Photographer and blogger Ilaria Chiaratti’s house is a colorful haven brimming with creativity and a distinguishing vintage-eclectic style. The cozy flat, a stone’s throw from Eindhoven central channel in North Brabant, the Netherlands, is full of retro and thrift-store bits and handmade products. Chiaratti has an eye for vintage design and uses elements of new and old to style her distinctive mix-and-match house. Through her blog, IDA Interior LifeStyle, she shares her inspiration for interior styling, her crochet works and her home’s evolving design.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Ilaria Chiaratti and her husband
Location: Eindhoven, North Brabant, the Netherlands
Size: Two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, dining and living

Ida Lifestyle

Chiaratti’s love affair with gloomy is clear; varying shades, such as the powder-blue on the Eames Eiffel Rocking seat, scatter the flat. The basket on the ground is full of crocheting supplies.

The apartment’s décor was inspired by Scandinavian design. “My house is a place that actually reflects me and my character,” Chiaratti states. “My taste is eclectic, but of course I enjoy a fresh and young look.”

Crown mill: IKEA
Rug: Zara house

Ida Lifestyle

Chiaratti says that her favourite part of furniture would need to be this secondhand beauty made from teak wood and coated in fresh turquoise cloth. The vivid upholstery and distinct retro allure inspired the remainder of the area, with its warm wooden accents amid bright pops of colour. The multicolored crocheted baby blanket folded over the back of the seat was one of Chiaratti’s first crochet works. The crochet cushion was bought from Yvestown. Ilaria made the wall decoration from recycled toilet paper tubes, which she cut up and arranged in a flower pattern. Click here to learn how to make your own.

TV cupboard, baskets: IKEA
Crocheted blanket, poufs, cushions, lampshade, rug, heart garland throughout house : IDA Interior LifeStyle on Etsy

Holly Marder

The white IKEA TV cabinet is topped with six pictures prints by friend and blogger Ivy from Domestic Stories. The prints are for sale on her Etsy store.The deep blue bowl has been bought in Tunisia and has been a gift from Chiaratti’s grandmother.

Prints: National Stories via Etsy
Table runner: Tablecloth.com

Ida Lifestyle

The cushions scattered on the couch and daybed are mostly handmade. Some are crocheted and a few are made of cloth, but Chiaratti’s creativity and character are apparent throughout her property.

Flower pots: IKEA

Ida Lifestyle

Chiaratti’s passion for crochet certainly shows throughout her area. The white retro-inspired seat is an IKEA purchase, and also a faux sheep skin draped over it will help warm up the minimalist seat during cooler months.

Rug: Zara Home

Holly Marder

The daybed is coated with a handmade white throw from Sardinia and awarded to Ilaria by her grandmother. Chiaratti made the cushions and crocheted cover onto the pouf.

Holly Marder

The Wood & Wool Stool is at home in this vintage-inspired flat, joining in nicely with Chiaratti’s own crocheted products. It sits with a lovely midcentury side table by a secondhand site named Marktplaats. Chiaratti left the crocheted blanket on top of the stool as well as the garland on the wall above the cupboard; the owl cushion was bought in Cambridge and the crocheted cushion is by Yvestown.

Holly Marder

The side table hosts a collection of whimsical pottery owls amid a few scattered doilies and a vintage-inspired globe. The distressed wood Christmas tree leaning against the wall is from Wood & Wool Stool.

Holly Marder

Another retro cupboard, also purchased via Marktplaats, houses a collection of vintage teacups and teapots (a few gifts from family and a few from thrift stores). Chiaratti lined the cupboard with yellow wallpaper.

Chair, crown basket: IKEA

Ida Lifestyle

Above a vintage buffet cupboard sits a shelf housing a choice of photos in wooden frames. A screen of trinkets increase the apartment’s vintage charm.

Holly Marder

The black-and-white photos were shot while Chiaratti was on her honeymoon in Thailand.

Holly Marder

Chiaratti uses these quaint porcelain vintage milk jugs to hold fresh-cut fuchsia roses.

Holly Marder

From the kitchen, wall shelves exhibit a few of Chiaratti’s brightly colored crockery.

Shelves: IKEA

Holly Marder

From the dining room, mismatched chairs highlight the inviting and colorful style of this flat. Eames chairs are combined with various IKEA seats in various colors and styles. The big patterned cloth supporting the table is a fun and inexpensive way to bring colour and pattern into the space.

Orange seat, cloth: IKEA

Holly Marder

On the dining room table, a light blue vintage enamel water pitcher full of fresh cut roses ties in beautifully with the vivid colors on the wall.

Holly Marder

Chiaratti began her blog IDA Interior LifeStyle two decades ago, inspired by Holly Becker’s blog Decor8. “It’s a wonderful way to promote my crochet works and my photography,” she states.

Orange seat, cloth: IKEA
Moose mind: Mihou

Holly Marder

Chiaratti’s home office is where the magic happens. Within this cozy little room, she works on her photography, assignments for her interior styling course and her blog. The yellow lamp is another DIY project. Chiaratti bought an old lamp from a thrift store, removed the cloth and spray painted the inner shell a vibrant yellow.

Desk, shelves: IKEA
Pink lamp: vintage Van Dijk & ko.
Blanket: classic
Heart garland: IDA Interior LifeStyle on Etsy

Holly Marder

Chiaratti loves creating interesting and fun items for her property. This paper”Welcome” sign above the guest bed is another of her projects.

Holly Marder

The bedroom also exhibits Chiaratti’s crochet works: the whitened throw at the end of the bed, the cushions, lampshade on the bedside table and the pink rug onto the ground.

Bed linens: IKEA

Holly Marder

Chiaratti’s love for crocheting was inspired by two girls she met in a garage sale in Belgium: Yvonne, the face behind the site Yvestown, and Ingrid, the creator of Wood & Wool Stool. She knew she possessed a creative series and gift using a pair of crochet needles, so she began working on her first cushion, followed by a blanket. When people began commenting on her crochet works, she started up an Etsy store. “Crocheting is a passion,” Chiaratti states. “It is something which relaxes me… sometimes a bit too far!”

Chiaratti has witnessed quite a lot of interest in her crochet works, and has been contacted by the wool provider Coats Cucirinito layout and create items for Abilmente, the most important craft fair in Vicenza, Italy.

Bed linen: IKEA
Bedside table: Kartell

Ida Lifestyle

The dresser in the bedroom has been bought via Van Dijk en Ko and Chiaratti added a few dainty floral cross-stich patterns. (Click here for a tutorial) A tree branch retains her jewelry.

Dresser: Van Dijk en Ko

More Tours:
Life in the Vintage Renewal Loft

Australian Cottage using a Vintage Twist

Eclectic Coastal Home in Holland

See related