Blog - The Lilypad Cottage

July 7, 2021 By Kelly

Guest Cottage Exterior Update

I’m alone in my house (minus my sidekick Charlie of course) for the first time in what feels like years! My youngest is off at camp, the Mr. is back in his office, and my daughter is with a friend. Feels like the perfect time to check in with you all after a busy holiday weekend filled with friends and family. Also, I may be trying to keep myself from stalking the camp facebook page for photos of my baby (ok fine, so he is 10 years old, but still my baby). If his first trip to sleep away camp is any indication of how college drop off will go, I’m just going to go ahead and sign up as his roommate now. I’m sure he will be good with that?!? ;)

Anyhow, let’s bring you all up to speed with the guest cottage progress!

GUEST COTTAGE EXTERIOR UPDATE

BEFORE

NOW

It’s been one step forward, two steps back over there. We lost our contractor, the roof was leaking (onto the brand new ceilings I might add), and nonstop rain caused some humidity issues we need to address. I won’t bore you with the details of our little money pit over there today though.

Let’s focus on the positives! We were able to find a siding guy to take on a quick side job and finish up where our contractor left off. The outside is looking ca-ute! Well, minus the fact that the landscaping and yard is still a mess after the huge storms passed through.

Ignore that and focus on my adorable french doors and fresh white siding! Ahhh it makes me so happy to sit on our deck and look out at this little cutie house now. I still want to add window boxes, lights, and possibly shutters on a few of the windows. The landscaping will be getting an upgrade soon too!

BEFORE

NOW

I painted the doors Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore. I wanted the french doors to be the same color on both sides when they are open. Rockport Gray was a pretty close match to the cabinets that will be installed (someday hopefully) in the kitchen. I love the warm gray tone.

BEFORE

NOW

We painted the interior trim the same color as the exterior doors and the walls Simply White by Benjamin Moore. It’s looking so much brighter in there now! Ignore the ceiling at the moment. I promise I will give you the scoop on that soon. Like I mentioned before – new ceiling + huge thunderstorm + leaky roof = @#$%! We will get it worked out and then I will report back.

In other news, my flowers absolutely loved all the rain and are looking gorgeous!

Another new development – we strung solar lights above the fire pit area and it may be my fave thing ever.

We have been loving fires out here on the weekends. This addition to our yard has made all the headaches with the house worth it. The Mr. has been enjoying showing off his Boy Scout fire-building skills too.

Another perk – we have perfectly spaced hammock trees now and my kids have been taking full advantage. This new hammock is so cute and comfy.

I snapped this in between rainstorms last week and had to share it with you. Somehow this has turned into a photo dump post, but I’ve missed chatting with you all!

I think that’s it for my quick check in. I’m going to try to work on my design boards for the bedrooms as well so I can share those soon too. Hope you all are enjoying your summer!

GUEST COTTAGE DESIGN BOARDS

GUEST COTTAGE RENOVATION PLANS

GUEST COTTAGE PORCH MAKEOVER

SOURCES – Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

Gray paint – Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore

Siding – White by Mastic

Windows – NorthStar

Doors – Home Depot

Hammock

Solar lights

Bedroom Light

Adirondack Chairs

June 15, 2021 By Kelly

Guest Cottage Remodel Update

Time for a little guest cottage remodel update! We’ve run into a few snafu’s (as one typically does with a 70 year old house) so things have been slooow going. I finally have some exciting progress shots to share today. This post is mostly quick before and current progress shots. My kids are waiting to get on the boat, so I’m rushing to get this typed and out to you all.

First up the french door is in. Oh happy day this has changed the entire look of the space!

BEFORE

PROGRESS

All of the new windows are in as well. GAH it’s just so darling I can hardly stand it.

You may notice the siding is now yellow. That is not the new color choice, its the old original cedar siding (which is in horrible shape). Long story short, we have to replace all the aluminum siding that was added on in the ’70s. Thankfully it’s a small house, so it wasn’t too $$. The fresh white siding will look so nice and crisp. On instagram several people liked the yellow, until I showed them how awful it looked with our main house. Trust me, white is the way to go!

BEFORE

PROGRESS

BEFORE

PROGRESS

I’m not sure if I shared this new utility closet we added to the back of the house? Now it’s insulated properly, so we shouldn’t have any frozen pipes. It also allowed us to get the hot water heater out of the bathroom. Don’t mind the wrong color siding and the test gray paints on the door. I promise it will all be right soon!

BEFORE

PROGRESS

The new double window in the kitchen added so much light as well as balanced the whole look of the house. Also don’t worry about that crazy ceiling I will be tackling that soon too!

On the inside I’ve been a busy little bee, which is why I’ve been quiet on the blog. I’ve been squeezing tiling the bathroom in between running my kids to various sports camps and activities.

BEFORE

PROGRESS

Can you believe it’s the same space? The layout was so crazy before!

We picked up all of this tile at Floor and Decor a few weeks back. I’m so happy with how it turned out. Fair warning, this herringbone tile was a beast for me to lay, especially when nothing is level or straight in this old house.

I’m on the hunt for some fun wallpaper for the rest of the walls. It’s the only drywalled space in the house so it feels like a great spot for some fun paper.

That’s it for now! Our contractor is working on the siding as I type. I’m hoping that now the new windows are in I can get a jump on painting all the paneling next week!

Just a little reminder that I tend to be a bit more sporadic in posting in the summer time with my kiddos home. Between hanging with them and squeezing in some work next door, it’s been hard to find the time for my computer too. I’ll definitely keep you updated with the guest cottage remodel progress as I can!

SOURCES:

Wall tile

Floor tile

You can check out more posts about our guest house plans here –

Guest House Renovation Plans

Guest Cottage Design Boards

Guest House Progress and Fire Pit

June 2, 2021 By Kelly

Black and White Staircase Gallery Wall

I think over the course of our marriage, the Mr. and I have faced three great tests of our marriage…

Trying to fit a queen boxspring down a spiral staircase in our first apartment.

Wallpapering our first home’s kitchen,

and now hanging this gallery wall over the staircase…

Black and White Staircase Gallery Wall

I’m happy to say there were no Rinzemas harmed in the making of this gallery wall, but it was close. ;)

Let’s just say we didn’t use proper OSHA approved safety precautions when hanging this gallery wall. The important thing is, it’s done, we survived, and we are still on speaking terms!

All joking aside, I’ve been wanting to incorporate more family photos somewhere in our house. We have made so many great memories over the years, that I was determined to actually print a few and display them.

I was ready for a change from the oar wall that has been here for 4 years as well. This seemed like the perfect spot, until I realized just how hard it was going to be to hang. Major kudos to the Mr. for getting the math just right!

I grabbed these frames at Target about a month ago, and they’ve been sitting in the entry staring us down ever since. We finally decided to tackle it this weekend. One thing that made it easier was using velcro command strips vs nails or screws.

I’ve used these for gallery walls before, and they are so much more forgiving if you need to make little adjustments here or there.

Just be sure you use the correct size for how heavy your frames are. These each weighed 5 lbs but we used the command strips to support 10 lbs just to be on the safe side.

I’m so happy with how this black and white staircase gallery wall turned out! It makes me smile every time I walk by and see the photos. It really refreshed our whole entry.

I know there were a lot of fans of the oars. Don’t worry I think they will find a new home at the cottage next door. Speaking of the cottage next door, I was hoping to give you all an exciting update over there because the windows were delivered last week. Unfortunately, we are hitting a little snafu. It’s a long story, but now we need to reside the whole thing too. So BIG update coming, hopefully next week (fingers crossed)? It’s a bit of a mess now, but it’s going to look SO cute in a week or two.

SOURCES:

Wall color – Extra White by Sherwin Williams

Frames

Tile – Slate floor by BuildDirect

Light

Bench

May 28, 2021 By Kelly

Guest Cottage Porch Makeover

I have another fun outdoor space to share today with this little guest cottage porch makeover. Actually, I should say it’s a partial makeover. The new windows should arrive later this week and then it’s really going to look different – can’t wait!

Guest Cottage Porch Makeover

For now the seating got a major upgrade thanks to Sunbrella. I’m excited to be partnering with Wayfair and Sunbrella today. Wayfair has a huge selection of Sunbrella products. They have great patio furniture, umbrellas, and pillow options to choose from. My love for Sunbrella fabric has been well documented here on the blog over the years. It’s just the best for our outdoor spaces because it’s durable, weather resistant, and fade proof! All must haves here on the lake.

Let’s take a look back at where this patio started…

Yikes, we have definitely upgraded the seating!

This cute wicker loveseat is the perfect size for our small guest cottage patio. The gray tone of the Sunbrella cushions is going to look perfect with the new gray french doors and shutters that will be installed.

Our first guest has already made himself right at home…

The matching coffee table is a really nice size as well. This patio has lovely afternoon shade all summer, so I think this may be the perfect spot to sneak away.

I added these subtle patterned Sunbrella pillows as well for another layer of comfort. These pillows are perfect because they come in a pack of 6 – no need to try to mix and match! I don’t need all 6 for this small space, so I actually keep a few out by the fire pit too.

Charlie thinks the extra pillows work great right here for afternoon napping.

Modeling can be exhausting…

We also leveled the pavers and gave them a fresh coat of semi-transparent concrete stain. Some freshly planted flowers for a little color, and this eyesore is well on it’s way to being a cute little lakeside oasis.

I’m linking all of these Sunbrella products I used below, as well as a few other favorites from Wayfair I’ve found! You can shop all of Wayfair’s Sunbrella products here as well.

SOURCES: Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

Sunbrella Rattan Coversation set

Sunbrella Pillow Set

May 27, 2021 By Kelly

White and Purple Flower Window Box Flowers

It’s been a rough start to the flower season here in MI. Late snow, freezing temps, then swinging straight on into the 90’s. So a typical spring for us I guess, ha! My flowers were looking a little sad from all the crazy weather. Now that they have had a few weeks to recover (although they still aren’t where I’d like them to be), I thought I would quick share what I planted this year.

White and Purple Flower Window Box Flowers

I always love a mix of purple and white with some fun greenery thrown in.

This year, I threw a little bit of everything in there. No plan, just grabbed what I liked at my local nursery! Cherry Valley Greenhouse is my fave for you locals.

I did a mix of Geraniums, Verbena, Lemon Licorice plant, Petunias, Bacopa, Calibrachoa, Petite licorice plant…and the kitchen sink ;)

Oh and my boxwoods are looking a little shaggy and misshapen. I’m letting them fluff up a bit before I trim them.

I love the silvery color of the Petite Licorice plants mixed in with all the white and purple.

I’ll have to do an update post later this summer when everything fills in!

I’m also itching to add window boxes on the cottage next door, but I guess I should wait until the new windows are actually installed first. An update on the guest cottage patio is coming up tomorrow. I know 3 posts in one week, who am I? :)

You can check out how we made these planter boxes in this post here – Window Boxes that Won’t Fall Apart

And all my window box tips and tricks here – How to Get Gorgeous Window Boxes

May 25, 2021 By Kelly

Lake House Outdoor Furniture

It is finally the most perfect time of year to live in Michigan and I could not be happier! My kids have a few weeks left of school and then we will be on the lake all day every day. You may have noticed our old patio furniture was relocated to the cottage next door. I was making way for a fun makeover with Crate and Barrel. I’m so excited to be partnering with Crate and Barrel on our new lake house outdoor furniture today!

Lake House Outdoor Furniture

I still remember registering at Crate and Barrel when the Mr. and I got married a million years ago. One of our first purchases for our apartment in Chicago back in the day was a big Crate and Barrel rug that we bought on Michigan Ave…and then promptly realized we would have to carry all the way home on the train. Their quality furniture and decor has long been a favorite of mine (our gorgeous bedroom nightstands are a recent fave find) and I am thrilled with how our patio turned out.

My goal for the patio was to make it a cozier spot to hang out for our whole family. Before we really only ever sat down here when we were using the old fire pit table. I wanted it to have a living room feeling where we could spend more quality time.

The Abaco Outdoor Sofa was the jumping off point for this design.

I love how comfortable this sofa is – seriously just as cozy as our living room sofa. These are not your typical flimsy outdoor cushions.

The Abaco is also super durable with the wicker base design. The Sunbrella cushions are really easy to care for.

It’s the perfect spot to curl up with a good book and enjoy the sunshine and lake view.

I loved the idea of the sofas facing one another like a living room, but wanted to add some accent seating as well.

The Regatta Grey Wash lounge chairs are the perfect fit.

I like the wood ladder backs as they aren’t too matchy-matchy with the sofas. They coordinate perfectly. I added Sunbrella lumbar pillows in White Sand for extra comfort.

My favorite new item may be the Millstone Coffee table! It looks like concrete, but it’s surprisingly lightweight and easy to move around.

I always love a good outdoor rug to dress up our boring concrete patio. The Hesper Striped Rug grounds the space nicely, and gives it that living room feel.

Of course I had to add a few accessories. These simple Navy Sunbrella pillows are the perfect pop of color out by the lake.

The rope detailing on the Calas Lanterns is so pretty. You may find these inside my house when the summer is over.

Let’s not forget the star of the show – these Sphere planters.

I shared a little sneak peek on my instagram stories the other day, and my inbox about blew up. I’m just as obsessed as you!

They are just so unique and fun. I popped hanging baskets in them that were filled with Bacopa, Verbena, and Lemon Licorice plants.

I’m so happy to have such a comfortable place to spend time with family and friends this summer. I’ll link all the Crate and Barrel products I used below as usual. You can also check out all their outdoor seating options here as well.

SOURCES:

Abaco Outdoor Sofa

Regatta Grey Wash Lounge Chair

Millstone Coffee Table

Hesper Striped Indoor/Outdoor Rug

Sunbrella Navy Pillow

Calas White Ceramic Lantern Small

Calas White Ceramic Lantern Medium

Calas White Ceramic Lantern Large

Sphere White Indoor/Outdoor Planters Small

Sphere White Indoor/Outdoor Planters Large

Sunbrella White Sand Outdoor Lumbar Pillow

May 18, 2021 By Kelly

Blue and White Bunk Room Bedding

Today is finally the day! The long awaited reveal of the bunk room…well the blue and white bunk room bedding at least. Our couch and the rest of the furniture is still in shipping nowhere-land, but the last of the bedding has arrived. I’m in love with it!

SOURCES: Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

I’ve been dreaming about this bunkhouse project since we bought this property 4 years ago. It’s so crazy to finally see it all come together.

I’m so excited to partner with Serena and Lily for today’s blog post because their bedding is my absolute fave! I’ve used it over and over again in our home, and the quality never disappoints.

Blue and White Bunk Room Bedding

We have their Beach Club sheets in our bedroom and they are the best! So crisp and cool and perfect for summer. The first bedding I ever purchased from Serena and Lily was a quilt for my son’s bedroom, and 4 years later it’s still in perfect condition. It has seen some things…and it washes up SO well!

Bedding is one area I wanted to splurge in the bunk room, because I wanted something that I know would last. All of the Serena and Lily bedding I have has held up great over the years from throws, to sheets, to duvet covers.

You all know I love blue and white. This space just called for some cute and classic stripey blue bedding.

I decided to use the Carlyle Coverlet in French Blue. I didn’t want to constantly be messing with duvet covers on six beds. Also this space will be used mostly in the summer months, and these are nice and lightweight but still cozy.

I wanted each bed to be a little different but still feel cohesive. I used the same Carlyle euro pillows and these gorgeous Corfu throw pillows. Then mixed it up with different lumbar pillows for a little personality.

The Monterey Lumbar pillow cover.

The Beach Stripe Lumbar pillow cover.

The Perennials Lake Stripe lumbar pillow cover.

I added two of the Beachcomber Cotton throw blankets because I absolutely love the one we have on our bed. I couldn’t resist grabbing a few more in the washed indigo color.

I cannot wait to host friends and family here this summer!

I can’t wait to share this space completed whenever the furniture decides to make an appearance!

Thanks again to Serena and Lily for partnering with me on this project. I’m going to link everything I used below, but also some of my other favorite Serena and Lily bedding items we have throughout our home!

BLUE AND WHITE BUNK ROOM BEDDING SOURCES:

Carlyle Coverlet

Carlyle Euro Pillow

Corfu Throw pillow

Perennials Lake Stripe lumbar pillow

Beach Stripe Lumbar pillow cover

The Monterey Lumbar pillow cover

Beachcomber Cotton throw blanket

Our Bedroom Bedding

You can see more of the pool house projects below as well.

Pool House Bathroom

Pool House Mudroom

Pool House Dining Area

Pool House Snack Bar

May 5, 2021 By Kelly

Must Have Makeup – My Daily Makeup Routine

Whenever I get messages on Instagram asking about my makeup, I usually refer them to my must have makeup post. Until I actually read it over today and realized it’s over 2 years old. I’ve switched out a few old faves for new products that I now love. I promise an update on the guest cottage is coming soon. I’m trying to stay out of the plumbers way this week, but in the meantime, I thought it would be the perfect time to refresh that post with my new faves! So here we go with my must have makeup – my daily makeup routine.

Must Have Makeup – My Daily Makeup Routine

SOURCES: Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. Just click on the BOLD links.

I thought I would also break down the order and the way I use each product in case that’s helpful. So let’s start with prepping my face. I wash and moisturize my face every morning and use this SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic serum I’ve mentioned before. I follow that up with Elemis Marine Cream with SPF and I’m ready for my makeup products.

Makeup Face Prep

PRIMERS –

First up, I have been using this IT Cosmetics Your Face But Better Primer for over a year now and I love it. I like to apply it after my moisturizer and let it set a bit before applying my CC cream. While that sets I apply the Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion. I have hooded eyes and without this stuff my eyeshadow creases horribly. I’ve been using this for a million years and I swear by it. I also lightly dab a bit of the Becca Eye Brightener under my eyes while everything is setting. Now my face is ready to go.

FOUNDATION –

I used to use a few different foundations depending on the season, but I’ve switched over exclusively to IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC cream with SPF. As I’m getting older, I just love the light coverage of this formula and the built in SPF.

CONCEALER –

Tarte Shape Tape is still my absolute fave. I just ordered the ultra creamy formula to try (my mom swears by it!), which is supposed to be better for aging skin. I like to use this under my eye, down the bridge of my nose, and a little dab on my chin and forehead.

SETTING POWDER –

After concealer and CC cream I set everything with powder. I’ve tried out a few different setting powders over the past 2 years and I’ve repurchased this Laura Mercier one twice now. It’s so nice and light and not cakey. It sets my make-up and reduces any shiny areas.

BRONZER –

Bronzers are another item that I have a drawer full of. This Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer was a fave through my late twenties, and I’m not sure why I stopped using it! It’s a great warm, not orange shade, with no sparkle. It just adds a really natural glow. I use it to contour my nose a bit too.

BLUSH –

I love this Benefit Cheek Party blush/bronzer sample set that I recently purchased. It was a great way to try a bunch of different colors without a big commitment. I actually really like all of the colors and have been rotating them. My fave for summer is the GALifornia Sunny Gold Pink Blush.

HIGHLIGHTER –

I like to use a little bit of highlighter (a little goes a long way) especially in the summer months. This Marc Jacobs O!Mega Glaze All-Over Foil Luminizer one is my go to. It has a really pretty glow. I use it on my brow bone and cheekbones. Bonus – it’s on major sale right now!

EYEBROWS –

Like most teenagers that grew up in the 90’s, I unfortunately suffered from the misguided over-plucking of my youth. Filling my sparse blonde eyebrows in is a must. This Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade makes it a pretty quick process, and the blonde color is the perfect tone for me. The Duo Brush makes it really easy to apply.

EYESHADOW –

This Tartelette 2 in Bloom Clay eyeshadow palette is still my fave. It has great neutrals for everyday, and some deeper colors for a more dramatic eye at night. I typically apply Flower Child over my whole lid, and Jetsetter and Sweetheart in my crease for daytime. For night I like to use Rebel or Activist. I also use the Smokeshow color along my lash line as an eyeliner.

EYELINER –

These Stila Stay All Day Waterproof liquid eyeliners are still my go to. They are so easy to apply since they have a felt-tip like applicator. If you can color in the lines you can use this. I like to use the Intense Smoky Quartz color for day, and Intense Black for a night out.

EYELASHES –

The Loreal Voluminous Lash Primer plus this IT Cosmetics Lash Blowout mascara has been my go to combo for the last year. I love how full and fluffy this combo makes my lashes look without being spidery.

LIPS –

I like to keep my lips looking pretty natural, but with a touch of color. I use this Charlotte Tilbury lipliner in Pillow Talk to lightly line and fill in my lips. Then for day I layer over this Buxom Power-full Plump Lip Balm in the color Big O. I love Buxom products, and this moisturizing lip balm with a hint of color is perfect for daytime. I love their Full-on Lip Cream for night.

SETTING SPRAY –

I finish everything off with a few spritzes of this Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. It really keeps my makeup put!

I think that’s it for my must have makeup – my daily makeup routine. I know it sounds like a lot of steps, but it only takes me about 10 minutes to apply. You can click on any of the bold links above or double-click on the squares below.

April 14, 2021 By Kelly

Guest Cottage Design Boards

We are still working away outside at the guest cottage while we wait on new windows and doors to arrive. I’ve been landscaping and tackling the patio. I’m actually staining the existing patio pavers to see if we can revive them. I’m not quite happy with where it’s at yet but I’m hoping to finish soon. Since it’s not ready for it’s close up, I thought I would share some of the guest cottage design boards I’ve been working on. As you know from following along with the pool house renovations I may change my mind a million times yet, but this is the direction my brain is going.

Guest Cottage Living Room Design

I’m embracing the old character of this cottage with the dark wood floors and paneled walls. I’ve decided on a classic cottage feel. First I want to brighten it up in there so the walls in the kitchen and living room will get several coats of white paint. The the new french doors will be gray inside and out. I’m going to carry the gray throughout the space on all of the trim for contrast.

We will be planking the ceilings in white as well. I plan on lightening up the wood floors with a large jute rug, and will probably layer something with some color and pattern on top. I love the look of the warm leather chairs for this space, and I’ll add a couch along the back wall as well.

Guest Cottage Kitchen Design

Let’s head over to the kitchen. After researching cabinets and finding out the lead times were insane, we decided to buy stock cabinets from Lowes. I didn’t even realize they had stock cabinets! They are available in white, gray and unfinished. Since I already have to paint all the walls we decided to skip on painting cabinets as well. We ordered the gray ones last week and they actually arrive Saturday. I’m crossing my fingers we measured everything right. Luckily since they are stock we can return them if we goofed up. We only needed 6 base cabinets so this seemed like an easy inexpensive route to fix up the kitchen. I will mention they have mixed reviews online, but since this kitchen won’t be getting daily heavy use I’m not too worried about it.

For the countertops I’m thinking about going dark with a soapstone look to contrast the white walls and ceilings. The kitchen will be in an L shape and there will be a sink under the new larger windows. On the back wall will be a retro looking fridge similar to the pool house fridge except larger. I’m on the hunt for an antique glass front cabinet to keep the toaster, microwave etc in.

I plan on taking the tile all the way up the wall, since there is no paneling behind where we ripped out the upper cabinets. I would also like to add some wood open shelving to tie in the color of the floors. There was a originally a light in the kitchen soffit so we will be swapping that out for two brass wall sconces instead.

That’s all I have so far, I’m still working out the bathroom design. I have no clues about the bedrooms, but it’s a start! The electrician and plumber will be starting in 2 weeks and then we can really get started inside.

March 30, 2021 By Kelly

Guest House Progress and Fire Pit

We’ve been brainstorming away over at the guest cottage. While still mostly in the planning stage, we have made a little bit of progress. Mostly in the form of demo!

Remember the kitchen?

It’s gone!

And the bathroom?

Gone too!

I think this is one of those instances, where it’s got to get worse before it gets better right? Here’s hoping anyway! The bathroom feels so much larger with everything ripped out. It’s actually a 5×8 space which isn’t terrible size-wise. They just had it set up so odd.

The new plan is to put a shower/tub combo along that back wall, which means we will lose the window. Then the toilet and pedestal sink will be on the same wall instead of facing each other. We also are relocating the hot water heater out of this room, which will make the biggest difference. We are hoping the plumber can rough that in during the next few weeks.

We also ripped out the drop ceiling. I can’t even explain how much better it smells in here now that it is gone. We have plans to plank the ceilings instead (don’t worry I’ll share the whole process!).

We ordered stock cabinets for the kitchen, and they will be delivered in a few weeks. It seems like we are trucking right along. The only snag we are hitting is there is a 10 week lead time on the new windows. This slows down some of the inside painting and trim finishes, etc.

Since we are as far as we can be inside at the moment, we’ve gotten a head start on the outside.

First to go was that dilapidated shed! I cannot believe how much better the view is with that thing gone.

We had a local landscaping company (Landscape Impressions if you are local) regrade the yard, and add a circle of pea gravel for a fire pit area. The hay is covering the grass seed so it doesn’t run into the lake. A pallet of leftover fireplace stone has been sitting in our garage for the last 4 years. I always knew there was a reason I was hanging on to it!

We used it to border the new firepit area. These quick iPhone photos don’t really do it justice. It’s hard to tell in the photos, but this little house sits up on a hill and has a pretty steep yard. We were able to perfectly nestle the fire pit area right in between these 4 trees. We also had all the dead tree branches removed which made a huge difference too.

We bought a bag of mortar and surrounded the firepit ring with the leftover stone as well. It was still drying when I took these quick photos, but I’m really happy with how it looks. I’ll have to finish and style this space once the grass comes in, and we finish the rest of the landscaping. I’m so excited about having s’mores out here this summer with the kids.

We also power washed the whole house which made such a huge difference too. The siding thankfully looks brand new. We have new gutters coming as well.

Oh, also I wanted to thank you all for the fun name suggestions! I think Tadpole Cottage and Pollywog Cottage are definitely the top contenders!

GUEST COTTAGE EXTERIOR UPDATE

Black and White Staircase Gallery Wall

Guest Cottage Porch Makeover

White and Purple Flower Window Box Flowers

Lake House Outdoor Furniture

Blue and White Bunk Room Bedding

Must Have Makeup – My Daily Makeup Routine

Makeup Face Prep

PRIMERS –

FOUNDATION –

CONCEALER –

SETTING POWDER –

BRONZER –

BLUSH –

HIGHLIGHTER –

EYEBROWS –

EYESHADOW –

EYELINER –

EYELASHES –

LIPS –

SETTING SPRAY –

Guest Cottage Living Room Design

Guest Cottage Kitchen Design

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