He wanted his own parking space. She sun in the garden. And the rest is history. The semi-detached house on Piet Heinstraat is the perfect match for Robbie and Blanche. After two years of blood, sweat and tears, they have transformed the handy house into a true palace.
On August 30, 2020, Robbie (39) and Blanche (29) Friggen received the key to their new home. But something still had to be done. The house from 1955 had not been touched by professional hands since then.
Renovate or sell?
Robbie and Blanche were about to renovate their former home, also in Het Dorp. The offer was even approved. Until they saw the house on the Piet Heinstraat. Only after looking at the photos did Robbie begin to doubt. Blanche was more optimistic: “I said, can’t we just go and see? We don’t have to buy it right away.”
In any case, the wishes of the couple could be ticked off: sun all day in the garden and a private parking space. Blanche explains: “But we had to completely redo it.” Still, she didn’t stop and they made an offer. Successfully!
Do-it-yourselfer
Robbie has renovated the entire house himself, with the help of his father. How did he get those two right hands? “My father and I also renovated our previous home together. Then I mainly helped him. It was the other way around with this house.” Something Blanche is very proud of, she says: “So incredibly handsome that he can do all that. And of course also very nice to have such a handy guy.”
With trial and error
Everything, absolutely everything had to be addressed. This included new window frames, cables, pipes and a new kitchen, bathroom and toilet. And that didn’t go without a hitch. “We even found a bird’s nest, beehive and dead rats above the ceiling,” says Robbie. The bathroom was also a challenging project, he says: “The bathroom was leaking like a basket. When we took a shower, the water just ran down.” Blanche laughs: “That was also a nice low point.”
Cozy with three
A year ago Robbie and Blanche became parents of Blake. The family is doing well and the house is almost finished. The latest projects are the front and back garden and a mancave. “I’m going to make a bar in the old barn. Really looking forward to it,” says Robbie. But there is also plenty to enjoy in the house. “I always enjoy sitting at the dining table with the three of us,” says Blanche. Robbie explains: “I’m also so proud that what was in my head has come true. I remember when we ran into that gang here. And that it turned out as planned.”