Classic Beauty In Belgium: Dries Van Noten At Home

Dries Van Noten is one of my favorite fashion designers.  He is the master of sophisticated prints.  His creations masterfully merge traditional prints with modern silhouettes.  Consequently Dries Van Noten’s beautiful Belgian home should not come as a surprise.  The Neoclassical home, located in Lier, close to the cıty of Antwerp was build in the 1840’s and was decorated with the help of interior designer Gert Voorjans.

Dries Van Noten’s home

The house is furnished with beautiful antiques that were collected from markets in Brussels and Paris.  The patterned textiles throughout the house is a definite nod to Van Noten’s love of pattern and exotic graphics.

Dries Van Noten’s home, garden

The 55-acre park surrounding the mansion was converted into a breath-taking garden by Landscape Architect Erick Dhont.  Dries’ other passion is gardening and by looking at the images below, he does an amazing job.

“…we’re lucky, because our garden is big enough to divide into sections. There is a woodland, rose and dahlia gardens, the hedges, and we have 50 different types of hydrangea. Everything blooms at different times of year, and we spend time out there even in the coldest months. Around Christmas the first witch hazel flowers appear, cyclamen sometime in January, and then, of course, rhododendron in the month of May. What makes me happiest is that when we come back from a crazy day at the office we can go to the vegetable garden, pick a few things, and prepare a simple salad. That is the moment when I feel the most rich.” — Dries Van Noten

If you haven’t watched Dries  yet, a documentary that follows Van Noten’s life for a year when he makes four collections in his studio in Antwerp until backstage during Paris fashion week.  Watch the trailer at the end of this post.

Dries Van Noten’s home

The beautiful classic entryway with parquet floors and antiques.

Dries Van Noten’s home

The red salon with more antiques and a Chinese armoire.

Dries Van Noten’s home

A green room with antique mirrors on the walls.  The Venetian chandelier is reflected in the mirrors.  Isn’t this room romantic?

Dries Van Noten’s home

A terra-cotta Tritons from the 19th-century in the orangery.

Dries Van Noten’s home

A silk brocade tablecloth covers the dining table.

Dries Van Noten’s home, garden

A magical path in the garden with peonies, geraniums, and avens leading the way.

Dries Van Noten’s home, garden

Dries Van Noten’s home, garden

Another section of the garden with stone vases, and climbing vines.

Dries Van Noten’s home, garden

Photos by Francois Halard for Vogue