In the latest special issue of Southern Living noted Southern Architect Norman Askins suggested this color combination for a cottage. According to Norman high contrast color schemes look better on cottages. Rather than reinvent the wheel and cause myself more needed grief (like mixing my own colors) I am going with Norman’s suggestions.
Our little cottage does not have the character of this little gem but with a little paint and some minor landscaping hopefully it will have the same “feel”.
Here is the real estate photo of our little cottage. It is screaming for some curb appeal, no? The guys have already torn out the concrete on the right. How much concrete does one need? That will be replaced with sod as will the other pathetic looking patches of grass. The big window will get a set of shutters, the sidewalk will be replaced and we will add some minor landscaping. Tara if you are reading this I know you are laughing. The front door will have to stay but replacing the leaded glass with regular glass will hopefully be an adequate fix.
Believe it or not this house does have some interesting interior architectural details. The ceiling is open beam and many of the walls are board and batten. All of the doors at one time were grain painted. All of the floors are hardwood some of them pegged and inlaid. Here is a shot of the living room
I think the ceiling needs to be whitewashed to “raise it up” (so far I am not getting a lot of love from the boys on this one). The fan is going, the insert is going and the brick that is painted green like the walls will be stripped and whitewashed.
Here is a shot of the dining room (a real estate photo).
I actually like the built in but we are thinking the rick racky stuff around the edges should go. What do you think?
Here is a shot of one of the bedrooms. You can see the beautiful board and batten detail.
I will save some of the “better” photos for posts to come. We are planning to paint all of the interior plaster in Benjamin Moore Ashwood (OC 47) or Overcast (OC 43) and all of the trim and board and batten in White Dove (OC-17)
Joan at For the Love of a House used these colors in her living room and bedroom above http://fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com/p/paint-colors.html ). I think this will be a nice interior pallet for our little cottage. Thanks Joan!
I plan to document the progress weekly and I would love your input (especially if you agree with me re: the ceilings!!). Next post I will show you my inspirational kitchen images. Keep in mind this house will probably go to a first time buyer or one who chooses to downsize so we have to be frugal with our choices. We are going for a good look that will be affordable to a first time buyer.
So glad I'm seeing this! I'm helping my daughter and her husband in New Orleans as we speak and they have looked at several houses just like this! I love it and it makes me wish I was looking for something! I would paint the ceilings like you said to make it feel taller and lighter…I probably would take off the rick tacky stuff on the built ins but it's not horrible either! Possibly even charming! LOVE the paint color choices and can't wait to see more pics! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn
DeleteGood Luck finding a place for your daughter! My son and daughter and law bought a little place like this and have been fixing it up! Love all the suggestions
I am with Carolyn, I love the paint choices and the direction you are taking with the cottage. I might take off the extra trim around the bookcase...unless you want to leave something for others to do. What a fabulous project...you have inspired me once again! xx
ReplyDeleteAhhh that trim...to leave or not to leave...it is definately up in the air...I am loving watching the "mango house" progress and especially learning so much about the country...fascinating!!
DeleteI love this little house. The rooms are well appointed and good it is clean and ready to move in
ReplyDeleteI feel the choice of the siding colur (brown) may be a bit overwhelming. The roof is already brown, or dark and similar in value to the brown colour chosen, and dominant.(unlike the photo of the dream house where the roofing is invisible from the entrance)
My suggestion would be to use the lighter cream colour(carrington) for the house and the white for the trim and pillars.
In time you may wish to box in the supporting pillars and make them larger which will give more scale. You could use two colour on the windows and door (the dark brown and white) which will tie in the colour scheme you like.
I am looking forward to following your progress
Helen
Great suggestions Helen. Interestingly we were going to paint the cottage just as you said but nearly every house on the street has that same color combination! Your suggestion about the pillars...If we were doing a high end job it would already be done! We did just that on a remodel that was just completed! However since we will be flipping this we have to choose our upgrades wisely. You have a great eye! Keep the suggestions coming! Cindy
DeleteHow exciting for you. Cant wait to see the progress.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ladies...this will be an adventure. Not quite like what we are used to!
DeleteDefinitely paint the ceilings! I recommended this in a friend's house and it really lifted the room. I find dark ceilings quite oppressive. I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress. What fun! x Sharon
ReplyDeleteYeah Sharon thanks for taking one for the team! I think I have them convinced. I am going to start painting them next week~
ReplyDeleteI can see how you have found the potential in this little gem Cindy! I agree on removing the detailing on the built-ins - they are great otherwise!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great? It may be sold already!
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy - What an exciting project this will be. A fabulous home for some future lucky buyers. I love the idea of white washing the ceiling....will lift it up.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Loi
Wow! You got a gem! One would never know by looking at the outside what beauty lies within!
ReplyDeleteYes...on removing the ricky racky (someone just loved that I am sure!), Guys never like painting wood, are you going to keep the beams dark? Could be purdy. I know most designers don't like the aesthetics of ceiling fans, I get it, BUT they serve a great purpose. You are on the central coast of CA, so probably not as much a necessity as here in the south. I would DIE without them, they actually help save on the AC bill. So you are going to opt for no driveway? I cannot wait to see how you re-invent this little gem!
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ReplyDeleteIts a gem! would love to see after photos as your decorating progresses. The wood floors and ceilings and the other architectural details are wonderful and so hard to find nowadays. I also love the built ins, but definitely no rick rack. Just for fun, I may do a little photoshop front garden 'design' for you!
ReplyDeleteLiving room. White ceiling immediately. Getting rid of the fan for sure. Raise height of walls by using reed/bamboo shades mounted at ceiling and drapes that start at ceiling. Front. Brighten front door, it looks gloomy. There are what looks like two posts and a rain gutter along the porch. Could you do white wrought iron. Front walk and parking pad gone. Brick or flag stone walk wide, half again as wide as what's there curving gently from right side of curb to the front door. Big front window. It looks like a blind eye. As opposed as I am to fake anything try fake mullahs to divide up that evil eye. The big bush on the side where the driveway is, whack it back or take it out. WHAT is that thing on top of the chimney? Dining room. Rick tacky goes. Paint the back of the shelving something dark. The all white bedroom with too many doors, how about wider molding around each door painted, along with the doors, a darker shade than whatever you use on the walls. I am a huge proponent of crown moulding. It adds so much class for so little money. That is a cute house and you are going to have a lot of fun redoing it. Do I assume correctly that you will be painting the exterior gray? Best of luck, keep us updated. Linenqueen
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. This post was perfect timing for me...although "cottage" is too sweet a word for the house I think we'll be moving into hahaha but I'd love to follow along and watch your wonderful transformation.
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