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Guest Cottage Before & After

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I shared a few before and after photos of the little guest cottage that sits on our property when I did a post about myself and why I began blogging. If you‘re interested in reading that post (it is pretty amusing) you can link back right HERE!
Today I’m just focusing on the cottage remodel. What it looked like before, a few of the snags we ran into during and the end result. Note: When I say end result I don’t ever really mean it because every time I walk into our cottage I see more things I’d like to do, especially since I‘ve become hooked on blogging and found so many of you great bloggers who’ve inspired me with a plethora of new ideas!
So I’ll start off by saying,
 Come on in!!!
 I want to begin with a couple of  “afters” because the “befores” are so amazingly ugly that I’m afraid I’ll lose you along the way!  
Here she is, our sweet little guest cottage.
 This cottage was built in the 1940’s as a fishing cabin and has had two additions (by previous owners) over the years, bringing her to a grand size of approximately 400 square feet!  

This first “before” is actually not so bad because new white cabinets were added not too long before we bought the place. We were able to reuse the cabinets, but first we had to take them down and remove the funky square wood pieces that were secured in place with about a gazillion hard-to-remove nails. You’ll get a better view of that later. They made the whole place incredibly dark inside. Ugh!
 The ceiling over the original portion of the cottage is beadboard, which I love, so we were able to keep that as well and lighten it up with paint.
 So, here it is with the cabinets taken down and the square panels removed. I sort of liked the horizontal beadboard on the walls and would have tried to paint over it but it was installed so haphazardly (by another DIY-er) that it wasn’t really an option.
 When we started getting inside the walls we found two things: Carpenter ants (out came the exterminator that very day!) and some really scary wiring.  There were even areas with burn marks on the insulation. My husband, Dr. Professor, began reading electrician’s manuals trying to figure out how to rewire it himself. Thankfully we have friends that care about us enough that they led us to a good electrician who was nice enough to allow my hubby to work side-by-side with him, so he could learn all about it (learning new things is my hubby’s hobby).
 The ceilings in the first and second additions to the cottage were done with acoustical tiles. I would’ve loved to have added beadboard here but it wasn’t within our budget (especially after the electrician’s fees). A fresh coat of paint over the stained yellow tiles is already making a big difference in the picture below.
 Here we have the living room area where you can better see the wood squares. If you look over to the far left you can see where I actually took some blue paint to see how it would look if I just painted over them. It was a no-go! They were so warped and buckled that it would’ve looked just horrible.
 So off they came revealing more poorly done paneling which we ended up covering with beadboard panels.
 Here is a view of the bathroom before. The walls were sponge painted over paneling by the previous owner. In this picture I’ve begun filling gaps between the panels with wood putty, and texturing the upper half of the walls for painting. The bottom half will have beadboard panels.
 We were able to salvage the newer cabinet below, just replacing the top and the faucet.
 Another close-up of the square panels, taken in the tiny bedroom, in hopes that you’ll get the full effect. Just looking at it I can begin to smell the fragrance of burn coming from behind the walls! Can’t you?
 New insulation going in. I really enjoyed that part of the job as things began to look cleaner!
 This was a funny little nothing area off the bedroom. We decided to turn it into a closet/dressing area.
 So, enough of the “befores”. I’m excited to show you how we were able to turn this OLD cottage into something NEW and I’m kinda proud to tell you that most of the hours put into it were MY hours. Hubby worked on it when he wasn’t working his real job and we had a few things done by a good friend and handyman.  This was the first big DIY project I’ve ever done and it was extremely rewarding/hard/fun/exasperating.
Below is tiny peak at the kitchen with new hardware on the cabinets, new black laminate countertops and a faux tin tile backsplash.
 We put up sheetrock in the kitchen and I painted it a cheery yellow (hubby’s idea). The ceiling and trim are painted in a soft gray color.
 The not-so-old oven was still in good condition and ties in with the white cabinets, so we avoided spending money there, but the old black refrigerator (a cast-off from our main house) was gigantic. We replaced it with an apartment sized stainless steel fridge (on sale!).
 The beam between the original cottage and the first addition was covered in, what else, but funky square panels. We covered it with some beautiful rough boards and left the color natural . . .
   . . . to tie in with the new laminate flooring.
 Here are a couple views of the living room with the beadboard panels we installed.
 You can see the contrast more clearly here between the white walls and the gray trim and ceiling. I saw this color combination used in a coastal magazine and fell in love with it.
 Next is the completed bathroom. It still has the big hot water heater in the corner but I‘ve attempted to hide it with some old shutters. The limestone counter top and faucet are new.
 Almost everything that we bought new I found on sale. I love these mirrors that tilt so I was really happy when I came across this great buy.
 Below is the tiny bedroom. I found an iron trundle bed on Craigslist so that this room can be used as a sitting area during the day and, when you pop up the trundle, a queen-sized bed by night.
 There is a peek-a-boo view of the lake and Mount Rainier (on a rare clear day) from this room. Two windows make it nice and bright.
 Here is the closet/dressing area which I’ve put some storage pieces in for clothes. It can be closed off to hide any messiness.
 I’m going to zoom in a bit now to share some details with you. First off, every piece of furniture in the cottage was purchased used. This was a pine armoire I found on Craigslist. I painted it white with gray trim, added wood appliques and crystal knobs. It has an area to hang clothes in the top and drawers in the bottom.
 I repainted some antique chairs and recovered the seats with new fabric.
 All the rattan furniture is also from Craigslist. It was in really good condition so I left it natural for now and just recovered the cushions with Sunbrella fabric. I love how stain resistant this fabric is.
 Before, the cottage had a big, dirty, ugly gas heater. I love this cast iron Lopi stove.  It is both pretty and it heats the whole cottage.
 I found this old iron bed that someone had made into a bench and made some bright pillows from beach towel fabric to use in the bedroom.

 Hung above the bench is a painting that my mother-in-law did when she was just a teenager. She is 94 now! She told me I could repaint the frame. Are you kidding? I love it!
 Oh no! I lied. This was one piece of furniture that I bought new at Idea. I painted it turquoise and added a bar towel to the end.
I simply couldn’t resist buying these fun shell hangers.

 We used outdoor light fixtures from Hampton Bay on the inside of the cottage,
 and similar light fixtures on the outside, except in black. Are you ready to see the outside sitting porch?
 It’s a covered porch and it wraps around two sides of the cottage.
 This is a really old dining set (above) that I spray painted. The seats I recovered with some of the same fabric I used on the interior furniture.  I found the fun retro glider at Lowe’s (so inexpensive!) and I spray painted an old metal table that my daughter left behind when she fled the nest.
 In the summer I hang these gauzy fabric panels around the porch. They can be closed for privacy while one takes a little nap.
This is the view of the lake looking between our main house and the neighbors trees.
 It is such a peaceful place to just sit and relax.
The DIY work we did on our cottage isn’t perfect. It definitely has it’s rough spots (I call it quaintness), but we love having a guest cottage where our family and  friends can stay when they come to town. We also rent it out on a short-term basis only. We’ve had military people stay while awaiting base housing, medical professionals doing rotations at local hospitals and clinics, ministry people who just need a place to get away. Occasionally I slip up there myself just to look around and enjoy the lakeside cottage ambiance.  I love the feel so much that I’m beginning to pull together a few coastal touches for my own home that I’ll have on display for the summer season.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour of Patti’s Lake Cottage. That is what I’m calling it for now until I come up with a name that feels just right. Ideas anyone?
       Blessings,
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties:
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Comments

  2. It’s so beautiful! I love the lake cottage ambiance. I have a pine entertainment armoire that I got from The Rack (when it was The Rack) and have been wondering how to repaint it. You’ve now given me some ideas.

    Bless you my friend!

    Reply

  6. What a charming bit of paradise you and your husband have created! So many wonderful touches. Like you, I love bead board installed and painted. We own a 1940 home whose basement was finished but when we got around to beefing it up even more, I added bead board to the walls. I’m sure people might think it was always there but nope! just love the look! And your tilted mirror caught my eye. What a find! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  8. Patti – it’s wonderful. You’ve done an outstanding remodel on it! I can’t believe it’s only 400 square feet – it seems much roomier than that and especially with the outside deck. Very charming!

    Reply

  10. What an amazing makeover. You have brightened it up so much and made it so inviting compared to the darkness of before. The porch is amazing with the view of the water. It just looks so peaceful. I’m sure all who stay there appreciate all your hard work.
    Cindy

    Reply

  17. Hi Patti,
    Wow! You have done an amazing job! Your guest cottage is absolutely charming. There are so many great touches. I love the painted ceiling – what a dramatic difference that made! And the painted armoire is a great idea for a closet.
    The painting by your mother-in-law is really special, and it has found the perfect home.
    Thank you for sharing all these ideas and the “final” look.
    Suzanne

    Reply

  20. Wow Patti
    Your makeover is beautiful. You guys did an awesome job. Congrats. And thanks for adding your link to my weekend hop today.
    Angel @’http://sewcraftyangel.blogspot.com

    Reply

  21. Wow! I am impressed with all that you have done! The cottage is just adorable. I would want to be there all the time. Love that porch too! I’m following you back Patti. So happy to meet you and your lovely blog:)

    Hugs,
    Deborah

    Reply

  23. Yours is the first post about a cottage re-do that made me actually want to move next door to the author. You did a fab job and both of you can be proud of what you’ve accomplished. I have a back porch (actually a concrete slab) outside my kitchen with of same kind of wood frame and corrugated fiberglass(?) panels. I hate it as the roo catches every falling pine needle and grows its own moss. If i put out gauzy panels– which I’d love to do so i could nap in my hammock– they would quickly fill up with spiders and other wildlife that would make me scared to move the fabric lest the critters fall down on my head.
    I’d love to know how you keep your porch so clean looking and the panels clean and insect free. (I guess i could have all the trees on the hill behind my house cut down, but that would not be nice….they are rather tall and ‘belong’ where they are.
    Again. Fabulous job. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  24. What an undertaking!!! And what a terrific job you have done! It looks very inviting…Can I come over???

    Thank you for sharing…great post!

    Aloha

    Reply

  30. So glad you took down the panels and checked the electrical work! I have a thought about the panels. My Grandparent’s cottage – also built about 1930 or 1940 is paneled with similar square and rectangular panels. My grandfather did it with recycled packing crates, which at the time were thin wood, not cardboard. Just wonder if your panels were similar recycled wood?

    What a charming place you’ve made it!

    Reply

  31. Patti, I love it! What a pretty little spot. You’ve done an amazing job on this!! Thank you for sharing this at the Anything Blue Friday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see you again at the bash. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    Reply

  36. Hi Patti,

    What a wonderfully, cute cottage. You did a wonderful job re-modeling it and I love that wrap around porch. Thanks for joining us at Transformed Tuesday.

    Hugs,
    Peggy~PJH Designs

    Reply

  40. What a beautiful space… and such an amazing transformation. You should be proud of all you have accomplished here, it looks fabulous. So cottagey and adorable. We live on a lake too so I am a total sucker for cottage style.
    Krista @thehappyhousie

    Reply

  41. Patti, how fun to have a cottage on your property. What an amazing transformation! You really have turned it into a warm and welcoming place. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply

  46. How about “Patti’s Place”? It’s a good fit. 😀 You have transformed a little place into a palace! Heart it big time. Hx from Brisbane, AU.

    Reply

  48. Hi Patti, I’m visiting from A Delightsome Life. Five little words that I would love to say, but most likely never will. “A cottage on my property”. What a treasure you have and you have really fixed it up so beautifully. A lot of work, I can tell, but it certainly looks like a labor of love. I’m so glad I got to see it..Happy Friday..Judy

    Reply

  49. What a charming guest house, so sweet. You did such a welcoming and airy job. But I must ask, weren’t you ever tempted, just once, to make it your studio? (Sorry I know I shouldn’t even bring that subject up!)

    I sure enjoyed the tour, thank you for sharing. And let me know when you have an opening of a week or two. Lol.

    Small House / Big Sky Donna / White Oak Studio Designs / SW Michigan
    Hand-Painted Vintage Furniture Transformations
    Blog: http://smallhouseunderabigsky.wordpress.com
    Facebook: donnaallgaierlamberti@facebook.com (for portfolio of chalk painted work)

    Reply

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