Although she was trained as a nurse, interiors and styling have always been in Hetty’s blood; she’s even had a subscription to vtwonen (the most popular interior magazine in the Netherlands) since she was 19. So it comes as no surprise that Hetty would eventually find her way to a career that involves home decor and styling. In 2015 she started her online store Stoeruh Zaken, selling a wide range of home accessories. The store doesn’t cater to one particular style, but does have a unifying atmosphere that is best described by the Dutch word “stoer.” There’s not a direct English translation, but the words “rugged, tough or sturdy” come close. Words that describe Hetty’s home, which has an unpolished and industrial feel to it. But where Hetty really excels is how she’s balanced distressed elements with soft accents.

The house was built in the seventies, so for Dutch standards it’s fairly new and lacks some of the historic architectural character of older houses. However, Hetty’s distinct style more than compensates for this. “With a limited budget I had to be creative and use existing elements to my advantage, or in some cases work around them.”

The original wooden floor was lovely but it was also dark brown, making the living area look small and gloomy. Hetty decided to paint it white and was delighted to see how the rooms looked so much larger and brighter! At first the pristine white floor was intimidating. “There was this desire to keep it perfect. Until the first scratch appeared. Ha, that actually felt like a relief,” Hetty admits. “In time there were more and more scratches. But the patina makes the floor more beautiful and interesting, I just love how it turned out.”

Hetty also wanted to change the kitchen, without having to purchase new cabinets. Removing the upper cabinets made the kitchen look more spacious and light. Adding a new countertop with matching open shelving and a few signature accessories made for a whole new kitchen, without breaking the bank.

Currently, Hetty is wrapping up an interior design course. The future will tell if this will be her final line of work, but it’s definitely where her heart lies.

My Style: Industrial, vintage, Scandinavian.

Inspiration: vtwonen, Instagram.

Favorite Element: During the day: the big dining table where I work. In the evenings I like to chill on the sofa in the living room.

Biggest Challenge: Not much of a DIYer, the wallpaper job in the living room seemed daunting. But it turned out nicely!

What Friends Say: Surprisingly large and light, something they wouldn’t guess before entering the front door.

Biggest Embarrassment: My bathroom that’s about to collapse. I’m aching to give it a makeover!!

Proudest DIY: The wooden accessories in the Wood series — like the pendant with the wooden beads — sold by my online store Stoeruh Zaken.

Biggest Indulgence: Enjoying my organized and clean home for more than an hour with a bit of chocolate. Quite a feat with two teenagers 😉

Best Advice: Space and light can be achieved in any home. Dare to paint your floor white; in time the wear and tear will make it beautiful and add character.

Dream Sources: Photographer and stylist Paulina Arcklin. I met her once and also own one of her works.

DINING ROOM
Wall paint – RAL 9010
Dining tables – Giga Meubel
Bertoia replica wire chair – Vintagelab15
Panton replica chair – Retrofurnish
Tulip replica chair – Retrofurnish
Eames DAW replica chair – Retrofurnish
Wallpaper “old stone wall” – Pixers
Vintage “W” letter – from an old Heineken brewery via quip&Co
Eames bird replica – Stoeruh Zaken
Black miniature chair – House Doctor via quip&Co
Ceiling lamps – Artemide Tolomeo Suspension Decentralized via Lamp123.nl
Concrete candle holder – Kriz
Pendant with wooden beads and cross, peace sign with lights, birch branch – Stoeruh Zaken
Vintage green door – CustomThijs
White cabinet – Giga Meubel
Concrete clock – Zuiver
Cactus – Intratuin

MIDDLE ROOM
Sculpture “Stoere man” (meaning he-man) – Nicole Simons
Vintage chest underneath Chinese cabinet – Giga Meubel
Metal star – Stoer Metaal
Leather ball – bought at a market in Morocco
Vintage metal tray and wooden magnets – Stoeruh Zaken
Bunting (fair trade) – AfroDutch PaperStone
Round sisal rugs – Kwantum, Stoeruh Zaken
Wall clock – Big Flip by Karlsson
Postcard carousel – Marktplaats
Postcards, branch with accessories, concrete cameras, insects in resin, hand in marble-look – Stoeruh Zaken
Wooden robot – Rijkswachters
Rattan lounge chair – Karwei
Macramé wall art – Sissy-Boy Homeland
Big metal X – vtwonen
Wall lamp – Artemide Tolomeo Faretto
Green vase – House Doctor
Wooden hand – Hay
Ceramic hand – Bloomingville
Cactus candle holder – H&M

KITCHEN
Cabinets – Nuva Keukens
Countertop – Betonlookdesign
Stainless steel hood – Smeg
Crow, green vintage wall cabinet, wooden fish, rubber pot, washable paper bag – Stoeruh Zaken
Stainless steel hob – Zanussi
Vintage green door – bought at a fair
Industrial metal basin – FeelGood Market
Enamel soup pot – Albert Heijn
Dinnerware – Broste Copenhagen (Nordic Sea Collection and Oriental Selection)
Tiny zinc tray – Sissy-Boy Homeland
Hand cream and soap – HEMA

LIVING ROOM
Wall paint – RAL 9010
Corner sofa – “Mammouth” from Montel
Lounge chair – “Tulip”, designed by Pierre Paulin for Artifort
Plaid, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” poster, cushions, neon light “sssh”, apothecary jar with feathers – Stoeruh Zaken
Soft green vintage rug – Rozenkelim
Coffee table – an old chest from 1796 that belonged to Hetty’s grandma
Wallpaper – “Dublin” from Graham & Brown
Sheepskin – Basiclabel
Floor lamp – “Tolomeo Lettura” from Artemide
Arc lamp – “Big Bow” from Zuiver
Mary statue – heirloom from grandma
“Mail bag” and “Army” cushions – by fellow Instagrammer Yvon
Macramé plant hanger – Goround Interior
Table lamp made of paper pulp – “Trash Me” from &tradition
Vintage bird print – thrift store
Bug in glass box – Taxidermy Amsterdam
Concrete side table – Marktplaats
Plant in preserving jar – Green lifestyle store

HETTY’S ROOM
Bed – Goossens
Duvet cover – HEMA
Cushion with insect print – H&M Home
Throw with pom-poms, IXXI “Girl with a Pearl Earring”, chain with wooden beads – Stoeruh Zaken
X-hooks and button hook – HKliving
Wall lamps, nightstand, steel cabinets – IKEA
Stool – House Doctor
Antler painted with Ashford & Sons mint chalk paint – Kwantum
Alarm clock – Karlsson
Deer head made of reclaimed wood – Silly-Art
Metal letters “S” and “T”Oude – thrifted from Marktplaats (the Dutch Craigslist)
Jesus statue – heirloom from grandma

LUNA’S ROOM
Wall paint – “Genoeg” and “Bedding” from Praxis
Bed – thrifted from Marktplaats
Duvet cover with fawn print – Leenbakker
Vintage stool – from a hospital where Hetty used to work
Table lamp made of paper pulp – “Trash Me” from &tradition
Old green door – CustomThijs
Wooden monkey, mint wicker bag – Stoeruh Zaken
Copper “mesh house” – Flying Tiger Copenhagen
Letters “LUNA” – collected over the years and painted; from vtwonen, Sissy-Boy Homeland and Kwantum
Drawer chests customized with gold dots – IKEA
Tool box used as a makeup organizer – vintage
Instax camera – Fuji
Cabinet – Karwei
“L” table lamp – HEMA

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