Rotterdam is full of houses from the 1930s: solid brick, high ceilings, good stairs. They are also cold, dark at the back and often divided into small rooms.

Start with the shell

We insulate the roof and floor first and fit new windows in the old frames where we can. That alone halves the heating bill in most houses, without changing how they look from the street.

Then open up the back

The back of the house is usually where a family spends the day. Taking out one wall and adding a wide window to the garden brings light deep into the plan.

Keep the good parts

Original stairs, tiled floors and doors are worth repairing. They are better made than most of what you can buy today, and they are why the house feels like home.