English
Nederlands 
I was born in Antwerp, but feel more at home in larger cities like New York or Paris, and I am moving to Geneva in September, where I’m living with my fiancee. I prefer to talk about travel, media and design, but can also spend hours by trees on the American TV series that I follow. I have studied American Literature, and since then only read English books.
What do you do in everyday life?
I am a storyteller: as a journalist, editor and copywriter, I tell stories of people, companies and organizations – whether in print or online happens. I specialize in fashion, design, lifestyle and travel and write for several Belgian and English language publications.
Can you describe your working day?
As a freelancer sees no day is the same for me. Sometimes one business day from late in the evening, and I start the next day a little later on. Usually it is a combination of creative brainstorming, planning and development concepts, text writing and rewriting and gallons of coffee.
And your day off?
Most of all I start a day with brunch at a nice place. In Geneva we enjoy during the weekends plenty of nature around us: in the summer with boating on the lake during the winter we go skiing almost every week in one of the nearby ski resorts. And we also travel a lot: I see less the border between work and fun – it always feels like a day off.
Like fashion, I find an interior one way to express something about yourself in order to give expression to your personality. But – and again just like in fashion – it’s running at me about creating a comfort zone, something that you feel good and relax at.
I love white as background and like to play with contrast. Our apartment in Antwerp has high ceilings, original parquet from the 50′s and still a lot of authentic elements of the time. I find nothing like those things combined with sleek design and modern items to create a warm and personal mix to come.
If you could just bring one thing to from your old to your new home, what would you bring?
I am moving in September to a much smaller apartment, so forced some of my favorite design store items in storage. I will miss our huge table of Arco: we already have many nice friends had dinner around. And our adjoining library – our pride – we could not take. But actually I’m so attached to anything that I would never miss it – I think the challenge every time from scratch rather exciting.
I spend an extraordinary amount of time online, so that gives me a lot of inspiration. Sites like Pint Rest are my favorite pastime. But I also try other than interior design blogs to find and view: it is sometimes from unexpected places that you get brilliant ideas or find wonderful examples. And from our travels I also put a lot of inspiration. We choose not just a hotel restaurant or on location, we go for always inspiring environments and experiences.
I have some but my favorite design shop – because of the huge demand, the super service and the beautiful showroom – Master’s Furniture in Turnhout (www.mastermeubel.be). I am also very annoying fan of the Scandinavian labels, and I think all in Antwerp in Espoo (www.espoo.be).
Your tip for the reader?
Dare to deviate from the norm. Find out what you prefer to see, not what the rest looks like. Sometimes you have after watching all those interior design blogs and feel like everyone is doing the same, and that can sometimes stifle your own feelings and inspiration. Just try things out and dare to experiment with styles – just like you do with your wardrobe!
