How an Architect Rediscovered His Passion in an Amsterdam Fixer-Upper

Of course, he's keeping his family's needs in mind. "My sons want ultra-fast WiFi and plenty of outlets. But my youngest daughter? She dreams of rooms filled with rainbows and unicorns—the more glitter, the better," he says, laughing.

From big to small

Bart and his family's new home is right in the heart of Amsterdam. "We gave up nearly 40 square meters compared to our previous house," he says matter-of-factly. "That took some getting used to—space is a luxury. But we really wanted to move back to the city."

That's why it was so valuable to have Emmely, their Walter Living buying agent, calculate exactly what their current home was worth. "Her valuation gave us the confidence to make an informed offer on our new house. And the craziest part? She gave us a price at which our home would sell at its absolute maximum if multiple bids came in—and it sold for exactly that amount."

By the water or underwater?

Finding their dream home wasn't easy. "Luckily, Emmely was there every step of the way—and that's really what this is: a process. You don't always win on the first try. We lost out twice before finally getting this place, but this house was worth the wait!" Beyond helping them secure the home, Emmely also calculated what it would be worth after renovations. "I know a lot about remodeling, but you also don't want to invest so much that your home ends up underwater financially. According to my partner, I always pick the most expensive options," he jokes.

A major project

Bart admits that not everyone is cut out for a fixer-upper. "What you see here took less than two weeks: ripping out the floors, stripping the walls—the wallpaper was a nightmare—prepping the bathroom, installing underfloor heating, plastering the ceiling, and getting the walls ready."

But what you don't see? "Months of preparation. More than 40 people have worked on this place so far. If everything goes according to plan, we'll have transformed this house in just a month and a half. Crazy, right?"

The finishing touches

With the structural work behind him, Bart can now focus on what might just be the most exciting part: the finishing touches. "Now the fun part begins—bringing it to life. I can't wait to make it something truly special. But I also know that a home is never really 'finished.' As life changes, so do your needs and wishes. A home evolves with you. It happens step by step—just like life itself."

Leaning back on a stool covered in paint splatters, Bart looks around at the bare walls. There's still plenty of work to do, but one thing is already clear: he's home.