A contemporary reinterpretation of historical architecture
The Louis XIV-style sandstone façade, a listed monument, underwent a limited conservation intervention focused on cleaning. The completely empty interior allowed for a new layout without altering the building's historical structure , transforming the house into a blank canvas for a contemporary reinterpretation that avoids literal restoration.
Ruud van Oosterhout maintained the characteristic vertical proportions of canal houses and the longitudinal axis connecting the main façade to the garden. Natural stone and wood create a common language based on curves, rounded corners, and fluid transitions , reinforced by the high ceilings and the dual entry of light from the canal and the exterior space.
Calacatta “Wow” connects the entire main floor
On the ground floor, Calacatta “Wow” marble, from Antolini®'s Natural Stone collection, runs through the entrance and living room as a continuous surface. Its broad, yet subtle veining interacts with the Nordic light and the warm white that recalls the house's historic name —a relationship that also appears in the guest bathroom, where the stone of the sink is combined with a wallpaper featuring white horses.
In the reception room, marble contrasts with vertical walnut paneling that integrates the walls and furniture, while the fireplace is discreetly framed within the composition. Subtle changes in height, the corner seating, and the cloud-effect ceiling introduce depth and continuity before leading to the dining room and the central core formed by the staircase and the glass elevator.
A sculptural kitchen completely open to the garden
From the dining room, defined by a herringbone walnut floor reinterpreted with larger-format tiles, one accesses the extension facing the garden. A curved, longitudinal glass wall envelops the kitchen and opens the space to the exterior , allowing natural light to permeate the composition and enhance the presence of the materials.
The island, countertop, and wall cladding with integrated shelving are made of Patagonia Original Tourmaline, a natural crystal and quartz from Antolini®'s Natural Stone collection. Its mineral inclusions and chromatic variations lend a sculptural character to the kitchen , balanced by the deep tones of dark walnut used in the cabinetry to create a neutral and understated palette.
Natural stone for new wellness spaces
Upstairs, the master suite features a bathroom clad in Dolomite del Sud “Select,” a dolomite from Antolini®’s Exclusive Collection. The stone extends across the floor, main walls, vanity unit, and steam shower with integrated seat , while a wooden surface is framed like a rug to define an area for yoga practice.
Ruud van Oosterhout chose this material for its broad, uniform pattern, suitable for large-format applications, after seeing the blocks firsthand during his visits to Italy. The daughters' bedrooms, the dark wood-clad television room, and the basement spa complete a journey through conviviality, intimacy, and well-being , in an intervention where Antolini® acts as an architectural tool to restore balance, continuity, and light to the home.
info@antolini.com
+39 045 6836611
Via Napoleone, 6, 37015
Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, Italy
Antolini is an Italian company specializing in the production of natural stone cladding , founded in 1956 in Verona by Luigi Antolini. Innovation, variety, vision, and quality define the identity of this historic brand, internationally recognized for its work with high-value natural materials.
Antolini currently offers more than 1.300 stones distributed across 14 collections, including the Exclusive Collection, which features over 85 exclusive stones. Its production capacity reaches 4.500 square meters of slabs per day, totaling one million square meters per year.
With a presence in 182 countries, Antolini has production facilities in Italy and Brazil, as well as management centers and showrooms worldwide. The company continues to be led by new generations who uphold the values of authenticity, excellence, and Made in Italy , along with a constant pursuit of technological innovation and design evolution.
