when GRAANMARKT 13 opened its doors in antwerp a few years ago, i was beyond excited. as far as concept stores go, this one is right up my alley – great fashion, niche brands and cult cosmetics on the ground floor, a superb restaurant down in the basement, and a fabulous gallery space up on the first floor. i knew the owners were moving into the floors above that, and for a few years could only imagine the tasteful and classy interior architect vincent van duysen had created for them. up until now, as the duplex apartment has become available for rent. i swung by to take a quick peek and let me just say – wow.

i love everything about this place – from the windows in the garden chamber down to the smallest marble details in the bathrooms. the combination of rustic materials with modern elements comes close to perfection, as it manages to create a warm and cozy atmosphere, but nowhere feels dated or old fashioned. i especially love the master bathroom, with its abundance of natural light. i like how the sinks are positioned in front of the windows to be able to enjoy a prettier view than your own sleepy face in the morning. the mirrors were moved to the little boudoir inside the built-in closets. closing those doors keeps your toiletries out of sight whenever you crave a calm and minimal environment. and doesn’t that bath tub cry for exactly that kind of me-time?

to be honest, i don’t think i will ever spend the night here, for fear of never wanting to leave, or never being satisfied with anything less beautiful and stylish than this in the future. however, i will be pinning all of these pictures to my interior design moodboards. if i ever do build that dream house, you can bet THE APARTMENT will serve as a huge source of inspiration.

photos by stephanie duval