Mud Residence Guesthouse in Belgium by Andy Kerstens.

The most unexpected thing about classic, remodelled homes is the rich layers of personality it dons under its swish new additions. Like hidden badges of honour, or time-served souvenirs. Weathered, worn, but never weary. Such is the luxe, 1960s-revived guest house nestled just outside the forest of Heverlee, in Leuven, Belgium. Dubbed the Mud Residence, the 4-person guest house “is actually a nod to clay that you can shape however you like. The residence is a blank canvas that can be used as both an inspirational guesthouse and a creative hub, welcoming all those who seek an escape from daily life or an opportunity to explore new endeavours,” says interior designer Andy Kerstens, who breathed modish magic into the original dwelling.

Kerstens used the 1960s blueprint to conjure up a 4-person guesthouse that deftly walks the line between refined and rural, with two swish bedrooms, an ambient kitchen, a living room, a dining room, an outdoor terrace, a wellness area with a private bio sauna, a relaxation room, a technogym workout bench, and an outdoor Weltevree hot tub.

“If the house is already a source of inspiration, its surroundings are too. Located in the heart of Flemish Brabant, only twenty minutes from Brussels, the setting is conducive to letting go. You can set out on foot or by bike to explore the woods of Heverlee,” avers Kerstens.

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The living room is muted and mellow, parlaying into a similarly minimal enclosed balcony. “[The balcony] invites the guest to imbibe a strong connection with the garden and the beautiful surroundings,” states Kerstens. Throughout the common realms, tactile elements, rough finishes and contrasting textures channel an evocative visual cornucopia. “Natural, almost weathered materials add contrast to the spaces, in line with the philosophy of the owners, Sophie and Frank,” adds Kerstens.

And then there’s the dining room, rugged and unfussy, as if pieced together from bits of the earth. Flagstone flooring, exposed wooden rafters and brooding grey walls give it a cavernous appeal that is mirrored in the almost-unfinished, grey-plastered bedrooms. Meanwhile, the outdoor terrace is a breezy haven ideal for a sunset barbecue.

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If the walls here could speak, they would rhapsodise about the owners’ high-spirited experiences. “The well-curated collection of design classics, authentic vintage pieces and interesting art is a hat-tip to Sophie and Frank,” Kerstens observes. And yet, personal markings aside, the MUD Residence easily changes avatars to suit its patrons. So much so that the guest house is neighboured by a creative studio whose layout transforms fluidly, like a wonderfully amorphous shadow.

“You can organise meetings, give or take workshops or training sessions with a personal coach, host an exhibition or improvise a writing retreat. Creative minds, but also companies looking for inspiring places can mould the setting to their liking. Peaceful retreat or creative hub: the choice is theirs,” muses Kerstens.

For owners, Sophie and Frank, “culture, vintage design and contemporary architecture had to coexist in harmony”. For Kerstens, the 1960s hallmarks had to be reimagined in a modern, yet authentic way. “Pure and sober lines create new views and open light-flooded spaces. The result? An enjoyable and bright atmosphere,” concludes Kerstens.

Related: Le Moulin Holiday Home in France by Hauvette & Madani.

[Images courtesy of Andy Kerstens. Photography by Piet-Albert Goethals.]