28 April 2021
Unfortunately this spot has closed its doors
Interior designer Bea Mombaers runs Bea B&B, her second bed and breakfast in Knokke, and it’s worth going if you love nature, design and some serious m’as-tu vu.
Knokke is a chic beach town in Belgium known for its shopping, art, real estate, expensive cars and golf. Its proximity to Cadzand-Bad, and therefor to Sergio Herman’s restaurants such as Pure C, AIRrepublic and Blueness, makes it an interesting destination for culinary travelers too. And if you feel heavy after a long lunch you can get yourself back in shape by walking for hours through beautiful nature reserve Zwin.
A few years ago, I visited Bea’s first bed and breakfast on the Konijnendreef (see my previous report here). This typical Knokke style villa with a thatched roof was owned by designer Lionel Jadot who transformed the inside into a loft-like living room with three bedrooms for guests. Bea, a true collector of unique design items and owner of interior shop Items, took care of the complete interior. The modular sofa was such a big hit, Belgian design brand Serax asked her to produce it for them (next to a whole range of bags, pillows, mirrors, coffee tables and other home accessories).
When the villa was sold, the designer, who divides her time between Brussels and Knokke, got in touch with Geert Van Loock. Together they worked on Le Pont de l’Orme, a small hotel in Le Provence. And when he bought this villa in Knokke, Bea took care of the interior yet again and turned it into a new Bea B&B. Of course, her famous sofa is seen in the property’s open-space living room which has several communal areas mixing design and art (by Stephane Simoens Gallery) in a unique way. Including another jaw-dropping setting: a vintage round sofa in front of a big window overlooking the garden and their neighbors’ cows.
Bea B&B has three bedrooms. Simple yet stylish. My room was decorated with a vintage rattan chair from the 60s and had very soft bed linen and a duvet by Society Limonta. The villa has a spacious garden including a swimming pool. And the location is superb for people who love to be in nature. From the house it’s only a 5-minute walk to Zwin, a beautiful nature reserve where you’ll see storks, Scottish Highlanders and wild horses while combining the nature park with the beach.
Note: you can book a room for the night, but there’s also the possibility to rent the whole house.
Check out: www.bea-bb.com
