Don't miss this house tour - a glamorous beach cottage that still manages to be laid back

This beach home, located on Bald Head Island, belongs to interior designer Lisa Sherry.

It's a dream of mine to one day have a beach home.  I imagine there is a special kind of insurance for vacation properties, so if you plan on having a vacation home one day, be sure to look into it, or you can secure your home with Privilege building and contents insurance.*

Lisa's home is a three-bedroom with a screened-in wraparound porch. Let's start with the best part, shall we?  The wraparound porch

How great would it be to nap on this divan?

I would live on that porch.  I love the dining table and chairs.

I can't decide if I like the cluster of paper lanterns...what do you think?

 The '70's home was one of the first built on the island.  Lisa freshened it up by tearing down some walls and painting almost everything white.

    I think the guest bedroom, with the sheers, is my favorite.


via Lonny Mag
*disclosure: this post in partnership with Privilege.com

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For the love of old houses...

I LOVE old houses - so much charm, history, character, and individuality.  A lot of maintenance too - but the pay off is worth it.  I grew up in an almost 200 year-old colonial on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.  Hardwood floors with as many ups and downs as an old country lane, old glass windows that gave you "wavy" vision when you looked out of them...I have a special place in my heart for old houses.

Here are some great examples of how savvy homeowners have turned their oldies but goodies into even better...ies...from the master of old houses, This Old House..


The 3 images below are from the home of their Reader Remodel Contest, a 1920s Colonial Revival in Orlando, Florida.

 The kitchen was my favorite part of the renovation.  I love white cabinetry...and the space is so bright and airy..

The family worked hard to keep the soul of the house in tact...

LOVE the board and baten door...


They also featured lots of great 1 room makeovers.  Here were some of my fav's

Before:

contractor grade cabinets make me cringe...

After:
Gorgeous - love the floors...

The kitchen below isn't too far from what my parents are dealing with now in their 70s rancher...

pretty amazing transition huh?  Check out the sconces above the stove hood...

This living room is possibly my favorite redo - I think the fireplace is simply fabulous.  Love the built-in's too.  Only thing I might rethink is the rug.


Do you like old houses?  Have you ever lived in one and undertaken a renovation?

If you want to read more about these makeovers go to This Old House or pick up the July 2011 issue...

*disclosure: I received a copy of This Old House July 2011 to review as a sample

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