Our Beloved Farmhouse Cottage: A Farewell Tour and 12-Year DIY Transformation Journey

It’s hard to believe, but we did it – we’ve officially moved out of our cherished ranch-turned-cottage! After twelve incredible years filled with endless projects, heartfelt memories, and a profound sense of accomplishment, we’ve closed this chapter. In honor of this significant milestone, I wanted to share a very special edition of our update, offering a final photographic tour of our beloved home, paired with some of the most enduring memories we created within its walls. These are, in essence, the last real-time photos of a place that became so much more than just a house. I’m sure I’ll be pulling from the archives in the future, but for now, these are the final glimpses of our home, empty yet brimming with the echoes of our life here.

“Home is people. Not a place. If you go back there after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there any more.”
― Robin Hobb, Fool’s Fate

This quote resonates deeply with me as we step into our next adventure. While the physical space will no longer be ours, the essence of “home” – the love, laughter, and hard work – will forever remain a part of us.

The Heart of Our Home: The Great Room Transformation

The moment we first stepped through the front door twelve years ago, the great room instantly captivated me. It was the wood-paneled vaulted ceiling, combined with the unexpected quality of double-hung windows in a 1982 rancher, that truly sealed the deal. This builder, it was clear, had an eye for quality construction, even if the aesthetic was, at the time, far from our dream cottage style. Of course, it was entirely brown and dark, an overwhelming expanse of dated tones, but I immediately saw past the gloom to envision what it could become – precisely this bright, airy, and inviting space you see in the final photos.

Our transformation of this central living area was a labor of love, primarily involving paint and a crucial decision to remove a dust-collecting, high-mounted shelf that interrupted the room’s flow. Beyond these significant cosmetic changes, our major DIY project in this room was the flooring. We painstakingly removed the old, worn carpeting, making way for the installation of a beautiful, floating engineered hardwood floor. This single change dramatically brightened the space and provided a cohesive, durable foundation that perfectly complemented our evolving farmhouse cottage style. It’s where countless evenings were spent, where stories were shared, and where we truly lived and created memories as a family.

Dining Area: French Doors and Elegant Simplicity

Adjacent to the living area, the dining space within the great room underwent its own remarkable metamorphosis. The most impactful change, and one that still makes me smile, was the installation of a simple set of French doors. Never underestimate the power and elegance that beautiful doors can bring to a space! They weren’t just doors; they were a gateway to more natural light, a connection to the outdoors, and an instant uplift to the entire room’s ambiance. Coupled with the abundant application of crisp white paint, which worked wonders to amplify the light, the room felt completely rejuvenated. A delightful touch was our $10 thrifted chandelier, meticulously cleaned and hung high enough to prevent any accidental head bumps, adding a touch of vintage charm and sophistication.

As we prepared to move, I made the conscious decision to leave behind the bar stools I had lovingly refinished to perfectly match our kitchen counters. They belong here, complementing the house’s character, and honestly, we’re not sure if our next adventure will even call for bar stools. It felt right to let them remain as a small gift to the next owners, a little piece of the home’s history.

The Heartbeat of the Home: Our Compact, Bright Kitchen

Ah, the kitchen – the true heartbeat of our home, a space that witnessed an incredible amount of activity. From countless regular family meals and joyous celebrations to extensive recipe testing for the blog, this kitchen was always bustling with life. It also saw a couple of stages of remodeling, each step bringing it closer to our ideal. The initial state was dark and inefficient, but through thoughtful DIY efforts, we transformed it into a space that was truly a joy to work in. The final result was a compact, bright, and highly functional kitchen, perfectly designed for our needs. Every custom touch, every decision, was aimed at maximizing efficiency and creating an inviting atmosphere where culinary creativity could flourish. It’s hard to imagine all the meals prepared, the conversations held, and the memories stirred in this very room.

Master Suite Sanctuary: From 80s Floral to Farmhouse Chic

Our master bedroom was truly a testament to persistent DIY spirit, undergoing a LOT of projects over the years. The most memorable, and perhaps most painstaking, was the removal of hideous 1980s floral wallpaper that adorned the walls both above and below the chair rail. I dedicated an entire week to this single room, plus our daughter’s room which also suffered from an abundance of the same wallpaper. The challenge was immense: it had been applied directly to unpainted wallboard, meaning it would only come off in tiny, stubborn strips. It was an exercise in patience and sheer will, and I can confidently say that no matter how popular wallpaper may become again, I will never, ever be the one to apply it!

Beyond the wallpaper saga, our endeavors in this room included adding a French door leading to the outside, providing a beautiful connection to our garden, and another French door connecting to the master bathroom, enhancing the flow and light. We also ingeniously applied lath pieces below the chair rail, creating a charming faux wainscoting effect that instantly elevated the room’s cottage aesthetic. Painting the existing wood ceiling and trim was, of course, a given – transforming the space from dark and dated to bright and airy. We installed an elegant chandelier, adding a touch of romance, and most recently, just last summer, we laid the floating wood floor, completing its serene, farmhouse-inspired transformation. This room became our tranquil sanctuary, a testament to what vision and hard work can achieve.

Master Bathroom: Dream Tub and Custom Vanity

The master bathroom was another area where we truly embraced the concept of a full renovation. We pretty much gutted the entire space, replacing every single fixture and surface, including the windows. My long-held dream of having a clawfoot tub finally came true here, becoming the focal point of the room and a place of true relaxation. We also embarked on a cherished project: I created a beautiful dresser-vanity, a custom piece that I had been planning for years, bringing a unique, personalized touch to the space. It was a perfect blend of functionality and antique charm.

I also took on the ambitious task of tiling the floors, both in this master bathroom and the main guest bathroom. While the results were beautiful and exactly what I envisioned for our farmhouse aesthetic, I can honestly say they will be the last floors I ever tile. The process officially broke me of any desire to tackle tiling again! It was incredibly rewarding to see the transformation, but the physical demands taught me where my DIY limits lie. Despite the challenges, the master bathroom became a luxurious, spa-like retreat, a space we cherished daily.

The Versatile Studio: A Creative Garage Conversion

This large, versatile room, born from our ambitious garage conversion project, served many roles for us: a spacious studio, a functional craftroom, and a welcoming guestroom. What always struck me about this space was the absolutely amazing natural light it received, pouring in through multiple windows and, of course, the beautiful set of French doors. It was an inspiring place for creativity and a comfortable haven for visitors.

For the flooring in this expansive area, we opted for a truly ingenious and budget-friendly solution: maple plywood, expertly cut into long, wide strips. This approach ended up costing us an incredible $0.54 per square foot, proving that sometimes, the best solutions are the most creative and economical. It added warmth and character, perfectly aligning with our cottage aesthetic. A defining feature of this room is the clever wall of doors, which cleverly conceals vital storage and hides the old garage equipment, like the furnace and the back of the fireplace. Initially, we planned on buying traditional closet doors for these openings, but the cost would have run into hundreds of dollars. Instead, we found a set of charming French doors for just $60 at a yard sale and then sourced some old screen doors for $15 and $20 each from a local salvage center. And you know what? I genuinely love this salvaged, eclectic look so much more! It’s a perfect example of how limitations can often spark greater creativity, pushing you to think outside the box and often yielding results far more unique and beautiful than your initial plans.

Our Perfect Laundry-Mudroom: A Final Farewell

If there’s one room I’m probably most sad to say goodbye to, it’s our cottage farmhouse laundry-mudroom. It’s bittersweet because I absolutely adore how it finally came together, achieving its perfect form just within the last six months of our stay. This room was a complete transformation, going from a cluttered, uninspired space to a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing entryway that perfectly captured our home’s essence. The combination of fresh paint, a durable new floor, and the addition of clever beadboard doors designed to cover the electrical panel truly finished this room off flawlessly. It became a space that was both a pleasure to simply walk through and incredibly efficient to work in, managing all our laundry and mudroom needs with ease and style. It felt like the final puzzle piece of our home’s extensive renovation journey, and I’m so proud of what we accomplished here.

Okay, I’ll stop there – it’s easy to get lost in the memories! Thank you, sweet friends, for indulging me and letting me reminisce a bit with you. Sharing these final glimpses and reflecting on our twelve-year DIY home transformation journey has been cathartic and heartwarming.

Many of you have sent such lovely, encouraging words as we embark on this next exciting phase of life, and for that, I am truly grateful. Thank you, thank you, for your unwavering support and kindness! I never take for granted that you’re here, reading along, and engaging with our story – it genuinely means the world to me. I can’t wait to share all that’s coming up, the new challenges, the fresh inspirations, and the ongoing adventure of creating a home, wherever we may land next!