige-painted walls and a glossy pine wood floor set the tone for a warm, nostalgic atmosphere. Vintage Dialogo dining chairs—originally designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia—have been carefully reupholstered, and are paired with the client’s heirloom dining table. Above the setting, Above the setting, Nelson Ball Bubble pendants from HAY float like soft accents. Behind the table, a rosewood veneer bookcase by Franco Albini lines the wall, offering both visual texture and display space for the client’s eclectic collection of objects and artefacts.

Founded by Lotte and Dennis Antonio Bruns, DAB Studio is an Amsterdam-based interior architecture and design bureau known for its conceptual approach and meticulous attention to material, form, and atmosphere. Rather than adhering to a fixed aesthetic, each project is treated as a tailored narrative—shaped by the context of the space, the desires of the client, and a curated blend of bespoke design and meaningful objects.

By working closely with a network of artisans, suppliers, and creatives, the studio brings together custom elements, vintage design, and refined materials to compose spaces that feel warm, intentional, and deeply rooted in personal expression.

We’d love to hear your story and create a space that reflects it. Feel free to call us at +31 (0)20 331 7003 or email us at info@dabstudio.nl—let’s start something beautiful together.