Category: OUR HOME

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: GIRL’S SHARED BEDROOM

The upstairs of the cottage is very simply laid out. It will contain two bedrooms (one for the boys, and one for the girls), plus a bathroom accessed from a small hallway.

I previously introduced the boy’s shared bedroom, and the hall bathroom. Today I would like to share the details of the final upstairs space – the girl’s room.

 

The room is 140 square feet total, with basic overall dimensions of 10′-4″ deep x 14′-4″ wide. A small portion of the rectangular area is used by the bathroom shower – giving the girl’s bedroom a bit of an irregular shape.

 

Though it is not a large room, the feature that will make it seem more spacious is the tall vaulted ceilings. At the very top, the ceiling is 11′-5″ high. It will be finished in the same way that we will finish the boy’s room ceiling – with pine tongue and groove boards, painted white. I am looking forward to this simple yet elegant look.

 

I mentioned the amazing cast iron metal beds that I got for FREE in this post. They still need some TLC, but they will be showstoppers once they are finished! As of right now I am planning on painting them black, to balance out the amount of white used on the walls and ceiling. The bedding will be simple, with aqua and pink accents – similar to what they have in their current shared bedroom.

 

In fact, besides the beds, the rest of the furniture and finishing accents that I plan to add to the space will come from their current set up. The pieces work perfectly and have sentimental value.

Their dresser will sit on the short wall behind the door. It was a gift to me as a little girl, from my grandparents. It will provide two drawers for each girl and house their shirts and pants.

On the wall behind the dresser will be a small accent mirror. I imagine the girls might at some point fight over bathroom space getting ready – so this will make for a convenient ‘overflow’ spot.

 

In the smaller ‘nook’ space of the room will sit a glider rocker, which used to belong to Craig’s grandpa. We had it reupholstered before our oldest child was born, and used it in the nursery for each of them. It’s a very special piece.

 

Couple the chair with a few floating shelves filled with books, and the girls will have a perfect little spot to cozy up and read.

The birdcages above are also from the girl’s current space. Each of the paper cranes, which symbolize peace and longevity in Asian culture, were hand folded by me – during the months we waited to complete the girl’s adoptions from China.

 

Their closet will be accessed through two sliding barn doors, which were found in a small barn/shed on the property of the very first home that Craig and I purchased as a married couple. They are rough right now; But as part of my Summer Project Bucket List, they should be whipped into shape soon.

Inside the closet, the ceiling slopes quite dramatically, from 6′-6″ at the doors, all the way down to the floor. There is just enough head space though for each girl to have her own hanging rack (one on each side) , plus a shared cabinet with baskets to hold socks and undergarments. The extra space in the closet has a pretty low ceiling height, but will be useful for shallow bins holding rarely used items, such as Christmas decorations.

 

So that’s it! Now the entire second level of the cottage has been designed and drawn up in 3D! Designing with the third dimension has really been key for me throughout this entire process.

 

I love the way it all flows, and the simplicity of the layout. I went into the design process with the hope that it would create very little ‘wasted space’ – and I succeeded!  I think all five of the kids will enjoy hanging out here.

THE SUMMER PROJECT BUCKET LIST

With the building of Arrow Hill Cottage on hold at the moment until at least the Fall, and quite possibly until Spring of 2019, I am finding myself thinking about what CAN be done in the meantime.

I started this bucket list of projects that I hope to tackle in the next couple of months, during Summer break – when the weather is decent for outside work. The list is a doozy! There is so much that can be done. I think it’s time to get to work!

 

PAINT DINING CHAIRS

I purchased an amazing set of 8 chairs this past winter at an antique store in town. They had been lovingly stripped of years of paint and stained a beautiful color, and all pieces glued so that they are nice and sturdy. The antique shop owner confirmed what I was suspecting.. that chairs of this age (1940’s) are rarely found in such large sets anymore. Groups of 2 or 4 are much more common.

A couple of months later, I found just that – a set of 2 – painted brown. They were offered at a great deal and I decided to purchase them as well – to bring our collection up to 10 matching chairs. I love the spindle details and the curved backs.

My vision for the kitchen/dining space in the cottage includes these chairs painted black. Although I love the wood grain/stained chairs, I have a feeling that the wood floor, wood chairs, and wood table might be a bit much. I am going to do some testing with the two painted chairs – to determine if I like the look before I paint them all.

 

DETERMINE DESIGN FOR A HARVEST TABLE

Speaking of the kitchen/dining space. If you remember from THIS POST we have made the decision to not use an island in the space, and instead center the dining room table. This will not only save square footage in the overall floor plan, but it will also allow the dining table to be used both for meals and for food prep.

Because the table will be a central feature in the space, we want to make sure it is very well designed and functional. We have said all along that we would like the the large trees that need to be moved from our property to be milled into wood boards. We envision some of these boards being made into a large harvest table.

This table base that I saw at an antique store is sort of what I am thinking about.

We purchased a set of table legs when on our surprise anniversary trip to Kansas. I love that the sweet memories of that amazing mini-trip will live on in our house. They came to me looking just like this – wrapped in blue. I haven’t even taken the time to unwrap them yet! I suppose that could be considered Step #1.

I will need to take some time to measure, sketch and determine the design for the table itself, and also find someone locally who is able to mill tree trunks into boards.

 



 

METAL BED REFINISHING

When thinking about our girl’s shared bedroom, I have always had the vision of identical metal beds. Over the past couple of years I have casually scrolled through websites trying to find the perfect metal bed frames. Those that I found and liked were always just too expensive to pull the trigger on.

Then, just a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine posted about how her family was clearing out their storage shed and unearthed a whole slew of metal beds that she wanted to find new homes for, free of charge. I asked if she had any that were the same shape and size, and lo and behold she did!

Authentic cast iron, matching farmhouse beds! I about squealed with excitement!  She and her husband were even nice enough to haul the two frames to our house so that I can begin work on them. After a good sanding and spray paint job, they should be good as new!

 

SINK REPAIR

I dedicated an entire post to the amazing cast iron apron sink that we inherited from Craig’s grandparents. At the moment it is sitting in a storage shed on Craig’s parents property. There are a couple of chips and scratches that will need to be fixed in order to get it ready for install. It’s too delicate of a job for us to take on personally; But I am adding it to my list to find someone locally who can!

 

FRIDGE CLEANUP

We also have an old fridge that we would like to have cleaned up a bit so that it can be used in the basement family room as the ‘snack fridge’. The fridge is unique in that it is a General MOTORS brand. Yes, before GM locked up a niche in the car industry, they had a focus on appliances. We scored this gem at a yard sale 10 years ago at a home in the historic neighborhood we used to live in. Because we had no truck, we carted it home on a two wheel dolly. Fun times, fun times.

We are excited to see it restored to it’s former glory. It’s possible that the same person who restores the sink could take on this project as well.

 

SAND + PREP BARNWOOD

As part of our master bedroom design, I included a tray ceiling that will feature some old barn wood that was removed from a shed on Craig’s parents property. It is really beautiful wood – that is currently stacked up in our garage, covered in years of dust and dried up mud.

Not only do I want to get it cleaned up – I want to make sure that there is even enough here to get the job done! I am kind of thinking it would be good to get some 5/8″ plywood and cut the sheets into the size of the tray – which is 7’4 x 9’6 – then clean the barn wood and attach it… so that when the time comes to actually install on site, it will be as simple as screwing up a few sheets of plywood. Could save our builder some time I think!

 

CHAIR REFRESH

Another master bedroom project involves this sweet chair that I bought second-hand, about 5 years ago. I absolutely love the shape of it, and think it will make a wonderful accent piece for the room.

Problem is, it’s run down. Though it is a solid piece, the fabric on the cushion is beginning to fray and the wood portions are stained an odd color. It needs a refresh, and I think the summer will be a perfect time to do that.

 



 

TUFTED HEADBOARD

Rounding out the future master bedroom is one of the projects I am most excited for – the tufted headboard!

The headboard we currently use for our bed is the very first piece of ‘furniture’ Craig and I ever bought together. We scored it from the bargain bin at the very back of the furniture store. I have an idea to use this dated headboard as the framework for the new version – and add a little height with 1×4’s. I’ve never tufted anything before, but I’m a big fan of the look and the tutorials I’ve seen online make me feel like it isn’t super complicated.

 

DOORS FOR GIRLS BEDROOM

Way back, a long long time ago, at the very first house we bought together – Craig and I had a backyard ‘mini barn/shed’ that was filled to the brim with corn cobs, electrical components, and a few treasures. Hidden within was a set of cute wooden doors.

Though I haven’t finished designing the girl’s shared bedroom yet, I have been working on it; And have found the perfect spot for the doors as access to their closet! One of the doors has a bit of wood patching that needs to be done, but for the most part this should be a semi-simple sand and re-paint job. Famous last words, I know.

 

DOUBLE CHAIRS RE-UPHOLSTERED

Another of my discount finds were these two overstuffed arm chairs with matching ottomans. I got all 4 pieces for $125 – which is an absolute steal! They are super comfy and sturdy, but ugly as can be. I’ve got to figure out if this is a reupholstering project that I am willing to tackle on my own, or if I need to hire the professionals. Either way, I don’t want these pieces to make their way into Arrow Hill Cottage in their current state.

 

PAINT THE PIANO

Our piano will reside in the entry space of the new house – and I want it to really make a statement. It’s kind of a dull/aged brownish color right now and I think that a fresh coat of paint will make a world of difference. I’ve never painted a piano before though, and I will admit it does make me slightly nervous. The good news is that it isn’t a super fancy baby grand or anything – and we got it for about $100 – so if it does happen to get ‘ruined’ we won’t be out much dough.

 

CABINET REPAIR

Last on the list, but not least – is this set of semi-matching little cabinets. The antique dealer who sold them to me said they came out of a historic home in which they were installed as built ins. They are each about 5 feet tall, 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep.

One of them has a glass front, and shelving. I think it would look cute as a small linen cabinet in the upstairs hallway

The other is in a bit more rough shape, but has some really neat features. I believe it will make a perfect mail sorting station in the mudroom, and also serve as a spot where we can charge all of our devices. I imagine it as the Family Command Center for the cottage.

Both cabinets will need some work done on the side faces, where they were previously built into the wall. I might also do a sand and re-stain, although I do adore the patina – especially on the glass front cabinet.

 

Whew! That is quite the list! And since it’s already mid-July, I had better get in gear if I want to accomplish all (or most) of these items before school starts! What do you think I should tackle first? Leave a comment below!

As I work on these projects, I plan to share them on Instagram Stories. If you aren’t following me over there – here’s the LINK! Have a wonderful weekend!

VIDEO TOUR OF ARROW HILL

As we continue to wait for contractor bid numbers to come through – we’re getting close! – our excitement level is rising at the prospect of building our little dream house.

We purchased our piece of land nearly 10 years ago; But because it is located a 20 minute drive from our current rental home, we don’t make the trek out to visit very often. I wanted to do a bit of site verification this week, and just generally check on things there – so I loaded up the kids and off we went.

 

 

As you can see, the property hasn’t been mowed or tended to in quite a long time. I wonder if the neighbors have complained at all? Not only was the grass, trees, and weeds overgrown – the mosquitoes were absolutely awful! I guess that is what happens when there is a lot of humidity, heat and rainfall. We should expect that by now from Minnesota summers. First order of business when we do move into the new house is figure out pest control!

 

After a thorough spray in bug repellent, I decided to take a short video tour of the property to share with all of you. I apologize for my shaky camera skills and heavy breathing – I was literally swatting the mosquitoes away while filming. The video gives you a basic lay of the land anyway. I am considering this the ‘pre-construction’ walk through.

 

 

I also had a fun little Photoshop experiment This is the approximate location where the house will sit. Beautiful, isn’t it? I imagine the views out of the windows will help keep us connected to nature.

 

I’m pretty sure that this Fall will have us back here again, with mowers, chainsaws, and clippers in hand – ready to give the property a much needed manicure and dream some more. Anyone care to join us for a work party?

If you’d like to learn more about about our site – THIS POST goes into a lot more detail!

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: BATHROOM LAYOUT UPDATE

While it is still fresh in everyone’s minds, I wanted to take some time and say ‘thank you’ to you awesome people for all of the help you gave me last weekend.

When I wasn’t sure which layout was best for our future upstairs bathroom, I went ahead and made a post about it – offering three options, and asking you to choose your favorite. I thought maybe two or three of you might comment or offer suggestions. I was completely blown away by the amount of interaction that post received both here on the blog and on social media – especially through the AHC Facebook page!

I will need to go back and look at the stats to be positive, but i’m pretty sure that it was my most engaged post of all time. Kind of crazy, considering the subject matter! If you would like to review the options, you can read the post again RIGHT HERE.

 



The post went live right away in the morning, around 7am; And as the day progressed, I could see that there was a strong trend emerging. Barely anyone was choosing Option #1, with the smaller shower stall. Most people agreed that when given the chance to have a larger tiled shower, they would choose it over a fiberglass or plastic unit.

people were not loving the idea of a small shower stall! 

That little tidbit was interesting to us, as Craig and I have never lived in a house with a custom/tiled stall. We have always either had the smaller stall units or a bath/shower combo unit. I guess we don’t know what we’re missing!

 

That left option #2 and #3.

And, between the two, another common theme emerged. Many people agreed that seeing the toilet first thing as you walk up the steps would not be attractive. Seeing the vanity first, as Option #2 showcased, was the primary reason given by people who made that choice.

However, I have a feeling that not everyone who chose the second option fully realized that the ceiling behind the vanity was sloping, hindering the ability to install a full height mirror. This was Craig’s biggest worry, I believe. He felt that a vanity with a small mirror (or no mirror) in front of it would, essentially, be useless.

toilet is hidden, but the vanity is small and there is little to no space for a mirror

 

The final trend in comments that we saw was regarding the counter space itself. Many of you pointed out that the larger vanity in Option #3 far outweighed the negative aspect of seeing the toilet first thing when walking into the bathroom. As one person commented, “Everyone knows it’s in there!” I’ll admit, there is a lot of truth in that statement!

people didn’t like the toilet directly in front of the door (I didn’t either) – but some thought that the additional counter space made option #3 their top choice regardless. 

 



 

You know how sometimes when you stare at something for a really long time and it starts to get fuzzy and not make sense anymore? That is what I think was happening to me. But you guys… you helped me bust through! By the end of the day, the topic had received so much discussion, that new ideas started popping into my head.

And from all those comments about how you and your families use your bathrooms, questions about swinging vs pocket doors, and thoughts about what is most visually pleasing – a brand new OPTION #4 was born!

 

 

By ‘stealing’ a mere 8 inches from the girl’s bedroom, I was able to figure out a layout complete with BOTH the large tiled shower and the extra long counter space, a pocket door, and a toilet hidden from view. I figure there is even room for a small linen cabinet or hamper in the corner.

I brought it into 3D – just to verify that all of the fixtures will work out. And I do believe we have a winner!

Rainfall shower head? check! Extra large vanity? check! Pleasant view into the room? check!

 

I like the idea of a round mirror and a rectangular sink. Still debating about adding a second. As you can see, the headroom will be a bit more tight on that side of the counter. The back wall behind the toilet is 4′-9″. 

 

At your suggestion, I am also planning to allow for a glass shower door. 

 

This is the view a person walking up the stairs will see. I am loving that the door is essentially centered on the back wall. I am planning a pendant light fixture for the hall, to hang in the center. I think it looks pretty balanced! I envision colorful art pieces hanging on either side of the door – maybe a ‘kid gallery’? 

 

Just for fun… here is an aerial view of the second floor as it is right now. I’m just getting started on the girl’s bedroom design – so it isn’t detailed. Also trying to determine what height knee walls, if any, will need to be added. 

 

I will be working some more on the 3D imagery – adding color and texture – and will give the big reveal of the room right here on the blog when it’s finished.

Again, I want to thank you for hanging out and helping me with this! I have other tricky spaces that have been leading me to dead ends. Maybe if I post about them, you can help me another time or two (or twenty)? Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

 

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: UPSTAIRS BATHROOM OPTIONS

Since I recently posted about the most important aspects of bathroom design, I thought it would be a good time to take another look at the bathrooms I have been designing for our cottage.

I’m pretty happy with the location and layouts of both the main floor and lower level bathrooms, but the upstairs bath has me scratching my head. I asked Craig for help determining the best fixture positions – and, let’s just say he wasn’t super helpful. I really need to bounce these ideas off of someone, so I figured I could trust the loyal readers of this blog to give me some advice and guidance. I know you won’t let me down!

First, let me set the stage:

The bathroom location is not up for debate. The upstairs of the cottage is essentially three rooms, plus a hallway space. The bathroom is situated in between the boy’s and girls’ bedrooms. When someone walks up to the second level, they will enter a small hall space. Looking past the hall is the bathroom.

Because the second story of our cottage will be built underneath the roof trusses, the ceilings of each room will be sloped. In the image above, the dashed line that runs from the girl’s bedroom window to the boy’s bedroom window is the highest point of the vaulted ceiling. You can get an idea of what the pitch looks like by reading the post about the BOY’S BEDROOM. In section form – meaning if you were to slice the house in half, from the top of the roof down to the foundation – the second floor will look like this:



 

The sloped ceiling will add an element of interest and character that we are really excited about. However, in order to ensure that the bathroom fixtures are functional, I have been taking extra care in finding the most efficient position for each. This will be a 3/4 bathroom – containing a toilet, sink, and stand up shower. It will be a bit tricky to fit all three fixtures in the space, but Craig and I agree that it is important for the kids to have their own fully functional bathroom on the same level as their bedrooms.

The slope of the ceiling for the bathroom will be around 4′-6″ at it’s lowest, on the outer wall (see notes below) to 9′-0″ at the door. The slope is quite dramatic. Residential building code dictates that a minimum of 6′-8″ head clearance be available at the front face/center of each fixture.

I have come up with three different layouts, each with their own merits and challenges. They are all in plan form. I understand that plans can be difficult to read for some people – and I apologize that I don’t have them in 3D form yet. I am kind of hoping to go forward with the three dimensional designing once a front-runner of these options has been chosen. * note: the shaded ‘x’ on each of the plans represents a mechanical chase that also needs to remain*

 

OPTION 1

This bathroom option includes 40 square feet of space. It is the most compact and likely also the most cost efficient of the three options. It features a pocket door to save floor space in the room, as well as a smaller fiberglass shower unit. The vanity is 4′-8″ long and the back of the toilet’s tank is situated along the shortest wall. The bonus of this option is that the sleeping nook in the boy’s bedroom would gain a small cubby/shelf space. I also appreciate that the hallway can be left a tad larger. The main thing I do not care for in this layout is that the toilet is quite visible from the hallway if you are walking up the stairs and the door is open. Also, the kids might appreciate a larger shower than this option allows.

 



 

OPTION 2

The next option is slightly larger, at 42 square feet, and offers a spacious shower. Because of the way that the ceiling slopes, it would need to be a custom tiled unit – which, no doubt, would be more expensive. I like the idea of the vanity being the first thing you see when you walk into the room, but am not in love with the fact that the wall behind it is only 5′-0″ high. I imagine the mirror for the vanity in this option would need to be placed on the wall that is shared with the shower. Maybe a pull out variety similar to THIS. The vanity itself is 3′-0″ long.

My favorite aspect of this layout is the privacy that the toilet has. It is sort of tucked behind the door when it is open, and completely hidden from view from the hallway.

 

OPTION 3

The final option is the largest, at 44 square feet. The vanity is 4′-6″ long and the shower is the same size as option 2’s shower. Again, it would be a custom tiled unit. I think that the fixtures are most easily accessible in this version and there seems to be more room to move about. The thought of the toilet being front and center when you enter the room is the thing that concerns me the most about this design.



 

I have started a couple of boards on Pinterest to further narrow the finishes and design elements I would like to incorporate. You can take a peek HERE and HERE.

Also – in case you are having a hard time visualizing what a bathroom with a slope ceiling might look like, PINTEREST has you covered. Lots of unique ideas there, always.

 

Now, I have an important favor to ask. Pretty, pretty please – could you comment on this post or on the social media link? Let me know which of these options you think is best, or which you would eliminate completely. Maybe there is a layout idea that I am completely missing. Let me know!

I will keep a tally of all the comments and let you all know which way I plan to proceed with the fun 3D portion of the design!

Thanks everyone!

 

 

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: MASTER BEDROOM

I hesitate to call this room the ‘Master Bedroom’, since it lacks some of what would be considered standard features. There will be no on-suite bathroom or walk-in closet. But it is the bedroom that Craig and I will use – and since we are the ‘masters’ of the property, per se’, I guess the phrase will work. Ha!

As I mentioned in this recent post – the room is not at all large. When dividing up square footage in the floor plan, we made the decision to give more to the shared/ public spaces in the house (such as the living room and kitchen) and to make the private spaces (such as bathrooms and bedrooms) a bit smaller. This is a decision that we are 100% okay with, as the members of our family tend to rarely spend time in the bedrooms.

The location of the bedroom itself was something I thought about for a very long time. Because we intend to live in Arrow Hill Cottage for as long as life allows, I wanted to be sure and include at least one bedroom on the main level. Our kids are old enough now that it works for our family to have their bedrooms upstairs – giving them (and us) a bit of separation and privacy. Besides the bedroom, the rest of the main level is shared/ public space – In order to make the room feel as private as possible, I used the stairway as a ‘buffer’ and also located the closets, fireplace, and built-ins between the living room and bedroom – which should help to reduce noise transfer.

The Master Bedroom is 10′-4″ wide by 12′-5″ long, 128 square feet. But even with it’s small size, it should be able to pack a good design punch – with a few key features.

 



 

NATURAL LIGHT

I have said before that I love natural daylight. The Master Bedroom will have three large South facing windows that overlook the front porch. They are sure to let in some great light, which I am very excited about! And because they are across from the bedroom door, the view out of these large windows is likely to be the first thing you notice when you walk in. For privacy and light filtration, these windows will likely have some sort of covering.

I like the look of a simple natural roman shade.

 

TRAY CEILING

We have a large amount of tongue and groove barn-wood, which was removed from an old summer kitchen on Craig’s parent’s property. I am hoping to re-purpose some of the wood in the trayed portion of the Master Bedroom ceiling. I think it will add a bit of warmth to the room, as well as sentimental/ personal appeal.

I also love sleeping with the white noise of a fan, and want to find a pretty ceiling fan to replace the chunky box fan that we are currently using.

 

FRENCH DOORS

The closet, though not the walk-in variety, is a decent size. We plan to use a set of vintage french doors (from the farmhouse we are currently living in) to access the closet space. Of course, the glass on the doors will need to be frosted in some way so that our clothes and shoes aren’t on display!

The doors have such a great patina, but I may need to sand and stain them to mix a bit better with the other wood tones.

 

TUFTED HEADBOARD

We have a queen size bed with the world’s most comfortable mattress. Although it has probably outlasted it’s life expectancy at this point, we are not ready to part with it.  I have wanted a diamond tufted headboard for a very long time. The thought of aqua velvet keeps popping up in my mind, but I think a more neutral fabric choice would better suit the room – without overpowering it.

There are a ton of great DIY tutorials for tufting, such as this one from Homeade by Carmona. It looks pretty straightforward and the directions are detailed enough that I may just get brave enough to tackle this project, and save a few dollars.

A nightstand and reading lamp with an operable arm will be situated on either side of the bed – giving the bed wall a very balanced and symmetrical look.

 

At the foot of the bed, I plan to position a special pine chest that my uncle built for me as a seventh birthday present. It is full of memories and keepsake items – and I cherish it!

 



 

READING NOOK

A few years ago I found this cute chair through a local online ad. It’s in a bit of rough condition currently, but it has a great shape and I can see a lot of potential! I am thinking of reupholstering it and maybe painting the frame, or staining it a different color.

There will be a series of shallow shelves behind the door, where I plan to house our book collection, as well as a few mementos and collectibles.

And of course, there will be baskets. No room is complete without baskets.

 

 

The rest of the accessories and art for the room are a bit sketchy in my mind at the moment – but I know that I want the vibe to be calm and relaxing, yet not too stuffy or formal. I am envisioning pops of color to add interest, and lots of visual texture. I love textiles such as rugs, pillows and bedding – and will surely have plenty of fun making each of those choices. Here are a few that have already caught my eye.

These pretty embroidered floral accent pillows are simply gorgeous. From Say It With Pillows on Etsy

 

Fun navy blue and white patterned pillow from Hayneedle

 

Grey and white striped sheet set from Target

 

 

This jute rug from Overstock would be a perfect natural accent to the room.

 

There may be enough room to have a tall and shallow dresser on the long wall.

 

Shallow dressers can be somewhat difficult to come by, but I did find some nice options from Wayfair, including this gorgeous piece.

 

On top of the dresser, I will layer art and possibly a mirror and other accessories. I love this sign from Rooted & Grounded Home (on Etsy)

 

I’m excited for this beautiful, clean and relaxing bedroom!

 

A FARMHOUSE SINK FOR OUR COTTAGE

They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home; And a beautiful kitchen is high on the priority list of many homeowners. I am in agreement with these sentiments. After all, if my family is going to be spending a lot of time in one room, it should function well AND look nice.

The kitchen for Arrow Hill Cottage will have a classic look, with clean materials and tons of natural light. But I have to say, in all honesty, the feature I am most excited about is the kitchen sink.

 



 

Time for a little story:

About eight years ago, when my husband Craig’s family was helping his grandparents clean out their farmhouse (the very one we are living in at the moment), I spotted a cast iron sink laying in the weeds on their property – ready to be hauled away by a scrap metal collector who was paying by the pound. I am pretty sure I let out an audible shriek, then quietly and as calmly as possible, asked Craig to please find out more about it.

Turns out that it was the farmhouse’s original 1920’s kitchen sink that was removed (and tossed outside) in the late 60’s, when the room was remodeled to a more modern style.

It didn’t take too much begging for his grandparents to agree that we could save it from the pile. Craig though, needed a bit more convincing. Mostly because the thing was a beast, and hauling things around is low on his list of favorite things to do. He loves me though, and eventually gave in to my desire. We had absolutely no place to store the relic of a sink, and so we asked Craig’s parents if we could keep it in one of the sheds on their property until we built our house. And that is exactly where it has been ever since.

Craig was there last weekend, and I asked him to get a few measurements for me so that I could fine tune the kitchen design a bit more. He took pictures of the sink – in all her muddy, rusty glory – and seeing them made me fall in love all over again.

 

We will need to look into getting it refinished – probably at a body shop – but even with that expense I believe we are sitting on a great deal. I saw a very similar model on Etsy selling for $1,800! Another sink, on Ebay is listed for close to $1,000. Even reproduction models are over $700!

There are a couple of challenges that this farmhouse/apron sink will present. One is finding wall mounted faucet hardware. They aren’t quite as common as the counter mounted variety.

I like the look of this bronze faucet from Wayfair.

 

I have a feeling that lever handles might be a bit easier to operate though – so this option from American Standard might do the trick.



 

This one with a pull out spray faucet would be very functional – but I’m afraid it might not quite be in the budget. Maybe I can find something similar for less when the time comes to make a decision.

 

Another challenge will be determining how to lay the counter material. This sink style was originally designed to be a free standing unit. It probably had matching legs at some point. Kitchen design & style has changed quite a bit since the 20’s.

I am still pretty set on using a quartz counter-top material. I love the clean look. The sink will will either need to be set a bit lower than the counter height, so that the counter material can overlap the edges – to ensure that no water slips onto the cabinet below – similar to this:

 

OR possibly more likely, because of it’s integral back-splash, we will need to set the sink up higher and butt the counter-top material into the sides, like this:

 

The final design challenge that I can foresee, and perhaps the largest, is the placement of the sink itself. Because it is a single bowl sink, the placement of the faucet will be further to the right (and not in the center of the overall unit. There will be three large windows on the wall where the sink will be located, and I am unsure if I want the entire sink to be centered on the middle window (and hence, the faucet offset), or the faucet / sink basin portion centered on the middle window. Maybe you can all help me out.  Tell me which you prefer!

 

SINK UNIT CENTERED ON MIDDLE WINDOW

 

 

 

 

FAUCET CENTERED ON MIDDLE WINDOW

 

 

I should note that the dishwasher will likely have a cabinet panel front, so that it blends with the rest of the cabinetry. I feel like it seems to have more space on the right of the sink. Thoughts? Maybe I should take another look at the window placement and series?

Please comment below or via social media. Would love some help!

 

UNDERSTANDING WHAT MAKES HOME ‘YOURS’

We are in waiting mode, as three local contractors are pouring over our house plans in an effort to get us accurate bid numbers. They have seen plenty of house designs in their day – and no two exactly alike I’m sure.

There were some questions when we had our meetings with the contractors – and some comments made by friends and family, regarding the design choices we have made that make our home what it is. And I have been thinking a lot lately about how tailor fit this house is for OUR family.

I just wanted to take a little time today to encourage each of you to understand the home that YOU want to live in. What works for you and your family may not be the norm. It might not be what the real estate market expects, or trending on Pinterest. And guess what? That’s okay!

 

This is a list of a few of the unconventional features that have been incorporated into our new house design, and why we are happy with our choices:



 

LACK OF SQUARE FOOTAGE:

We understand that our house is on the small side. The primary dimensions of our house are 28 feet by 32 feet, making a rectangular footprint about the size of a standard two car garage. The smaller footprint was a function of both our challenging site, and also for monetary purposes.

We have said all along that we do not wish to live in a large house; but rather one that can accommodate today’s needs while we raise our five children, and won’t seem too spacious when they are all grown and gone. All told, the finished square footage of the cottage, including lower level and upstairs half-story, will be just over 2,000 square feet.

 

NO MASTER SUITE:

Most newly built homes feature a main level bedroom, complete with a large walk in closet and attached on-suite bathroom. Though our cottage will indeed have a main floor bedroom, so that we can age in place, the room will not have the features to make it a ‘suite’.

We have instead opted to have a large shared bathroom on the main level, near the mudroom/ back entry. It is only a short, accessible, distance from the bedroom; But it’s location through a public shared space will make it convenient for guests as well.

The closet for the main level bedroom is large – about 5 feet in length – but it is not a walk in style. We have justified the smaller closet space by realizing that we try not to keep items that are not useful to us. In fact, the only other closet on the main level is a small broom closet near the bedroom door.

 

SHARED KID BEDROOMS:

This design item seems to get a lot of attention. The idea that we can fit five children into two bedrooms gets a few raised eyebrows. For us though, it is the perfect set up. The kids will have the entire second level, which simply features two bedrooms (one for the girls, and one for the boys), and a hall bathroom to serve both rooms.

To be honest, our kids have always shared bedrooms and I think they would be a bit lost having a room all to themselves. We do, however, anticipate that as the teen years approach (our oldest son is 11) – they will want more privacy. The sleeping nooks in the boys room will aide in that regard – while still keeping them close.

Fewer bedrooms mean less nagging from mom and dad to get the rooms in order, and hopefully will develop some shared responsibility among the siblings to do their part in keeping things clean.

 



 

COMBINED KITCHEN/DINING:

While this design decision was driven primarily by the budget, during the simplification process, I have to admit that I am actually looking forward to the combined kitchen and dining space. The table, though standard height, will serve somewhat as an island if need-be.

I have been tinkering with the plan, and was careful to maintain a functional kitchen work triangle – with the table slightly offset from it. The large area of open shelving, with shallow cabinets below, almost mimics a hutch – which signifies a ‘dining’ space ever so slightly

 

RELATIVELY LITTLE STORAGE:

Because we know that, for us, items stored behind doors rarely get used, we have opted to have very few storage/closet spaces in the cottage. There is one small broom closet incorporated in the plans for the main level, but no coat closets. Instead we will use cubbies or hooks in the mudroom to house our outerwear. Upstairs, each bedroom will have a closet, and there are a couple of small unfinished storage areas in the eaves which will be useful for Christmas decor and other seasonal items.

It is standard to build three stall garages for new homes. Most families now have two vehicles, and will use the third stall for either an accessory item such as a boat/ ATV, or as storage space. Though we have been told that garage square footage is cheap and we should consider making ours larger – perhaps with a bonus space above – we have decided that a two car garage will be just fine for our needs. We are hoping that by setting the garage back from the house and making it only one story, it’s appearance will be minimized from the curb view. The fact that the garage will be attached is a huge bonus for our family, as we have never owned a home with that luxury. It will especially be appreciated during the cold winter months!

 

 

There you have it! Though these design choices may not be popular in today’s market – we aren’t looking to ever sell our house (instead hoping it will passed down through the generations) – and so feel no hesitation in making these changes that will allow the cottage to function in the best way possible for our family.

What makes your home personal? A unique shade of color on your walls? No formal entry space? Mix-matched cabinetry? I would love to hear, in the comments below!

 

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: FIREPLACE IDEAS

 

My husband and I have lived in 3 old houses over the course of our marriage – a 1905 farmhouse, a 1904 American Foursquare, and a 1920’s farmhouse. And although each of these houses have had their own share of character items, not a single one has had a fireplace.

We love the ambiance that a fireplace can add to the spaces it serves, and so for Arrow Hill Cottage we are working one into the design. For ease and safety reasons we are going to be utilizing a gas insert unit. I’m thinking something simple and not too large – maybe a model similar to this.

I have a feeling the firebox insert will be the easy decision to make. The more complicated endeavor will be determining what the fireplace surround should look like! Initially, I had designed in bookcases on either side of the fireplace; but ultimately decided that a larger bedroom closet, and a broom closet were more important for the function of the house; And so the fireplace itself will be positioned on a wall in our living room and serve as a stand-alone feature piece.

I have been tinkering around in Sketchup with a few different options of how to finish the surround, and thought it might be fun to share with you today and take a poll about which is everyone’s favorite. All four options include a chunky wood mantle, which we hope to have milled out of a tree that will need to be removed from our property for the construction of the house. I’ve intentionally left the top of the mantle bare, so that your eye can focus on the fireplace itself – but you’d better believe I will have a TON of fun changing out the decorations to dress it up!

I am sharing multiple images of each fireplace option, so that you can see how it relates to the spaces around it.



OPTION 1: WHITE BRICK + SIMPLE SHIPLAP

 

 

This is a really clean look, and pretty straightforward. It is also probably the most cost effective of all the options. If I have one concern about this option, it would be that it may be TOO white – and wouldn’t stand out enough as a focal point in a room that has all white walls and a white ceiling.

 

OPTION 2: STONE WITH BOARD AND BATTEN

 

 

The exterior of the cottage utilizes a bit of cultured stone on the porch column bases, as well as board and batten siding on the gable ends. I thought it might be nice to connect these element to the interior by using the same stone and paneling technique on the fireplace.

 

OPTION 3: CLASSIC WITH TILE

 

 

This is the fireplace finish that first comes to mind when I think about a historic home. It is clean, simple, and stately without much fuss. We have friends who had their tile laid in a herringbone pattern, which gave their fireplace a more contemporary feel and looks great! The portion above the mantle could be accented with a different color of paint, perhaps a bright pop of something dramatic.

 



 

OPTION 4: ALL STONE

 

This option has me a bit worried about the budget – as stone is not cheap! I do like the ‘cottage feel’ that it seems to give the space though! And it definitely draws your eye toward the fireplace as a focal point.

 

What do you think? Which fireplace option is your favorite? If you have any real-life personal experience about fireplaces – whether it is something not to do, or something you have done and love – please let us know by commenting to this post or on one of our social media locations!

Have a great Saturday everyone!

 

SATURDAY SKETCHBOOK: MORE SIMPLIFYING?

This week has been a busy one complete with my birthday, the kids starting school after Spring break, yucky weather, and the planning of a luau themed Father/daughter dance. In the midst of it all, we received a cost estimate for the building of Arrow Hill Cottage.

The estimate was higher than we thought/ hoped it might be. I want to be completely transparent with this process for all of you. Designing a house and having it built is going to be full of ups and downs, and in documenting them I hope to encourage anyone who is following a similar path.

 

I want my readers to understand that the process is not a straight path from point A to point B, but that each step will eventually lead to a final finished home. 

 

Craig and I are not complicated people, we have said all along that we want our house to be simple. Big enough for now, when we are raising 5 growing children under it’s roof – but not so large that it becomes a burden when we are empty-nesters.

When we first got the dollar figure, I will admit that we were a bit flustered once again. Not long ago, when we were told VERY preliminary costs to build, I had done a huge reduction in the size and complication of the design. We thought that these bold moves would get the number down to a more comfortable level. And surely, they did reduce the overall cost – just not enough.

 

Even though the bank may loan us the full amount that this contractor is estimating, we aren’t comfortable with what that would mean in terms of monthly payments.

 

We do not intend to be house poor. When you have a family, there are so many situations needing monetary attention that could potentially arise. If all of our monthly income is tied up in a house, it would  definitely add more stress during those times.

And so, we are at a cross roads once again. I am taking a look at the design to see where we could save and have identified a couple of areas that could be revised to be more cost effective if need-be. We will also be taking a close look at this post, and heeding our own advice. Even though we are friends with our preferred contractor, it is important to get second (and maybe third) opinions/quotes on cost.

 

In the end, I am confident we will be living in the house of our dreams – but that house might be a little different than what we had first imagined going into the process. And that is okay.