Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Craftsman style cottage

Finally, I am here with before and after pictures of the house.  There were so many times I wished you all were here standing in the front yard with me when I had to make quick decisions.


Like when the day came to build the portico over the door.  How high should it be?  How wide?  I wasn't exactly sure. 


The Moravian light hanging in the portico was my first choice but Mr. 65th wasn't so sure about it.  We ended up ordering it when our flush mount light wasn't going to fit since the roof is curved.  Funny that neither one of us thought about that.  Mr. 65th likes the star pendant now that it's up.


The days leading up to building the trellis for the front of the house had me freaking out a bit.  How big should it be?  Will there be too many brackets on our little house?  (There are seven)  Will it all come together the way I envisioned it or will I hate it?  So many questions and uncertainty even though there was a plan in place.  I even chickened out for a day or two and told our contractor to just build the trellis over the garage door instead.


Our plan didn't include exact measurements of everything, we were just kind of winging it.  Taking inspiration from a variety of different places and seeing how things would fit together as we went.  You can see my inspiration here.


I'm glad I went for it.  I think it adds the dimension the house so badly needed and helps to balance the uncovered porch.

Here is a picture of a picture right after we bought our house and took all the metal awnings down.
Remember the story about us almost driving away when we first saw our house?  Now you know what I was talking about right?   And why would someone put a section of vertical siding on the front of the house and make it a different color so it would stand out even more? 


Here is a picture years later after adding some trim around the door and windows, building a new porch, changing the landscape and replacing the door and storm door.  Oh, and I painted the vertical siding to match the rest of the house.



And here we are today.  I'm calling it a craftsman style cottage.  What do you think?  Does it say that to you?  The soffits were extended and two new windows are in place of the lonely one above.  We still need to finish a few things like changing out a piece of lattice that doesn't match because it used to be covered by bushes.  And the guys need to come back to fix a few pieces of siding by the portico brackets...but that's another story. 


Another before....


You can see by the landscape that we have been planning this for a long time.  Everything was just starting to grow in when I took these before pictures.  Now everything is already on its way out for the season.


I'm thinking three black rocking chairs will be a nice addition to the porch next year.



Did you notice we are going storm door-less?  I made our contractor promise he would come back in January to hang it if we are freezing our butts off.  I hope we can make it without.  Now I just need to figure out which mailbox to order and what to do about house numbers. 

For anyone looking for paint colors, the exterior is Crownsville Gray HC-106 by Benjamin Moore and the siding is cement board by Nichiha.  I remember how helpful it was to see different colors on actual houses when I was looking.

58 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! What an adorable home. I found you through Happy at Home. I think you made the right choice in adding the trellis over the window. And your house definitely says "craftsman style." I love everything about it! Too cute!

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW!!!!!! what a difference!!! that looks amazing! i love all the added details!

    ReplyDelete
  3. FANTASTIC!! I love, love LOVE how you added craftsman elements to the design! And the portico is awesome!

    Great job! Now....you want to come help me with my project! Lol!

    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  4. Londen it looks beautiful! What a difference - you added SO much curb appeal to your home! You are inspiring me.....I need to tackle the outside of our house one of these days. I just LOVE the portico and the trellises! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes definitely your home is a craftsman style. Love it. Your landscaping looks great. Yes, I agree rockets would look great! Could you place address numbers on post of steps? Just a thought.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your home is so gorgeous! So much effort y'all have put in and it has come together beautifully. I love the landscaping too. The colors are really pretty. I bet you are so glad now that you didn't walk away from that house:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. LOVE IT! You guys did a wonderful job and I think every decision you made was absolutely perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love your Moravian star light. The color of the house is also wonderful :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a fantastic transformation. The profile of your house was so flat before and now with the addition of the roofline being extended, the portico cover and most of all the arbour it looks fantastic. I agree that your house looks like a craftsman type house and would think that art nouveau or art deco style numbers might fit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think you made great decisions! Your home is gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful transformation Londen! It has so much more character now. I love the portico.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a transformation! It is so charming and I love your choices, especially the porch light! Bravo to you guys for having the vision!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I want to know how many times you have driven by your house not realizing it is yours? Gorgeous transformation! I love what you did! Love the trellis over the windows. Our porch is uncovered too and I have always wanted to do something over it. Clever girl! Great job on the quick decisions!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks great! I love what you have added! You should put more trellis above the garage and then grow flowers up it!! I live in the Chicago area too and I can't imagine not having a storm door but I like the look of the house without one. so I'm torn.
    ~Erin
    creativityuncorked{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  15. It looks beautiful! I think you made all the right decisions! And you will have it to decorate just in time for Christmas!!!!
    Amy at The Pineapple Room

    ReplyDelete
  16. WOW!!!! I think you guys have done an amazing job. Your exterior has so much character and charm now. All of your decisions were perfect!!

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a transformation~ bravo! I too would be scared and have such a hard time with big decisions but you did it right and the results are fab. YAY.
    xo~
    T

    ReplyDelete
  18. Amazing! This is definitely "pin worthy". All of your details made the biggest difference. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your cottage is absolutely wonderful! You've made incredible changes and transformed it into a gem. I'm your newest follower!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Holy cow, L! It looks incredible!! I'm in love with each and every detail that you chose, so kudos for each of them!!! I am sure that every time you pull up to that beautiful house, you have a huge smile on your face : )

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a great job...looks fabulous - love the new paint colour!
    x
    Melissah

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful transformation! I'm so indecisive...sometimes not having the time to think is a blessing. lol Your choices are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow!! It looks fantastic! You guys are miracle workers. I love the after and I can't believe were you started. The moravian light is beautiful and the portico is awesome. Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I think it looks fantastic. I especially love the Moravian light. I have been wanting one of those for the longest time! The house seriously looks awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi there, I just came across your blog. I love how you transformed this simple house into a stunning craftsman style cottage. Love all the details, great job!

    ReplyDelete
  26. All's I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. The house is looking AMAZING! I am have been away from blogland for awhile, you have been busy!!! Your star pendant has been on my must have list forever, I am so jealous! I can't wait to see the house decorated for Christmas. Hope all is well in your world.

    Best wishes,
    Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow. Wow. Wow. You have such vision. Outstanding job. Your home is so beautiful now..

    ReplyDelete
  29. it's absolutely beautiful. Very nicely done.

    ReplyDelete
  30. What a charming house! You really have vision to have seen the potential when you decided to buy the house. It looks so inviting... Very cozy!

    ReplyDelete
  31. How lovely! It looks wonderful! Enjoy the beautiful day, Kellie xx

    ReplyDelete
  32. A very nice home, and the town that i lived in had 2 homes from sears built in the 1920s. Richard

    ReplyDelete
  33. Found you using a search for "exterior window trellis". LOVE IT- LOOKS FABULOUS. Thanks for the close-ups- helps my design ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  34. me again, not to pry..., but the window trellis 4x4, are they 24 inches long? How far off the house did you decide to bring them? I agree, a delicate balance of "just right"... and you nailed it!

    ReplyDelete
  35. another (similar) nice one:
    http://www.google.com/imgres?q=exterior+window+trellis&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1344&bih=687&tbm=isch&tbnid=Zc8HBUew4obG_M:&imgrefurl=http://www.aconcordcarpenter.com/2011/11/fypos-pvc-trellis-system.html&docid=qPFyzcAG5fb-zM&imgurl=http://www.aconcordcarpenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Fypon-Trellis.jpg&w=640&h=512&ei=dSzwTpHPBYjSiALtxoyWDg&zoom=1

    ReplyDelete
  36. Talk about taking a house with little curb appeal and making it stand out! Have you thought about putting your house numbers in the triangle area above your door on that roof cover thingy? It is amazing what you all did and looks like you were on Curb Appeal on HGTV.

    ReplyDelete
  37. So gorgeous...as I work on my own renovations I am inspired by your story and will be sharing your fabulousness! Thanks for sharing with us, it truly is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Simply beautiful. Trying to decorate my little home with a elegant cottage style and decided to check yours out. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  39. love the colors! Ok have to admit I just went and got a pint of your body color paint to test on our new house! What color is your trim just saying white at the paint store well you get funny looks haha

    ReplyDelete
  40. so now i just spent so much time clicking around and coveting your house and this post sealed the deal for me. the before/after. gorgeous! and thank you for your kind words today...it's good to know we're all sort of looking at forty with the same eyes. (especially when i wasn't prepared at all for any kind of anxiety about it.)

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a beautiful home you have! It's stunning. Great work!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Your home is gorgeous! Your before pictures remind me a lot of my home-so glad to see there's hope for character and charm!
    http://fearfullyandwonderfullymade81.blogspot.com/2011/03/springin-on-some-curb-appeal.html

    ReplyDelete
  43. Beautiful transformation! This post is definitely going into my inspiration folder. My husband and I bought a mid-century "war box" and we are seriously remodeling and updating it. It's a well-built, solid house, but aesthetically, it's ugly, inside and out! You have given me plenty of ideas on how to transform a little plain-jane box into a cute cottage!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Finally found the perfect paint color for our craftsman style home, after stumbling across your photo! Love to know the color of the trim and front door as well? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Oh wonderful!! Thank you so much for writing down the name of your paint colors! What color is your trim??

    ReplyDelete
  46. The exterior transformation is just perfect! I love the addition of the portico and trellis, and your choice of color for your siding. That color is actually suitable for any season so I commend you for choosing it. Your house looks very different from the old one, and I actually thought that I was looking at a new one. =)

    -Saundra Wordlaw

    ReplyDelete
  47. Great job! Really beautiful.. Many pins here..

    ReplyDelete
  48. Really great job! I know it was over 2 years ago since you did the reno, but do you recall the colors you used for your home?

    ReplyDelete
  49. Oh wow! I love your portico too. I just love curb appeal projects/ great job, thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Oh wow! I love your portico too. I just love curb appeal projects/ great job, thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Lovely! Would you mind telling me the color of your door?

    ReplyDelete
  52. Looks adorable! Thanks for sharing the color info. We are using your pics found on Pinterest as inspiration for our cottage reno

    ReplyDelete
  53. Love, love, love the colors you used on your home. Any chance you remember what they are and can share with me? We paint our home in a week and I'm still struggling with ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Fantastic job, I want to do this!! Can you supply some detail on the lattice style window awnings?
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Stunning reno on your exterior! This has been our exterior colour for a while and we are about to change our front door. What colour is the front door and would you suggest a matt finish or gloss. We have 2024-70 as our trim - very similar to you. We are in CAN on Salt Spring Island
    Again congratulations on a stunning home <3

    ReplyDelete
  56. "Thoroughbred Firm
    Thoroughbred is a leader in services surveying, civil engineering and geotechnical and engineering for large scale commercial projects.
    we have the experience and presence necessary to complete complex geotechnical engineering and civil engineering projects for clients in the
    Thoroughbred Firm, municipal, academic and manufacturing industries. Professional, Fast & Accurate Concrete Testing in Edmonton.
    We Provide On Budget and Every Time On Time Services.

    Greystone Remodeling & Construction Lexington, KY
    ""Increase The Value Of Your Home With Our High-Quality Home Renovation.
    Contact Us Today for Remodeling & Construction. We Greystone Will Bring Your Vision To Life And Build Your Dream Home At A Price You Can Afford.
    High-Quality Home Renovation
    Aesthetically pleasing. Efficient process. Long-term results. Affordable rates"""

    ReplyDelete

 

Site design by FABULOUS K CREATIVE