A Simple Home in The Netherlands Is Pastel and Perfect

Name: Ilona Polcyn, my partner Daniel, our two sons Tycho, 13, and Fender, 7. Plus, two dogs.
Location: Tilburg, The Netherlands
Size: 3,229 square feet
Years lived in: 7 years, owned

I love to use my home as my test lab. If I haven’t painted anything for a few weeks, the paint tins literally call out to me from the closet. I like a fresh white canvas decorated with vintage, design or handmade items, mostly in fresh or soft pastel colors. I’d much rather have one item that I really love rather than five things I just like. I don’t shop on impulse. I will always take my time before I buy something for my home.

What is your favorite room and why? You’ll often find me sitting on my pink homemade bench. It’s my favorite spot in the house, where I write, scroll through Instagram, and sit with family and friends. From my bench, I also have a clear view of the rest of the living room and the open-plan kitchen

If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? I move my furniture all the time and floors don’t like that! After seven years they’re not so pretty. So it would be a new magic floor without any dust and junk.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I look for both new and secondhand items, and designer pieces as well as less expensive finds. For me, it’s very important that they’re not things that everybody likes and buys. I want stuff that is unique and is available on a small scale. For that reason, I always search for small websites or designers that sell their own work. It’s so much more fun to make a small independent enterprise happy by purchasing some of their products than to buy something from a big retail chain. My last item is some new ceramics from Mlekoloving.

Any advice for creating a home you love? I like to do things my own way.

I think that’s my best tip I can give anyone. Make the choices yourself. Fill your home with items you really love and that make you happy. These days you can find inspiration everywhere. I like to scroll through Instagram and see all kinds of interiors, but I have to stay true to myself. Something I’ve learned over the years is to choose what makes you happy and don’t do what everyone else is already doing.

Thanks, Ilona Polcyn!

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