HOW I TURNED AN UGLY DUCKLING INTO A SWAN
Hello!! Today I thought I’d give you one last look at The House On Victoria Court, the exterior this time, and show you how I turned a ugly duckling into a swan. Let me start by showing you what the cottage looked like when we purchased it.
I recognized the character this 1930’s “charmer” had, but the exterior had not been touched in decades. The wood siding needed a good sanding, stain and sealant to prevent it from deteriorating further, and to give it a facelift.
The previous owners had curiously added a new deck to only one half of the front of the house. They also left the new wood raw and exposed. Left that way it would soon begin to succumb to the elements, and thus, it too was in desperate need of a sealant. And it also needed another half!
So I put my talented carpenter to work adding another side to the front porch.
Since this renovation took place during the winter months I also realized that the front door needed some protection from the elements. When I arrived at the house while it was raining or snowing, I found myself getting extra wet trying to enter the home, as there was a great deal of runoff that poured down off the roof. So I also designed a small eyebrow over the front door.
It not only provides protection from the elements, it also adds interest and a design element to the exterior of the home. We used galvanized pipe to support the eyebrow and corrugated metal on top. To compliment the use of metals, I added a new galvanized barn light fixture to illuminate the entry. It was a bargain at Home Depot for $29.97 but looks awesome!
In order to restore and repair the old wood siding we set to work sanding every inch of the exterior. It took 2 guys over a week, often working precariously on high ladders (which made me very nervous!) to complete the job.
I also designed, and my carpenter made, a wooden bench and some simple, cleaned-lined chairs for front porch seating.
You may recall that I sell my fixer-uppers turn-key. They are completely furnished inside and out so that the buyers need only bring their toothbrush after purchasing their mountain retreat. So the stylish seating will stay with this house.
In the process of the renovation I also uncovered some very old bricks. I decided to use them on the side of the house, creating a little outdoor terrace , complete with an apple tree.
Once the prep work was completed we began the process of staining the cottage. I used a Olympic Elite Stain & Sealer in One in a weathered gray color that I had Home Depot tint for me. I wanted to use a stain rather than a paint on the wood siding so that some of the beautiful vintage wood would shine through.
I decided to paint all of the trim in Behr Premium Plus Ultra Pure White, a nice contrast with the gray stain on the body of the home. And I added new satin nickel metal house numbers that I just love for their clean lines and inexpensive price-tag from Target. They look black in the photo but they actually match the galvanized metal perfectly.
To brighten things up we painted the front porch and railing white, and painted the furniture in the contrasting gray.
I also added a Market Umbrella, now on sale at World Market for an absolute steal! Get the frame & pole for $29.99 and the canopy for $24.99.
I am now very proud to show you the beautiful newly restored and completed House On Victoria Court.
So for comparative purposes, once again here is The Before…
and The After…
What do you think of the transformation??
If you or someone you know are looking for the quintessential mountain cabin in beautiful Lake Arrowhead, California, this home is now on the market. Please contact my agent, Lynne Wilson to view the home: 909-337-2080
And, in case you missed them you can see more of The House On Victoria Court here:
- The House On Victoria Court
- The House On Victoria Court Kitchen Reno
- The House On Victoria Court Living Room
- The House On Victoria Court Bunk Room
- The House On Victoria Court Master Bedroom Renovation
- The House On Victoria Court Guest Room
- The House On Victoria Court Bathroom
So there you have it: HOW I TURNED AN UGLY DUCKLING INTO A SWAN
Thanks so much for dropping in!
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All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission. This post contains affiliate links which help to make this blog possible. Thanks for your support!
