Let’s chat makeover plans in our new/old cottage home!
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Tour our home before we moved in to get a better look at each space:
Tour the outside of our home:
See my Pinterest boards for cottage inspiration:
History sites inspiration:
https://www.tidbits-cami.com/design-inspiration-from-historic-church-sites/
Would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for joining me today.
35 Comments
I love the herringbone stone or tile on the porch. Entry: either do the same herringbone stone from the porch or do the wood tile as close in grain and plank size to your new wood floors but also in herringbone and if your able, put electric radiant floor heating just at your entry. I like the idea of trimming out the bookshelves in the school room to make them look built in- which would have happened when the house was originally built and long library table is an amazing idea as is the wood floors and big rugs, a large world map and USA map and/or world clocks in the back wall would really kick up the library look. Your primary bath definitely needs a rework- if you can give up even a foot into the bedroom and add a pocket door, your bath could get what you need and good closet systems would help with your everyday flow. For your family room lighter walls and paint trim a white will definitely brighten the room and I would say skylights when you redo the roof but unless that is a single story addition, it’s not feasible; recessed lighting with dimmers that could go from daylight lighting during the day to darker in the evening; you either need to sand down the wood and try to keep it a raw look to brighten it up or paint the majority of it, leaving the surround of the fireplace and leave the beams the way they are; two sofas on either side of the fireplace and the chairs facing the fireplace would be nice. Kitchen: lighter paint like a pale French blue to compliment the walnut cabinets, brushed brass hardware, more lighting and under-cabinet lighting, not a fan or two-tone cabinets but do love the idea of putting those walnut (stack the uppers on the lowers with counter or butcher block between the windows and keep the tops of the uppers open for baskets) cabinets in your new butlers pantry and putting new ones in the kitchen configured your way and I love the idea of removing the double ovens and make a storage cabinet and putting in a gorgeous gas range. Bathroom- get rid of the tile everywhere! Garage ideas are perfect.
Are you against vinyl plank flooring for your foyer? It is nice for rainy, snowy weather that cleans up quickly.
Does your refrigerator work harder being so close to the oven?
In the dark room, maybe place mirrors on the opposite walls to reflect the light?
Love the wood…don't paint! The whole fireplace room gives such an English Cottage cozy vibe!
I love your ideas 😊
Your videos are not dark!!!!! I like your thoughts on your rooms !!! Out front I would go with the stone you picked out !!! I also think the floors in the house should all flow together and match !!! I love the room you will make a large pantry !!!! Great idea !!!
Paint is going to make a huge difference! It will lighten everything up! You have already made it look so much better! I can’t wait to see what you do! I think stone on the front stoop. Love the idea of an on suite bathroom! Love your new refrigerator! 😍 Can’t wait to see your butlers pantry! Wood floors throughout will be great! -Joanna
A couple opinions:
Outside – I prefer the stone tile
Slate area – I lean more toward all wood.
YouTube comment – some people are just tacky!
Other than that, I love all your ideas! I'm very much looking forward to seeing you transform the home to be more you. I love the Tidbits style! ❤
The cottage is going to be beautiful – you have the touch! I'll be looking forward to seeing your updates. Our house faces north so the north facing rooms are definitely don't have as much light, plus we have a covered front porch.
I j ust enjoyed your video. Like others said , your videos are not looking dark. However I understand you wanting to make changes to make this home your home. I personally like wood floors because I really like wood or wood looking tile. When I moved in a home with carpet and changed it to wood it made me so happy and still does. Choose what is right for you. I agree about repainting the walls & taking down the wallpaper stripe up at the ceiling as it does look outdated. I think the room with the fireplace will look nice with white wood ceiling between the beautiful wood beams after you do that, then decide what you want to do about the look of the wood around the windows. You have great instincts in design so go with your gut feeling after you’re finished with the rest of the room as you will know what goes or not. The piano move to replace the door cabinet you don’t like sounds like a good place try it there if you don’t like it you can move it and do something else with that area. Your kitchen cabinets are gorgeous ! Too many people paint over the rich colors and warmth of wood especially those in such good condition, but again do what feels right for you and your family. The stone area on the floor is a trip hazard so yes again you are right ; remove it and let your wood flooring flow through your home. If you feel a room is too dark a possible way to get more daylight might be a skylight, not sure how costly that is or if you like them just a suggestion. I have a bathroom I’d like to do that in but it’s not in our budget. Always feel free to change the things you want as you can fit them in your budget. You have great ideas! Trust yourself❣️ Thank you for making these You Tube videos they are informative and well done 😊👏👏
Oh my goodness the Corinthian columns on your house are stunning…
you just panned to show us the shake roof, and I got a peak. WOW!
I love reading everyone's input, it's so much fun and I know you will do a great job! I really enjoyed the recent yard tour. I can see why you loved this place for so long before your move!
If you do the stone on the porch you could carry that into the entry way.
hey girl- love the tour!😁 So many choices😉 Your house is not dark Cami- It is such a nice home and I know y'all will get looking the way you want. With a little bit of work at a time. Yes- no wallpaper and paint the walls- white or cream color. Or what about a country blue😀Can't wait to see what y'all come up with☺Side note- Your hair looks really good and glossy- 😁have you done something different? and did you end up eating that whole bag of granola😂 have a blessed week 🥰
How about, removing the varnish on the trim wood in the basement. What is outdated is the shine and the paint colors. In the kitchen maybe remove the upper cabinets and refinish the lower cabinets and change the handles. The word is overhang? Your house has a lot of potential and with patience, time and some LTC it will be gorgeous. You just need to make it yours just like you did your previous one. You will get there!
Can’t you make the ex laundry room the pantry/butlers and where you want to put the butler pantry put the laundry since is bigger?
Porch: wood look for sure as tile can look cold/modern feel
Roof: Metal… would it be noisy when it hails and rains? Could you ask neighbors or friends who have a metal roof how they like it?
Also, what product would reflect the heat more in summer, and Snow Load in winter is important, depending on how much snow you get…and of course, budget comes into play!
Interior Flooring/Main: I would do a LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) in a wood look…and continue it in main areas like foyer, living room, kitchen, bath… in the bedrooms, one can do carpet…and up the stairs/2nd floor…but in those public main areas, keeping it all the same prevents the rooms from looking Choppy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYhHIxmB-UY , her home reminds me of yours.
Love the home! My mind goes to colonel paint colors & trim with light pine floors thru out, Williamsburg VA, is what I envision. The pantry I see open shelves between the windows & upper walls then closed cabinets under windows or window seats with storage & lower cabinets along the solid walls with open shelves on top. Then use your drop table or an island in the middle. The laundry room I would do a stackable washer/dryer combo for master bedroom & kitchen laundry & yalls clothing. Work other w/d into upstairs for that laundry…no carrying laundry up & down. Just my thoughts, thank you for sharing.
Overhang
We moved into my in-laws 1970s home last year. It too had the deep roof overhangs and dark everything inside. Painted the walls all a warm white in a satin finish and the trim the same color in a gloss finish. The gloss helps bounce the light and it really brightens things up. In our kitchen removed upper cabinets in the sink area and put in bank of windows. Best thing ever!
That slate would look great on your porch!😂
Keep cozy. Leave separating dining wall.
Why not put a fridge in your butler’s pantry?
You have such wonderful ideas for your new home! I love how cozy it is and it will be fun to see the progression as you add your ideas to it. We live in an A frame home and I have embraced the cozy but add lighter tones where possible.
Lovely details in your cottage. I have a home that had wood trim, we tried to leave it but it was too dark and dated the house. If I were you I would paint all trim and leave the floors, beams, and brick as focal points. The wood trim takes away from the other details. Definitely go lighter on the upper kitchen cabinets with paint, it will make the Walnut stand out in the bottom cabinets and make the brick a focal point. Copen Blue SW is a fantastic color for old brick and wood beams. It is a historical color. You can make your house brighter with paint and it will make all of those gorgeous details stand out. To make more light you could take down a few trees around your house to let light in if the shade is too heavy, especially if they are trees that are not your favorite.
I like the stone on the porch.
What a project you have on your hands. I admire your courage as you take your time making this house you. It is so overwhelming at times, but it looks great so far. I love that this video was about your sharing your vision. When my husband and I bought our first home, I would always have my sister's and mom over to just walkthrough as we discussed the possibilities. Such a fun time to be a part of. Thank you always for sharing!
Love your cottage! We renovated my husbands grandparents house 4 years ago, it was fun but thankful we didn’t live there while doing it with 4 kids! Your doing great taking your time and working on it while living in the space. Keep up the good work!
Just a thought on the front porch you may want to think about if you haven’t yet.
Tile is really slippery outside when wet!
So sad someone said that about the dark house!
Sometimes you have to ignore rude comments people make. I know it’s hard.
The first thing I would do is change lightbulbs to brighter ones.
Cami, what cleaning supplies do you use??
Love your home!!
Hi, for the room where the light from outside doesn't penetrate, today as a matter of fact, I saw a huge light wood tone cabin with huge wall windows, stunning. I believe it would look beautiful since you like wood. It's a very light color more like Scandinavian tone they use in Scandinavia where the wood is very light. Also, you can build out like a glass porch to bring in the light and knock down the window wall.
I haven’t noticed the lighting in your videos being to dark. Whoever posted that was being unkind. I’m sure whatever you do will look lovely. You and hubs have great ideas and talent. I look forward to seeing your transformation over the years. It’s a cute house. I love the outside, breathtaking!
I think just painting the walls with a white paint would make a big difference and help you get a better vision for what you could do.