Aee, we really didn't drink anything, and yet at the top of the stairs of Studio van 't Wout, interior architects, we see a pink elephant. The little wooden artwork is part of Arie and Saskia Alderliesten's concept store as well as their home.

Panorama Mesdag

The showroom/shop on the ground floor and the living area on the bel-etage are decorated in a 'modern-timeless' fashion - you couldn't have a better contrast in an 1860s building. Moreover, in the historic Zeestraat, where the Panorama Mesdag a little further on sticks to the old fisherman's life for those far from design.

Saskia (42): "Yes, this is our house too. We live here, which makes us unique in the Netherlands. Downstairs is more the shop and showroom." Arie (55): "Our bathroom, kitchen, living room, bedrooms, we show the whole setting. That makes it interesting for a private customer."

Personal

Saskia again: "We very much wanted to bring the personal into our shop. And how personal is it to invite people into your own home. That way, you can also show what kind of atmosphere you want to design. And that we design a lot ourselves, including kitchens. And we love visiting customers ourselves.

Last year, Studio van 't Wout opened a Lema Flagshipstore on Kneuterdijk.

So them coming into our home is not weird for us. And we are not clutter-makers, besides, the layout here is such that there is never any clutter. But we are definitely not minimalist. Art is very important to us and we want to show that 'modern design' is indeed livable." So we enjoy the beautiful paintings and etchings on the wall, drink tea from an earless cup with thumbprint and pet the British shorthair Mc (of Paul McCartney).

"Our showroom is actually a snapshot of our vision, our sense of colour, use of materials," Arie explains just before being called away. Saskia: "Our target group - from individuals to large offices - likes design and wants to spend money on it. They need to see the value of design. We are interior designers with a shop. You can also just buy something. We work with a large number of suppliers and brands."

Studio van 't Wout

Studio van 't Wout has a step-by-step plan, with no obligation to buy. Saskia: "People usually come in with a question. They can't figure it out. Our job is to listen very carefully. What do customers want and what don't they want. We always try to surprise them with our work, want to create a wow moment. The basis is always to make a sketch by hand and later develop that into 3D drawings."

Steltman Jewellers

The showroom has just been renovated and last year Studio van 't Wout opened a Lema Flagshipstore on Kneuterdijk, next to Steltman Jewelers. This Italian high-end lifestyle furniture manufacturer is growing worldwide and the two shops now reinforce each other. Saskia: "We were keen to add a brand store and Lema, with branch manager Erik Ruttgers, is in a high-profile location in a busy shopping area. Unlike us here. But I never want to leave here."

Mi-Wauw, thinks Mc.

www.studiovantwout.nl