A cozy new home comes together

BY CLAIRE LYNCH

Ever since she was a young girl Dana liked looking at houses. She was fascinated with all different types of houses and as she got older her interest grew even more. She asked questions about the Tudors and the cape cod houses and the colonials. Dana took in all the information and remembered every detail she was told. She had an instinctive eye for design and when it was time to go to college, Dana majored in architecture. To her relatives, that major was no surprise. It was right up her alley.

When Dana married Brett after college graduation, they decided to work for themselves. They started out by purchasing and renovating old cottages, small houses that needed good paint jobs, insulation, heating, window air conditioning units and some overall fixing up. Most times Dana and Brett added some modern conveniences like dishwashers and microwave ovens.

Most of these old cottages were close to the beaches. Many people used them as second homes - in the summertime when the living was good and their time was more leisurely. They could fish, go swimming and work on their suntans. The cottages were basic houses, too small and rustic for year ‘round living but perfect places for people who drove out from the city to Suffolk County for vacations and long weekends. They were convenient and handy.

Brett had majored in construction management so in many ways Dana and Brett were the perfect pair. They figured they’d start out small and go from there. The cottages were ideal in that sense. They’d say they were going to work that day to fix up “the cottage,” whichever one was their focus at that time, and they saw the charm and the potential in each one. The cottages were like shiny pearls waiting to be unearthed and discovered.

It took some hard work for the old cottages to be transformed into the homes they could be but Dana and Brett were diligent about working on them and hired subcontractors to do their magic. In time their projects were complete.

Dana and Brett proudly showed off their finished cottages once fully renovated. Inviting their friends and relatives to come and take a look, they’d stand back in the glistening sun and admire their handiwork.

But first they gave us a bit of history. In America, the Cottage Revival style of houses was made popular during the 1920s. There was a housing boom in this country after World War I ended. Many people said those homes brought cozy charm and whimsical craftsmanship to tree-lined streets in communities across the country. The cottage-style homes used elements of classic English architecture. That’s what made them quaint and attractive. In England many of the cottage-style homes have thatched roofs but in this country most have sturdy, practical roofs.

One day several of us went to look at their latest project and we were impressed. Dana and Brett were especially proud of this one because they had renovated it for themselves. It wasn’t for their weekend getaways from Queens where they were from - this house was for year ‘round living. It would be their new home. We were happy to have a tour of the cottage so we started outside.

Fresh coats of paint on the exterior of the house made it shine. They had chosen a medium blue color for the exterior that was warm and welcoming. Beautiful, it reminded me of the color of the sky. We admired the asymmetrical roofs because they were so typical of old cottages. The oversized chimney stood up top proudly, ready to huff and puff and do its job on cold days.

Walking along a brick pathway to the back of the house, Dana started our indoor tour in the rear where it featured a wide enclosed porch that was ground level and looked out at a huge garden. Dana used the room for her sewing and scrapbooking projects that was off to the side. Several large comfortable chairs were ready for their occupants, owners and visitors alike, to enjoy the view year ‘round in all types of weather. They were indoors but the elements were just inches away so you could see the rain pounding down and almost taste the fine snow when it fell on cold, wintry days.

Leaving the porch, we headed through a large arched doorway toward the front of the house and passed two bedrooms as we went. One was on the left and the other was on the right. The main room at the front of the house was the living room, what people used to call “the parlor,” and it was perfect for entertaining guests or having family movie nights. As we toured, I noticed that their cottage had plenty of windows that let in lots of natural light.

Dana and Brett had chosen Miller Place as their home town because it was near the Long Island Sound and their block was a quiet street. At sundown in late summer they’d hear the sounds of the cicadas as they sang and every morning they thought the sunrises were the most beautiful they’d ever seen. Early risers, Dana and Brett would sit on the porch drinking coffee and looking at nature right outside their windows. The robins, the blue birds and the red-winged blackbirds were a joy to behold. Fascinated, they’d watch their backyard birds looking for food and drinking from a water fountain they had set up for them.

They knew they had chosen and renovated their new home wisely when they slept well each night and couldn’t wait to arise each morning. Heading off to their jobs during the week, they’d return each evening to enjoy their “blue cottage.” It was amazing.

On weekends they’d go to the beach at Miller Place. Looking up and out at the Connecticut shoreline, they’d happily spot bits of Bridgeport and Milford. Dana and Brett would put their toes in the water to see if it was cold or just right for swimming. After a refreshing dip in the summertime Dana and Brett would return home, content. They had found paradise in Miller Place and their blue cottage.

This is fiction.