For a year and a half, Aron de Jong and Irene Bijman poured every ounce of their time, energy, and creativity into transforming a forgotten little house in the north of the Netherlands. Every weekend—and many weeknights too—were devoted to bringing their vision to life. The couple first met as university students: Aron, now 27, is a product designer, while Irene, 26, works as a psychomotor therapist. Together, they dreamed of having a home that reflected both their personalities and their shared love of thoughtful design.
Their search eventually led them to a small 1908 farm worker’s cottage, modest in size at just under 700 square feet, yet full of potential. The house came with a charming two-toned brick façade and tiny front and back gardens—like something out of a storybook—but inside, it was in complete disrepair. Years of neglect and quick fixes had left it structurally unsound. “Parts of the floor were rotten,” Aron recalls. “Over the decades, different owners had added layer upon layer of flooring, wiring, and plumbing, all of which caused serious issues. To truly give the house a new life, we had to strip it down to its bones.”
With determination and a shared vision, Aron stepped in as the project’s chief builder, and Irene learned as she went, supported by family and friends. “We did about 90 percent of the work ourselves,” Aron says. “It was a long, demanding journey—but also incredibly rewarding. Every step brought us closer to creating something that felt truly ours.”
Aron grew up surrounded by good design—it’s practically in his DNA. His family runs Jan de Jong, a contemporary furniture store in Leeuwarden, Friesland, founded by his great-great-grandfather in 1912. Today, his parents continue the tradition, while his mother, Christien Starkenburg, leads Studio Slow, the brand’s workshop and interior design studio—and a longtime Remodelista favorite. Naturally, she became their guiding light throughout the renovation. “Because they did everything themselves—with such love, energy, and dedication,” Christien says, “the result feels profoundly personal and right.”
The restored cottage, photographed by Aron himself, is tucked along a quiet, village-like street in Leeuwarden, not far from the family business. The exterior still tells its century-old story: the original glazed roof tiles remain intact, and the two-toned brickwork—with its white-painted details—has been lovingly preserved. Aron rebuilt the existing dormer, added a skylight to brighten the compact bathroom, and installed new windows to invite in as much natural light as possible.
“Our goal was to preserve the soul and simplicity of the house,” Aron explains, “while making it feel comfortable, natural, and calm.”
Inside, the same philosophy continues. The entryway, for instance, is both beautiful and practical—a perfect reflection of their design ethos. Shoes, scarves, hats, and keys all have their place in a sleek Montana wall-mounted storage unit that floats elegantly off the floor, creating a sense of openness right from the threshold.
The result of their efforts is more than a renovation—it’s a love story written in brick, wood, and light. Every surface bears the marks of their craftsmanship, every corner tells a story of patience and creativity, and together, Aron and Irene have given new life to a century-old home that now feels timeless.