German interior designer Victoria-Maria Geyer has transformed a sprawling 1932 villa in Brussels into a vibrant family home that defies Belgium's traditionally muted design aesthetic. The self-taught designer, who has long called Brussels home, created an unconventional yet sophisticated residence for a family of six, featuring a striking bright yellow living room and bold color combinations throughout the 550-square-meter property.
Geyer's fearless approach to color and patterns stands in stark contrast to the purist, contemplative design philosophy that Belgian designers like Axel Vervoordt and Vincent Van Duysen have championed for years. Her latest project demonstrates her ability to create expansive color worlds even in intimate spaces, bringing warmth and personality to every corner of the historic property.
The villa, which had clearly seen better days when Geyer first encountered it, possessed a charm that immediately captured her imagination. The half-timbered construction featured geometric lines, charming dormer windows, and deep overhanging eaves, complete with a tower. "The house felt like a small mansion with a rural soul," Geyer recalls. "It could have easily stood in Normandy."
While the property required comprehensive renovation, including new flooring throughout, Geyer chose to preserve the original floor plan and the historic coffered ceilings. However, she boldly painted these architectural elements in vibrant colors: red in the dining room, pink in the hallway, and yellow in the living room. "I love yellow, and fortunately the clients did too," she remembers of developing the color concept collaboratively. "It felt natural from the beginning."
The designer's approach to the living room ceiling demonstrates her sophisticated understanding of color theory. She painted the beams in a deeper shade of yellow to create depth and rhythm in the space, transforming what could have been overwhelming brightness into a nuanced and dynamic environment.
Geyer's furniture selections reflect her commitment to individuality and craftsmanship. Many pieces throughout the home are her own designs, including custom oak furniture in the dressing room and a breakfast nook featuring pink zellige tiles from Morocco. The dining table, also her creation, is surrounded by Italian vintage chairs she discovered at Galerie Watteeu in Brussels, while the space features striking Pompeii-red silk wallpaper from Pierre Frey.
The kitchen presented unexpected challenges when the massive lava stone countertop arrived with a surface that was less uniform than anticipated. Rather than seeing this as a flaw, Geyer embraced the imperfection. "That's what's special about handcrafted work," she explains. "It gives furniture pieces a soul and a kind of authenticity that perfection cannot offer."
Geyer's passion for color, patterns, and textiles draws significant inspiration from her travels, which have recently taken her to Rajasthan and Andalusia, where she designed a small boutique hotel near Marbella. Her long-standing partnership with French heritage company Pierre Frey culminated in a creative collaboration that produced her own wallpaper collection.
The bedroom showcases this collaboration through an illustrated wallpaper from her "Éternel été" (Eternal Summer) collection, demonstrating how personal creativity can seamlessly integrate with established luxury brands. Throughout the house, Pierre Frey fabrics appear in various applications, from the striped Canyon fabric on a window seat to the Le Rocher carpet that softens the dramatic red staircase.
The staircase itself exemplifies Geyer's bold approach to color, painted in Farrow & Ball's vibrant "Eating Room Red." This dramatic treatment transforms a functional element into a sculptural focal point, creating what she playfully calls a "stairway to heaven." The integration of such intense color requires confidence and skill, both of which Geyer demonstrates throughout the project.
The project represents more than just interior decoration; it embodies a philosophy that celebrates joy, creativity, and the power of color to transform living spaces. In a world where neutral palettes often dominate luxury interiors, Geyer's work offers a refreshing alternative that proves sophistication doesn't require restraint. Her success in Brussels, a city known for its design restraint, demonstrates that bold choices can create timeless elegance when executed with skill and sensitivity to architectural heritage.
