Stories

In an old farmhouse in Duffel, Belgium, you will find art gallery Speez. The style of owner Brigitte van Meerbeeck is minimalist; she appreciates art that returns to the essence. Functionality takes center stage in the exhibition space, which is why the Lloyd Table seamlessly fits into the area. Brigitte says, "I use Lloyd as a dining table and a meeting table. And in the summer, I like to place the table outside."

The old farmhouse used to consist of three parts: a barn, stable, and sleeping quarters. Areal Architects transformed the farm into an open and multifunctional exhibition space. In the new design, the original division into three sections has been preserved.

The Van Doesburg House recently acquired three Functionals products—the Wendela chair and Lloyd table and bench. The modernist landmark, located in a suburb of Paris, is the only architectural work of Theo Van Doesburg (1883-1931), the Dutch artist, designer, critic, and writer who co-founded the De Stijl art movement and was its greatest ambassador. We are proud to be in residence.

With nearly 5500 students Erasmus School of Law is one of the leading institutions of law in the Netherlands. Between 2013 and 2018, Erasmus School of Law completely transformed her home, Sanders Building. Architect Jo Coenen expanded the building, filled it with light, and made it more efficient using sustainable materials and technologies. Functionals was honored when interior architect Hans Fransen selected Wendela chairs for offices and Sanders Law Library. With its ergonomic design, the Wendela chair is well suited for long hours studying law and writing papers.

Restaurant Alix is an urban oasis, a glimpse of the pastoral in downtown Ghent, Belgium. Patrons enter the cozy brick building on busy Kortrijksesteenweg, only to discover that the restaurant looks out at a lush garden and small barn. Even better, the garden and barn are available for private events, what chef-owner Alix Aelterman calls “Jardin d’Amis.”

Functionals is a presence indoors and out, with our the T-Tables inside and our the Outdoor Lloyd Tables, Benches, and T-Tables outside.

Aelterman started her namesake restaurant in her family’s longtime home in May of 2015. The restaurant was the natural outgrowth of her love of “bringing people together” and making delicious food. “It just grew organically,” she says.

When web solutions company Eleven hired NU to design its new headquarters in Rijswijk, it requested an office environment where employees could feel at home. To achieve an atmosphere of relaxed fun, NU’s relied on many Functionals products, with a starring role assigned to Serener’s Lloyd Table.

In the late 16th century, this monumental building was the official residence of the Prince of Nassau. Today it is a hotel and restaurant complex offering stately refuge from the bustling city center of Groningen. The Grand Café, located in what was the Prinsenhof’s chapel, features Serener’s sleek yet cozy Wendela Chair and Wendela Barstool.

About a decade ago, Susan and Frans Bruurs decided to move their family to the farm where Frans had grown up—a lovely spot in the Dutch countryside just 20 minutes from the city of Eindhoven. Susan and Frans loved country living so much that they decided to share it with others, transforming a barn on the property into their first guesthouse: Bed + Barn Bruurs. Outfitted with several Functionals pieces, the “guestbarn” is welcoming and cozy while also embracing chic simplicity and serenity.

This stately historic building contains 12 short-stay apartments, several of which overlook Groningen’s Hoge der A canal. Each apartment is uniquely furnished. Some include Serener’s comfortable Wendela Chair – a new Dutch classic in the heart of one of Holland’s oldest cities.