Take a tour of a Cottage Style Home located in the Midwestern city of Louisville, Kentucky. This 2600 Sq Ft Brick home is undergoing a full renovation, including both interior and exterior elements. On the exterior, plans include updates to the gable dormers, brick chimney, and wood siding. Inside the home, the kitchen, baths, and flooring will be remodeled.
Ya’ll just don’t know know how excited I am to take you on a tour of our new home! We bought this cottage style home “AS-IS” which meant we couldn’t request the seller to make changes during the inspection period, unlike a typical home purchase. There was a laundry list of issues with the home, which gave us a great price {yay!} but additional risk {yikes!}.
So, what did that mean for us? Well, it kicked the typical home buying process up a notch. During the 10 day inspection period, we were busy compiling quotes for that long list of home repairs, including:
- rotted wood siding
- broken window seals
- wobbly deck
- old roof, water heater, HVAC… etc.
After plenty of number crunching, planning, and dreaming — we moved forward with the purchase and are settled into our first true fixer-upper… construction crew and all {*wink*}.
What is a Cottage Style House?
So, before we begin the home tour, what makes this house a Cottage Style Home? I don’t claim to be an architectural expert by any means, but I can do some research {aka: google, ha!}. What I found is that this home most closely resembles the Cottage Style, though it also exhibits some Cape Cod and Craftsman style characteristics, as well.
P.S. If you are curious about the style of your house, check out this Home Design Style Infographic.
- Brick, Stone, Wood and other natural elements
- Steep roof with cross gables
- Shutters, window boxes, casement windows, small panes
Though our house doesn’t have casement windows or small panes, it meets the other criteria {it’s also missing window boxes; but that’s on my to-do list!}. Now, let’s move on from all this talking, and check out the home tour!
Cottage Style Home Exterior Plans
The exterior is essentially what classified this nicely located, brick home as an “AS-IS” purchase. The aging roof, rotting wood siding, broken window seals, and failing gutters add up quickly to a large price tag.
- replace siding with a combination of vinyl board and batten and cedar shake
- replacement windows
- dimensional shingle roof
- replace gutters and soffits
- double door front entry
- replace back entry and garage doors
- remove overgrown bushes and trees
- pressure wash and clean brick
- add windows boxes
- landscaping and lighting on either side of the porch
- update all exterior lighting
When the exterior renovation is all said and done, the color palette and design choices will better match the home’s cottage style.
Cottage Style Home Interior Plans
Now, let’s take a look at the interior. Overall, it is in much better shape than the exterior of the home. Still, if you know me, you know that I’ve got plenty of things that I’d love to change. For the purposes of this post, I’m only going to focus on the major renovation plans inside the house.
The front door opens into a foyer and staircase, with views of the living room, dining room, and kitchen.
The big question that everyone keeps asking: “Are you going to paint all of that wood trim?” The answer? Probably not.
- remove stairwell carpeting
- update interior doors
- update fireplace and mantel
Now, on to the kitchen, half bath, and laundry.
- painted cabinetry
- new kitchen counters and backsplash
- updated lighting
- new bathroom vanity
- update interior doors
Wrapping up the main floor, let’s go check out the master suite.
Isn’t the ceiling in that master bedroom amazing? I’m in love. Seriously. Every morning I wake up and gaze at it.
- reconfigure the master bath floorplan
- paint cabinetry
- replace vanity top
- replace flooring {currently it’s a low-grade vinyl plank}
- paint trim
- update interior doors
Heading upstairs, you’ll find two bedrooms and a similar bath.
- paint cabinetry
- replace vanity top
- replace flooring
- paint trim
- update interior doors
Finally, we’ll take a peek at the basement. It’s large, with a family room, office/bedroom, and basement entry. The entry space is roomy, the same size as the adjoining office. We’ll use this area as a mudroom off the backyard and patio.
- improved lighting
- update the fireplace and add a mantel
- replace flooring
- paint trim
- update interior doors
- remove stairwell carpeting
Remodeling a Cottage Style House
What did you think of the tour? Feel like you are swimming in a sea of brown wood?! 🙂 It’s got a ways to go, but this house has the elements which are hard to change: a practical floorplan and a great location.
So, we start working and waiting. Remodeling takes a great deal of patience and vision, but we enjoy the process {most of the time…} and love to see the end results. Our cottage style home will be a beauty… just wait and see.
Want to follow along?
I’ll be sharing detailed plans for each room’s makeover, plenty of before and after photos, DIY tutorials, and budget-friendly renovation tips. If that sounds like something that interests you, sign up for my email list, below. As a bonus, you’ll also get access to my printable library.
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Jenn says
Congrats on the new house! Can’t wait to follow along and I know it will be amazing. What wonderful bones and space to work with.
Lora Green says
Thanks, Jenn!! We are excited! And I’m so happy to be getting settled back into a routine (which includes blogging regularly, again!). I’ve missed it 🙂
Jessica says
What a stunning home! Or it will be, when you’re done with it. I can see the potential and I can’t wait to see all your plans and progress as you work on it!
Lora Green says
Thanks, Jessica!! We are excited 🙂
Robin Root says
Lora, I am so excited for you, Mike and your kiddos ! This has been a long time coming and I’m thrilled you re settled in and enjoying making this house a home! Hope everything goes smoothly and enjoy the renovation journey!
Lora Green says
Thank you! We appreciate your sweet words so much!
Kristin Cook says
Those ceilings in the Master!!!!!! WOW!
Claudia says
I love watching the changes you will make as time goes by. Remodeling is a slow sometimes trying time, I’ve been through it. It doesn’t always work out exactly as you plan. My husband and I are do it yourself people. Hope all your plans work out. Good luck.
Lora Green says
Thanks, Claudia — I appreciate the encouragement! It can be trying and slow, and it’s always encouraging to know others understand 🙂
Lindsey says
Lora! This is so exciting because I grew up in Louisville! I do miss it and wish to take my kids back one day. Your new home is amazing… so much potential. Congrats. I know you will make it beautiful
Lora Green says
Oh, that’s so neat! Small world 🙂 It does have great potential, and I have to keep reminding myself that when it seems like the project list is neverending, haha!