Today I am going to start strolling down memory lane, and begin to show you guys the cottage I renovated on Cape Cod when I was younger and foolish.
Decorating Magazine 1990
There's a split down the picture because this is scanned from a magazine, and it was a two page spread.
I had a fantasy that it would be marvelous to have a little vacation home by the ocean.
On Cape Cod.
I was out of my friggin' mind!!!!!
Sooooooo.......
I started looking around the cape.
Of course it's easy to get to the Cape in the winter, when I was looking at real estate.
Try getting there in the summer, when I actually used this house.
Your whole life becomes scheduled around trying to beat the traffic.
anyway.......
this is what I first saw when I found my little cottage.
It was part of a group of 8 cottages that had been made into a co-op, so the land was owned by everybody, and the individual units had a 99 year lease.
It's similar to a condo, only different.........
I know, I know.....
OY!!!!!
So....
here's a side by side of the before and after, just to show you much I changed
this piece of crap sad little cottage.
It was right, smack on the ocean.....just sitting at the top of the sea wall.....nothing between the view and the house!!!!!!!
Which meant, nothing between the hurricanes and the house.
I was young.
I was idealistic.
I was stoopid.
I fantasized about having my morning coffee looking over the ocean.
AND I DID IT!!!!!
Look!!!!!
There I am doing it!!!!!
Over the next week or so, I will show you the renovation and
how I did what I did and why I did it.....
So, let me just give you a little peak of the inside, because I really don't have time today to write a long post.
Decorating magazine 1990
I need to go for my walk, so my body doesn't fall apart any more than it already has.
And don't forget I'm working my behind off trying to finish the ottomans for Miriam's living room before her baby shower.
Soooooo.....
on that note.....
Latah, Gatah
32 comments:
Oh I love this little Cape Cod home! So adorable....Especially love the shaker shingles.....
I had to look twice at the caption under the picture that said 1990. That was 24 years ago .That room is timeless. It would be as comfortable and lovely and livable today as it was back then. If it's not broke, don't fix it.
I love how homey and cosy you made it look inside. Perfect for winter and summer. I noticed you must have changed the roof line on that home.. that must have been a massive job? Look forward to seeing how you transformed it! take care, Maryann
I totally remember this feature. I have the magazine! And needless to say I love it! Eclecticallydesigned.com
I loved that sweet little cottage so much that I ripped out the pages of that magazine and filed it away never to find it again- until I saw your cottage featured in your book! I was thrilled.
My sister and brother–in-law sold their Ocean City, NJ beach house, in the spring of the year that Hurricane Sandy devastated the shore, they were very lucky they sold it in time, because the entire first floor was flooded, but at least the house stood.
I am giddy with delight!!!! This is one of my all time favs of yours!!! More, more please, every room!!!!
I am giddy with delight!!!! This is one of my all time favs of yours!!! More, more please, every room!!!!
Oh my goodness...I love it!!! I can't wait to see more!!!
I remember this spread in the magazine! I loved your cottage and wished it was mine!
Cute cottage! I'm anxious to see more! ;)
oh, this is going to be fun. Beautiful room! It is still pretty and lovely after all these years.
Mary
From Virginia
It's my dream to have a little cottage by the sea......yours is absolutely perfect......I can't wait for more pictures!!!!
Pages from that magazine spread are still in my inspiration file. Loved the ideas then and love them now. I so look forward to seeing your posts on this cottage!
My God! you're YOUNG!!!!!! And what talent! Think I could live there full time. Just gorgeous!
jane in tx
This is precisely why I love this/your style so much. It's still relevant decades later. Not to be cranky but I'm not sure lime green hexagon wall paper will still feel fresh 24 years later. I want to replicate this room.
Thanks for the constant inspiration.
Penny Tucker
San Jose CA
my heart just skipped a beat. love it! gail
Oh my! You look like you're 10 years old! You were a child decorating prodigy.
This is going to be a fun walk down memory lane. My parents had a summer home on the Cape and I used to go down most weekends to visit. I got the drive time down pretty good. Early Friday morning down and early Sunday morning back were pretty easy most times. They were in Bourne, so I didn't have to deal with Rt. 6, just the Bourne Bridge. I am loving the teaser pics of your cottage. Was this before, or after your NH cabin? I'm betting before. Then you wised up and headed north for your getaways? Best, Beth C.
Would you believe I still have this magazine layout in a "favorites" binder?!? I LOVED that little cottage!
I do too. I ripped that cottage article out of the magazine way back when. It's still amazing! I can't wait to see the rest and hear how you renovated that darling cottage when you were young and foolish!
So beautiful and cozy...made me smile :)
We stayed at the Cape for several weeks each summer!! Beautiful place, but I am certainly glad not to be there today!!
I have these pictures from the magazine.....That room is absolutely stunning and always will be one of my favorites!
Blessings,
J
...oh how i love it!...inside and out...i want 1990 to come back...blessings laney
Betsy, this was my inspiration photo years ago. II immediately went out and bought the same glasses, wall plate holders, floral pillows, etc. trying to recreate this vision. I still love it!
How could you leave this place? What is WRONG with you?
xo
Andie
How could you sell it????? I don't care how much traffic - that is one fabulous cottage. Can't wait to see more.
I can't wait to see more. I just spent the last 2.5 years of my life tearing down an old shack on Tybee Island and rebuilding a dream cottage. All by myself of course - I was idealistic and stupid as well. I thought I was following a dream. And it's not that it hasn't been fun -- in some ways it has been. But.... I wonder about all of the vacations I could have taken if I had not done this. lol
I remember reading that magazine and just loving the cottage that I now know was yours. I still think it is one of the prettiest ever! Thanks for sharing it with us all these years.
That cottage is a dream come true. I have always want that cottage in that location decorated just the way you decorate. What could possibly not be entirely wonderful? What? Ann
Now THIS is the Betsy we LOVE!!! xoxoxoxoxox
Okay...I live just a few miles from the beach and this is the look I want, soooo I need for you to come here and replicate it, pretty please? I can't pay you but I will make awesome peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in return. Such a deal.
Oh it looks so cute. Can't wait to see the pictures.
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