Marcel van Woerkom

Some people pour their lives into a house and, in the process, breathe life into themselves. Such is true of Marcel van Woerkom, an internationally renowned artist and graphic designer whose work includes graphics for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In the 1970s Marcel moved into a time-worn townhouse on Leidsestraat (figure A), the "Hollywood Boulevard" of Amsterdam. He poured every cent he made into remodeling the once-grand Victorian home--many times using his carpenter skills to advance the renovations. For over 20 years, he rented out part of the house to provide financial assistance until finally he could live there himself.

In the guestroom, where work first began on the ceiling (the only remaining Victorian detail), a low bed is covered in a wool rug from Greece. Next to it, a wood-burning fireplace is a 1960s design (figure B).

The guest room opens to a small living room. Like his designs, this room is a study in black and white (figure C). Clean lines come from classic Scandinavian and American furnishings from the 1960s and '70s.

van Woerkom resisted the temptation to create built-in spaces for his kitchen appliances (figure D). A custom-built space may have to be torn apart to accommodate a new appliance of a different size. This approach allows for optimum space and convenience, since new appliances can easily be placed under the countertop.