3/11/13

A face-lift for our Cottage.


 Hello friends,

I just realized that I recently had passed my four year blog-i-versary!
I thought it would fun to re-post this since it seems to have become my most popular post.  And although some of you may have seen it, many of you have not.   Blogging has been such a great adventure and so rewarding, not to mention all the wonderful friends I have made. 
Thanks for reading my blog and thanks for your continued friendship and support.

I though it might be fun to combine some of my previous posts and show you the transformation of our humble little cottage.  We did all the work ourselves and with hubbies great carpentry skills and  vision we are able to save a lot of moola!  Above is a before pic when we were looking to buy.  I wish I had more before pics but I think some may have been accidentally deleted.



A little side view.   We loved the stone, the front porch, the big windows and the 2 acres surrounded by woods but our vision was a lot more color and a little more character .


This picture was taken the first winter we lived here .   We had more snow than I can remember and it seemed like Spring would never arrive.


Finally spring is here!   It's April, and we have 2 months to get things spruced up and ready for our two graduating seniors.  This is probably the ugliest time of year, when things haven't really started to grow and bloom .   The first thing on our agenda are shutters.  I have always wanted board-n-batten shutters.  Hubby goes to work making us some and we decide to paint them an Apple Red. 


I think one of the neatest things he made was this sign.   He has a computer cad system at school with some new programs he wanted to try out.  The sign is not just painted,  the letters are also three dimensional.   Dan designed and built it in between finishing up a home his students were building.  I love the idea he had with the apples.  


A view from the road.


Our home originally started out as a cabin and was added onto at various stages.  This side has river rock hauled in by the original owner who also happened to be a mason.

Old ladders work well for climbing clematis.











The shutters are going up and things are finally starting to bloom and green up. 

All the doors receive a couple coats of Apple Red Paint.   The front and back porch railings are scraped, primed and painted a Spiced Sugar. I love the name of that!  More shutters are going up and things are starting to look a lot more like our vision.  The hardest part for hubby wasn't making the shutters but figuring a way to mount them on stone.  He finally found a good way using drywall screws.   Even the old bench from Wal-Mart gets a new coat of red paint!  In fact nearly everything that doesn't move gets a fresh coat of Apple Red paint.  Graduation comes and goes, we are exhausted but happy with the results.  There is still one little thing that just doesn't quite click........
Too brown, too boring and not very cottage. We both love the look of wooden carriage doors so we scan the Internet for ideas and prices.  We are a little taken back by the big price tag and figure something else will have to do until my talented Hubby declares he has a plan .  He will build and install them right over the steel doors.  He studies and plans his design and after a little R and R  he's off and running.


He designs and builds the frame to go right over the steel doors. 


A view of both doors framed and ready for the next step. 


This was without a doubt the most time consuming and tedious part of the project.  Dan cut, primed, painted and screwed on more than 220 separate pieces of white pine. 





The Work Zone.   He even cut and designed pieces to resemble wrought iron out of wood.   How clever is that!

 Another look at the wood he designed and cut to look like wrought iron.

He spent over 80 hours on this project!  It didn't help that most days 
were in the upper 80's to low 90's with a high amount of humidity. Total cost about $200. 







The ugly gold lights are removed and spray painted black.


A side view.  What a difference it makes!  We get a lot of comments from friends and family who love our new look.

A close-up of the gold lights spray painted black.  They look ok but I want something with a little more substance. 


We found these new lights for the amazing price of $6.00 a piece.   It was one of those lucky finds that make bargain shopping a joy!



When our phlox are in bloom...I love this time of year!

This view just makes me happy!

Our kitty Cocoa likes the new view.


A few little decorative touches.....


Thanks for coming by, I hope you enjoyed the making of our cottage.    
Cindy

Joining these link parties.
Between Naps on the Porch Met. Monday
A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
A Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow us Wednesday
Stone Gable for Tips and Tutorials

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52 comments:

  1. I love your home Cindy, it is so charming, and you guys have worked wonders in the curb appeal department. Beautiful. Hugs, Marty

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  2. What a awesome transformation...congrats on the blog anniversary

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  3. Wonderful, wonderful job, Cindy. I'm glad you put this on Blogtalk. I bet you get a feature! Hugs, Sue

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  4. Reminds me of the TV show on HGTV Curb Appeal! The garage doors are amazing. The red is perfect and makes your home look so much warmer. Happy Anniversary too!

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  5. How ingenious are those garage doors??? They absolutely pushed your cottage facelift over the top. I love it. Kuddos to ya both!!!

    God bless and have yourself one fantastic day in that beautiful Applestone Cottage!!! :o)

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  6. The transformation is beautiful. I love the changes that you and your talented hubby made!

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  7. What fantastic work you have done! It is beautiful. I so love a Cottage. And you have made this one, totally your own.

    May I ask a question? Looking at the roof line, there seems to be a wee little upward thrust, in the roof line, on the right. It's right above, where you step up onto the porch, to approach the front door. May I ask what this is? Please and thank you.

    "Auntie"

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    1. Hi Auntie,
      You know I'm not sure. I will go out and look at it myself.
      This house was added onto in so many stages so that could be it.
      That part of our home inside has much higher ceilings too.
      Thinking that may be it.
      Will ask hubby when he gets home and see what he says.
      Cindy

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  8. I love the red shutters on your home...really makes it stand out. The transformation is amazing!

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  9. SO beautiful! I LOVE your stone cottage! What a transformation! Your hubby does amazing work. And you have such a gift for decorating Cindy. Someday we WILL be sitting out on that lovely porch of yours and talk for hours. Can't wait!

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  10. What a charming cottage! Love the river rock and the climbing flowers!
    Kelly

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  11. Congrats on the anniversary!Such a luvly cottage.. the transformation of the garage doors... that is awesome . Just beautiful.
    Cheers, Gee

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  12. Cindy, Your home is really beautiful! I enjoyed seeing your transformation. You and your husband have a gift for sure when it comes to design, decorating, and building. Thanks for telling us all about it. I thoroughly enjoyed this post.
    xo Beth

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  13. What a pretty transformation! Your husband did a beautiful job on the doors - so nice.
    Congratulations on 4 years of blogging.

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  14. What a great post, Cindy! I didn't know you two had done so much to the exterior of your home. The garage doors are awesome, kudos to Dan on all that hard work! He is SO talented! The red shutters and doors really make a big impact, too. Is that wisteria growing up the side by the garage doors? You know how much I love that!

    I just had my 4 year blogiversary in December. I think it came and went without me realizing it! lol!

    Have a great week, sweetie!

    XO,
    Jane

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  15. This is the first time that I have seen this post, Cindy and I really enjoyed seeing the transformation on your home. What a talented hubby you have! I love what you did with garage doors and the light that you bought for $6.00!!! You have a very lovely and peaceful looking setting.

    Hugs! Eileen

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  16. Beautiful transformation. I remember seeing the garage doors in another post and I'm still amazed at that transformation, as I read it again today. You have a beautiful home. Happy bloggiversary!

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  17. A job well done. The garage doors are amazing. I wondered about the weight of them. Do you lift them manually? I would think an automated opener might struggle under the added weight.
    I read once that shutters are the eyebrows on a home and without them our window just look like blank eyes staring out.

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    1. We use a garage door opener Lori!
      Hubby spent a lot of time adjusting them and he also upgraded a few of the mechanics of them as well.

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  18. You did a beautiful job! I love the old ladder used as a trellis and it all looks perfectly cottagie!

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  19. Cindy- I wasn't around when you first stated blogging so I missed all this "growth and change". Man, did those garage doors ever turn out great! What a job-but so worth it in the end- xo Diana

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  20. What an adorable house! I can see why you love it so :)

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  21. Your house is lovely. It's so nice to see a house that has gone from plain to beautiful with DIY projects. And it's nice to see a beautiful house that isn't a million dollar structure. You give us all hope that we too can have a lovely home without breaking the bank. I applaud you!!

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  22. That was so much fun! Your husband is so talented! Mine does a lot of things himself around here, but he would never be able to do those garage doors. Do you use a garage door opener? They look so wonderful and the entire home is so warm and welcoming. You must love living there!

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    1. We do use a garage door opener, we have one for both sides.
      Hubby in his smart ways was able to adjust our's and tweak and it works great!

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  23. Wow, wow, wow! What a transformation! It all looks amazing and your husband should be VERY proud!

    thanks for sharing,
    gena

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  24. Your place looks great and the garage doors are incredible. What a talented guy!

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  25. I loved reading this the first time and have loved seeing this post again. Your Hubby did such a great job on those garage doors-taking them from ho-hum to wonderfully cottage. I love all the touched of red that you've added. Happy Blog Anniversary!

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  26. You have such a beautiful home, and a talented husband to boot! You're a lucky lady.
    Brenda

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  27. I love the name of your cottage and you and your husband have done a beautiful job of making it your own. Thanks for sharing the transformation!

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  28. Oh my you guys have done a lot to enhance the looks. Those garage doors are the best. I never would have imagined to create a new look right on top of the old doors. That's a fabulous savings despite all the labor. You have a really cute place and one with great bones!

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  29. Oh Man! Cindy! I love the whole thing but those garage doors are the best! How amazing! :)

    I hadn't seen those before. Good job! :)

    ~Liz

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  30. Congratulations on your 4 year blog anniversary! How wonderful that you and your husband have poured so much love and hard work into this house to make it a beautiful home!! The garage doors just bowled me over!! Great job.

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  31. Hi Cindy! OH, how I love your home! It's so pretty and cozy looking. Your surroundings are gorgeous too! Now your hubby is just amazing with those garage doors. They're so pretty and fit perfectly with your home. Love your touches of red. Love love love it. You didn't show us any deer eating your apples! ;)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  32. I can't get over the transformation, ESPECIALLY those garage doors! Your husband must be a master carpenter! The cottage looks so cozy and homey! Love what you did! ~Zuni

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  33. This is truly an amazing transformation! I wish I could hire Dan to help us. Love this, Cindy.

    xo,

    Sheila

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  34. He did a wonderful job on the doors! Excellent!

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  35. The transformations you made are amazing. Your cottage looks so cozy now.

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  36. You have done a wonderful job and I love every bit of the transformation! I have to say the garage doors is the amazing thing I have seen in ages (I will have to show it to Mr. Enchanted). Hope you can stop by the enchanted oven for a visit.
    xo,
    Lisa

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  37. Cindy, I am dropping back by to say, thank you, and to give you a hug. You are loved, my friend.

    xoxoxo,

    Sheila

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  38. Cindy, it was so much fun to see all of this from start to finish. What a fabulous transformation! Those garage doors are absolutely awesome..well, it's all awesome, but knowing how much time and work went into the doors makes them even more amazing. you have made this home your own. I bet that original owner, who put the stone on, would be so proud to see it looking so beautiful. Love the ladder for a climbing plant. I need Dan to come stay at our house for awhile. laurie

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  39. oh my gosh! so very beautiful! You must just be so happy living there! Bet you could make some $ by entering these photos in a magazine for inspiration!I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

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  40. I LOVE what you did to your garage doors!!! It changes the entire look of your home. You must be thrilled when you drive up to your home and see them. What a cozy, inviting home you have.

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  41. Your Hubby did an absolutely wonderful job! The doors are so beautiful. Tell him I think he is fantastic to do such work!
    (You can find my garage doors on my blog, but they aren't as wonderful as yours.)
    Nancy
    http;//wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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  42. Absolutely beautiful...everything!
    Corinne

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  43. So pretty!!! Love your home, all the stone and everything is just wonderful!!!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  44. Love your beautiful cottage. I have a limestone house and color is so important. Your home looks amazing and so inviting.

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  45. Hi Cindy, I'm so glad you reposted this as I have not seen all these steps of your transformation. Everything you did was wonderful! I love the red shutters! (now I know why you chose red for your bag!!) The stone is beautiful and so unique. Wow--everything is in perfect condition. My hubby would be so happy if our house was in this condition. And the garage doors are ingenious! Love it all. You did a great job. Linda

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  46. You have a done a wonderful job on your house. I'm really impressed with the garage doors! : )

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  47. Your home looks just beautiful now! You are so lucky to have a husband that is so very talented and can translate your visions. I have a question. When he spray painted the coach lights did he totally take them off or did he just unscrew them from the house and cover behind them. I'd like to do mine as they are old, ugly brass but I don't know anything about electrical. They are also on timers and I don't want to mess that up. Does he think if I just unscrew them, drape around with plastic and remove the glass I would be alright? Thanks so much!!

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Welcome,
I would love to hear from you. Come back and visit anytime. Warmest Wishes, Cindy