From Belgium With Love

Exactly a year ago, I had the fantastic opportunity to visit Belgium. With so many cultures (Belgium has three official languages; Dutch, French and German), history and undeniable character it was overwhelmingly beautiful. Above is a picture I took of an ornate passage way we went through while walking from our hotel to the Grand-Palace in Brussels. I travelled with a group of buyers from Canada to see a few flooring manufacturers. It was quite apparent that the quality and pride Belgians have for their country is well reflected in their products. In the evenings they were our hosts, taking us to all the places we just had to see, giving us an intimate view of the cities like Brussels and Ghent from an insider.

Belgian style is classic, clean and time honoured. Detailed woodwork, painted trims in blacks, blues and red, old cobblestone pathways and light fabrics were prevalent.

Oh, and we ATE; it was incredible. We had dessert with every meal, followed by lemoncello and strong coffee. Cafe Theatre in Ghent seemed to be several of our hosts favorite, we were very happy to oblige.

Translating a Belgian style to your home may mean peeling back walls to reveal brick (or adding a veneer brick), open shelves, and an eclectic mix of old and modern. My favorite part of the trip was the boat tour in Ghent, where homes faced the water with gaping windows, allowing you to peer inside at private libraries, lofts and living rooms. Welcoming indeed.

Thank you to Stevens Omni!