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12 August 2024 | Case story

The beauty of aging wood

An annexe that would give the impression that it was built at the same time as the original house is exactly what landscape designer Cédric De Valck had in mind when creating a guesthouse in his own garden. Mission accomplished, thanks in part to some well-thought-through choices in terms of shape and materials.

“This street gets a lot of passage,” De Valck says. “I wanted to make sure that the new building was not too conspicuous, blending in with what was already there.” Today, the annexe is used by his two stepsons, who live with him and his partner every other week and also work in the business. Originally, Cédric had the house in Londerzeel, an old farmhouse from 1900, renovated to suit the needs of a single man, with large living spaces and very few bedrooms. “Rather than renovate again, I had an annexe built that would provide space for my enlarged family, with plenty of options for the longer term,” De Valck explains. “Once the boys fly the nest, we will probably use it for something else. I have always dreamt of having my own B&B one day.”

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Lasting beauty

The bedrooms in the annexe are south-west facing to take full advantage of the evening sun. Thanks to the minimalist windows, the rooms are on the garden level, harmonising harmoniously with the exterior. Weathered barnwood was the logical choice for the wooden façade cladding. “That way, I was able to naturally integrate the annexe in its surroundings,” says De Valck, who was inspired by Scandinavian building principles. “Barnwood is a durable type of wood that has been used in architecture for quite some time. It is easy to maintain - no need to paint, stain or oil it - and the wood only improves with age.”

The barnwood was supplied by Carpentier, which specialises in high-quality European hardwood. And even this choice was given a lot of thought. “Thanks to their professionalism, I had a good feeling even before our first meeting,” says the landscaper. “The many cases on their website give you a better idea of what’s possible, so I knew it would be easy to get them on board with our story. And that is exactly what happened. During our first meeting, we had a brainstorming session about the project, and we were on the same page from the start.”

“Investing in the right material that becomes more valuable with age is a trend we are also seeing in the construction of new gardens,” De Valck notes. "People have come to understand that outdoor surroundings also contribute to the value of their home and are willing to invest in more expensive materials to make their home as sellable as possible on the one hand, but also to take full advantage of their garden for a long time.”


Winter and summer body

“Another interesting garden trend is the trend for ‘mass plantings’, with medium-high greenery covering several square metres and pruned into ‘cloud’ shapes, adding body to your garden year-round. Initially, customers tend to be reluctant because they assume it requires a lot of maintenance, meaning pruning. I am always happy to contradict them,” says De Valck with a smile. “Yes, these plantings need pruning three times a year, but if you are going to replace mass plantings with borders with low plantings, you’ll find that you’ll need to weed your garden almost weekly. It is important that everything has its place. Trees, mass plantings, and low perennials and grasses; every garden should have these three layers. Mass plantings are especially important in winter when you get minimal colour from your perennials.”

Did you know…

> Carpentier’s barnwood is mainly produced from 200-year-old softwood reclaimed from old barns in Europe and Canada. Besides the softwood variants, they also have European oak barnwood. Thanks to their hardness and sustainability, these reclaimed wood boards are ideally suited for outdoor applications.

> Solid wood barnwood cladding is available in thicknesses from 20 to 24 mm and varying lengths. The colour of European barnwood varies from grey to black and even brown. However, Carpentier is constantly on the lookout for lots with as many shades of grey as possible. In principle, Canadian barnwood is slightly more even in colour but may occasionally contain a coloured plank. The Canadian and European barnwood planks are part of Carpentier’s exclusive old wood collection and can also be used indoors for cladding ceilings and walls.

About NOA:

NOA outdoor living is an experience park for outdoor design in Kruisem. In the theme gardens, you can find inspiration to decorate your garden. These gardens combine architecture, landscape, and interior, and welcome architects, landscape architects, designers, and contractors as well as private prospects. In this inspiration park, you will find luxurious garden furniture and designs by more than 30 high-end partners, who are happy to advise you as you bring your dream garden to life. Moreover, the park is the perfect professional networking location; the conference rooms, covered patio, spacious showroom, and plaza of NOA outdoor living are the ideal setting for your conference, product presentation, or product launch.

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