Victoria-Maria Reimagines a 1932 Brussels Villa with Colour, Character and Timeless Personality

Known for her richly layered interiors that blend history, artistry and individuality, German-born interior architect Victoria-Maria has built an international reputation for creating homes that feel deeply personal rather than trend-led. Based in Brussels, her studio approaches every project as a unique story, thoughtfully combining antique pieces, contemporary design, bespoke craftsmanship and global influences to create interiors that are timeless, expressive and entirely original.

This distinctive philosophy comes beautifully to life in the Dimitri Project, located in a quiet, green residential suburb just outside the heart of Brussels. Here, Victoria-Maria transformed a neglected 1932 villa into a remarkable family home that celebrates colour, craftsmanship and personality while honouring the building’s remarkable architectural character.

From the very first visit, the property left a lasting impression.

“It felt like stumbling upon a little enchanted manor, with a subtle touch of Normandy in its spirit,” Victoria-Maria recalls.

The villa’s architecture immediately evoked that feeling through its charming dormer windows, geometric half-timbering, deep overhanging eaves and even a small turret. Together with its warm painted tones against limewashed surfaces, the house possessed the unmistakable character of a miniature countryside manor hidden within the city.

Built in 1932 and spanning approximately 575 square metres, the villa carried a subtle eclectic architectural style and was surrounded by a generous garden. While full of character, the property had fallen into very poor condition, requiring an extensive renovation that reimagined every room from the ground up.

Rather than seeing limitations, Victoria-Maria immediately recognised the home’s extraordinary potential.

She envisioned an interior that would feel cosy, colourful and full of personality—qualities that perfectly aligned with her clients’ aspirations. Their brief was refreshingly clear: they wanted a home unlike any other, one that was colourful, distinctive and entirely removed from conventional or trend-driven interiors.

The result is a home that confidently follows its own path.

Rather than referencing a single design style, the interior blends influences from multiple cultures, different historical periods and an expressive palette of colours. The layered composition creates spaces that feel warm, inviting and deeply personal, where every room tells part of the home’s evolving story.

For Victoria-Maria, every project begins with understanding both the architecture and the people who will inhabit it. Through detailed consultations, mood boards, technical drawings and highly accurate 3D visualisations, she develops tailored interiors that allow clients to fully experience their future home before construction begins. This thoughtful process ensures every design reflects both the unique character of the building and the lifestyle of those who call it home.

Throughout the Dimitri Project, bespoke craftsmanship became a defining feature.

Among the home’s customised elements are the attic floor finished with striking black-and-white carreaux de ciment, a distinctive pink lava stone kitchen countertop, a charming breakfast corner clad in pink Moroccan zelliges, and a staircase runner custom coloured specifically to complement the home’s carefully curated palette.

One of the project’s few unexpected moments came with the arrival of the lava stone kitchen countertop.

Its surface appeared less uniform than originally anticipated, but rather than viewing this as a flaw, Victoria-Maria embraced its individuality.

For her, this slight irregularity became part of the craftsmanship itself—adding authenticity, character and soul that perfect uniformity could never replicate.

While the studio’s design methodology remains consistent from one commission to the next, Victoria-Maria explains that every project develops its own creative identity through the unique story of both the architecture and the people who inhabit it. Inspiration is never repeated, ensuring each home possesses a personality entirely its own.

Although she had not previously worked directly with the homeowners, the collaboration began through an earlier project completed for a member of their family, establishing a trusted relationship that ultimately led to this ambitious renovation.

Among the home’s most memorable spaces is its striking yellow living room.

The inspiration was wonderfully straightforward.

Victoria-Maria has always loved the colour yellow, and so did her clients. What began as a shared appreciation naturally evolved into an immersive room where even the exposed beams were painted in a slightly deeper shade of yellow, introducing additional depth, rhythm and warmth while reinforcing the room’s joyful personality.

The Dimitri Project perfectly encapsulates Victoria-Maria’s design philosophy: creating interiors that resist passing trends in favour of authenticity, craftsmanship and emotional connection. Rich in colour, layered in character and filled with bespoke details, the transformed Brussels villa stands as a celebration of individuality—proving that the most memorable homes are those that tell a story unlike any other.