POP is the name of a townhouse in Antwerp, Belgium, for a young couple, their three dogs, and a Flemish giant. Dries Otten, the Belgium-based studio for furniture design, interior architecture, and scenography, reworked the bi-level home to rationalize its spatial organization and give it the “Dries Otten” touch: the playful joinery and color blocking that the studio is often known for. POP then is aptly named for a project with poppy colors and fun geometry.
The main issue with the former layout was the lack of connection between the living room and garden. To unite the indoors with the outdoors, the design team—Axelle Vertommen and Dries Otten—moved the first floor bathroom to the second floor, freeing up space along the rear facade. This allowed them to install large sliding windows so natural light and visuals of the garden can suffuse the interior. A terrace for more greenery and outdoor seating was designed in combination with a terrace staircase to increase the connection with the garden.
Inside, the newly freed up space now houses an expanded kitchen. The area is demarcated with a raised floor. A red marble island sits in the center. To one side, a yellow and white countertop marks the first colorful departure. It’s lifted off the floor to lighten the space. A fluted cabinet hangs above for added storage. The whole thing is united by blocks of color; peach arches through the cabinet to the counter to mark the stove while bright blue zips beneath the spice rack.
On the other side of the island, a wall of built-in storage adds warm wood to the color and material palette. But in the logic of Dries Otten there is of course a bright surprise: a yellow and striped seating nook is integrated in the wall. It also integrated a small light fixture to make the bench cozy as well as functional. A vent is seamlessly concealed underneath.
Upstairs, the layout makes space for two bedrooms, a bathroom and separate toilet. The design team reconfigured the layout to feel less stuck to the walls, adding a gentle curve to increase circulation. A rounded skylight was added to the hallway, continuing the light language from downstairs.
The color and pop of the kitchen also continues in the new upstairs bathroom. Here, a walk-in shower, created in Mortex, is partitioned with striped glass, framed in yellow. The fun hues continue along the countertop with curved red shelving and green shelf that runs through the circular mirror. Paired with a Carrara marble washbasin and white walls, the playful accents enliven the home without overwhelming the senses.