How They Built a Cottage in Australia, Just Like in Amsterdam

The owners of this house are couples Hans and Ursula van Schunhoven and their two daughters. Each summer, they spend time in Australia. First of all, the green continent treats them with more sunshine than their hometown Amsterdam, and secondly, the kids are involved in furniture manufacturing and recently opened a second store here.

Hans and Ursula were looking for a house that wouldn't require major investments. This one turned out to be just that. A solid foundation and façade were complemented by a veranda and even a scenic rooftop terrace. They didn't change the layout: the living room with kitchen, several rooms, and two bathrooms accommodated the whole family. The only thing they did was refresh the house by painting it white inside and out.

The interior is done without complex design or bright colors. White reigns throughout, paired with wooden and wicker furniture.

It might seem like painting the walls white is the easiest solution, but it only looks that way. White can be too cold or have distinctly yellow, green, or even pink undertones. For their cottage, Hans and Ursula chose the right (clean) snow-white color.

To avoid spending too much time choosing a color palette, the family chose a classic combination — white, grey, black. For example, on the kitchen table, they paired the white with black chairs. In the girls’ room, the bed frame was made from two colors.

Another secret to creating a white interior is using it in combination with wooden and rattan furniture, carpets, woven details, and textiles. That makes the space cozier. The couple chose this combination for themselves.

The family also brought with them another Dutch tradition — not using curtains. To have as much daylight as possible in the rooms, curtains are rarely used in rainy Netherlands. In this house, curtains are more of an exception than the rule.