JOE Design Studio, Jody Eeckhout's Antwerp-based studio founded in 2020, manages high-end residential renovation projects, from initial sketches to construction coordination, always with a single goal in mind: making the process effortless for the client.
Jody’s aim is to create a serene and tailor-made atmosphere through the use and blending of natural materials, personality and the wishes of his clients. “We offer a full A to Z service and try to take any burden off our client's shoulders” he explains. That process includes design, budgeting, planning and full execution. “We even take care of invoicing. Everything runs through one point of contact. It gives the client peace of mind and builds trust throughout the process.”
This sense of control and clarity carries through in Jody's design language, focusing on creating a contemporary and timeless environment designed down to the smallest detail. “I’d describe my style as timeless, warm and homey.” But more important than any style, he adds, is creating the feeling of coming home for the clients and creating a serene place where they can really unwind after a busy day.
For that feeling of calm to come through, materials play a defining role. “Natural stone, wood and parquet are materials that I come back to again and again. They’re timeless and they age well, which is exactly what we want.” But even if the palette is familiar, every project starts with a fresh material search, verified with the client in person. “We want our clients to be able to see, feel and compare materials. Holding a material in your hands is still very different from seeing it in an image, because textures in images don’t always reflect how they are in reality.”
In order to make grounded material choices together with his clients, The Hub has become the ideal partner for Jody, because it brings a lot of things together, he adds. “On one hand you have a really large selection of materials and on the other hand it’s also the perfect place to meet with clients and see materials displayed in a broader context and fully installed in a space. There’s a big difference between a parquet sample and seeing an entire parquet floor.”
Jody first came into contact with The Hub several years ago, just after the Antwerp location opened. Since then, The Hub has become a consistent element in his workflow. He mainly uses The Hub, as a space where he can host clients for focused project discussions. With many of his projects based in East and West Flanders, the Ghent location offers a convenient halfway point. “It saves my clients the trip to Antwerp, and I don’t have to drive all the way into West Flanders. It’s the perfect in-between.”
Although each Hub location has its own character, the ease of use remains consistent throughout. "It's a professional setting that still feels homey and welcoming," Jody says. In Antwerp, the Pink Restaurant offers a more unexpected atmosphere. In Ghent, the Uluru Room is his go-to for longer client meetings. "Even when meetings run long, it remains comfortable, you never feel like you've been sitting there for hours."
