I noticed on Saturday afternoon that my favorite beach cottage in the neighborhood had made it to market. Exciting, because it’s totally within budget. Sad, because I’m nowhere close to being able to buy again. Still, Sunday happened to be it’s first open house so we stopped in to walk around. I only had my iPhone, so the photos don’t do it justice, but it was lovely.
It’s on a small lot. Even smaller than mine, but loaded with mature gardens and oozing curb appeal. Porches. Bright, light blue cedar shingles. Original storm windows all around. And paned diamond glass that makes my heart thump.
The front porch opened through french doors into a living room with a pretty mantle. We loved how all of the doors and storm windows were propped; so welcoming, breezy, and cozy.
From the same place I stood to take that last photo, I could 180-it and snap a picture of the large dining area. No pictures of the kitchen (which was small and charming, although not modern whatsoever), but it’s off through a doorway to the left.
Love the ceiling details in the dining room. Love the natural light. And love the built in hot-water heating baseboards that flowed from room-to-room. It was like nothing I had actually seen in person before.
Pete investigated the basement Mike Holmes-style while I checked out the three upstairs bedrooms and bathroom. Question: Do they actually make and install wall-mounted toilets? Or would someone be stuck with this mauve station until the bathroom was gutted and replumbed? Is it secure, as in, could I stand on it to fix the light bulb? I have lots of questions. Including, who would buy a mauve toilet, even in 1960? 1960’s a total guess, by the way. Wall-mounted seems futuristic to me.
I should mention that the ceiling height was easily 9-10 feet on both the first and second floors, which was impressive in and of itself. At the top of the stairs, antique lighting and built-in storage complimented original trim and doors.
Better yet, which you can start to see over my shoulder, they have shared access to an enclosed porch through more matchy-matchy french doors. The porch itself was nicely staged with a sweet woven carpet, table, and hanging baskets. I’m already calculating how much it would cost to add this to my house.
As far as I’m concerned, I’m satisfied. It’s always great to see the inside of a home you admire from afar.
As I said, it’s totally affordable compared to most other homes in the area. Like… <$130K. According to the realtor, it has actually been vacant for most of the last 3 years with the owners only fixing it up and using it as a when-we-feel-like-it summer house. I actually had noted on my dog walks that the same bottle of Windex sat on a windowsill for 1.5 years, so I’m sure it was mostly unoccupied, which is a shame for such a lovely home. That I would have bought if they decided to sell 2.5 years earlier. Damn it.
If you want to move to Rochester, or move within Rochester, I’ll send you more listing information. Just drop a comment on the post or send an email to emily@merrypad.com
5 Comments
LOVE!
Right? Nothin’ but love.
It’s so cute!
I love wall-mounted toilet. Very easy cleaning
I know that this is an old post, but I love wall mounted toilets, as well. Our small cottage home in Northern Michigan has the same toilet, but in white. It was a 2 bedroom, 1 bath one and a quarter story starter home built in the 30’s. Someone turned the small attic space into 2 bedrooms and a 2 piece bathroom. A wall mounted toilet was added, because the plumbing would have gone into the dining room with a standard set up. I found it distastefully odd at first. But, it didn’t take long to realize with 2 boys, one a toddler and one 3 yrs older to learn that it was a Godsend to clean the floors beneath it. Now, we will be remodeling and I hope to find a more energy efficient wall mount. I love the colors of vintage fixtures from that time period and appreciate those who try to work within the style and time period of their home.