Adorable Cottage Gets a Wonderful Update

I have a soft spot in my heart for cottages, especially cute little Cape Cods. Southern Living recently showcased this lovely home (located in Atlanta) on their website.  Here's how the exterior looked prior to being purchased by its current owners.

Check it out now!  You can see they really stayed true to the character of the home.  The porch overhang looks like it was beefed up just a bit...looks so much better, doesn't it?  I LOVE the cedar shingle roof.  It adds so much to the curb appeal of this home.  As much as I love a cute Cape Cod painted white, I have to admit, the darker color gave this home a much more sophisticated, elegant look.  Do you like the new color or do you prefer a lighter color for a Cape Cod?

One of the smaller changes made that really had a pretty big impact on the exterior appearance, were the little shutters added to the dormer windows.

This was the only "before" pic I found of the kitchen.  You can see sort of a back porch area through the doorway.  I kind of like the red floor tile.  Amazingly, the renovations to the home didn't involve enlarging it or adding on.  The owners asked their architect to stay within the original footprint of the home.

The kitchen AFTER the renovation...  Notice they went with drawers for the lower part of the cabinetry, instead of just cabinets with doors.  Drawers make everything so easily accessible.  I love the little kitchen table at the end of the island.  What a great place to grab a meal or jot down that week's grocery list.

This bank of cabinets was original to the home.  The architect just altered the center cabinets so they would hide the refrigerator.  I love seeing a refrigerator done this way...it just disappears. :)

How do you like the wooden plank walls?  Gives it "farm house" charm, doesn't it?  I am so loving all the white.  It seems the older I get, the more I am drawn to white or very light walls.

The range is a Cluny 1400 by Lacanche.  I'm not familiar with that brand.  It looks quite fancy, though.

The porch was made into a beautiful and functional Butler's Pantry.  Love the walnut countertop.  Though we can't see it, the flooring is brick.  Notice the wonderful Dutch door.  Can't you just see the top part open with a pie cooling on top. :)

The island has additional refrigerator drawers and a bookcase for cookbooks.  Notice where the copper cookware is stored.  What a great way to hang your cookware without placing it in the center of the room where it can feel overwhelming in a smaller space.

Let's take a look at the dining room, BEFORE...

And, AFTER:  Wow!  Love the muted colors of the linen checked fabric.  Doesn't this make you want to just go slip cover something NOW.

I've been thinking of recovering my dining room chair seats...maybe I should just slip-cover the whole chair.  Love the corner cabinet.  We only get a little peak into the living room...looks beautiful, doesn't it?

Here's the Before and After layout of the lower part of the home, in case you'd like to do a comparison.

You'll find a few pics of the back exterior of the home, HERE.  What a beautiful renovation!