Renovate

20 Nov / 2013
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MY BIG BEAR COTTAGE RENOVATION – PART 1

MY BIG BEAR COTTAGE RENOVATION – PART 1

A little over one year ago my husband and I bought a cottage in the nearby City of Big Bear Lake.  It was a real fixer!  

Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

I can just hear you saying, “What was she thinking???!!!”

Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

“I know, I know, the kitchen really sucked!”  “And the fake-wood linoleum flooring was a disaster!”

Living Room Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

“And yes, those curtains just had to go along with the filthy carpeting, the plywood paneling and corroded ceiling tiles!”

Shower, Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

“I knew the shower was a plastic insert and that the ceiling had fallen in but I also knew it had potential…………………..

Shower Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

………………………. despite the fact that the fake tile floor was a moldy mess!”

Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

I knew I could improve on this unsightly pedestal sink……………………

Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

And surely we could find a nicer toilet!

Bedroom Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

I was also confident I could get rid of the mold and cobwebs in the bedroom along with the god-awful ceiling fan!

Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

“So what if the windows were leaking, they could be replaced!”

Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

“And just because the walls weren’t insulated in a ski resort with average winter temperatures below freezing surely wasn’t any reason not to buy the place, was it?”  “We could just tear the walls down and put in new insulation, couldn’t we?”

Pre-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

“But, who paints a house bright yellow?”  “I decided that was nothing a little fresh paint couldn’t fix!”  So, what was I thinking when I first went to see this house?

I was thinking ……………………

  1. That it could be an ideal showcase for my hand forged wrought iron work.
  2. That once renovated it would realize significant appreciation in value.
  3. That it would have great vacation rental potential in a busy ski resort
  4. That I needed a project.
  5. That we needed a place to stay when our son was practicing with his ski racing team.

Ski Racing Bear Mountain, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

So, WE BOUGHT IT!!!

Over the course of the next few posts I will share with you the renovation project that transformed this frog into a prince.  But for now I’ll leave you with a little teaser……………..

This is what our Big Bear Lake cottage looks like today!

Post-Renovation, #AfterOrangeCounty.com, #VRBO.com/452020, #Big Bear Lake

It has been a labor of love and now that it is complete we are sharing it with others.

You can preview the finished interior and learn how you can rent our cottage by visiting www.VRBO.com/45202

Plus, all of the hand-forged wrought iron used to furnish the cabin can also be yours.  If you like what you see contact me here for information and pricing.

Do you too have a Renovation tale to tell?  

So there you have it: MY BIG BEAR COTTAGE RENOVATION – PART 1

All opinions expressed in this post are my own.   All photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission.

Tags: After Orange County, Bear Mountain, Big Bear Lake, California, California Mountains, Decorating, Home Renovation, Snow Summit Ski Resort, VRBO.com/452020

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