We are thrilled to announce that Calderwood Cottage is officially complete and proudly listed on the market! This isn’t just a house; it’s a testament to dedication, hard work, and a vision brought to life. Join us on an exclusive tour of this beautifully renovated home, transformed from a challenging auction purchase into a stunning three-bedroom, two-bath haven complete with a loft and a magnificent cathedral-ceilinged great room.
The Journey of Calderwood Cottage: Before & Beyond Expectations
It’s hard to believe what Calderwood Cottage once was. Do you remember its state when we first acquired it? This wasn’t just a simple renovation; it was an ambitious adventure that began with an auction purchase, a decision that plunged us into a project far more extensive than we could have ever anticipated.
The transformation of Calderwood Cottage truly pushed our limits. We poured countless long days and late nights into this project, pushing our bodies to endure more than they were designed for. I’m even typing this with wrist braces on both hands, a testament to the sheer physical demanding nature of the work. It was an incredibly arduous journey, and truthfully, we never want to work quite that hard again!
Yet, looking back, the sense of accomplishment is immense. As “two crazy girls,” we embarked on a mission that essentially involved demolishing and rebuilding an entire house from its foundations. It was a monumental undertaking, but one we completed with immense pride.
For those interested in the detailed progression of this extensive renovation, you can explore the full story through our series of posts:
Our initial introduction to the project: Introduction of Calderwood Cottage
The challenging demo days unfolded in several stages: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5.
The rebuilding phase, Round 2, tackled structural improvements and more: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5.
Finally, Round 3 focused on the finishing touches and critical details: part 1 (addressing budget and schedule), part 2 (flooring decisions), part 3 (deck completion), and part 4 (building custom beams).
Calderwood Cottage: A Complete Transformation
After nearly a year of dedicated effort, we are beyond excited to unveil the stunning transformation of Calderwood Cottage. This home now boasts three comfortable bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a versatile loft space, and an absolutely breathtaking great room with a soaring cathedral ceiling. Every detail has been meticulously planned and executed to create a truly inviting and functional living space.
The Heart of the Home: Kitchen & Great Room
One of the most impactful changes we made was removing the wall between the original kitchen and living room. This strategic decision created a magnificent, open-concept area that is flooded with natural light, fostering a bright, airy, and undeniably cheerful atmosphere. This expansive space is perfect for both daily living and entertaining, ensuring seamless interaction between cooking, dining, and relaxation.
The flooring throughout this grand space features beautiful Armstrong floors, which we adore. Their durable yet elegant finish provides the perfect foundation for Calderwood Cottage’s distinct “organic minimalist” style, blending natural textures with clean lines.
The kitchen island is a true focal point, offering ample counter space and comfortable seating for four. In a nod to sustainability and character, we ingeniously crafted this striking countertop from some of the very lumber salvaged during the demolition phase. This piece not only serves a practical purpose but also tells a story of the home’s past.
We deliberately preserved many of the original saw marks on the reclaimed lumber, celebrating its rustic charm. However, I did dedicate a considerable amount of time to planing each board to a uniform thickness, ensuring a smooth and functional surface. The original house, in fact, was constructed using hand-cut lumber, and I’ve even saved a collection of it in my workshop, awaiting its next cool project!
Above, the magnificent cathedral ceiling is adorned with custom lighted beams, for which I shared a detailed tutorial. These beams, along with a thoughtfully chosen chandelier, bathe the room in a warm, inviting glow at night. During the day, the numerous windows allow an abundance of natural light to stream in, creating a consistently bright and uplifting atmosphere.
And speaking of those windows, the view from here and from the newly finished deck is simply idyllic! The neighboring field is a pastoral paradise, home to five horses, a friendly cow, and two inseparable goats. Their playful interactions are incredibly charming and add to the serene ambiance of Calderwood Cottage.
Returning to the kitchen’s thoughtful details, we extended the use of reclaimed lumber to craft the elegant floating shelves. The rich texture and character of this old wood add an unparalleled rustic touch, perfectly complementing the “organic minimalist” aesthetic. These shelves provide both practical storage and a beautiful display area.
Functional & Stylish: The Laundry Room
Adjoining the kitchen is the incredibly practical and aesthetically pleasing Laundry Room, which also serves as a convenient side entry into the house. We’ve paid close attention to every detail, ensuring both functionality and style. The charming industrial basket hook is a stylish piece from Liberty Hardware, a brand we also trusted for the elegant Francisco cabinet pulls, utilized here and in the main kitchen. Consistency in design elements creates a cohesive flow throughout the home. We even sourced the same faucet for the farmhouse sinks in both the laundry room and kitchen. Our keen eye for deals led us to these fantastic gooseneck barn lights, a steal at just $26 each!
The transformation of this area is particularly striking. Previously, the side entry opened into a long, rather dark laundry room, lacking both style and efficient storage. The ‘before’ picture highlights the extensive changes made:
To maximize utility, we strategically relocated the door, allowing us to incorporate much-needed storage solutions. The cabinets are primarily from IKEA, with the exception of one custom-built wide cabinet near the laundry hookup wall. This custom unit, designed with an opening to accept IKEA doors on the left side, serves as an ingenious broom cabinet, demonstrating how thoughtful planning can optimize every inch of space.
The distinctive floor tile is DELLA TORRE Cementina tile, readily available at Lowe’s. While we love its aesthetic, a quick note for future projects: it can be quite slippery, even when dry. Something to keep in mind!
A standout feature here, and indeed throughout the home, are the concrete countertops, masterfully crafted by Julie. These custom surfaces, also found in the kitchen and master bathroom, turned out absolutely beautiful, adding an industrial-chic yet refined touch to each space. Their durability and unique finish elevate the overall design.
A Private Retreat: The Master Bedroom
Beyond the kitchen island, a discreet doorway leads into the tranquil master suite, offering a private sanctuary within the home. This thoughtful layout ensures privacy while maintaining an open flow for daily living.
In our commitment to maximizing every square inch of space, I designed and built a clever shelf cabinet within a small recess that was originally intended for a refrigerator. This custom solution provides valuable storage without encroaching on the room’s footprint, a testament to efficient design.
The elegant barn door gracing this space is actually the second one we built. The first design leaned too industrial for the desired aesthetic, so in a last-minute burst of creativity, I assembled this beauty the day before the listing photographer arrived! It turned out absolutely wonderfully, a prime example of a successful, unplanned DIY project. We were particularly impressed with the barn door hardware, which was an incredible find at a mere $45. It’s truly amazing how varied pricing can be for hardware and fixtures; a bit of diligent searching can uncover fantastic deals!
This master bedroom seamlessly connects to the luxurious master bathroom. A unique design element is the original brick wall, which we thoughtfully exposed on the bathroom side, adding character and a touch of historical charm to the modern space.
Spa-Like Comfort: The Master Bathroom
One of the most remarkable transformations in Calderwood Cottage involved reimagining the original laundry room into a brand-new, luxurious master bathroom. This space now boasts a spacious walk-in shower and a generously sized closet, offering both comfort and functionality that far surpasses its previous purpose. It’s a testament to how creative design can redefine a home’s utility.
The concrete countertops in the master bathroom are, without a doubt, my favorite feature. They were meticulously crafted to mimic the sophisticated appearance of natural stone, lending an air of refined luxury to the double vanity. Their unique texture and subtle variations make them a true work of art.
To the right of the elegant double vanity, you’ll find the convenient and spacious walk-in closet, designed to offer ample storage and easy access to essentials.
Admittedly, installing wire shelving in this closet went against every fiber of my being. My initial inclination was to create an awesome custom closet, but we had to continuously remind ourselves that this was not our forever home. There came a point where we needed to cap our investments, both in terms of time and money. So, wire shelving it was! We did ensure that nearly every brace was anchored into a stud, a crucial step to avoid the common frustration of wire shelving detaching from walls.
To the left of the vanity, a serene walk-in shower awaits, offering a refreshing and luxurious bathing experience.
This beautifully tiled shower is complete with thoughtful amenities, including a built-in bench for comfort and a recessed niche for toiletries, blending practicality with a touch of spa-like indulgence.
Explore More of Calderwood Cottage
This extensive house tour only covers a portion of what Calderwood Cottage has to offer! Given the sheer scale of the renovation and the desire to showcase every detail, we’ve decided to break the tour into two comprehensive posts. It’s been nearly a year in the making, and every room deserves its moment in the spotlight. Be sure to visit the next installment to discover the remaining areas of this incredible home!
Continue the Calderwood Cottage House Tour Here!
Master Bathroom Product Source List:
For those inspired by our master bathroom design, here’s a curated list of some of the key products we used:
- Round Decorative Wall Mirrors: From Project 62, adding a touch of modern elegance.
- Limited White Porcelain Floor and Wall Tile: A versatile and clean choice for a timeless look, sourced from Lowe’s.
- Three-Light Wall Sconces: Providing perfect task lighting above the vanity.
- Cabinetry from Ikea: Offering smart, customizable storage solutions for the vanity base.
- Liberty Hardware Providence Towel Rings: Stylish and functional accents for hanging towels.
- Single Hole Countertop Faucets: Modern and sleek, complementing the vessel sinks.
- And we absolutely love the striking Vessel Sinks we discovered on Amazon for an incredible $63 each!