THERAPEUTIC DIY-ING

as the world shut down around us in march 2020, we distracted our minds and busied our bodies with this little remodel.

March 2020 was absolutely surreal. As we were ordered to “stay home” and “flatten the curve” we were faced with so many unknowns. I don’t know about you, but I was sick with fear. I wondered about the future, fretted about losing my job and worried excessively for my 78 year old dad who had just started chemo treatments. My partner Ric was just beginning this remodel for our friend but would no longer be able to work with his crew. I, on the other hand, was experiencing that momentary lull in the design business (before it skyrocketed) and was itching for distraction and happily stepped in to get my hands dirty on this little house. We are seriously rulesy but felt we were ok working this thing together, keeping our household bubble completely intact.

This project was the newly acquired rental property of our dear client. It was in pretty rough shape but because of it’s diminuitive size, manageable. With investment properties, the goal is always to maximize your ROI (return on investment). What this means in practical terms is getting the most bang for you buck. A modest budget does not need to equal a snoozy design. We have sources aplenty with well priced, stylish, appealing products and for this, the “Angeline Cottage”, we employed the full arsenal.

Love what you do 

We kept everything we could in the pursuit of frugality. The original kitchen cabinets were scrubbed, lightly sanded and given a fresh coat of polyurethane. New pre-fab laminate countertops looked so good that we had people asking about the “soapstone counters” when I posted pics online. Shiplap for end caps, bathroom walls and in the kitchen and dining room allowed us to add texture and interest and it was Covid so we needed to do nearly everything ourselves. Let me tell you, installing nickel gap shiplap is so easy it will make you feel like a DIY champ! The fireplace surround bricks were freshened up with a dry-brushed paint treatment. Lumpy, inconsistent ceilings were covered with tongue and groove pine which was less expensive than hiring out for new drywall at the time (this was before the crazy price increases had begun). We kept nearly all of the existing windows but for the living room whose single paned glass was replaced with a fixed window flanked by 2 casements because air flow is more than just a good idea! I will never understand what was going through the minds of builders in bygone eras who opted for all inoperable windows?!! This little cottage is across the street from the water and that breeze through the space was a MUST.

We installed new interior doors to replace damaged hollow-core slab doors. With only 4 doors to replace, this was not a huge investment. New hardware, paint and LVP flooring (very well priced and durable) went in throughout the main living spaces. The light fixtures are from Wayfair and are exceedingly good looking regardless of their low price. We kept the palette simple and fresh: vintage cottage with a Scandinavian bent. We got a little splurgy in the bathroom opting for a patterned floor tile and vertical subway tiles in the shower. By splurgy, I don’t mean cost, it was just more work! We paired the most well priced vanity on planet earth with a vintage mirror to complete the one and only bathroom. One of the most eye catching items is the petite black retro style fridge (Home Depot for under $500) that fit perfectly in the very odd alcove at the end of the tight galley kitchen. It evokes the vibe of a high end Smeg fridge and also made the kitchen feel acres larger without the looming presence of a modern/gargantuan fridge.

We worked our little hearts out on this diamond in the rough and though it was not the primary intention (which was to refresh) it was a real sanity saver! I highly recommend! Who need the gym when you can literally burn off your anxiety with a chop saw, paint roller, nail gun…..you get the picture. Tired=peaceful, just like a border collie.

Four months and a million sore muscles (and tumblers of evening whiskey) later, this darling little house was ready to rent. Check out the project gallery here.

Only the necessities