Inside the home of: Stylelon

In this home tour we got to take a look inside Lonneke's cheerful home! A true creative who works with colour every day. We posed our burning questions to her and she answered with great enthusiasm! Read along?

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Lonneke, I'm 44 years old and I live in Bergen op Zoom. I'm naturally very creative! As a child I said I wanted to teach drawing and painting, because I was always busy with all sorts of colours. Eventually I thought it wouldn't work out for me that way. I did go into education, but to teach Geography. I did that for a while, and over time I moved into special education and now I work four days a week as an internal support officer. It's a challenging, but wonderful job.

When did you start sharing your interior on Instagram and how did that come about?

Six years ago my creative side started itching again and I decided to turn things around. I registered with the Chamber of Commerce and thought: "I'll see where the ship sails." That's how my Instagram account Stylelon was born, which has become really popular over the last two years. I looked at other interior accounts and thought to myself: "I can do that too!" I get a lot of energy from creating and sharing beautiful photos of my interior and I also have nice contact with other people who share their interior on Instagram. Through this I also regularly get nice assignments from companies. Fortunately I have a partner who doesn't mind that the interior is always changing and is fine with everything!

We see a lot of pastel colours in your interior, have you always been into this?

No, definitely not! I've only been living in my new house for four months, which is decorated entirely in soft pastel tones. In my previous house the colours were darker and terracotta dominated. When we moved, I thought: why would I do the same as before when I can start completely fresh! Pastel tones are becoming increasingly popular and they make me feel very happy. That's why I chose to use mainly these colours in my new home.

Do you also get approached by other people or companies to provide interior advice?

Yes, that was actually my intention when I registered with the Chamber of Commerce. This is definitely happening. For example, I now have two projects going and got another request via Instagram recently. Usually it's people from the neighbourhood who don't necessarily find my account via Instagram, but come to me through word of mouth. At the moment I do these kinds of projects more as a hobby, while inspiring others through my Instagram account and collaborating with companies is more my 'second job'.

How would you describe your interior style and how did it develop?

My interior style is first and foremost based on feeling! And colour always plays a major role in this. This doesn't mean I don't find other styles beautiful, like hotel chic with dark tones or a Scandinavian interior with light colours, but I don't think I'd be completely happy without colour. For me, the basis is always working with colour and coordinating it. It doesn't matter if you use five different colours, as long as they're in the same line or enhance each other. This way I create peace in my home. It's difficult to give my interior style a name, but I'd say a mix between eclectic colourful and Scandinavian romantic.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from my feeling. If I see something online or outside that feels good and matches me in terms of colour, then my brain goes into overdrive thinking about what would go well with it. I take elements from different interior accounts and create a whole from it myself.

Do you have a favourite item in the house that you're really happy with?

I often say: that's the heart of the home, namely the kitchen, but that's also because it's so prominent in the space. But actually my favourite spot in the house is the sofa, with everything around it, like the cushions, side tables and of course the wool rug Feline pastel. This is set up so that the sofa with all the mentioned items around it stands in the middle of the living room, so your attention goes straight there when you enter and you want to flop down there right away. The pastel rug is definitely a favourite in our home, because my husband lay down on it as soon as it arrived. We're also happy that we chose a large size, because it's in the middle of the living room and actually looks like a cosy little island.

What makes a house a really nice place to live for you?

For me, a tidy home is the most important. It brings peace to the home. I also like to include flowers and plants in the interior, but with a good balance. And natural materials for furniture, flooring and plants contribute to a pleasant, homely feeling.

Are you trend-conscious?

I think I'm halfway trend-conscious and halfway forward-thinking! For example, if I see something that appeals to me, like a trendy lamp from an expensive designer brand, I find it a challenge to find a similar lamp online from another brand for much less money. I really enjoy doing that!

What's your ultimate interior tip?

Follow your feeling! If you see something that moves you and you think: 'I can do something with this', buy it. Follow your heart and feeling, because then you'll always be on the right track. Don't worry about what others think but go for what makes you happy.