Lit d'Art | Antwerp, Belgium
"Lit d'Art", a treasure trove of art in the heart of Antwerp
A touch of Italian style can be found at the new LIT D’ART in Antwerp, the exclusive boutique hotel. It was created with designer pieces, including some iconic furniture by Desiree such as Lovely Day, Eli Fly, Koster, Sabi and Yori. The building hosting them is the perfect setting for enhancing their quality: a short distance from the Fine Arts Museum, the building is part of the De Vijf Werelddelen (The Five Continents), the well-known complex created by the architect Frans Smet-Verhas, one of the most famous exponents of Art Nouveau style in Belgium.
Desiree had the pleasure of seeing some of its best-selling products collocated in an extremely charming place. The owner of the hotel, Aida Heerman, a fervent art lover in constant search of inspiration, chose to welcome her guests to an exceptionally elegant setting. "I saw this iconic furniture for the first time in Milan," says Aida Heerman, "and it was love at first sight. Today, models such as Lovely Day, Eli Fly, Koster, Sabi and Yori embellish the lobby, the wellness area and the 4 suites of the hotel.
The furnishings chosen were created by prominent designers including Marc Sadler for Lovely Day, the centre-room sofa featuring a linear and contemporary style, and Koster, the armchair that combines modernity with 1950s design. Eli Fly, the light and dynamic chaise longue, was designed by Jai Jalan, whereas Sabi - a set of tables in three versions - was created by Setsu & Shinobu Ito, along with Yori, the triple-top coffee table inspired by delicate, traditional Japanese bonsai trees.
Such furniture is expertly arranged in a hotel that is a real art gallery, where not only furnishing accessories are displayed but also works by four renowned artists selected by Heerman and a temporary artist. For guests, everything is available for sale: the owner provides anyone interested with information about the selected objects, and then procures them on request.
"As an art lover and dealer, I often go to the most popular trade fairs, including the Salone del Mobile in Milan last year. On that occasion, I was immediately impressed by furniture by Desiree, especially the design and materials, so I chose to include them in my new project.”
Aida Heerman