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    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle.

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Touring A Beach Cottage

September 1, 2011

Robbie’s beach house is a top pick in my book, and I think you’ll like it too.

She was my boss when I was digging trenches in the world of advertising, and in addition to scheming about marketing strategies, we spent a lot of time on and off the clock fantasizing about architecture, home improvement, classic decor, and her never-ending list of projects.

Her home renovation is definitely one for the books. As in, the swoon-worthy coffee table books or scandalous centerfold of Coastal Living. My amateur photographs don’t do it justice, but I thought a fun before-and-after using scanned photos from her renovation archives might make for an inspiring story.

I’ll start with the front entryway.

When it comes to beach front property, the front of the house faces the water, not the road. When she and her husband Michael bought the home in 2004, it was deemed “the ugly house on the block”… and on the beach.

Before: View from the beach.

Although ugly or not, she saw its potential. And a killer view.

Before: View from the porch overlooking the beach.

A dated facade, small deck, un-landscaped yard, and wooded lot, she gradually updated the exterior and made monumental changes, which included adding the most grand, graceful, and elegant deck of any cottage on that stretch of Lake Ontario.

I should note early on that none of this renovation was architect-driven; it was developed solely by Robbie’s own sense of design and form. And that is amazing.

After: View from the beach.

While the scraggly trees and bushes were cleared early on in their ownership, the formal landscaping project only occurred this summer, which should be ever-reassuring to you if you think all projects need to be done immediately. Pacing your home improvement to-do’s allow the true vision to unfold and morph over time. What they’ve done so far is incredible.

After: View of the beach and freshly landscaped backyard from the deck.

Entering the house is enough to stop you in your tracks, but it wouldn’t have if you had visited 5 years ago.

As I mentioned, Robbie and Michael added a sizable addition onto the back of their house, extending the living space from being modest and confined, to expansive and bright. The living and dining area is the best example of open-concept that I’ve seen in person. Ever.

Front entryway opens into the living room.

I didn’t photograph it (because I forgot) but through the paned doors on the right is the media room. If you can envision it, it’s fully-finished in dark brown stained paneling, lined with shelving, and would be the coziest place to sit with hot chocolate and watch a movie at night. Plus, the big bonus is that it keeps the electronics, always borderline unsightly, tucked away from sight.

Fun fact #1: The boards you see in the peak of the entryway were from the original deck. Robbie’s as resourceful as they come, and I’m forever tapping her brain for tips on restoring salvage.

To stand in the doorway next to the mirror you see in that previous picture, the room is most easily visible in full. The oceanic palette of whites, grays, and browns is tranquil, cozy, and transports you to a perfect seaside Cape Cod retreat. The hardwoods were only refinished and stained last year – the grand finale to a cottage long in the making.

Front entryway opens into the living room. Taken from the back of the house, facing back towards the water.

They tell me that there were too many walls in place to be able to provide a clear “before” image of their living space, but the location of the supporting beam should help you understand where old walls stood. A few photos taken of the living room during the expansion construction help to show the extent of the addition.

And that white Boxer pup is Bruno. He was Cody’s beach buddy who’s missed greatly, now officially commemorated in blog form.

During: Addition to the beach-facing side of the house opens up the first floor living space.

During: The extended living room in progress.

Both that last photo and the next were taken from the perspective from the kitchen looking out towards the beach; I’ll be using that railing of the staircase as a featured point in the next few shots to help you understand the open layout.

After: Looking past the staircase into the living room.

Robbie’s taste in hardware and decor is impeccable. A cohesive combination of classics from Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel, mixed with local salvage treasures.

Take this Ethan Allen chandelier, and the leather ottoman in the background, for example.

After: Dining table chandelier.

Fun fact #2: The chandelier that hung in my old living room was the predecessor to the one currently installed here. 

Fun fact #3: Robbie’s mastered the slip cover, swapping out darker covers for the ivories come fall and winter, so you can feel all cozy and snuggly while you sit and watch the lake effect snow pile up on the deck. Easy transformation from summer to fall, achievable by anyone.

Yesterday post (that you can read here if you missed it) showed you a little shiplap bathroom sneak peek, since Robbie’s first floor full bathroom was the inspiration for my own little shiplap wall project (which is going really well, but not without unexpected snafus). There aren’t any “befores” of the bathroom because it didn’t exist originally; Robbie actually likes to cite that the only untouched and unaltered space in the house is a very small closet near the kitchen.

After: First floor bathroom.

The shiplap wall details are really just the start, as she’s selected her fixtures and lighting incredibly well to both fit the space, and make them feel like they’ve been there for 80 years. While there aren’t windows on the walls, they added a pretty skylight to let in the natural beachy brightness and opted for wall sconces for nighttime ambiance.

After: First floor bathroom.

After: First floor bathroom.

And a final bathroom close-up of the shiplap. Because if you don’t love it as much as me based on what you’ve seen already… maybe this will help.

After: First floor bathroom. Close-up on the shiplap.

You’d hardly know it, but I’m saving the best for last.

I actually feel like I need a drumroll before I show you pictures of the kitchen that was completed only within the last 18-months. <DDDRRRRUUUUMMMMROOOOOLLLLL because I don’t actually know how to get all onomatopoeia on that desired effect>

After: Kitchen. Dreamy. That is all.

She generously found a bunch of “befores” of the kitchen, which clearly demonstrate what a labor of love this project was. This photo, taken from the same perspective as the last, is one of the first ever snapped of the kitchen during their initial walk-through of the home.

Before: Kitchen upon move-in. Circa 2004.

To brighten the room up, they painted the cabinetry white. An improvement, still not renovated yet. I hope you’re noticing how small the room is (the old garage was once on the other side of that man, who I can only imagine is Michael, but was relocated on the property to allow for a large kitchen). Lovely floor. Lovelier dog.

Before: Kitchen, with the cabinets painted white. And Bruno.

In 2007, the kitchen was given permission to open. Even a gutted state, you can really tell how large it was about to be. This is from a different perspective from the last, but the staircase is through that plastic sheet on the left.

During: Kitchen, gutted and being redesigned.

Perhaps the best part of the kitchen is in the use of those cabinets that were bought in full from a local salvage shop. I’m not the least bit confident that I could walk into a store, see a set of cabinetry, and decide on the spot how to reconfigure it entirely for use in a new kitchen, but Robbie could. It amazes me to this day; all of the pieces sat in her garage for months while slowly being refinished: dark stain on the bottom drawers, white paint on the top. They left the original hardware, and it shines once again in this new space.

Before: Unfinished salvaged kitchen storage.

Topped with carerra marble, backed with clean, white subway tile, accented with beautiful new appliances, and accessorized with a 14-foot table (another fantastic salvage find from a local antique shop which I believe is rooted back as being a table used by seamstresses), the kitchen has been transformed into a bright, airy, functional space (where you don’t mind if people are crowding in the kitchen during parties).

After: Kitchen. Dreamy. That is all.

After: Kitchen. Dreamy. That is all.

I wasn’t about to get all nosey with the Rebel in someone’s bedroom, so believe me that the three upstairs bedrooms and two bathrooms have also been transformed in similar fashion. Even more inspiringly, the third floor attic was refinished into an open, bright space filled with 3 side-by-side twin beds. Perfect for visiting kids.

I really hope you enjoyed it, and have to give a big thank you to Robbie + Michael for letting me photograph your home. May it soon be its own coffee table book.

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Emily
I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. I've been a freelancer writer for 10+ years and you can find my work on popular home and garden sites, like HGTV.com. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note.

13 Comments


Cait @ Hernando House
September 1, 2011 at 11:10 am
Reply

What a gorgeoous house! I love all of it, but the bathroom and kitchen are my favorite!



    Cait @ Hernando House
    September 1, 2011 at 11:12 am

    Apparently I lost the ability to spell, in my excitement. I meant “gorgeous”.

    Emily
    September 1, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    I want to extend the word gorgeous in all kinds of long, drawn-out ways too. It’s GOOOOORRGEOUS. Glad you like it! How cool is that whole shiplap bathroom?

    Cait @ Hernando House
    September 1, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    Definitely worthy of many, many long, drawn-out words!

gina Piendel
September 1, 2011 at 11:11 am
Reply

The first time I visited Robbie’s house I was in awe. It was mid-renovation but I could see the jewel that was being renovated. I think the kitchen table use to be in the dining room. It’s my favorite piece, large enough to have the entire family gather around and hearty enough to not mind crayon marks. And don’t get me started on her garage doors, right out of The Cape! Her house is a refection of her impeccable personal style. I loved seeing the “finished” rooms (and Bruno). Great post Emily!



    Emily
    September 1, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Thanks Gina! That kitchen table is to die for in person. A perfect location for seating, and still a perfect height for prepping foods.

Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co
September 1, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Reply

What an amazing transformation! Go for the view and the rest can be fixed!!! Totally in LOVE with that kitchen!



    Emily
    September 1, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    The kitchen of my dreams. Not shown: big cushy leather chairs and flat screen TV.

    Ashley@DesignBuildLove.co
    September 1, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    that’s awesome! If I showed Eric this house, he might sell all of our worldly belongings and do everything in his power to get us a fixer-upper on the beach!

Karre
March 24, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Reply

Can you please tell me the gray colore on the bathroom walls? Luv the ship lap!



tammy foltz
December 31, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Reply

i too would love to know the color of gray on the bathroom wall. it is just perfect!



Brittany
November 2, 2018 at 9:25 pm
Reply

Please tell me what color paint you used for the ship lap bathroom?!?! It is perfect!!



    Emily
    November 2, 2018 at 9:50 pm

    Wish I could! Unfortunately, this is a bathroom in our friend’s house. Glad you like it though… my only recco is to go for semi-gloss (or high). Painted shiplap looks so nice!

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  • HI, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

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