Gisele Azad and Rudmer van Hulzen: love, a life shared in nature, and a Blush piece as a lasting heirloom
Gisele Azad, a columnist for Dutch Vogue and her partner, Rudmer van Hulzen, are currently building two modern cabins in the woods of Drenthe. Gisele invites us into their story — a story where love is shared, cherished and held. Their own unique piece of Blush jewellery has become a small heirloom that holds their shared moments together, forever.
‘So what is it really like to live in the woods with the love of your life?’
Where should i begin? It begins with our morning ritual, the one that sets the tone for the rest of the day. As soon as the sun rises, we pull on our dressing gowns and slippers and walk out into our forest garden. The scent of the woods, the calm of the gentle morning breeze moving, as I do, through the pines that encircle our home. His arm around my shoulder as we share our cup of coffee. It is the smallest things that, in the end, become the greatest, most treasured moments of all.
When we met, nearly six years ago, it was love at first sight. After eight hours in the park, drinking wine and endless conversation, I cycled home singing at the top of my lungs. I still remember stopping myself and thinking: am I really singing out loud in the middle of the street? It was as though something had taken hold of me. A few hours later, he sent me a message: ‘I can’t wait to see you again.’ We booked a flight to New York for our second date, and when we came back, he asked me to move in with him. Looking back now, I’ll admit it was fast, but at the time, there was no doubt. From the moment we met, we’ve lived in a world of our own; little else matters, as long as we’re together.
A few years later, we returned to New York — the city that brought us together. This time, to make a new forever memory. He had designed a napkin carrying ‘The Big Question’. We went out for dinner, and when I looked across the table, I saw the words embroidered: ‘Will you marry me?’ Now, five years on, we’re building our dream world, shaped from our shared vision.
The real luxury in life is slow mornings, making a home that feels like a nest, working with our hands to tend the woodland we now call our garden, our love deepening with time, and the small heirloom that holds these special moments together, forever.’
Take a peek at Gisele & Rudmer’s beautiful lab diamond ring heirloom
