Photos by Hillary Ehlen
After a bout of misfortune last year, this lovely 1932 cottage was left with extensive water damage. Enter Jamie R. Swenson of Park Co. Realtors and Kyle Pieper of Pieper Shingling & Construction who gutted the interior down to the studs. In September 2017, Design & Living Magazine featured the before photos. Now, it’s time to reveal the results of their labor of love.
Since our last visit to this property, the home has been purchased by Jane and Dave Dahlgren previously of Apple Valley, Minnesota. The Dahlgrens officially moved into their new house in December 2017 with their two cats.
Kitchen
Before, it was hard to imagine what the kitchen would look like when finished. Now, it has modern amenities including stainless steel appliances and barn wood accents. However, the most dramatic change was the switch to an open floor plan.
After they moved in, Jane Dahlgren’s sister-in-law helped organize the kitchen, which made unpacking a bit easier for the Dahlgrens.
The first time the Dahlgrens set foot in the home, the remodel was still underway and the couple saw its hidden potential. By the time they closed, it was move-in-ready. Now, it is easy to see why anyone would want to live in this space.
Dining Room
Although Swenson and Pieper gave the home some much-needed updates, they wanted to keep the home’s original character intact. During the remodel, they found this built-in telephone cabinet, which they saved and incorporated into the new dining room. They were also able to restore the original fireplace and staircase.
Upstairs, Swenson and Pieper added more rustic wood accents to the ceiling in the hallway.
Upstairs, Swenson and Pieper repurposed an old door they found in the house as the door to the master closet, creating a unique spin on the classic sliding barn door. Best of all, the Dahlgrens love their new neighborhood, especially the mature trees lining the streets, and can’t wait to make use of their outdoor space this summer.
