The Belgian decorator Geoffroy Van Hulle takes you on a ‘grand tour’ with his new book "Grand Interiors", published by Pelckmans

Pelckmans is publishing Grand Interiors, a new coffee table book showcasing the work of Geoffroy Van Hulle. Available as of November, Grand Interiors takes you on a ‘grand tour’ through the opulent interiors of the Belgian decorator. The book gives us exclusive access into exuberant private residences, from London to Antwerp and back. In his lavish interiors, he generously welcomes colors, patterns, and exoticism. "You could call my style 'maximalist,'" he says. "But above all, I aim for maximum luxury and comfort."

Van Hulle himself describes his Grand Interiors as grand, enthralling, theatrical, dramatic. ‘You can lead a grand life in these spaces, as if you’re the main character in your own film,’ he says.

Van Hulle is no philosopher of home living, decorating by way of golden ratio. His interiors aren’t ensembles of recognizable artists and ditto design icons. "Most importantly, a home needs to be comfortable and cozy," he believes. "I’m not a cerebral designer who gets lost in big theories. I want my interiors to be literal bon vivants: settings where you can lead a life well-lived. The people I work for don’t want to live in a museum-like setting where you’re afraid to touch anything. My interiors don’t take themselves so au sérieux. They leave room for lightness, humor, and joie de vivre."

Joie de vivre: that's what Van Hulle's sumptuous realms must exude. They are designed for entertaining guests in grandeur. "Nowhere in my interiors should the distance to a bookcase, fireplace, or bar cabinet be more than five steps," is his motto. And this prestigious monograph abundantly illustrates that. In a separate chapter, Van Hulle zooms in on the importance of original dining rooms, fireplaces, libraries, and bathrooms.

What resonates throughout Grand Interiors is Van Hulle's unwavering commitment to originality; never does he succumb to repetition, ensuring that each space remains a testament to his boundless creativity and inventiveness. Van Hulle believes a home is a setting that demands to be in constant flux. His interiors are like an adventurous travel novel, continuing to surprise room after room.

In Grand Interiors, you immediately sense that Geoffroy Van Hulle’s work is rooted in history. His quirky interiors are infused with echoes of antiquity and nods to the classical canon of interior design. Yet, his approach remains refreshingly unpretentious. "An interior should make you feel good, not it should not be a showcase to namedrop famous artists or designers," he believes.

Grand Interiors serves as both a whimsical celebration of craftsmanship and a heartfelt homage to luminaries such as Yves Saint Laurent and Nissim de Camondo, whose legacies continue to inspire Van Hulle's artistic journey. Yet, it is the indelible influence of Cecil Beaton and David Hicks that resonates most profoundly. Their theatrical flair is translated into layered interiors that never cease to amaze. Van Hulle is the scenographer of extraordinary decors for the theatre of everyday.

"Grand Interiors" by Geoffroy Van Hulle
​Publisher: Pelckmans ​
​Release date: November 2024
​Hardcover , 33cm H x 25cm B
​284 pages
​Price: € 94,50 ​
​ISBN 978-94-6310-805-8
​https://www.pelckmans.be

For press copies, an interview with Geoffroy Van Hulle or images, please contact ​
​Albane Paret
​Club Paradis
​albane@clubparadis.be
​0032 (0)476 57 37 82

Selection of images (© Damon De Backer)
​Download the images here

Cover