Located in Schilde, Antwerp, Belgian architect and interior designer Arjaan De Feyter designs a family home around a forest and pond backdrop.
Set within a leafy enclave on the northeastern edge of Schilde, an increasingly sought-after part of Antwerp, Belgium, this new residence is shaped as much by its wooded surrounds and pond setting as by the character of its owner.
Described by Belgian interior designer and architect Arjaan De Feyter as an “industrialist who is active in the world of hollow core slabs,” the owner wasn’t simply seeking a family home. He envisioned a place that could reflect a life’s work while evolving alongside his growing family. Introduced through a mutual acquaintance and living close by, De Feyter quickly became a trusted choice. “He’s someone who likes to think very locally when recruiting a team,” De Feyter says.
Created in close partnership with Belgian architecture studio DCX Architecture and landscape designer Kevin Mampay, the collaboration was shaped by a shared intent across disciplines. “Since we were involved in the process from the concept phase, we were able to make certain interventions in the architecture that were of great importance for the interiors,” De Feyter explains. The result is a home where the interiors, architecture and landscape converge in a quiet, continuous dialogue.
Spatially, the layout was composed to frame and echo its surroundings. In the basement gym, a window draws the eye toward Mampay’s landscaped garden, terrace and pool—an interplay between inside and out that feels deliberate, not decorative. The owner’s own experience in construction also shaped the process, bringing attention to detail that filtered through the home’s many layers. “It became clear that quality and craftsmanship were most sought-after by him,” De Feyter says. “The home is largely custom-designed, from the shell to the cushions in the seats and towels in the bathrooms.”
“The spiral staircase is a feat: a steel construction that was welded together in advance, brought in by crane, and then plastered and finished with textured paint,” De Feyter says.
Pictured: the Miyazaki bar stool by Inoda + Sveje.
Upon entry, a sculptural spiral staircase, crafted from steel and plaster and finished in textured paint, rises dramatically through the double-height void, drawing the eye toward the mezzanine and upper floor. Beyond, the living area was designed to foster a connection to the surrounding greenery while retaining necessary comfort and enclosure. A custom cylindrical gas fireplace anchors the space, acting as a visual centrepiece and a gentle divide between the fluid living and the more structured dining areas.
A wall of smoked-oak cabinetry and bronzed metal niches stretches from the kitchen to the living area, its rhythm broken by discreet passageways. Underfoot, light grey German Muschelkalk stone provides a calm, unifying surface across much of the interiors, complemented by taupe-pink carpet in the main bedroom and smoked oak and grey floorboards in the entry and upper hallway.
Pictured: the Miyazaki Pepe dining armchairs by Kazuteru Murasawa surrounding a custom-made wrap-around dining table in smoked oak.
The kitchen is clad in Rouge Belge, a richly veined limestone marked by red-brown hues, soft greys and fossil traces. “It’s a Belgian natural stone that was used more often in the past, such as in the Antwerp City Hall and Central Station, but is now almost no longer mined,” De Feyter explains.
Outside, a carefully balanced palette defines the home’s architectural identity. Shingled brick, black sintered wood and a thatched roof reference a rural vernacular, while expansive glazing and sharply cut dormers lend a contemporary edge. The contrast is deliberate, with warmth meeting restraint and classic forms tempered by modern clarity.
Together with DCX Architecture and Kevin Mampay, Arjaan De Feyter creates a tension that binds Schilde Residence to its place, both in time and its surroundings, resulting in a home defined by precision, permanence and quiet intent.
Pictured: Baxter Corinne chairs by Roberto Lazzeroni and the Bomma Dew Drops pendant by Boris Klimek.
In the living area, the Cassina 053 Capitol Complex chairs and the Edra Standard sofa by Francesco Binfare.
“We positioned the fireplace centrally to divide the immense living space between the sitting area and the dining area,” De Feyter says.
Pictured: The Baxter Corinne chair by Roberto Lazzeroni.
The master ensuite centres on a custom glass-panelled fireplace set above the bathtub, framed by finishes of Muschelkalk limestone and smoked oak veneer.
Pictured: the Tribù Nomad Easy chairs by Monica Armani in their shell form.
The exterior features an atypical material palette: beige façade brick with black sintered wood, a thatched roof and sliding, floor-to-ceiling glass accents.
The interiors look out to an expansive sloping garden designed by landscape artist Kevin Mampay, who integrated the home with the surrounding natural forest and the existing pond beyond.
The post Home Tour | Schilde Residence by Arjaan De Feyter appeared first on est living | exceptional living.
