The year 2011 proved a good one for Ilona and Daniel Polcyn. Having two young sons, they were quickly outgrowing their small apartment in the Dutch city of Tilburg. They had been looking for a bigger property, without success when, while out walking, they came across this 1960s terraced house.
‘At that time, there was a recession in the Netherlands, but it worked in our favour as house prices had fallen,’ says Ilona. ‘Also, the property was so dilapidated, it was being offered at a knock-down price.’ Inevitably, it needed masses of work, but Ilona viewed that as a plus. ‘Being creative, we love every aspect of interiors, so for us, it was a challenge worth taking on,’ she says.
Instead of moving in straight away, the couple spent four…
