Cottage as primary or vacation home?

[Jilliebean]

I'm relatively new to this site and I've noticed that a lot of posters are speaking as though their cottage is their primary residence. I was just wondering how many people have secondary or vacation homes they like to escape to and in what about the secondary home's location attracted you?

[ChrisNH53]

Well, my cottage is a secondary home (it is the avatar under my name) and the only reason we have it is because we inherited it from my husbands grandparents. I love the place-it is on the Maine coast. But my primary home, although built in the 60's is cottagey so I use the style everywhere I guess. Even if we did not inherit it I would have fallen in love with it. It is in a small somewhat remote area that hasn't changed much over the years, although there has been an alarming trend in recent years to tear down small houses and build bigger homes. I just love going up there to escape the hustle and bustle of my regular life.

[Jilliebean]

Love your cottage. I assumed it was an image you picked from cyberspace. VERY charming.

[losthat]

While my home in northern MA is country style my second home in NH is cottage. It was built as a ski house--mostly all notty pine including a slanted ceiling in the kitchen, dining and living rms. It has a balcony that overlooks these rooms. These rooms all over look a pond, lake and the entire Mount Washington range....its almost silly to decorate and everyone that comes sees the view and barely notices the inside!

When we first bought it three years ago I thought I might go for a more contempory look, but tired of that quickly. It's now a mix of cottage, log home, ski home, and just casual and comfy. One bedroom is the "bear" room decorated all in bear prints, stuffed animals, etc. A second bedroom is the "sun and stars" room done in whites, blues and yellows with stars,etc. The master bedroom is done in a mariner style with light blues, deep blues, aquas, and a nautical accents. One bathroom is done log cabin style with moose, the other nautical style. These are ideas I would not have used in my day to day home, but fun and whimisical and just perfect for a second.

[Jilliebean]

I'd love to see pictures of the view! What was it you said about no one noticing the interior?

Jill

[greenoak]

love your house chris.....
we have a cottage on a lake about 10 minutes from home....there i have more painted stuff, and more shabby stuff, lots of pastel flower pictures and paintings..lots of the furniture we make..a wonderful pub sign from england with a guy in a boat....its real comfy and has a wall of windows and a nice deck...its yellow walls and white trim and beige carpet...its all rebuilt but still small about 1500sq ft...my new neighbors are about 3500 to 4500 sq ft on small lots...dont know how thats going to feel...they are just being built...we look teeny...

.my stuff at home is more serious and more good antique wood that you wouldnt paint...i liked being able to indulge in other parts of my interests at the cottage...also a room for the kids...my little grandkids..
its meant to be a mini sabbatical...with all my favorite books, art supplies, my paper collection to sort, piles of mags , old new yorkers, lots of movies etc etc...and i stay there when dh leaves for a show..2 or 3 times a year..


we do relaxed cottage style in both places...just different stuff.......
ann

[Lynzee]

Our cottage at the beach is now a vacation home though it was our primary residence for a couple of years. We love it because it has been in my family since I was a child, it's relaxed and cozy, it's decorated in white with lots of shells and wicker and old furniture and treasures that have been in my family for years, and because it's at the beach. We moved this past October and are renting a place about an hour and a half away, but are getting ready to make an offer (so my hubby says :D ) on a cottage here. It was built in the early 70s and needs a lot of cosmetic work, but it has good bones and a lot of potential!

Lynz

[losthat]

O.K.....here I go. Trying to post pics of the view from my cottage. Pond, lake behind pond, and White Mountain range. Mt. Washington is covered with snow in the last photo.

I tried many different photos. All the files are too big! Sorry!

[Lynzee]

Well, if all goes well with the home inspection next week, it looks like I'll have another cottage to redo! :eek: And it will be our primary home.

Once I get over the shock, I'm sure I'll be excited! :D

Lynz

[Jilliebean]

OH boy...well, I'm THRILLED for you and excited to hear about the adventures sure to come your way. Of course, we'll need pictures once you sign on the dotted line.

[Lisa S]

Congrats on the possibility of a new house! It doesn't have a black bedroom, does it?

[Lynzee]

I will definitely post pictures as soon as it's official, Jill. I'm going to need all the ideas and help I can get! :)

:D LOL at Lisa!

No, it doesn't have a black bedroom, but get this! It does have a bedroom with bright purple carpet and walls to match. Hubby said, "First thing we'll need to do is get rid of that carpet and paint those walls!" Think the difference might be that the black bedroom was in a rental? :confused:

Lynz

[Joe]

It is our primary residence. We actually completed building in 2005. It's a bungalow 3 bed, 2 bath. 1,600sq. ft. modeled after the 1920s style. Perfect size for us, in good ol' Georgia.

[Lucille1963]

Our cottage is our primary residence. One day I hope to buy the old cottage in Wisconsin that inspires the Chicago home I live in now.