The wonderful world of Bea Mombaers, Belgium
In the small coastal town of Knokke, Belgium, Bea Mombaers has created a haven for weary travellers and design lovers alike. It’s known as a Bed & Breakfast but it’s so much more…
Earlier this year the studio manager of Arent&Pyke, Kristen Hawes had the pleasure of staying at Bea Mombaers B&B during the Spring. The catalyst for visiting was obvious. The traditional thatched-roof exterior reveals a unique interior with covetable furniture, art and objects – many of which you can also purchase. The curation of iconic 20th-century furniture has been carefully arranged in an expansive yet intimate setting, clad in concrete with high ceilings, an abundance of light and the green countryside beckoning through black steel windows. It’s a mature space with interesting nuances of design rather than an obvious shrine to mid-century classics. The roll call of Panton, Arne Jacobsen, Eames et al has been passionately collected by Bea over years of travel…her favourite travel destinations being Brazil, Beirut, Italy, France and New York.
Bea is a 20th-century devotee, of course, especially loves Brazilian designers, and in Belguim is inspired by the Van Severen family. She describes her formula for comfortable living as “space, warmth from materials, neutral colours and a lot of green!”
What Kristen recalls most fondly from her stay was not so much the design details (although the B&B certainly delivers above expectations from a design sense) but rather the very natural and creative hospitality innate with Bea and her staff. On returning to the guesthouse from a day sight-seeing, there was a group gathering for drinks as the sun was setting on the lawn… with graceful ease, Bea appeared with sheepskins for all to drape over the butterfly chairs as the evening chill crept in. It’s no surprise then that Bea identifies her secret ingredient for entertaining as “sharing”.
The wonderful world of Bea Mombaers centres around a passion for design and also simply for living. There are the B&B, her design store, the e-boutique and a very inspiring blog too. So you may not need to travel all the way to Belgium to acquire some Bea Mombaers magic but we recommend you do…
