This 1930s Brussels Home Proves That Decorating 'Safely' is the Fastest Way to Lose Personality

The homes that stay with you are rarely the ones that play it safe. Case in point: this enchanting 1932 Brussels villa, where a sunshine-yellow living room, a raspberry-hued kitchen, and a jewel-toned bathroom come together. Bold? Absolutely. But every choice has been made with intention.

When interior architect and designer Victoria-Maria first encountered the house, it was in a state of disrepair. Yet beneath the tired interiors she saw the charm of its shell – from half-timbered details and dormer windows to overhanging eaves and even a tiny turret. Working within the original footprint, she completely reimagined the home for a family who wanted something colorful, characterful, and entirely unlike anyone else's. 'The goal was for the project to be unapologetically itself,' she says. And oh, did she deliver.

It's easy to assume that this colorful scheme came together on instruction, but every bold choice in this Brussels villa began with a remarkably simple brief. Having previously designed a home for a family member, the client already had a level of trust in Victoria-Maria before the project even began.

'The clients' brief was clear from the outset: they wanted a home that was colorful and one of a kind – something far from traditional or trend-driven design,' she explains. Embarking on a complete home renovation, Victoria-Maria reimagined each space from scratch while still honoring the 1932 villa's 'subtle eclecticism'. 'It was surrounded by a garden, and when we first encountered it, it felt like stumbling upon a little enchanted manor, with a subtle touch of Normandy in its spirit,' she says.

Rather than repeating the same finishes or tones from room to room, each space was given its own distinct identity. 'It blends multiple cultures, different epochs, and an array of colors. The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and layered with personal touches – not following any particular trend, but entirely its own world,' says Victoria-Maria. What stops the house from feeling overwhelming is the goal behind every choice. 'Every choice was made with intention and joy. When clients are brave enough to embrace what they truly love, and trust us to bring it to life, the result is always a home with a soul,' she continues.

As Victoria-Maria explains, 'Color is at the very heart of this project'. The joy begins in the living room, where sunshine-yellow walls ('I love yellow, and so did the clients!') and deeper-toned ceiling beams wrap the space in warmth, creating an uplifting backdrop for vintage seating, abstract art, and well-stocked bookcases.

'The yellow living room is perhaps the most emblematic space – it is the room that most clearly declares the spirit of the house. It is warm, confident, and entirely its own,' says Victoria-Maria. 'But in truth, every room carries that same energy. The project is one where the spirit is consistent throughout, simply expressed differently from space to space.'

The palette, which she describes as 'bold yet considered', evolves in the kitchen with raspberry-pink lava stone countertops that bring unexpected richness to the wooden kitchen, while zellige tiles and striped upholstery transform the breakfast nook into a corner full of character. Further into the house, a deep blue-green bathroom feels cocooning and serene, while a dining room wrapped in rich red silk turns every meal into an occasion.

Yet despite the variety in the color scheme for the home, the interiors never feel disjointed. Bespoke natural oak joinery appears throughout the home to ground the bolder moments, while layered linens, velvets, silks, and handcrafted ceramics introduce softness and texture. Rather than filling the house with off-the-shelf finds, Victoria-Maria created interiors where even the smallest details were designed specifically for the family who live here.

'Several elements were customized for this project: the attic floor with black-and-white carreaux de ciment, the pink lava stone kitchen countertop, the breakfast corner with pink Moroccan zelliges, and the staircase rug, custom-colored to perfectly fit the palette,' Victoria-Maria explains. 'Interestingly, the lava stone countertop arrived with a surface slightly less uniform than anticipated – but that is also the magic of craftsmanship. It gives the piece a soul and an authenticity that perfection sometimes cannot,' she continues.

While the house has since been completely reimagined, that storybook character still lingers in spaces like the dining room. Wrapped in rich crimson silk beneath a painted beamed ceiling, it's one of the home's most atmospheric rooms. A sculptural dining table softens the palette, while a dramatic gold pendant and contemporary artwork keep the space feeling fresh rather than formal. 'Inspiration was born directly from the story of the house and the people who live in it. The architecture itself offered clear references, which evoked a miniature manor with a countryside soul,' Victoria-Maria explains. 'From there, the clients' love of color and personality guided everything else.'

The kitchen offers a gentler pause. Bathed in natural light, the bespoke walnut cabinetry and pink stone surfaces create a calm backdrop for one of the home's happiest corners: a built-in breakfast nook framed by an elegant oval window.

'The lava stone kitchen countertop, with its slightly uneven surface, is easy to overlook – but it carries the soul of the entire project in a single material choice,' says Victoria-Maria. It's easy to imagine the family gathering here each morning, with handcrafted Moroccan zellige, striped upholstery, and fresh flowers bringing warmth and personality to an otherwise understated palette. The downstairs powder room, with its bespoke joinery, rosy stone basin, and equally sweet oval window, feels like a considered continuation of the kitchen's story.

The home's playful personality continues upstairs, where the primary bedroom swaps saturated color for pattern, texture, and warm materials. More oak joinery wraps around the room, framing the bed, while a fireplace painted in a vibrant coral hue and walls lined with Victoria-Maria's own wallpaper for Pierre Frey bring the fun. Like the rest of the house, the room strikes a careful balance between bespoke craftsmanship and collected character. A velvet-upholstered headboard, crisp white linen, and thoughtfully styled open shelving add personality without sacrificing the sense of calm expected from a bedroom.

The thoughtful progression of color continues into the adjoining dressing room and bathroom. The dressing area benefits from the sunny backdrop of the bedroom and pairs bespoke oak cabinetry with terracotta tones, soft textiles, and integrated storage, creating a space that feels as elegant as it is practical.

Step through to the bathroom, and the atmosphere changes entirely. Glossy blue-green tiles envelop the room from floor to ceiling, creating a cocooning backdrop that's offset by cement tiles underfoot and globe wall lights. It's a bold departure from the simplicity of the closet space, yet they're connected with an air of confidence.

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It's tempting to assume a home this colorful would feel overwhelming, but this historic home proves quite the opposite. Every bold decision is grounded with thoughtful craftsmanship, every room has its own distinct identity, and every material has been chosen with purpose. Rather than chasing trends, Victoria-Maria sought to create a home that feels deeply personal and that tells the story of the family who live here.

As she reflects, 'It is the result of a true collaboration – between both of our genuine love of color, craft, and individuality. This home has personality because no decision was made for safety's sake,' she adds.

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