Retro Tiny Cottage Livingroom

If only before pictures could convey scent…the thing I loved most about the tiny cottage when we bought our home was the original windows that filled the room with light. The room itself wasn’t terrible- except the smell and the air. It had about 40 years- maybe more- of cigarette smoke and nicotine that had become part of the surfaces. The popcorn ceiling in particular was holding it and the walls would leak nicotine sap whenever the moisture changed in the room. Nasty stuff. After testing, we scraped down ALL the ceilings in the cottage (which was absolutely miserable DIY work) and then repair them. Walls were treated with many, many rounds of vinegar until all the smoke residue was leeched out. After that, this project was really just paint and decor to make the space cozy and efficient. The wall of windows from this 1940 build as well as the flat lines gave this room a very midcentury vibe so I leaned into that when decorating. The great thing about small spaces especially vintage ones with built ins is you can see exactly how the original architect meant to use the space. We had a built in desk and some shelving in the space so simply had to find pieces that were size appropriate and made the space as usable and enjoyable as possible. All the furniture is second hand.

To enjoy the transformation, click and swipe through.