From interior design to product design

Door: The Art of Living Magazine © Fotografie Jurrit van der Waal

After many years of working as an interior designer in the events industry, hospitality sector, and residential construction, Hans Kuijten also ventured into product design. From Hans's creative mind – in collaboration with two partners – sprang a new design for a robust, powerful chair: 'Strong One', which also found a prominent place in this beautiful farmhouse in the Brabant countryside. What every design by Hans Kuijten guarantees is a warm, comfortable feeling of home, and that is precisely what we see reflected in both the farmhouse and the 'Strong One' chair.

Luxury farmhouse project | Decorative and functional

From the very beginning of the farmhouse purchase, Hans was involved by the residents. Together they planned the layout and interior design. What makes the farmhouse so special is that all the functions of a home come together in one space. Special corners have been created that can be used independently, even though everything is in the same room. This is made possible by the enormous room divider, designed by Hans Kuijten and placed in the middle of the house. "This separates the kitchen area from the living room. Besides being functional, this piece of furniture also serves a decorative purpose." A combination of steel, oak wood and the right lighting creates an atmospheric, hotel-chic feel and a practical division of the space. The farmhouse boasts a spacious kitchen, a large dining area with a bar function, and a comfortable seating area. "The staircase is also located in this space, connecting everything together. The only doors in the farmhouse are those of the bathroom and the toilet."

Interior design | Like a warm blanket

Hans Kuijten's designs can be described as warm, comfortable, and familiar. “The intention is for people to feel at home in my designs. This applies not only to the residential market, but also to the hospitality sector. People should feel comfortable in a space that feels familiar and cozy.” In this farmhouse, Hans uses multiple materials and various warm earth tones to achieve this feeling. There are occasional playful details in color, but primarily natural tones and materials. The exterior of the farmhouse feels stately and grand, but as soon as you step inside, you are greeted by warmth. The farmhouse has a ceiling height of seven meters. The original oak beams are located in the roof ridge and are beautifully illuminated. This utilizes the height of the house and, despite the enormous space, still feels warm. Velvet wallpaper was chosen, applied by specialists all the way to the highest point of the farmhouse. In addition, various types of leather are found throughout the house: in the built-in cabinets, as wallpaper, in the seating area, and in the unique extractor hood in the kitchen. The wood is echoed in the kitchen island, which is clad in warm golden-brown marble. Everything is coordinated to achieve that luxurious, comfortable feeling.

Productdesign | Strong One

The ten chairs in the farmhouse were designed by Hans Kuijten. Together with Maarten van den Goor of Jess Design, the "Strong One" chair was developed. A sturdy chair with a powerful design and luxurious, surprising upholstery. The chair features simple lines and a distinctive finish. It's designed so that you can create your own combination from 9 different leather and fabric options, tailored to your wishes, use, and taste. The residents of the farmhouse chose the dark version, called "Black One". The strong, robust design ensures that the chair is comfortable. You can work comfortably in it, but also easily dine in it.

Functional design is also evident here. The chair originated from a request from the hospitality industry, where Hans Kuijten frequently works on projects. He decided to initiate the design process. The chair's name is a testament to the strong collaboration. They had previously worked closely together, and this idea led to the name "Strong One": a sturdy chair, born from a strong collaboration. The chair is a purely Dutch product, with the steel frames manufactured and assembled by Jess Design, and Alphenberg Leather providing the appropriate leather types. The chair can be admired in the Alphenberg Leather showroom in Waalwijk.

Hans Kuijten

Hans Kuijten started his interior design studio 18 years ago. During this time, he built his own brand across various sectors. He began as a designer and from that role moved into the events industry, where he designs stages for large festivals such as Tomorrowland and Daydream. That's where things really took off. The next step was the hospitality world, where Hans designs and furnishes hotels, lobbies, and restaurants. Hotels proved to be a source of inspiration for private clients. People also want to enjoy luxury and wellness at home. For the past three years, Hans Kuijten has also been designing for residential properties, including this beautiful farmhouse where Hans gave his own product, 'Strong One', a prominent place.

The combination of the four different sectors ensures that Hans remains fresh, creative, and challenged.