Well… seems I’m already failing miserably at my 2026 one-post-a-week challenge. Cool. Cool.
In my defense, a LOT has happened in the last month between moving into the cottage, all the work happening on the main house, and an ice storm that our pug, Aliza, refused to poop in.
However, today Cody is traveling, and I’ve finally found a (conference-call-free) pocket of quiet time to process my thoughts.

The first decision I made for this cottage was the tub. I knew she had to be saved from the main house renovation, and although she would have been great in one of the guest bathrooms, I wanted to be able to share her with our guests.

We want this space to be a true retreat for whoever stays with us. Whether it’s future guests or family, the goal is to create a space where bed rotting is desired – even if someone has to get up and get moving anyway. I wanted every space in this cottage, especially the bed and bath, to feel like home but at the same time like a special treat.

A friend once told me that when she was renovating her home, she bought her stove before she even bought her house. I’ve never felt more seen.

Progress has been slow, but in most cases, really good. Just one major hiccup – our very expensive windows. Unfortunately, not having windows dictates the timing of many other things. While we wait, we’ve picked out a ton of finishes, had most of our carpentry and trim work done, cabinets installed, and Cody has painted

While we can’t wait to be in the main house—and would love to see that vision come together ASAP—we’re making the cottage the priority.