SSY            Welcome Hemant! How did you find this duplex?

Hemant      In 2020, we were looking for a house. We wanted to stay in the area. My office is ten minutes away, and my wife works in the city, so we needed something close to the shops too. We did not find the right house. Then we came across this duplex. When we stepped onto the terrace and saw the view, we were blown away.

SSY            The location seems to check every box. What sealed the deal?

Hemant      We already lived nearby. We loved walking in the red rock forests just above, or on the Gaalgebierg. So the spot was strategic. Close to the office, next to the forest, with the school across the street. And there is parking right in front, which is rare in Esch.

SSY            The terrace looks nothing like it did before. What did you change?

Hemant      For us, the important thing was to bring a very natural feel into the home. We were expecting our first child at the time, so simple materials mattered. And I love walking barefoot. Touch is very important to me. So we rebuilt the entire terrace in wood. It continues what we did inside the house.

SSY            You also replaced all the windows. Why?

Hemant      The old frames were PVC. We replaced everything with acoustic triple glazing and aluminium frames, across the whole apartment. The energy performance improved a lot. And my wife had one concern: the street below has some traffic. The acoustic glazing solved that. Even outside on the terrace, you feel at ease.

SSY            The living space flows from the kitchen to the terrace. How does the light work here?

Hemant      We have a double exposure. Morning sun on the terrace side until early afternoon. Then the sun moves to the kitchen side. The apartment faces north-east and south-west. On hot days, sitting on the terrace at the end of the day is very pleasant. Perfect for a drink with friends.

SSY            The parquet runs through the whole apartment. What did you choose?

Hemant      A parquet with a solid oak wear layer, laid over underfloor heating across the whole home. No radiators on the walls. The heat is soft and even. And with children, it matters. You can let them play on the floor without worrying. Our youngest is learning to walk on it right now.

SSY            The kitchen is one of the highlights. What was it like before?

Hemant      It was an L-shaped kitchen, completely white. We found it a bit sad. We wanted colour and energy in this space. So we removed everything and redesigned it from scratch. Olive green fronts, oak boxes, and more storage than before. Two tall columns with an integrated fridge and oven. We kept the rest of the walls light for luminosity.

SSY            The worktop is solid oak. Isn’t that risky in a kitchen?

Hemant      That was my wife’s worry at the start. The fragility, the maintenance. But we have been here five years and it holds up very well. It is 40 mm of solid oak, oiled. If something spills, a quick wipe. If there is a dent, a light sanding, a bit of oil, and it is gone. The wood has developed a patina. That is the charm of natural materials.

SSY            You gave the bathroom a lot of attention too. What changed?

Hemant      When we arrived, there was only a shower, and our first child was on the way. So a bathtub was important. We redid everything. New tiles on the floor and walls, and a custom vanity, in oak again. The bathtub fills through the overflow. It is a small detail, but it is very pleasant to use.

SSY            The children’s rooms follow the same philosophy?

Hemant      Same logic, same materials. We personalised each room with a touch of colour. A soft pink in one, a terracotta in the guest room, which doubles as our home office. And we changed the windows here too, with oak frames around them. Small details, but they bring warmth to each room.