"She's an old girl," I often say of our canal house in Amsterdam. She's stood since the 1600s - weathered, wonky, and full of character. It took nine months, two contractors, and more than a few difficult decisions to restore her. And, in many ways, this house is the reason Epoch & Co. exists.
Before founding Epoch, I spent over a decade working as a fashion buyer in London. I moved to Amsterdam for work, rented this house with my partner, and quickly fell in love with its charm - creaky floors, beams caked in decades of paint, the Westertoren just visible through the window. When the opportunity arose to buy the apartment and make it our own, I could not resist. But the real adventure started when we began to renovate.
A Renovation That Changed Everything
Like many renovations, ours did not go entirely to plan. Halfway through the project, our original contractor demanded more money than we had agreed - despite a signed contract and staged payments. With little choice, we cut ties and scrambled to find a new team. Thankfully, we found an excellent crew who brought the project home with care and craftsmanship.
Over nine months, we restored the full two-storey apartment, transforming dark, awkward spaces into a home filled with light, flow and intention.
One of the biggest transformations was converting a tired sunroom into our en-suite bathroom - a decision that not only added value but completely changed the way we live. It opened up our master bedroom, floods the space with morning light, and offers a postcard view of the Westertoren from the bath. A small luxury, but one that brings daily joy.
Finding the Right Pieces
I sourced every detail myself - salvage finds, marketplace gems, antique shops, and even a few cross-Channel shipments from the UK. The Dutch market, while full of talent, often leans more contemporary, and prices for period-style fittings were not always competitive.
With a buyer's instinct and a strong eye for proportion and detail, I tracked down everything from Georgian light switches to a French wine-tasting table that now anchors our dining room.
Throughout the process, I developed a deep respect for the character of the house. We stripped back layers of paint from the original beams (a costly but worthwhile task), chose warm pigments to highlight natural textures, and considered the way we actually live: where we work, eat, entertain, and rest.
One of the most surprising upgrades? Hardware. Door handles, switches, sockets - these seemingly small elements are some of the most commented-on details in our home.
What I Learned (and Now Bring to Epoch Clients)
Renovating this home reminded me how powerful good sourcing can be - and how often it is overlooked. You do not need a full-service designer to create a home with character. You just need a clear sense of purpose, a willingness to hunt, and someone who understands how to help you bring it all together.
That is what Epoch & Co. offers: a sourcing and curation studio that blends a stylist's instinct with a buyer's practicality. Whether you are renovating a period property or simply looking to elevate one room, we help you furnish with confidence - always honouring the bones and feel of your space.
And if your house is also an old girl? Treat her kindly. She's earned it.
Takeaways from This Renovation
- Work with the feel of your home, not against it
- Hardware matters more than you think
- Stripping paint from original features can reveal hidden beauty
- Consider how you truly live: do you work from home, host often, need quiet corners?
- Do not be afraid to walk away from the wrong contractor
- Good sourcing can be a form of design in itself
