Who Is Axel Vervoordt? The Belgian Designer Is a Celebrity Favorite

It is the rare interior designers whose style becomes synonymous with an entire aesthetic, and Axel Vervoordt is one such designer. He is known for his Wabi approach to interior design, a Japanese philosophy that translates to a deliberate simplicity in daily living. His minimalist interiors and well-curated galleries have made him an icon in the design industry. But despite a lengthy list of celebrity clients, admirers, and friends (including Ina Garten and Kim Kardashian), Vervoordt keeps a decidedly low profile, working only on projects that speak to him. Below, we’re breaking down the Belgian designer’s work, philosophy, and client list. Here is everything you should know about art dealer and designer Axel Vervoordt.

Who is Axel Vervoordt?

Axel Vervoordt is a Belgian art dealer, antique collector, curator, and interior designer. While he might not be a household name, design insiders prize his timeless and minimal approach to interiors. According to his website, his design philosophy is one of personal connection: “A home should be a personal expression of your soul. It should represent the way you want to live, the ideas that define your tastes, perspectives, and connections to the world.”

Founded in 1969 in Antwerp, Belgium, Vervoordt’s eponymous firm specializes in art, architecture, and design. He also designed furniture and other products (Ina Garten previously had Vervoordt cabinets in her kitchen). His furniture style, much like his interiors, is aligned with a Wabi approach to design—think natural materials (a lot of raw wood), simple and imperfect forms, and an emphasis on allowing the form to speak for itself. “Wabi is an embrace of shapes, materials, and textures that come from the earth and are embedded with age,” Vervoordt said in an Instagram post.

Bamboo Coffee Table by Axel Vervoordt, Belgium, 1980s

What Is Axel Vervoordt Best Known For?

Vervoordt’s gallery in Belgium.

Perhaps his most famous—and controversial—design project made waves in 2020, when he lent Kim and Kanye West a hand with their minimalist Los Angeles retreat. The designer is better known in the industry for a pair of Axel Vervoordt art galleries in Antwerp and Hong Kong that feature exhibitions of both emerging local and world-renowned artists. Having opened in 2011 and 2014 respectfully, the galleries showcase Vervoordt’s keen artistic eye, as well as his love for craftsmanship.

His own residences are also widely admired as evidence of Vervoordt’s unique and timeless sensibility. His castle in Belgium (yes you read that right), is his main residence, and probably the most well-known, at least from the exterior.

What Celebs Love Axel Vervoordt?

With a client list as long and as varied as his career, it’s no wonder Axel Vervoordt is among the most sought-after designers for celebrities. The designer boasts clients like Robert De Niro, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian (when they were married), Bill Gates, and Sting, and that barely scratches the surface. He is a long-time collaborator and friend of Ina Garten’s, and inspired the design of her East Hampton barn. She first visited Vervoordt castle decades ago, and wrote about the experience in her memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens:

“Every room displayed incredibly beautiful furniture and objects from previous centuries—preserved but never restored, because Vervoordt believed age was a virtue, that it was actually a form of storytelling. The pieces he collected and sold—wood, leather, canvas, stone—were simple but with the kind of extraordinary patina that takes centuries to develop.”

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