Inside Sarah Richardson’s Rental Cottage

Not an inch went untouched in this fast-paced, dollar-wise renovation. See for yourself…

Sarah and Alex’s goal? To turn this mid-century cottage into a summer money-maker.

And so Sarah needed some help. Who better to call than Tommy, of course!

Immediately upon entering the cottage, Sarah noticed it was very vintage. Alex loved the teal ceiling in the kitchen and living room area, but Sarah wasn’t fond of how dark it looked.

Both Alex and Tommy joked that Sarah was going to paint it all white.

Though it did come with some amazing built-ins, like these sofa beds.

Ah, a fresh coat of paint quickly changed Alex’s mind. He was totally converted after seeing the brightness and crispness of the new space. And the floors? Showstopping.

Sarah wanted the area to look modern and really bring the light in. She stuck to grey, white, and blue–colours pulled from the amazing landscape and the views.

Sarah was sure to ask herself: “Would I want to dine at that table?” After the makeover, she can happily answer yes.

Painting the built-in sofa beds helped make the whole room look different.

It’s the perfect combo of retro elements in a crisp, streamlined space.

The original kitchen felt cut off from the rest of the room.

It was quite dark, and Sarah hated that whoever was cooking or doing dishes wouldn’t be able to see the great outdoors.

Retro? Yes. A space Sarah would want to cook in herself? No.

She quickly decided she needed to make the kitchen functional and open.

Voila! Knocking down the wall to help open up the room, Sarah also added cabinetry, stools at the kitchen overhang, and huge, uninterrupted counters.

Not only is it more modern, it’s now more practical for renters.

Now, nobody will be cooking without being able to see the amazing view.

It’s the cottage kitchen of everyone’s dreams.

Watch this room’s makeover here.

The small bathroom had unexpected elements, like a black sink and a shower that looked like it was going to beam you up to space, Sarah joked.

Sarah was determined to make the tiny space, which was old and dark, simply sparkle.

She brought in an adjustable shower head: a genius way to make a shower work for everyone from tall adults to small children.

And before long, the small bathroom was transformed into a beautiful bathroom, thanks to the power of paint.

Sarah even kept the glass from the old bathroom cabinets to make new, gorgeous open shelving. She then added some antique metal baskets under the vanity for extra storage.

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Next up, the bunkroom, with a great waterside location.

It’s the perfect kids’ space, with plenty of bunk beds.

Using blue as a jumping off point, Sarah decided to keep the nautical theme going strong.

She added more space-saving touches, like hanging baskets.

It’s a fun spot that could house an entire family, if need be!

The finished bunkroom is ready for fun.

Actually, it was a storage room–and it was totally packed.

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One look around had Sarah dreaming of turning it into an extra bedroom.

Sarah and Tommy’s choice of cheery yellow and an oar rack project give the new bedroom a nautical flair.

It’s now warm and welcoming for extra guests.

Wouldn’t you want to be invited here?

Stepping into the master bedroom, Sarah was reminded of a treehouse. With high vaulted ceilings and lots of windows, it had great bones.

The built-in furniture was again, a major bonus.

Sarah didn’t think too much demolition was needed in this space.

Instead, she painted, painted, painted (white, of course!), and gave the bedroom an airy, watery feel.

Using spa-inspired tones, Sarah worked to make this bedroom as comfy as a five-star hotel.

The built-in bedside tables were reinvigorated with stainless steel tops, a nod to nautical style.

Plus, a little nook was added for that oh-so-enjoyable morning coffee.

The finished master bedroom is ethereal, light, soft and inviting.

The cottage’s exterior brought a more difficult challenge.

It definitely needed some love.

Sarah, Alexander and Tommy figured out how to save a leaning stonewall and spruce up the porch.

They even installed a screened porch for inclement weather.

This was the perfect spot for the solar shed.

Alexander built a solar shed to serve most of the cottage’s energy needs.

The sunset deck was old, sun-bleached, and battered.

Not to mention, it had a become a meal for carpenter ants!

Sarah’s team totally re-built the deck, and the end result is stunning.

A comfy sofa, two chairs, a coffee table and side tables helped turn it into a hotspot for soaking up rays or sunset cocktails.

In six short weeks, the entire cottage is revived and ready for renters.