How to Preserve Vintage Charm During a Cottage Renovation

The key? Define your non-negotiables, accent instead of remove and find the right team.

Embarking on a renovation can be one of the best things you do to your cottage, especially if you do it the right way. When your cottage renovation is done with the right craftsmanship and intention, you can create a renovated cottage that still carries character and vintage charm. However, if done the wrong way, your renovated cottage can lose its character and get stripped of the charm that makes it so special.

Wondering how to renovate your cottage in a way that reflects the vintage character and soul of your home? Here’s how.

First, define your non-negotiables.

Before you start your cottage renovation, it’s really important to understand what you love. In fact, understanding what you love is essential to making sure you don’t make unnecessary cuts during your cottage renovation. Make a list of all of the details in your cottage that you’re partial to and want to keep, from certain furnishings you love all the way to original flooring that you don’t want to remove. This list is your non-negotiable list, and these are the things that you want to focus on preserving during your cottage renovation.

Find ways to accent instead of remove.

When you’re embarking on a cottage renovation, there’s a delicate balance to strike. You want to add new levels of depth and modernity to your cottage, but you also want to preserve vintage charm. The key to doing this? Accent charming pieces instead of removing them.

For instance, you may want to keep your original hardwood — but you may want to restore it first. You may love pieces of a certain light fixture, but you may want to repurpose some of those pieces in a new way. Instead of focusing on what you can remove, focus on highlighting and updating the things that you adore first — and your vintage charm will keep shining through.

Work with the right team.

At Gilbert + Burke, preserving vintage charm in cottage renovations is a key tenet of what we do. If you’re ready to renovate your cottage with a team who cares about your cottage as much as you do, contact us today! We’re ready to help you craft a stunning, timeless and charming cottage renovation in Ontario.

If you’re embarking on the cottage renovation process yourself, congratulations! You’ve got this. Download your copy of the Canadian Cottager’s Guide to Vintage Remodelling for everything you need to know, and, remember: we’re always here to help!