Reuse, Repurpose, Remodel

Giving Your Home a little TLC

There are three R’s to consider as you make a house a home: Reuse, Repurpose, or (last) Remodel. In this lake cottage I have been working on for five years, we have done all three. Read on for tips…

Reuse ​

I don’t know about you, but for me, reusing an item brings a certain amount of joy to my heart. Not only is it environmentally friendly, but it is also good for your budget and allows you to spend your money elsewhere. ​

When you hear “mudroom lockers” what comes to mind? A beautiful, custom made piece of  furniture with hooks, cubbies and a bench? While I’m a fan of the aesthetically pleasing mudroom lockers that now seem to be everywhere, I had a true, old school set of lockers that needed to be rehomed. With a couple coats of blue spray paint, my beige lockers became a surprise factor in the home with the perfect place to contain beach towels, lifejackets, swimsuits, sunglasses and hats. ​

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Repurpose

Repurposing falls more within a DIY category whether it be structural, a piece of furniture that’s been handed down from grandma, or any other sentimental item.
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of taking apart an old home, you know there are many layers to discover. Some of these layers may not be a wonderful discovery (like layers upon layers of wallpaper or really dated electrical work - yikes!), but some have a certain charm to them that you may want to repurpose into your home.

As this cottage would be used year round, we knew we wanted to add a gas fireplace to the living room for the cold months. When it came time to decide on the fireplace front, we wanted a material that would stay casual. As this was being designed and decided, layers of siding from the cottage was being ripped off. First blue vinyl, then wooden shingles, and at the very core of the exterior - lap siding. We decided it was the perfect material for the front of the fireplace. We kept it in the condition it was found so it would become a focal point and a nod toward the historicity of the cottage.

Remodel

Sometimes there are areas of a home that just don’t sit well with you. Perhaps the space isn’t meeting your needs, isn’t aesthetically pleasing, or needs an update. We all know remodeling is the priciest and most time consuming of all. It is often the most satisfying as you have the opportunity to customize the space to your style and needs.

This cottage had been neglected for years, and it was time for a major remodel. The tiny bedrooms on the second floor, while charming, didn’t provide enough space for a master bedroom, and the outdoor deck didn’t provide enough space to accommodate family. We went to work drawing up, demolishing, and altering the house into the cottage it is today.

Whether you reuse, repurpose or remodel, finding ways to update your home to meet your needs and still connect it to its past is a true way to create a home with a story. ​