The small cottage house had limited living space and, at first glance, even less space for relaxing. I divided the living space, creating two seating areas, a living area and a quiet sitting area oriented toward the waterview. Now potential buyers could see the possibilities of the living room. Creating multiple spaces in one room helps the buyers envision how they might make use of it in their own way. Much better than a small, empty room.
The original wood interior was beautiful, and so was the newly renovated kitchen. But the modernity of the stark white kitchen and the encompassing feel of the warm, cognac wood created two disparate feelings in the house. The wood emphasized masculine styles and required a little softening throughout the house. The living room furniture helped to soften the wood paneling and cohesive decor throughout the house helped to bring the authentic feel of the wood and the contemporary look of the kitchen into a more blended and relaxed atmosphere. Just a few nautical touches throughout the home, combined with more feminine decor, helped to create a relaxing atmosphere that men and women could connect with.
Totaling two rooms of small and smaller, the Upper level was a challenge all on its own. The first room was just big enough to work as a bedroom, but the wood paneling and curved ceiling required earthy and feminine textures to tone down the intense shiplap style. The second room was too small to envision as a bedroom, even for a child. Fortunately, the atmosphere of the house inspired my own burst of creativity and took me back to my roots. The room was a perfect hobby room! An easel, art supplies, and a relaxing piece of art I had painted a lifetime ago was all it took to turn two tiny rooms into a cozy and cute retreat space. I was able to display the potential of two small rooms and, hopefully, that would spark buyers’ own interests and help them to imagine possible functions.