In the ‘HENK Visits’ series, we visit inspiring individuals to take a look into their daily home life. This time, we’re visiting online creative Sabrina Meijer-Monteban. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam’s canals, Sabrina and her husband Kees have created their own oasis of calm. With the garden doors wide open and a gentle breeze flowing through the house, they welcomed us into their warm, contemporary home.
Sabrina first gained recognition with her popular blog AfterDRK and was one of the first bloggers in the Netherlands. Today, her focus is primarily on REYÈM, her own clothing brand. Additionally, the couple is busy creating their dream home in France, where they also celebrated their wedding last summer.
How would you describe your interior style?
“I would say the base of our interior is quite calm and serene. I’m not a fan of coloured walls—light neutral tones form a lovely foundation for more experimentation. I really love mixing colours, but always in a mature way, so it exudes calm and doesn’t become too overwhelming. You could call my style contemporary. I’m very fond of modern vintage. Not too classic, but fresh and contemporary.”
Where do you draw inspiration from?
“Most of my inspiration comes from Instagram. I do use Pinterest, although you often see a lot of the same there. Sometimes I just pick up a magazine; I love flipping through them. That way, I sometimes discover new combinations or ideas that you don't easily come across online.”
Can you tell us a bit about REYÈM?
“REYÈM is my own clothing brand. The idea behind it is that we create ‘dressed-up’ items that look beautiful but are also genuinely comfortable to wear. For me, it's all about clothes that make you feel good—that are both stylish and practical.”
How do you translate your sense of interior design into fashion and REYÈM?
“Just like with my interior, with fashion, I rely heavily on my intuition. For me, that’s the most important thing—it really has to feel right and be something of mine. Of course, a home is even more personal than a clothing brand. I would never create something for REYÈM that I don't personally like, even though there are sometimes items that I wear less frequently myself. It remains a quest for the right balance: what does the customer want, what fits the brand, and what do I find cool? Colour remains a tricky aspect. We work with one fabric, and some colours don't perform as well in it. That limits, but also makes it creative.”
What role does sustainability play in your interior?
“I really enjoy combining vintage pieces with new products. For our house in France, we scour flea markets for beautiful finds. When I buy something new, it has to be a piece that I can truly enjoy for a long time—not an item I want to replace next year.”
Do you have a favourite object in your home?
“My favourite item is the Floris Wubben vase on our coffee table. I received it from my husband for my birthday. It's not only a beautiful object, but it also holds personal meaning.”
Why did you choose Studio HENK’s Base Lounge?
“Because of its minimalist design and beautiful materials. I really love the wood of the Base Chair—it's exactly my colour of wood. And I adore the orange fabric, especially how it matches our rug and marble coffee table. They’re also surprisingly comfortable, which I secretly didn't expect!”