BC Cottage Kitchen Before and After

When I passed on buying the cottage in September 2012 the kitchen looked like this.

Now it looks like this.

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

BC Cottage Landscaping Before and After

I looked at purchasing my British Columbia cottage in September 2012 and decided not to purchase it because of the following:

• A large tree blocked the view of the Pacific Ocean and North Shore Mountains…
• The inside was dated…and needed a new kitchen, etc.
• It needed work and I wasn't up for taking on the challenge of fixing it up because I live in Portland Oregon and the cottage is in Gibsons, BC. It takes me 5.5 hours to drive to a ferry and then take a 40 minute ride to get to the area where the cottage is located. I don't mind all drive because it is worth it…however I wouldn't have been able to go as often as overseeing the work would have required.

Someone else bought the place in October 2012 and fixed almost everything and even things I wouldn't have done…

• Took out the tree that blocked the view…
• Put in a new driveway...
• Put in new landscaping...
• Painted all the paneling white...
• Put in a new kitchen...
• Took out the wall between the bedroom and living room so you have an ocean view from bed...

And then sold it to me on October 1, 2013.

Over the next few posts I will be revealing the before (what it looked like in October 2012) and the after pics.

The landscaping before…sorry about the quality...the pictures are screen shots off google.

View blocked by a tree…note the driveway.

Here is the tree that was blocking the view. Note the steps to the left of the tree.

The pictures below show the landscaping the sellers put in between October 2012 and October 2013. They did a huge amount of work and put in a lot of money…more than I would have invested. I have a 500 square foot cottage and a 100 square foot bunk house/studio.

Welcome to Hopkins Cottage!

The tree blocking the view is gone…new stairs and driveway.

The Bunk House/Studio is the small building off to the right.

Off street parking is a big deal…I am lucky that I can fit 2 cars in my driveway

Pictures of the view now that the tree is gone…

View of the Pacific Ocean and islands.

View of Keats Island.

View of the ocean,  ferry and mountains from bed.

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Winter Wonderland at the BC Cottage

Happy Holidays!

I have been so busy working on the dream cottage that I haven't had time to blog about it. I am in British Columbia at my cottage until January 5th…busy organizing, decorating, rearranging and cleaning, and even squeezing in time to go out dancing. Loving every minute of my time here.

I plan to rent out the cottage on a weekly basis here and there through out the year…so I have been trying to think from a vacation renter perspective…

What do guests expect?
What do guests want?
What do guests need?
What will make the best experience for guests so they come back and tell all their friends?
What would be unexpected?

When I got to the cottage on Friday December 20th it had just snowed about 6 inches. Normally it only snows in the surrounding hills and mountains. What a beautiful site…it made me feel as if I was back in Minnesota. It was that wet heavy snow that drapes the trees. And of course my four-legged girl loved it. Since it normally doesn't snow I didn't have a snow shovel on hand…made due by using a gardening shovel. 

Over the next few weeks you will get to see the interior transformation. There is one change that has made a dramatic difference.

Winter Wonderland

Life is GOOD!

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

BC Cottage

The last time I truly blogged was 2010 and then I made one feeble attempt to start again in January 2013. The challenge in getting back to blogging was I didn't have anything to blog about...until NOW!

And WOW I realize how boring my blog looks, especially compared to all the bloggers I started out with back in 2008.  I guess a new look will have to be next on the blogging to-do list.

Anyway…on to the reason I am back to blogging. I bought a small cottage in British Columbia…a cottage that is only accessible via the ferry or sea plane. And when I say small…500 square feet. Over the next few weeks and months I will show you the inside and share my story.

BC Dream Cottage

Oh, and it has a 100 square foot bunk house/studio…whatever one wishes to do with it. For me it will ultimately be a bunk house. It needs to be painted and decorated…however that won't happen until late Spring or early Summer.

The Bunk House/Studio

A view of the beach, ocean and mountains…this photo was taken from a friend's house. My view is good…not this grand…however I can walk 20 yards to the pier and see it all.

Why I like it here!

A dream come true!

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Getting back on the horse (blog)

Friends by Anita Lindblom

When you haven't blogged in over two years...how do you get back into blogging?

First you spend a year regretting that you ever stopped blogging...then you spend the next year trying to figure out how to start blogging again...especially given that you have changed jobs, moved cities, sold a house and had the sellers back out on the house you wanted to buy -- the one that you packed your moving truck thinking you were moving into.

I have been told you jump back in just like you jumped in way back before blogging was as big as it is today...(1) write, (2) edit a lot, (3) hit publish! 

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle 

Behind the scenes with the costume designer for Desperate Housewives - Part II

If you watch Desperate Housewives you won't want to miss reading Part II of my interview with Desperate Housewives' costume designer Cate Adair -- check out my Thrifty Shopping article. Click here to read Part I.

Read my interview with Desperate Housewives' costume designer

If you watch Desperate Housewives you won't want to miss reading Part I of my interview with costume designer Cate Adair -- check out my Thrifty Shopping article. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Cate...she was engaging and down to earth. I wondered what she would be like given that she works with celebrities...I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to chat and how open she was about sharing personal stories.

Click here to see if Cate will be vising your city as part of her "Celebrate Personal Style" tour.

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Meet Desperate Housewives stylist Cate Adair

Chamilia^®, the fashion-forward fine beaded jewelry company, announces the launch of their ‘Celebrate Personal Style’ tour with celebrity stylist, Cate Adair. The brand is hosting jewelry parties in five cities across the country where attendees can meet the celebrity stylist and emmy-nominated costume designer for the hit ABC show, Desperate Housewives, and get tips on how they can express their unique and personal style with Chamilia’s customizable jewelry collections.

“These special events are an inviting and fun way for women to celebrate their individual style by pairing beautiful and fashionable beads in ways that reflect who they are and what they love,” said Cate Adair, celebrity stylist and costume designer. “I love to accessorize my clients by incorporating their personal style into every look and Chamilia jewelry allows women everywhere to do the same.” 

Party attendees will have an exclusive opportunity to create personalized bracelets, necklaces and earrings from hundreds of intricately designed beads made out of fine materials. Look books will also be given to guests featuring Chamilia’s customizable jewelry, designed by Killian Rieder, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and former Ralph Lauren designer, who has a long pedigree in the fashion and design industry. 

‘Celebrate Personal Style’ events on the following dates and times:

Minneapolis                                                               Atlanta                                               

October 20, 2010                                                        October 29, 2010

Aurora Jewelers                                                          Barron’s Fine Jewelry

11995 Singletree Lane                                                1850 Scenic Hwy, Suite 100

Eden Prairie, MN 55344                                             Snellville, GA 30078  

2 p.m. - 7 p.m (CDT)                                                  5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (EDT)

Los Angeles                                                              Houston

November 6, 2010                                                      December 3, 2010

Bungalow Bay                                                             The Magnolia House

6457 E. Pacific Highway                                            6146 Highway 6

Long Beach, CA 90803                                              Missouri City, TX 77459

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (PDT)                                               3 p.m. - 7 p.m. (CDT)

Miami                                                                          Miami

December 9, 2010                                                      December 9, 2010

Snow’s Jewelers                                                         Five Star Jewelers

6837 Main Street                                                        16271 SW 88^th Street

Miami Lakes, FL 33014                                              Miami, FL

5 p.m. - 8 p.m. (EDT)                                                 12 p.m - 6 p.m (EDT)

I am looking forward to meeting Cate on October 20th.

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Do you watch Desperate Housewives???

I am a fan of Desperate Housewives. Get this...next week I get an opportunity to meet (in person) and interview Cate Adair. Who is Cate Adair you ask?

Cate Adair is the Emmy-nominated Costume Designer for the smash hit series, Desperate Housewives. Her design work for this global sensation is credited with influencing fashion trends in 203 countries. Millions of eager viewers tune in weekly to see what the ladies of Wisteria Lane are doing - and more specifically, to see exactly what they’re wearing while they’re doing it!

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Posh Blog Makeover Giveaway worth $150!

Pink and Polka Dot told me her Fairy Blog Mother, Sweet Faerie Designs, is having a Blog Makeover Giveaway! Not just any makeover, but a Posh Blog Makeover worth $150. It includes:

Posh makeover:

*Custom header design

*Color matching template

*Coordinating Button promoting your site (including HTML box)

*Custom horizontal Menu Bar

*Cute (custom) Font for titles

*Favicon

*Installation of design (2 or 3 columns)

Click quickly as the giveaway ends at midnight Friday 10/15. 

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Art + Architecture, JUNKMARKET Style Sale

I missed the Art + Architecture and JUNKMARKET Style Spring Gala, but I am not going to miss the Fall Gala. Check out my examiner.com article for details.

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

'VERT' a new occasional market...

It's been so long since I blogged that I almost forgot how to sign on to my blog. Yup, it has been since February that I last blogged.

It took something fun for me to get back to blogging. What you are wondering? A new occasional market called 'VERT' that I want to share with you.

This is what I bought at 'VERT'' today. Can't wait to find the perfect place in my home for her.

Want to know more about 'VERT' and see what all they have on hand, check out my Thrifty Shopping article on examiner.com.

Thanks for stopping by... Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Flea Market Style Magazine – Part II

The Flea Market Style magazine cover made its debut today, along with part II of my interview with Linda MacDonald, Editor-at-Large. If you missed part I of the interview click here.

Congratulations FMS team!

Be still my heart. I am off to scout the neighborhood for a copy…stay out of my way!

 

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Flea Market Style magazine – part I
• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Flea Market Style magazine launching soon – Part I

Check out part I of my interview with Linda MacDonald, Editor-at-Large of Flea Market Style magazine.

If you are in love with the world of junk as I, you are deep in training so you can run, jump, skip…whatever it takes to get your hands on the Flea Market Style magazine when it hits newsstands and book stores.

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Re-gifting on purpose…

My neighbors Bill and Linda gave me a bottle of wine in this incredibly creative gift bag. It is made from old sails by Sea Bags. The gift bags are designed to be re-gifted and to circle the globe. You list the recipient's name and location along with the date the gift was given. I love the bag and the idea of re-gifting and seeing it going onto others…but I am also torn about re-gifting as I love it.

Here is a little about Sea Bags.

Since 1999 we have been making custom tote bags out of recycled sails. Every bag we make has sailed around the world before it even leaves our shop, and we like that.

Each bag is designed and inspired from the sail itself and all vary in texture and fabric. All are durable, water resistant and washing-machine friendly.

Most of our bags (like most sails) are white or off white Dacron with a colored design on them but we use all sails from canvas to Kevlar.

Each Sea Bag has rope handles that are hand-spliced in our shop in Portland, Maine - the splice is a nautical skill and what differentiates a Sea Bag.

Sea Bags totes come in small, medium and large and a variety of designs and colors

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Murphy bed…

This beautiful Murphy bed would have been mine if it wasn’t in Lolo’s consignment shop in St. Helena, California. I wish we could have seen the inside of the Murphy bed cabinet.

 

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Unique letter placement…

I have seen letters used in creative ways… but I haven’t ever seen one on a chimney…what a clever idea.

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

If Santa doesn’t stop by…

…you’ll know why.

Happy Holidays!

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee

Recycling cans into art…

I love the creativeness of people and wonder why I didn’t think of that. Spotted these ‘canned’ fish at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Minnetonka, MN.

Don’t you wonder how many cans and how long it took to make it?

Check out my Thrifty Shopping articles on examiner.com.

• Inspirational decorating with thrifty finds
• Repurposing floral frogs
• Affordable watercolor art and frames
• Classic black and white purses
• 10 Chalkboard paint ideas
• Five Free Cell Phone Features
• Organizing with jars – Part I
• Organizing with jars – Part II
• Organizing with jars – Part III
• Dishes add color and whimsy to the garden
• Wallpaper Art
• Transforming a Goodwill table
• Repurposing flashcards
• Top 10 ideas for recycling greeting cards
• Hoops and fabric equal art
• Decorating with drop cloth curtains
• 10 uses for orphan sheets
• Organizing with Gladware
• Round robin clothing exchange and more

Thanks for stopping by Cottage Lifestyle and examiner.com.
Renee