INTERVIEW WITH DUTCH NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
RINSKE LAURENTIUS OF RL DESIGN
Creativity and entrepreneurship is instilled in Rinske Laurentius since she was born.
She got that piece of DNA from both her father and her grandfather, who worked as furniture makers
and artists respectively. She herself added a good dose of passion and drive, which ultimately led
to what she always dreamed about: her own label RL Design.
NEW LABEL
Rinske Laurentius: “Several worlds come together at RL Design. I really enjoy the Gothic style and painting from the 13th and 14th centuries as well as the Renaissance with its rich fabrics and frescoes. I take these beautiful influences back to the 21st century, so that every object is an experience of old and new. For the design of the liqueur tables I was inspired by the colorful city of Marrakech, where I was able to play with materials, structures and colors. This is reflected in the end result: elegant and timeless.
And so our new ‘Art Rug’ for the wall arose from the ever-growing appreciation, which I have had since my adolescence, for the art paintings of my grandfather. He painted still lifes and icons. I found the latter in particular very fascinating. It did something to me and it still does! The icons give me the feeling of security, tenderness and strength, and I would like to share that feeling. That is why I have put together a collection of five icons with great care and attention, painted by Grandpa Van Raaij and made from rich, durable and high-quality textiles, such as gold threads and cotton. I can’t wait for the collection to be finished! ”
VISION AND VALUE
“Interiors are strongly influenced by our multicultural society, where technological developments follow at a rapid pace. I find that pleasant, but I stay away from hypes and short-lived trends. The choice for timeless design feels very good to me. The interior pieces that I design are often regarded as art pieces. It is applied art, art with a function that takes the interior to a higher level. I also like to work with companies that produce in a sustainable manner. ”
FAVORITE MATERIALS
“I have a preference for honest and pure materials with a durable and timeless character. When developing a new design, I usually already know which material I want to use. But of course I also like to be surprised at fairs such as Material District, where I gather information about the properties of materials. I like to hear, for example, that there is wood and stone that absorbs CO2. In addition, I think it is important that a good balance is created when composing different materials. Our Diamond 007 wash bowl is made of Solid Surface, which remains beautiful even with intensive use. Solid Surface is a durable material, which is also extremely suitable for recycling.”
AMBITIONS
“We started with the liqueur table, and we will certainly expand that collection! After the last collection of liqueur tables, we now release the Limited Edition. To give an idea of what this will look like, let’s go back to the 16th century, where Delft Blue was given a prominent place on the table in every interior. We have reinterpreted the beautiful blue paintings, which are reflected in the final result. Here too, the finish plays an important role, such as the choice of a special door knob and a soft close closure. The Limited Edition has a production of 10 pieces, and each piece is supplied with both a certificate of authenticity and a serial number. There are many more ideas on the drawing board that will soon be developed. So you can look forward to lots of beautiful, unique designs! ”
The atelier of RL Design is located at Veersepad 27 in Kessel. Rinske Laurentius has her own showroom in ETC Design Center Europe in Culemborg and her designs can also be admired and purchased at Studio Des Arts, Voorstraat 1 in Buren. Rinske would be happy to welcome you for a personal meeting, where your housing needs are the starting point for the unique designs of RL Design.
