1.07.2010

A Cottage: Before & After














I grew up in Massachusetts and as a little girl visiting Nantucket gave me such fond memories. This 1920's Nantucket cottage was returned to what it once was by Jeffrey Bilhuber. Although the outside of this cottage looks quite idyllic the inside was worse for ware. Mr. Bilhuber bought the property without first taking a look inside, well can you say buyers remorse, but of course being the great designer he is he was able to make this place into a show stopper. Of course I could dissect every picture into what I enjoy, but I think I will just let you all enjoy.

{via Architectural Digest}

66 comments:

Samy said...

WHat an amazing transformation!

Jessica @ Lavender and Lilies said...

I love it especially the bedroom.

Destination Inspiration said...

Oh my gosh wow, I love that small office area he set up. it is my dream to be in a position where I'm able to design an entire house! Don't we wish we could all be so lucky? Beautiful

Destination Inspiration said...

ah sorry, not so much an office as a vanity!

Destination Inspiration said...

ah sorry, not so much an office as a vanity!

Brooke @ Blueprint Bliss said...

Love this B&A. I have it saved on my computer. I'm not sure why! It's not like I will be having a house in Nantucket one day!

Melissa said...

The shot looking from the dining room to the living room, where you can see the big picture, is amazing. I love how really great design shows up in the way the entire house flows-- and this is a GREAT house.

amy said...

I grew up spending summers in Nantucket too! love that area so much. miss it. great photos. bring back memories...
amy

Staley Mc said...

Wow that is amazing. So beautiful!

nelya said...

I loved this when I first saw it, if possible, I may be even more smitten the second time around. I love the beamed ceilings and all the exposed woodwork on the walls. This place couldn't be anymore charming!

Dawn said...

What an amazing transformation. And how creative is it to hang the boat up at the ceiling! Talk about innovative use of space.
Thanks for sharing.
xo

bluehydrangea said...

One of my all time favorites. Would love to see what he could do in my house!!

Anonymous said...

I saw the pic of the exterior and said "That's my cottage!" (I've had it saved in my files forever). Thanks for the pics of the inside- gorgeous!

Geezees Custom Canvas Art said...

This cottage is beautiful...both the exterior and interiors are perfect!

V said...

This is incredible! I want to go to there.

LindsB said...

I didn't know you grew up here...or maybe I did? I don't know, I seem to be going crazy lately :) I used to love taking the slow boat over to Nantucket when I was little. Every time I would throw my penny right as we rounded Brant Point in hopes for my return the next summer, ahh the memories.

Char said...

oh my - how i would want to live there.

Unknown said...

How gorgeous! There's not an element I wouldn't want in my own home. That said, am I crazy for liking the pre-existing wallpaper in the living room before the makeover? Because I really, really do.

vanessa said...

I love the cabinet that was in the sun room area. That house is beautiful but moving from a 1930's drafty house to a 1940's drafty house all I can think about when I look at those pictures is how cold that house is and how high the heating bill must be! Did I just spoil it for everyone!

Unknown said...

wow. What an amazing reno. Such a beautiful space. Thanks for sharing!! xo

Heather said...

Beautiful!

Dayka Robinson said...

LOVE THIS! Dare I saw I even kinda loved the before. Such great bones, but a wonderful job all around! Thanks for sharing.

megan @ a life's design said...

this cottage transformations is one of my favorites. that bedroom is so cozy and inviting.

Connie @ SogniESorrisi said...

What a lovely, cozy home. Quite a transformation.

Brandi said...

I so very much want to live in this cottage. I love the way it was transformed. It's the perfect combination of charm and comfort.

Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog said...

I remember loving an image of that bedroom a while back, but I never got to see the entire home before... It's so beautiful!

Miki said...

I want to live there!

internet therapy said...

Gorgeous! I'll take it!

Jennifer said...

love that bedroom! obviously had some challenges with furniture arrangement, but I love how he put sheers over the window and hung a mirror over it. GENIUS!

rikshaw design said...

ohhh so darn lovely!!and cozy cozy!

Full House said...

I really am enjoying this cottage. I was a little surprised to see it coming via Architectural Digest.

Lovely Scribbles said...

What an amazing transformation! It's hard to tell from the outside that there's so much room on the inside - at least it looks that way. What a stunning little cottage!!

FROM THE RIGHT BANK said...

Definitely one of my favorite cottages! Happy belated new year, Paula!

Katie @ Noodle and Boof said...

LOVE IT! I loved visiting Martha's Vineyard. This is a perfect reminder! :)

Doug Davis said...

sigh...looks very restful

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I get frustrated living in a small colonial in the midst of McMansions. Your posting reconfirms how utterly elegant compact living can be.
Thanks Ellie!
Stephanie
www.mpwcomm.com

Melissa Marie Head said...

Wow what an amazing transformation, I agree that even before it was gorgeous in its own way but after is breathtaking. I want to come stay every weekend!

abigail said...

beautiful! I love the bleached wood.
and the outside of the house is to die for.

Aline said...

this is so beautiful and so perfect that it literally just broke my heart!

Alison Kinsey said...

That is incredible and so inspirational. I looked at the first photo and already liked what I saw (the cottage looks so quintessentially new england from the outside) but WOW - what a dramatic difference, it looks amazing. Great post Paula!

thezhush said...

I love Jeffrey Bilhuber's work so much. I have never seen this cottage before, its perfect. Thanks for posting.

Maureen Stevens said...

that's definitely an amazing cottage! I have to bookmark this :)

Alisa: a pina colada said...

love before and after pictures! What an amazing cottage!

Sarah Klassen said...

Great reno! There's something so special and sweet about cottages -- and this one has mega charm! I would far rather have a smaller, more personal home, with an abundance of character, than a large home, with very little...

This is so perfect.

:)

Destri said...

Oh my....I was just popping over to say hello and you had me at cottage...so glad you left a comment, I found a new daily read.

Courtney said...

What a gorgeous cottage. I just spent a significant amount of time "dissecting" each of these photos!

I am so thrilled to have stumbled upon your lovely blog. I can't wait to visit again.

Happy New Year!

Sarah said...

The outside makes me think of what a perfect little Children's place house would look like (on a much small scale, of course).
I love how eclectic, yet still so put together it looks!
Put an ocean or lake in the back and I'm sold!
Sarah

Anonymous said...

I love this post!! I have seen the exterior of that cottage many times but for some reason have never seen the inside. And, I'm a sucker for before/after shots and these did not disappoint! Love it all.
xoRH

Anonymous said...

I love this post!! I have seen the exterior of that cottage many times but for some reason have never seen the inside. And, I'm a sucker for before/after shots and these did not disappoint! Love it all.
xoRH

Anonymous said...

I love this post!! I have seen the exterior of that cottage many times but for some reason have never seen the inside. And, I'm a sucker for before/after shots and these did not disappoint! Love it all.
xoRH

Anonymous said...

What a lovely cottage! Each photo is jam packed with tons of beautiful (& cozy) details.

Love your blog.

carlee {deliciously organized} said...

I've lived in Boston for an entire year and have yet to make it out to Nantucket. It's on my to do list! This place is incredible!

rachel@urbannest said...

Wow!

carolina postcard said...

Umm… can I just say wow?! Talk about a cool project. I love it all and wish he could come make over our house stat!

Stephanie Sabbe said...

such a great post! great images. I want to go there and stay....for a long time.

Tanya (a Taste of T) said...

Love soooo much of every room. What a great post!

Anonymous said...

This transformation is amazing! So much throught must have gone into this...it's unreal. Thanks for posting! Had no idea you grew up in MA....it's a small world, huh?

TIG said...

such a stunningly cozy and inviting little place! would hide away all summer long . . .

Unknown said...

i too spend summers on nantucket and i will agree that there is simply no better place in the world. great renovation — thanks for sharing!

Punctuation Mark said...

great transformation... like day and night... and to top it off it looks really comfy!!!

fric and frac said...

This cottage is adorable! The bedroom looks dreamy! The perfect night's retreat!

Suzanne : : S.HOPtalk said...

I love the "after' but I would even take the "before " in a heartbeat...my favorite, favorite style of cottage. What a dream!

Things That Inspire said...

This is incredible! If I were to have a second home, I would want it to be small and cozy, and place where the family could really spend time together.

I wish I had one of these pictures for my post on Japanese floats last week - there is an amazing picture of two floats hanging from the ceiling!

milo. said...

walking into that house after seeing the lovely exterior would make me weep. that covered patio was perfectly nantucket. the 'after' looks like any page from a pottery barn catalog. you can barely see the gorgeous plank walls, let alone the floors, through all the overwrought seating and ruggery. the rest, equally tragic. what do i know... i'm just a native.

labellagorda said...

Wow! This is such a stunning transformation! An idyllic cottage with mesmerising interiors! Had this been my cottage, I would never leave it!

Kurt Long said...

Definitely one of my favorite cottages! Happy belated new year, Paula!