A Lovely Dream Home With A Thatched Roof And A Playful Interior

Hidden away from the main road, on a beautiful site in Benthuizen, The Netherlands there’s a very lovely family home that was only recently completed. It was designed and built here by Arjen Reas Architects and it’s what many would call a dream home.

The house has a very simple and classic shape with a roof that seamlessly transitions into walls
The house has a very simple and classic shape with a roof that seamlessly transitions into walls

What we love most about it is the fact that nothing is over the top and it has a simple and modest appearance but it’s also fresh and interesting in many ways. The plot on which is was built is quite big and surrounded by lots of greenery and several neighboring buildings. 

The ground floor has a spacious open floor plan with a sunny dining room and a welcoming living area
The ground floor has a spacious open floor plan with a sunny dining room and a welcoming living area

The architects worked hard on creating a house that has an organic and harmonious relationship to its surroundings and not just the natural landscape but also the other residences. That’s part of the reason why the house has a thatched roof that transitions into exterior wall sand create this shell, sort of like a blanket around the house. The exterior also features black wood sections that contrast with the rest and add depth and detail to what it otherwise a very simple design. 

The rear of the house has these big, full-height windows that frame the lovely garden views
The rear of the house has these big, full-height windows that frame the lovely garden views
The kitchen is adjacent to the staircase area which includes a custom slide for the kids
The kitchen is adjacent to the staircase area which includes a custom slide for the kids
The dining area transitions into a covered deck fully open to the garden
The dining area transitions into a covered deck fully open to the garden
Skylights into the roof of the deck allow it to be bathed in natural light
Skylights into the roof of the deck allow it to be bathed in natural light
Colorful walls give this small bathroom a very fresh and cheerful look
Colorful walls give this small bathroom a very fresh and cheerful look
The upstairs bedrooms are decorated with lots of fun features too, like this climbing wall
The upstairs bedrooms are decorated with lots of fun features too, like this climbing wall

The house is designed with several connections to the outdoors all sprinkled throughout the inviting floor plan. The ground floor has this extension on one side, similar to a big veranda. It houses the entrance and the dining area and it’s connected to the other spaces such as the living room and a TV space that can also be considered a playroom, space for the whole family to enjoy each other’s company. 

A simpler and more minimalistic color palette was chosen for the master bathroom which is quite big
A simpler and more minimalistic color palette was chosen for the master bathroom which is quite big

A staircase with a custom slide connects the ground floor to the upstairs areas which consist of several bedrooms and bathrooms linked together by a corridor. Each room is special and unique. One of the bedrooms for example has a climbing wall and one of the bathrooms has colorful murals. All of these spaces combined turn this into a perfect family home. 

The ground floor has numerous connections to the exterior on all sides of the house
The ground floor has numerous connections to the exterior on all sides of the house