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The Sonneveld House

Living room. Table by W.H. Gispen. Painting by W.H. Tholen. Cube vase by A.D. Copier. The couch is designed by L.C. van der Vlugt. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Library. Table and chairs by W.H. Gispen. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Dining room. Glassware by A. D. Copier. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Dining room. Teapot and sugar bowl. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Dining room. Tableware by H.P. Berlage and Piet Zwart. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Living room. Vase by J.J.C. Lebeau. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Library. Liqueur glasses and carafe by A.D. Copier. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Living room. Chair by Erich Dieckmann. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Living room. Piano with ashtray by N.P. de Koo. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Living room. Cactus pot by A.D. Copier. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Parents’ bedroom. Dressing table by L.C. van der Vlugt. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Guest room. Lamp by W.H. Gispen. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Window furniture, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Bedroom Ge Sonneveld. Cupboard by L.C. van der Vlugt. Lamp by W.H. Gispen. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Living room. Table by W.H. Gispen. Painting by W.H. Tholen. Cube vase by A.D. Copier. The couch is designed by L.C. van der Vlugt. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Industrial versus custom pieces

Some items of furniture and light fittings were designed specially for the house, but most were mass-produced pieces bought off the shelf. The family chose tables, chairs, desks and beds from the 1933 Gispen catalogue (no. 52), which contained a limited range of tubular steel models. Though these are shown in interior sketches, newer ones from catalogue no. 52 (1934) were ultimately used. Often, components differed from those on standard models. For instance, the dining room chairs were equipped with armrests to match those on the armchairs in the living room.

Personal taste

Architects Brinkman and Van der Vlugt had primary control over the house’s interior and furniture and took advice from the designer WH Gispen. The family more or less had free rein when it came to choosing personal items and art objects. They preferred shopping at the large, luxurious Jungerhans home furnishing store on Coolsingel, which sold crockery by Wedgwood and Villeroy & Boch as well as the latest domestic applied art products – art deco ceramics from Gouda and glass from Leerdam designed by AD Copier. The store also sold ultramodern cooking equipment. The family often bought modern applied-art goods created by artists working in partnership with industry.