A 200-Year-Old Staircase as the Design Centerpiece of an Amsterdam Canal House Renovation
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ByAditi Sharma,Photography byIsabel Bronts
PublishedJun 25, 2026 4:46 AM EDT
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When the owners of an 18th-century Amsterdam canal house engaged Reineke Antvelink, founder of RA Studio, to oversee a renovation, they carried a clear vision: a pied-à-terre with the intimacy and polish of a boutique hotel.
The structure, which dates to 1795, is listed as a monumental home—a Dutch protected building officially recognized for its cultural and architectural value. While many of the 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom’s original elements—the doors, flooring, and fireplaces—had already been lost to time, the layout, staircase, and beams were all in place and had to be preserved. To bring everything gracefully into the present, the family of four wanted Antvelink to layer in modern lighting, better storage, saturated color, and comfy small-scale furniture.
Spread across a souterrain, bel étage, first and second floors, and a tiny attic, the home’s unusual floor plan demanded inventive design solutions. Here, the designer shares how she retained the property’s original charm—and why there’s a sink in the bedroom.
The Boutique Hotel Aesthetic: Design Intent
The clients gravitate toward Soho House and English and French boutique hotels for their skillful mixing of styles, materials, and periods without feeling overly formal. A sense of comfort, warmth, and considered detail was precisely the atmosphere they sought for their own residence.
Structural Challenges: Adapting to Variable Ceiling Heights
In historic Amsterdam canal houses, ceiling heights vary considerably across levels. The souterrain stands approximately six feet tall, the bel étage rises to roughly 11 feet, and the first floor reaches nine feet. Upper levels become progressively lower, with the attic reaching only five feet at its highest point.
The compactness became integral to the home’s character. On some levels, the clients navigate slightly reduced headroom, yet they embrace it. Several design strategies make the low ceilings feel comfortable: shortened showerheads, lowered sinks, and softer ceiling colors like light pink and green. In select areas, furniture was custom-designed, including a small, shallow sofa for the living room.
The original staircase—old, narrow, and no longer comfortable or safe for a household with children—could not be removed or replaced due to preservation requirements. Instead, new steps were attached onto the old treads, preserving the original structure while enabling safer daily use for the family.
In the primary bathroom, spatial constraints permitted only a shower and toilet. The design solution integrated a sink into the primary bedroom joinery—a gesture that references the European tradition of bedroom sinks built into millwork, feeling natural rather than unusual.
The Green Palette: Depth and Expressiveness Across Spaces
The color palette represented a deliberate departure for the clients, accustomed to calm, earthy tones. For their vacation home, they embraced more expressive color to bring greater depth to the interiors. Different shades of green were layered with yellow and purple—skewing moodier in some rooms, fresher or more delicate in others, such as the attic sleeping nook for the children.
Working with Original Ceiling Beams: Color and Texture
Structural alterations to the beams were prohibited. The design response employed color and texture: painting select beams, introducing wallpaper between others, and applying thick lime plaster elsewhere to create a more tactile, atmospheric effect.
Strategic Mirror Placement: Expanding Small Spaces
Mirrors serve as essential design tools in compact spaces, making rooms feel larger and capturing available light—critical in this residence. Specially aged mirrors lend authenticity and softness rather than a factory-made quality. A mirror behind the kitchen bar, layered with brass mesh, creates a beautiful play of reflection in what could otherwise be a dark corner.
Varied Flooring: Defining Spaces by Material
Each flooring selection serves a specific atmospheric purpose. On the bel étage, black terracotta flooring achieves the ambiance of a hotel bar; continuing it from the entrance into the bar area creates a greater sense of spaciousness. The first floor evokes a library atmosphere with wood flooring, while the attic features sisal carpet—a practical choice for the limited height and a comfortable underfoot surface.
Concealed Storage: Maximizing Function Without Visual Bulk
In a residence this compact, storage solutions must remain visually unobtrusive. Custom-made joinery provides a surprising amount of concealed storage: the fridge, air conditioning, and technical systems are hidden behind cabinets, while the washer and dryer are tucked within a wardrobe in the children’s room.
Signature Detail: The Entry Doorknob
Among the home’s many charming details, the doorknob at the entrance—sourced from Charles Edwards in London—stands out as a particular favorite. It delivers a joyful welcome, immediately sparking curiosity about what lies beyond the door.
Aditi Sharma
Writer
Isabel Bronts
photography
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