When we bought the cottage, it hadn’t been lived in for nearly 20 years. It was in pretty rough shape and needed a lot of work. We hoped to keep as many of the original features as possible, but the roof was collapsing, and everything inside had to be stripped back.
Cal “carefully” removed the internal concrete render from the stone walls — using a sledgehammer! This was to help the stone walls breathe and avoid damp. Who knew demolition could be so delicate?
We were lucky to have a fantastic roofer who took down the old, collapsing roof and a brilliant neighbour who’s a builder. He has been a huge help with lots of projects since. Cal built the metal frame inside the house, and our neighbour installed all the wall sheets which immediately transformed the place.
Since there were no foundations at all, we had to clear the ground and pour new ones, plus install all-new doors and windows because the originals were rotted through.
For the first few months we camped indoors — sleeping bags on a cold concrete floor, no walls or electricity, and just cold water. Definitely not the kind of camping we’d recommend, but it was an adventure!
As winter approached, we worried about our dogs being too cold and had to move out again for a couple of months.
By February 2023, we finally had electricity connected and the plastering and bathroom done, so we could move back in for good. Since then, we’ve been slowly decorating and adding furniture — taking our time to make the house feel like home.
We just had our kitchen finished in April 2025 by a fantastic local carpenter, and we absolutely love it.
It’s been hard work, full of ups and downs, but every step has brought us closer to the little homestead we dreamed of.