Quick ideas - pine cottage

10 years ago

Hi all!

This is another psychology question. I'm going to see a lake cottage on Saturday. Here's the thing. If I like it, and I think I will, I have to sell my parents-in-law on it. Here's what I know about what they like about cottages:

"Good water view" "Looks cottagey"
"Not too small" "Not dark and dumpy"

My MIL likes that traditional beachy cottage look - think Style At Home. Lots of white, maybe blue painted ceilings, some wood, maybe something like this:

Rustic Bedroom

Or this

Rustic Family Room by Essex Junction Photographers Susan Teare, Professional Photographer

FIL likes golf and big TVs.

So here's the interior of the cottage I'm going to see. Obviously the seller has never heard of staging. Fine by me, keeps the price down.

My question to you is -- what kinds of inspiration photos should I bring to my MIL and FIL to help them envision the place decorated more to their taste?

Also what type of process would you recommend for lighting up the place? For example, all that knotty pine is obviously poly'ed, so I'm assuming white washing is not an option. Just paint, at this point?

Thanks for any advice you can loft my way! I'm picturing myself like one of those people on HGTV with the computer simulation of how the home could look...except way less talented.

This post was edited by robotropolis on Tue, Feb 18, 14 at 11:41

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

suero
10 years ago
Virtual decluttering helps. If I had Photoshop, I could probably declutter the table and chairs, but even taking the pictures off the fridge, clearing the countertop and unifying the cabinets helps.
lazy_gardens
10 years ago
You could easily wipe a transparent light colored wash on the walls, right over the poly

For your dad, emphasize the low maintenance and big wall for the TV

For your mom ... the airy height and the easy to whitewash walls.
Related Discussions
quick gift ideas
Q
Comments (13)
And speaking of pine trees... tie a 12" string or weatherproof ribbon to the top of each pine cone; then roll the cone in peanut butter, followed by rolling [and pressing] in bird seed. If you are especially handy and have some scraps of thin plywood, cut them into stars, snowflakes, or any geometric pattern; drill a hole in one corner and use heavy twine or ribbon to make a loop hangar. Optional is to glue 2" lengths of Â¼" dowel for perches along the bottom. Pat a thick coat of peanut butter on each side of the plywood shape and then press birdseed and small or cut-up dried fruits to make a pattern. To make them look fancier, tie or staple netting (from onion or potato bags) over the seeded shape. Birdwatchers like these (and have you seen what the catalogs are charging???) My home-made is often potholders; either double-knot crochet or sewn from scraps -- a trick to use a teflon ironing-board cover cut into squares as a liner. Favorites include ones of denim or pinwale corduroy, trimmed with bias tape in bright colors. I've also made them using block-quilt patterns on one side. Which ever, make them 7Â½ to 8" square unless the recipient has exceptionally small hands. These tuck nicely around a couple jars of jelly in a small basket. A variety of home-made jams and jellies packed in Â½-cup jars avoids having to remember who likes which best. I do try to include one of the more unusual ones such as mint jelly, pear honey, yellow tomato jam, or strawberry-pineapple preserves, along with the usual quick'n'easy apple, grape, blueberry. Apple butter is another quick'n'easy which is popular; pack it with a jar of mix for pancakes or muffins.
...See More
pine trees and cottage garden?
Q
Comments (8)
Personally, I love the look of evergreens in the cottage garden so I recommend you leave them and try working with them. You just need to find plants that work in the same soil and temp conditions. Are they in a position in your garden where they can serve as a background planting? If so, you could shape some long, curving beds in front of them for your cottage shrubs, perennials and annuals. If they are not, then try shaping some large curving beds around them and plant away. It will be lovely! I don't have pines in my front garden but I do have three spruce. In the pic in the link below you can see one of them that we planted several years ago. They grow really well in my mild temp, high elevation area. There is one that you can barely see the top of on the other side of the fence that was our first holiday tree 16 yrs. ago. It is now huge and I wish I had planted it inside the fence. And I have a new one on the other side of the entrance arbor (not in this pic) which is surrounded by floribunda roses. If I could fit more in, I would. : ) Good luck and post pics of your progress! Diana Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Theme ideas for a cottage garden???
Q
Comments (24)
I have read RSBB and have a copy I am borrowing from the library. As far as pracitical advice with specific projects including a planting list RSBB is top. I am not that familiar with Sunflower Houses so cannot tell about it. You may actually want to request both books from the library and see how you react to them both. I often do that when debating which if any book to purchase to fill a specific need. My library has an online catalog where I can just look up the book and then request that it be sent to my local branch. Once in there I get an email or a phone call to let me know it is there so I can go pick it up. Very easy and efficient. I love being able to just cut and paste a book title into my browser and then request the book right then and there that everyone was discussing.
...See More
Photoshop help ... how to change wall color?
Q
Comments (2)
Sherwin Wms, Pittsburgh Paints and Ben Moore all have color visualizers that allow you to upload a photo and then change wall color....they all operate a little differently and some work better with some pictures than others. At least that's how I do it as I don't have photoshop.
...See More
robo (z6a)
Original Author
10 years ago
suero, call me an idiot but I never thought of actually photoshopping the exact same cottage! This is an excellent idea! I'm no photoshopper but I'll have to have a try. I do have access to the program. When I go down on Sat. I'll try to take better pictures! PS How did you do that without photoshop?

lazygardens, I like what I'm hearing about the light wash.
Jules
10 years ago
You can "whitewash" over poly. It's not a true whitewash, but it'll work. Search "whitewash before and after" on google and houzz for images. Also suggest slipcovered furniture and white, light colored or SS appliances to lighten and brighten up the space.

Here is a link that might be useful: [Painted Paneling[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/knotty-to-nice-painted-wood-paneling-lightens-a-rooms-look-stsetivw-vs~15039759)
peony4
10 years ago
Agree with above--slips, lighter appliances and whitewashing at least the walls would definitely push this in the beach cottage direction. What a great foundation to work with!

And, yes, emphasis the big wall for a flat screen. Great suggestion, lazygardens. :-)
peegee
10 years ago
Is there a downstairs bedroom for them - maybe if not now but later- in case needed -to a lot of people that would be a real selling point more important than decor -
robo (z6a)
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks so much for the ideas! I think photoshop is QUICKLY going to become my friend on this project!! If I could leave the pine ceilings and paint just the walls, my shoulders sure would thank me. I'll have to see how it looks.

peegee - the master suite and laundry are on the first floor, I agree that is a huge selling point. Although, their Canada house has no bedrooms and no possibility for such on the first floor. So it seems they aren't as concerned with that as some of us would be. Their Florida house is completely accessible. I sure wish I were there right now!

There

Here

This post was edited by robotropolis on Tue, Feb 18, 14 at 15:10
Jules
10 years ago
robo, I just saw this blog post and thought of this thread. Check out the B&A.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pine Cottage B&A
robo (z6a)
Original Author
10 years ago
I LOVE IT! Thanks jujubean!

We went to see the cottage and it was freakin' gorgeous. I really hope my inlaws think so. I actually didn't mind the pine when I was in there -- one of those places that feels nicer than it looks in photos. But if inlaws wanted to paint I'd fire up the sprayer.

Main room

Loft bedroom
lavender_lass
10 years ago
The big TV would look good, where the piano is in the picture. You could easily paint the walls that are orange...and that might be enough. Otherwise, white washing would lighten things up, too. At least it's a nice 'sandy' tone, which would look great with blues and greens. Have fun! :)
susiemw
10 years ago
What did the in-laws think?

Susan
robo (z6a)
Original Author
10 years ago
Waiting, waiting. Fil is in tax season so I don't think he wants to think about it right now.
mtnrdredux_gw
10 years ago
OMG that would drive me crazy. Hope it goes well!
robo (z6a)
Original Author
10 years ago
I try to be polite, especially since they're not my parents :) no sense shooting the gift horse in the foot!
robo (z6a)
Original Author
9 years ago
Update: thanks for your help! They didn't like the cottage so we're back to square one. I think they're thinking of building now. Visions of summer at the lake are fading...

Quick ideas - pine cottage

Comments (15)

suero

lazy_gardens

Related Discussions

robo (z6a)
Original Author

Jules

peony4

peegee

robo (z6a)
Original Author

Jules

robo (z6a)
Original Author

lavender_lass

susiemw

robo (z6a)
Original Author

mtnrdredux_gw

robo (z6a)
Original Author

robo (z6a)
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Quick ideas - pine cottage

Comments (15)

Related Discussions

robo (z6a)Original Author

robo (z6a)Original Author

robo (z6a)Original Author

robo (z6a)Original Author

robo (z6a)Original Author

robo (z6a)Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

robo (z6a)
Original Author

robo (z6a)
Original Author

robo (z6a)
Original Author

robo (z6a)
Original Author

robo (z6a)
Original Author

robo (z6a)
Original Author