Take a look inside the renovated mansion of Otto

Style Show me how you live and I will tell you who you are. Now take the masterhome by Onno Hesselink. The passion for art, music, and Maserati's you can feel. And quality put in the show.

How did you end up here?

“Fifteen years ago I was looking for a home. I knew this street and have Tervuren always been an attractive place to live, in the greenery and with the city just around the corner. Rather a coincidence I'm on this charming property crash, a masterhome from the 1920's. The design is from an architect who has six other houses in the street signed. Major structural changes were not an issue, we have especially deleted all of: floors, false walls, false ceilings ... We have parquet laid and the rooms freshened up. A lot more is the extra floor that we were onto: that space now serves as a desk. With an additional terrace and view on the trees is the pleasant work. Also, the garden got a make-over.”

Art is prominent in your garden and interior. How evident is that to you?

“It must be said, I am an art lover. I love to visit galleries, that I did as a child with my parents, and I follow a few artists. The good thing is that you gradually connections are discovered, your links with others. In that way, there is a growing collection in the house. I'm a big fan of the Brussels artist Renato Nicolodi. His work refers to the archetypal architecture. In the living area is a sculpture of him and we have ever put together a book. About twice a year I buy a piece of artwork in a gallery. The great work on the pink wall, by photographer Dirk Braeckman, I brought without consultation with my family, as a surprise. Fortunately it fell into the taste, because subtle it is not. (smiles) In almost every room, hanging art on the wall. Some of the works I place, the other group I. A fascinating occupation.”

music Also gets an important place.

“it is No coincidence, music has always played an important role in my life. I have years of the record store JJ Records run, in the centre of Leuven. As a teenager I walked the door flat and partly from sentiment I have with a friend, took over the business. It was a nice period, but after 22 years, I am on a new artistic project started. Workshop Walter is a workplace in Anderlecht around music and art. In addition to my job as creative director at LUON, I also have a range of covers designed for Buscemi and Vive la Fête. When I first came here to live, I wanted a piece of furniture where I can use my considerable collection of records and cds in the jetty. The design of the young designer Pieter Maes is based on the design of a transistorradiootje.”

Books on Maserati, and a cabinet full of model cars. Undoubtedly one of your passions?

“Cars are never far away. I grew up in the Netherlands, close to Circuit park Zandvoort and my mother worked in a garage. My heart only began to be really faster to save when I was on a day in Anderlecht, a man in his Maserati, saw steps, as if it were a scene from an Italian gangster film. What a style and elegance! An instant crush and a love that never passed. Maserati's have long had a bad reputation had in terms of quality, but I love their charm and nukkigheid. I bought my first Biturbo in 2003. A drama. Still followed there later, including the Ghibli 1, which I do with a coachbuilder patched have. Over the past three years, we have a Maserati Mistral restored in Italy, a klassebak, named after a French wind that blows from the Mediterranean Sea. I've joined a club. It's nice to have that passion to share with other Maseratisti. Yes, there is a name for. (smiles) Our magazine, Pitchfork is largely of my hand. I do the layout, the photography and write even here and there a text.”

who or what are you going to let inspiration in the decoration of your home?

“of Course, I also unconsciously influenced by trends, but don't want to be slavish to admit. I'm too opinionated for that. For me, prime quality and timelessness. A striking example is the table with chairs by furniture designer Jean Prouvé in the dining room. And the case of Muller Van Severen in the seating area. Occasionally I allow myself to be lead. After a visit to Villa Cavrois in Croix drove my wife to the paint store to be exact same green as in one of the rooms in the villa to search. And there is the wall in our living space to brighten up. (laughs) We have to plan that kind of architectural pearls aware in when we go on vacation. I genuinely love the work of Finnish modernist architect and designer Alvar Aalto. We visited his home in Helsinki. And Maison Louis Carré, just outside of Paris. Especially how he, with the lines and the ingenious variety of materials combines. A icon!”