At home with Cliff

WHOPPAH PORTRAITS

(Whoppah) Hi Cliff! Thanks for welcoming us into your beautiful home. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

(Cliff) I’m Cliff, 38 years old, working as a freelance illustrator, and living in Utrecht. In my free time, I go on city trips with my boyfriend Arnout, visit museums, or theme parks, or spend time working on my apartment. I have a lot of plants and I love studying architecture, both inside and out.

When did you move to Utrecht?

At the start of my studies at HKU, I lived in a temporary anti-squatter flat in Kanaleneiland with two classmates. I found friends, work, and love there, so I never had a good reason to leave. A few years ago, I started renting my own place in Lunetten.

How would you describe your interior style?

It might not be immediately obvious when you look around, but it’s quite modest! I’m not trying to create a luxurious look but rather to cultivate a beautiful life. I see it more as a curated collection of lovely items, a sort of design treasure hunt. You can also see my love for the 60s and 70s reflected in it, though I try not to let that dominate too much. I enjoy optimistic, cheerful colors that bring my home to life.

And where do you find this inspiration?

My love for interior design actually comes from wanting to express myself. It’s a reflection of my personality. You can also see references to theme park design in my style, creating a dreamlike world where you can retreat and explore endlessly. Additionally, I enjoy collecting shapes and colors that inspire me in creating my work.

Is there something you're currently obsessed with?

Table lamps! To me, they’re the most beautiful pieces of art to have in the home. Little glowing sculptures that add a touch of warmth and friendliness to any room at night. They don’t even need to be functional to look great.

What do you consider important when choosing a piece?

I look for a piece with a clear and distinctive main shape. My home is very rectangular, and many practical large pieces of furniture are too. I like to break that up with more playful shapes, such as round rugs or uniquely shaped accessories, lamps, and smaller furniture. It needs to connect with what’s already there, but it should also complement the space in terms of color, shape, or material. Sometimes, it’s even okay if it creates a bit of contrast.

“Table lamps! To me, they’re the most beautiful pieces of art to have in the home.”

Do you have any tips or lessons you’d like to share, maybe something you wish you had known before you started?

Be patient. In my opinion, a space isn’t conceived, purchased, and finished in a week. It’s a process that unfolds slowly as you come across items, keep them, and try or move them around. I also try to go with my intuition to see if I find something appealing and then figure out if it will fit or how to make it fit. For me, this can take years before everything falls into place perfectly. So, if you’re looking for a ceiling lamp and nothing you find excites you, don’t settle for the “best option because there’s nothing else.” Instead, let that light bulb stay empty until you find the lamp of your dreams. Who wants to live in a house full of second and third choices?

“I’m not aiming to create a luxurious look, but rather to cultivate a beautiful life.”

As you mentioned, many items in your home are secondhand. How did that come about?

As a student, I had a limited budget and didn’t find much satisfaction in the budget-friendly options from department stores. This led to a hobby with my best friend of hunting for interesting, beautiful, and distinctive items in thrift stores. We had so much fun with the hunt and the surprises it brought that I’ve never stopped. I apply this not just to my home decor but also to my clothing, tableware, and everyday items. Of course, I do buy some basic items from regular stores, but I try to minimize that as much as possible. It’s also a more environmentally friendly choice to purchase something that already exists rather than driving the production cycle of a new product.

What kind of secondhand shopper are you? Are you a collector or more of a careful curator?

I would say I started out more as a collector. When I moved frequently, I didn’t want to throw anything away, thinking I might find a place for it eventually. Now that I have a more permanent home, I’ve been able to make clearer choices. My apartment is quite small—30 square meters—so I can’t fit too much. Everything you see is all I have, so if something doesn’t fit or isn’t a good addition, I can’t take it or keep it.

What do you like most about Whoppah? What makes it different?

Whoppah offers a great mix of well-known design icons and unexpected finds. You always come across things you wouldn’t have thought of beforehand, making it feel like a treasure hunt. You can find various Whoppah treasures throughout my home, like that white wall lamp.

What have you bought on Whoppah?

I got this Bayan by Pode designed by Roderick Vos. It’s a perfect example of something I came across and instantly fell in love with. It’s a beautifully sculptural ceramic object that enhances the space with its reflective quality, bridging natural and more absorbent materials. I also found this Seks-Tre wall lamp by Ole Panton, which fits perfectly in my dining room among other references to Brutalism, with its stunning space station-like appearance! And the Lotus by Rob Parry, which I had reupholstered in orange to stand out against the green and blue tones in the corner where it’s placed. I also eventually found the perfect coffee table to match the boomerang-shaped legs.

What are you currently looking for?

I’m still searching for a Brutalist wall sculpture for one section of a wall. I’d like it to be neither too large nor too dramatic.

“In my opinion, a space is not conceived, purchased, and finished in a week. It’s a process that unfolds slowly as you come across things.”

What makes a house a home for you?

The idea that this place is entirely “mine,” knowing that it looks the way it does because I live here and it’s meant for me. Putting a lot of love into it is also a way of showing love for yourself.

Thank you for having us, Cliff!