MY BIG BEAR LAKE COTTAGE RENOVATION – PART 5
Welcome to “My Big Bear Lake Cottage Renovation – Part 5”.
When we last visited the “The Bird’s Nest” I had just finished telling you about the insulation and drywall going in.
So, it was at this point that I had to start making some decisions about both the interior and exterior paint colors. It was obvious that the eye-popping canary yellow exterior simply had to go……
and the dirty off-white of the interior would soon be a thing of the past.
So, for inspiration, I took a drive around the neighborhood and shot a few photos of some cabins that had paint colors I thought were pleasing.
Then I went to the paint store. I find that the best way to choose a paint color is to buy a bunch of samples in the colors I think look good on paint chips. This way I can test the actual color on location. I came back with a dozen or so colors and started painting. I needed a trim color that would compliment my new windows and another lighter color for the body of the cottage.
And this is what I ended up deciding on.
Now it was time to decide on the interior paint colors. I had already chosen the Canterra stone for the countertops……
the tile for the kitchen and bath……
the flooring……
the fabric for the couch and ottoman……
and the leather for the chairs and counter stools. By then I had also purchased some area rugs.
So, my interior paint color had to blend nicely with all of these things. I finally narrowed it down to two colors: an off-white and a taupe. Mind you, it’s very difficult for paint colors to translate in photos, but this will give you an idea of what I selected.
Would it be the light color……
or would it be the darker color????? Decisions, decisions!
Well, I settled on the darker color and in the long run was pleased with the choice. In the meantime, after ripping a wall out in the back bedroom……
I discovered that at one time the exterior of the house had been blue. I decided that I really liked the color, and, as a testament to the original cottage, I would use that blue as my interior accent color.
When I visited the Home Depot, I discovered that in their Martha Stewart line of paints they actually had a color that matched my blue perfectly. It was from the Potters Clay collection and was called “Agave”. I tend to use The Home Depot for my paint needs. Their Behr brand of paint has always worked well for me. I buy their top of the line product called Behr Premium Plus. For interiors, I like to use the Eggshell enamel that has a flat, matt finish but still has a nice, soft sheen. I also like that they give you a chip with the particulars of the paint you select to keep for your records. This way, if you finish off the paint and throw the can away, you still have a record of your color for future reference.
Finally, there was one last decision to be made: what color to stain the interior wood trim and doors. My painter, Nacho, is an expert at mixing custom stain colors, so he set about concocting a stain to match the beautiful patina of my newly exposed beams.
With decisions made about paint & stain colors, my favorite painter, Nacho, got to work, starting with the shed first. Few houses in Big Bear have garages, but they all have sheds. Since my cottage is so small, the shed is positively necessary. Since The Bird’s Nest is now a full-time vacation rental, the shed is where we keep all the supplies we need to clean and stock the cottage for our guests.
Nacho then started on the cottage, taking it from this……
to this!
But, as you can see, we are not done yet. Stay tuned for more cottage renovation-reminiscing in Part 6 of my series, coming soon!
The Bird’s Nest is featured on Sunset.com in their Small Space Big Dreams Contest! Please visit Sunset Magazine’s website here and give The Bird’s Nest a 5 Star rating!
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RESOURCES
Restoration Hardware
Belgian Slope Arm Slipcovered Sofa – Fabric is from the “Perennials” outdoor fabrics and is the Mocha Textured Linen Weave
Professor’s Leather Chair in Vintage Cigar
Home Depot
Tile – Toscano Mosaic Travertine Wall & Floor Tile
Behr Premium Plus Paint – custom colors.
Haus of Floor Decor – Big Bear Lake California – 909 – 866-8803
Mannington Laminate Flooring – Restoration Collection in Arcadia Bark
Area rug no longer available
Canterra Stone Countertops
By my company, The Hill Ironworks. Contact me at info@AfterOrangeCounty.com
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.
