Recently, I met Mollie when she did a giveaway for me of a custom stamp from The Paper Cafe and she is the delightful lady behind this cute business. She showed me pics of her adorable cottage in Annapolis, MD and I just loved it. So, I asked her if I could show it off on my blog and she agreed, so today we are taking a tour of Mollie’s cute coastal cottage. Besides being a small business owner, Mollie also does volunteer work with adults in her community who are in need of help getting a high school diploma.
Her story is an inspiring one, so I’ll let her tell it:
We’re a family of 5, empty-nesters, with 3 kids now in their 20’s and I’m married to my high school sweetheart hubby of nearly 30 years.
We lived about 15 minutes away for the past 12 years, but we wanted to move down into the city of Annapolis, because we are part of starting up a new expression of church (her hubby is one of the Pastors) here in the city. We wanted to live among those we are serving. God has given us many opportunities to reflect His love to those around us, including midshipmen from the US Naval Academy, St. John’s College, the poor and needy in public housing areas of the city, and young professionals in many of the neighborhoods surrounding our beautiful city of Annapolis. It’s also the state capital.
Housing prices in the area were astronomical, but we were able to purchase our home (miracle!!), which needed a TON of work, when the housing market hit rock bottom (that’s another amazing story!!).
The house was built in 1921, with a back addition added back in the 80’s. It’s in a fabulous location a few blocks from the water, restaurants, shops, the US Naval Academy, etc. We can walk or kayak downtown, or take the water taxi out to eat!!
The house was in very bad shape. With donated funds for the renovation, and over 60 friends (and even some strangers!) who volunteered hundreds of hours of demolition help, carpentry skills, electrical work, tiling, painting, refinishing the hardwood floors… we purchased the house in October of 2008, and moved in about 7 months later, in May of 2009.
(Kitchen BEFORE)
Some of the renovations included Electrical: had to rewire the entire house. Had the old knob and tube wiring, not safe! Living room: tore out old radiators (kept one for nostalgia sake:), carpet, and a layer of concrete that had been poured to level out the floor (nasty!!), and refinished the beautiful wood floors underneath. Put new lighting in throughout the whole house. Kitchen: tore up 4 or so layers of old linoleum, laid down tile, new cabinets, knocked out a wall to open up kitchen into dining/living area. Sunroom, tore up carpet, put in tile, 2 Bathrooms: new tile, new vanities. Porch: put up ceiling fan. Painted whole house. Had to redo a lot of plumbing, too.
(Kitchen: AFTER)
(Living room BEFORE)
We accomplished a TON with very little money. You wouldn’t believe the deals I got at Goodwill (my cute rocker in the living room), my 3-tiered wire basket on top of the china cabinet, that cabinet was found on the side of the road, and I had glass shelves made for it! The living room table. I sold the old stuff on Craigslist to buy new pieces that would fit the size and look of our new home. Curtains in kitchen are made from placemats.
I also love the living/dining room. All the love that went into re-doing those old floors, fixing holes in walls, etc. what a transformation!!
I refinished the top of the table, and painted the chairs and pedestal black; looks like a million bucks now!
Sunroom
(Front Porch BEFORE)
(Porch AFTER)
The rug on the porch from Pottery Barn I found on the side of the road.
My favorite room is hard to pick, but I love our blue, beachy bedroom! Looks so fresh in white and blue! Found the white matelasse cover in a 75% off bin:). You’ll notice there are words up around the border of the room. those are decals, with all of our favorite beaches/ocean/island spots, including places where we grew up, where we honeymooned, family vacations, etc! very special.
We had a wonderful open house when we moved in and invited all the people that helped us with the renovation, as well as all of our new neighbors that we are enjoying getting to know!
It’s been so fun for us to watch this dream become a reality, with the help of so many wonderful friends. Have loved decorating, sharing our home with others, and being able to walk everywhere has been so much fun.
Mollie, thank you for stopping by and sharing with everyone! What a sweet story you and your hubby have and I’m so excited that you are living out your dream in this beautiful spot. What a blessing that is.
Mollie doesn’t have a blog, so I’m happy to show off her house here for all of you. If you’d like to see more of Mollie’s house, click on her Smilebox for a nice tour and music.
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I’m really excited to be a part of the Holiday with Matthew Mead blogger’s Contributor panel, along with a talented group of other bloggers and you can find the whole panel of bloggers here. I look forward to sharing and getting inspired by everyone else too.
Don’t forget that you can pre-purchase your Holiday magazine and it will be delivered to your door in October of this year, just in time for Holiday inspiration. You won’t find this one on the news-stand!
As a special incentive, Matthew has a wonderful giveaway for those of you who purchase the magazine this Thursday and Friday (so today is the last day) and the giveaway winner will be announced on Saturday, so if you’d like to get in on that, click over and check it out. I will definitely be ordering my copy too. No one does Holiday inspiration better than Matthew!
Here are the giveaway prizes, if you order your copy by today!
janice says
Good Morning Rhoda !!!
When this page first opened, all I could see was the top photo and realized immediately that Mollie’s Coastal Cottage was just minutes away from me in beautiful Annapolis, Md.
If you ever venture up this way, the quaint town of Annapolis (Maryland’s capital) is a must see!!!
I loved seeing what Mollie accomplished with the help of friends and neighbors. Her home is cozy, comfy and gave me many possible ideas for future “enhancements”.
I’m going to put Mollie’s shop on a “fer sure day trip”……
janice
Traci says
Happy Friday, Rhoda!
What a great post. I love hearing and seeing what she did with this house. I love projects like this! She sounds so thrifty and has great taste. Love her!! And her heart is just as beautiful. God bless her and her ministry.
Traci
Donna Frasca says
Isn’t it amazing what you can do with a little decorating insight? I had a home in PGH from 1926 and I know all about those renovations. You did an amazing job! Beautiful!!
Angela says
What an inspiration! We are years away from buying or building a house, but when we do, I so look forward to decorating with thrift store/yard sale finds! I love the idea of taking something old and making it new, making it my own, unique piece. What a wonderful story!
sandi @ the whistlestop cafe says
I’d love to have a coastal cottage just like that… one day. Happy Friday my friend!
Kim says
Rhoda, what a great story of friends and volunteers coming together to help them rebuild their home. It is so inviting and comfortable casual like I prefer. Thanks for sharing this story.
Marty@A Stroll thru Life says
Such a lovely cottage and so beautifull renovated. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Marty
Kathy@Creative Home Expressions says
I ordered one of her stamps after your giveaway, so I was pleasantly surprised to see this post! What a lovely area and a lovely home Mollie and her hubby have created here. Love the kitchen cabinets and how neat that there is a sunroom AND a porch!
Natalie says
These before and after pictures are amazing!
and psst, I am hosting a giveaway on my blog today…hope you’ll come by and enter 🙂 xo
Cindy S says
Their home is really lovely, I love the kitchen and the blue bedroom. They have done an amazing job on it and it is so nice to know that it will be lived in by such a great couple. Hugs, Cindy S
Jenny Moon says
I ordered my copy today!!!! I love the cottage and their story. It was just the thing I needed today!!!!
Thanks,
Jenny
Melanie Parker says
Love the home and area. Beautiful!!
Sarah says
That’s great. Thanks for sharing!
I recently posted about a free report I wrote with ways to help others grow their blogs if your interested. You can find it at http://bloggerchixdesigns.blogspot.com/p/grow-your-blog-free-report.html
Blogger Chix Designs
Lila Ferraro says
What a sweet story! I love the before and afters. Her kitchen now is so beautiful.
Lila Ferraro
Queen Bedroom Sets
Sheila says
Hi Rhoda,
I enjoyed seeing the changes Mollie made to her lovely home. Its a dream that dear hubby & I will one day hopefully live by the water. I found this post inspiring & it made me hold onto that dream just a little stronger. TFS! Sheila
Melinda says
Mollie’s story and her home are very inspiring!! Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on being picked as one of the contributors for Matthew’s new holiday magazine. That is wonderful!! Love & blessings from NC!
Mona says
It is just amazing what some pretty paint and some TLC can do for a home…Simple things…
What a beautiful job you did…
Courtney @ nesting instincts says
wow…I’m tired just thinking of all the work this must have taken. But what a blessing to have so many people who cared to invest their time! You folks must be well-loved. 🙂
Rhoda, thanks for stopping by Nesting Instincts! You’re a sweetheart. 🙂
Veronica says
Found your site from House of Hepworth’s blog roll. I love how the inside of this cute cottage turned out.