A Beach Cottage! BEFORE & AFTER :)

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but one of our biggest projects this year has been the renovation and redesign of a little house on Chincoteague Island, VA that we started this winter… SO EXCITING.

She is a very cute little house that has come a long way in a very short time.

A lot of the house was just as it always had been for the past 30-40 years…

which is just how I like ‘em! lol.

We loved that the house had so much of its original charm and quality materials intact. Hardwood floors, original 1950’s kitchen cabinets, plaster walls…all things we knew would turn out beautifully with a little effort and polish.

Plus it is always fun to see the layers of history and exciting progress once we get down to work…

Our goal was to have the everything painted, floors refinished, bathroom renovated and the whole house completely furnished for our potential first guests Memorial Day Weekend.

It was a whirlwind of activity! As a family we worked hard—including my mother in law, our kids, etc. Annette, my design assistant, and I camped in the house a number of weekends, working from sun up to sundown…maybe with a few breaks for a glass of wine and snacks. :)

It was fun to plan and design each room and dream of what it would look like eventually. Let’s take a look at some of the spaces, and how far they have come:

The front porch was a room that I knew we and our guests would love to hang out in and enjoy the breeze someday…

We started by ripping out the old carpet, having our handyman install a vinyl plank floor. and brightening the space by painting the paneling. The original turquoise ceiling definitely had to stay though…

Here is how the porch looks now…all ready for enjoying after an afternoon on the beach.

The living & dining rooms were spaces that I knew had tons of potential…it was just hidden under a lot of old curtains, paint and dust. :)

With lovely big windows at either end of the space, I was excited to let all that light in. I knew that fresh paint and refinished floors would only add to the sparkle!

I personally love vintage kitchens…and I know a lot of people can’t see the charm in them at first.

Our cottage’s kitchen was full of kitschy details…and also a lot of grease & grime from many a meal cooked there over the years.

We got busy sanding down the old cabinets and ripping out the linoleum. I knew some beachy colors, new countertops & lighting, and the right new touches would make the space come together beautifully. OH! And a dishwasher was a must.

If you would like to see more of our little beach cottage, Wiggle Bay, you can do so HERE.

It has been a labor of love, and it is a great joy to share this mid century house and Chincoteague Island with our guests. In the new year, we have big plans to renovate the outside, and convert the outbuilding perhaps into a tiny house… stay tuned!

Hope you will come to visit sometime!!