Design
Guest Cottage Update: The Front French Doors! + Slider Debate!
I know it doesn’t look like much progress, but we are moving forward, and there is a lot of hope (and a very long list of things to do). Perhaps I overbooked myself at the beginning of the summer (WHOOPS), and this schedule has proven to be much too hectic thus far (with personal/kid stuff), which is all my doing. So when I got back from our first family trip, I looked at my list and was overwhelmed by the amount to do to keep moving. I’m trying to give myself space and time on this project, but I also really want (and now need) some rooms to be usable by September, so this lady needs to move. So today, we have an update on a few things that I’m excited about. A few weeks ago, I gave you the plan for the doors and windows here, and I’m happy to say that they are installed and look pretty darn great.
We ended up going with smaller, readymade French doors that we can paint. We lost about 18″ of light on both sides and 10″ at the top, and you know what? I don’t even notice inside. Driving into the property now is so much more charming than even the big barn slider. As you can tell, it broke off and fell, and we almost decided just to leave it off, but since we shot this, they reinstalled it, but put the track on wrong, and it neither fully opens nor fully closes now. They say it’s fixable (we found the missing track link), but it’s so dang heavy that it’s a thing. Brian kinda wants to just scrap it and take it off, but he also agrees that it’s a unique original feature that we might really miss.
See? Once it’s gone, you don’t miss it… Except I would of course now add a window in the “kitchen” to flank the new French doors. You have to remember that we are also going to rip out that concrete pad and landscape it all (with cute paths), so it will look so much more inviting.
Here she is with the door, painted white (which was our default plan). I hadn’t really thought about doing anything interesting on it outside of white paint until I took the 30 seconds of design/brain space. We were brainstorming as a team, and Marlee mentioned that this is a great place to do another mural, but more quilt-themed. We were all VERY into this.
Now this wouldn’t be the exact one, but you get it – paint a fun quilt motif on the slider that would draw your eye and be more interesting than just the white. Before construction began, when people would walk past this house, they wouldn’t notice it, like at all. I would talk about the guest house, and our actual friends would say, wait, where is it? I realized that the slider is actually not very inviting, whereas the French doors are. I think the slider, as it was just, looked like a bit of a shed or barn, but the French doors said, “Hi, I’m a sweet home. Come in!” So maybe the quilt motif is the key!!
What do you think??? Should we keep it or just make it look really pretty without it?
Certainly, our garages can prove that once designed and painted the right color (SW Dutch Tile Blue), the charm is there. The French doors are so cute, but the slider is original and so unique!
From the inside, it looks like this, which is admittedly a little jarring, because it’s still just stock white right now. We will be painting it a color, but I’m not sure what yet. I just bought a bunch of Samplize stickers to see where we are headed.
We’ll patch and clad the new framing around with the reclaimed wood that almost matches (we know it won’t look seamless, but there are a lot of places that it is patched and you don’t notice/it’s charming). Overall, Brian and I are so pleasantly surprised. I took the cheaper route for sure, and while of course something custom could look epic, the two (almost) $15k quotes we got versus the $1,500 French doors (plus 1 day hanging and framing labor) was absolutely the right call for us, for this project.
You have to picture it painted dark, maybe a merlot, navy, dark green… I’m not sure yet, but something that doesn’t pop like crazy bright, but something moody and dark.
And yes, the other original window is staying. It’s so cute!
Real quick. I heard from our window restoration company that these big, huge windows that I was so excited to reglaze and rehang are not in good enough shape after all. He has taken on the task of rebuilding instead, but at much less than the original $5k quote, but we’ll see! As soon as they are done and look great, I’ll link up the local company and give them some love. But that’s another pivot that happened last week.
And most of you voted to keep the location of the awkward, cute little window on the second floor. Here’s where the vote landed:
It was a pretty dang close vote. Seeing it moved does look better!!! Gah! But everything is a thing and costs money, but what if moving this window (and restoring it–it’s not in great shape) is only a 1-day job!
Upstairs, inside, you can see now that the old shower and toilet stalls have been removed, so we technically could move it over. But…
This corner is going to be one of the nicest shoot spaces. I can’t tell if moving it will be a good thing for that or limit our space more. This entire house needs to be a flexible shoot space for work – almost like a movable set. I’m even excited to shoot Christmas here (if done in time). So we are designing it for great natural light, lots of textures and colors, but trying not to lock in any corner for now.
Ok, back to the slider – Y’all. Brian is team “too much work and money, and is it worth it?” Mostly because driving up and seeing the French doors is actually so cute and more inviting. I’m totally on the fence. But y’all, at the final hour of writing this, while with my team, Marlee suggested doing like a mural on the barn door, and you KNOW I love a mural. More inspiration to come, but how fun would that be!!
*Photos by Kaitlin Green
I would personally skip the slider and plant a nice looking tree on thta side instead, that way you get the visual interest you want + you save the money 🙂 You could make a raised garden box around the base of the tree that you could paint the same blue as the french doors.
I agree that the landscaping could make a HUGE difference. Always does. And everything thrives up here so easily.
If the slider would be functional I would say “keep it with the mural!” But since it seems like just an added expense and pain in the butt to use I would just say find another cute feature to put out front that honors the home
to make it fully functional we’d have to take the track back off and repair it a bit before putting it back on (there are some cracks that are making the door super hard and heavy to open and close). And then patching, painting, etc. I’d say on the ‘pain in the butt’ scale its a 6. 🙂
I think without the slider, it reads as a cottage/inviting place to stay. With slider, it reads as barn/industrial building for animals or grain or whatever, not as a home.
I agree 🙂
choice 1 – no slider (for now)
I would keep the slider stored away as it is.
The painted mural doesn’t add any historical flair. The historic slider will change significantly and no longer fit in with the historical style; it might look more like a forced addition.
To me, it looks like a patterned band aid for children, hiding or disguising something that isn’t actually bad 😉
If you need the white version (which is historically reasonable) for insulation in winter, you can put it back.
I like your insight, Eve. I love a mural but I worry that this one is so front and center the second you drive up that it might be like ‘woah Americana’ in a way that is too bold or something. The floral mural on the barn is more a secret, something you see when you are in the backyard and you are like ‘wait what is that room? I want to go there? but this is SOOO prominent when people drive up, for good or bad.
I voted for the mural but not sure if it worked. I didn’t think I would like it at all – I thought hell no when you mentioned it, but then when I saw it I was like oh, actually, yes!
I think that the quick graphic we made might not do it justice either. Like I would probably simplify it to be just with with blue quilt pattern, maybe an accent color but be pretty paired back.
The slider mural is beautiful… but it detracts from the welcoming french door focal point.
Could you skip the slider but add a mural element that keeps the focus on the french doors? Fake french door shutters?
The slider mural is beautiful… but it detracts from the welcoming french door focal point.
Could you skip the slider but add a mural element that keeps the focus on the french doors? French door shutters?
This is brilliant 👏
OOOOOOOOOH that is cute!!!!!!!!!
While the slider is unique and an original element, I think having an additional window in that spot would be better in the long run. I am always a fan of more light!
ok two things: 1. the house is a carriage house! I wonder if calling it “the carriage house” would kind of change how people see it? make it make more sense, including the sliding door? 2. I don’t think the mural would work. if the idea is to be respectful of the building’s age and history, the mural would go against that, in my view. could you strip the paint? paint it a bold color? like, something more historically accurate. I think the key to making that door work is to emphasize its original function and utility. your garage doors do that really well.
ok three things: the entry needs some emphasis, so if you don’t keep the sliding door, maybe an awning? could also be a chance to connect to the walkway roof.
Quilts painted on the sides of barns are a huge thing where I live (Ohio).
Same in New York State
Yes—my first thought was French door + awning. Especially with all that PNW rain (that keeps everything so green and lush!).
A vote for no slider. It links charming with the double doors. Save yourself the expense and headache.
Gah! Nothing of substance to say outside of, I love these posts!!
Is this going to be the main entrance to the house, or is there a side utility entrance somewhere? If it is, and to be super-practical: now that you know that you want to use the building for lots of shoots, that means people coming in and out, carrying things. I’d make sure the entry really works for people carrying furniture in and out, even when it’s raining — a wide-enough front step that people aren’t in danger of stepping off it awkwardly while carrying an armload of stuff. Paths/sidewalks/drives workable for loading and unloading things from the back of vehicles. Some kind of “keep the rain off them while they’re opening the doors with armloads of stuff” situation over the tops of the doors. I’d add those considerations into the design questions about the slider.
Would it save time/money to make the slider look like it’s functional but it’s actually just an AMAZING QUILT MURAL?!? You HAVE to do the quilt mural…AMAZING idea! Would call back to the quilted benches in the kids’ art barn. LOVE that! Don’t lose the slider!!!
I like the idea of the barn mural but not as the slider. What if you did the French doors and either used the wood from the slider for the barn quilt, but hung over more or just a new seperate barn quilt on the wall.
I voted for painting the quilt on the slider but really, if this was my project and my money involved, I would be with Brian on this and leave the sliding door off. It looks great without that big sliding door.
I voted for painting the quilt on the slider because the quilt pattern looks so cool. But really, if this was my project and my money and time involved, I would be with Brian on this and leave the sliding door off. It looks great without that big sliding door.
I’m sad to see so many people saying “no slider” because I think it is so charming and am always for keeping an original element. I like the mural but would also be on board for no mural as long as the slider is kept.
In general I love murals (and quilt murals), but the slider with the french doors looks weird to my eyes. Combined with the fact that it sounds like a giant expensive headache, I vote for leave it off.
Is there a blank wall on the cottage that could take the quilt mural slider as a “non-functional, non-sliding outdoor art piece”? I think having another window flanking the French doors is the better option in this particular configuration but the slider could still be used somewhere. Like a fun backdrop for outdoor photos or something? Love the creativity of the mural suggestion Marlee!
Came here to say this. Repurpose the slider elsewhere as a piece of mural art.
I love this idea. not sure where but down for it!
I voted team white, but if it’s truly broken and a Thing, then leave it off. Instead, add an awning over the French doors, for the visual weight and (of course) practical reasons. Instead of adding a 2nd window, you could add an outdoor light fixture on the other side of the French doors. Also, re: door colors . . . I would replicate either the garage door color, or the color of the exterior doors on your house, for cohesiveness.
I would get rid of the slider. Even painted with the mural, it looks weird off to the side like that. I would get rid of it and put a window on that side to let some light in!
I think part of the reason the garage doors look so great is because of the wrought iron hardware. Realistically you are never going to slide the door closed. Could you just hang it off to the side, paint the hanging hardware or get black hanging hardware and call it a day? More like a side art piece, even quilt hanging there?
THat’s an interesting idea. And maybe the hardware should be stripped and left black? Interesting…
THat’s an interesting idea. And maybe the hardware should be stripped and left black? Interesting…
I think this is the move. The most historically unique part of a sliding barn door is the hardware, so that’s what I would want to emphasize.
Unrelated to the slider debate, but I was curious if you guys were still doing the substack? I was thinking of subscribing but it looks like it hasn’t been updated much this month, so I wanted to check in before I signed up. Thanks!
OMG. were you eavesdropping in my house this morning??? LOL. Yes. We just absolutely overstacked our June and early july. Like we are hosting 4 groups in a row (family reunion, 80th birthday, team retreat, friends from LA) and that is after we took the most draining family trip that we just got back from. So this morning we debated pausing it for a month to catch up (and no one would be charged) but then we came up a schedule that is doable for the next couple weeks and I just got done reading a draft that brian said was taking him forever, but it was SO GOOD. so we are putting up this weekend. We are debating stopping the mid week stuff which wasn’t in the original guarantee or anything, but something that was hard to stick to. So we missed a week and a half but have a good one coming up on saturday and we’ll be back on schedule. Thanks for asking, Holly 🙂
Why does summer always shimmer in the distance like some endless, peaceful mirage and then become wildly complicated? I completely relate.
Also Holly you can subscribe as a non-paid subscriber and only opt in to pay if you really really want to finish a post (you get the first couple paragraphs for free then there is a paywall). So if you want to test it out without committing you can do that, instead of just jumping into paid.
My vote is leave the sliding door off…but repurpose it as a cute (maybe standing?) mural somewhere else on the property. LOVE the quilt idea.
I voted to leave the sliding door off because the overlap with the French doors looks awkward. BUT, the space on the cottage wall next to those doors would be a great place for a quilt mural.
From the comments, I seem to be in the minority, but I love the quilt pattern idea for the slider door! I think even the pattern you mocked up was so cute. It’s whimsical, unique, quirky and fun. I think it’s a great conversation starter. You said at some point that the cottage is meant to be more where you have fun and take chances, and I think this door is one of those. Don’t overthink it and give it a try! 🙂 Good luck with the decision, whatever you choose will still be great.
Love these updates, Emily! I’m 100% “leave slider off” and add a window on right side. It looks so simple (in a good way) and welcoming and then with landscaping it will be perfect and already have lots of interest. If you opt to keep the slider, I definitely wouldn’t do a mural ~ too busy and your property already has an amazing mural that is unique. Adding any more starts to feel a bit circus-esque or something,
I do like the idea another commenter had of repurposing the slider to be a backdrop for photos somewhere tucked away ~ imagine how fun for all your guests at events to have their photos taken in front of it, if you can find a good spot for this. Then the slider remains on the property but isn’t distracting from the cottage’s other elements.
For the inside color of french doors, a dark green feels suitable with the overall vibe.
Lastly, re: awkward window, the text says “Most of you voted to keep the location . . .” but the vote shows otherwise, maybe that sentence didn’t come out right?
Love these updates, Emily! I’m 100% “leave slider off” and add a window on right side. It looks so simple (in a good way) and welcoming and then with landscaping it will be perfect and already have lots of interest. If you opt to keep the slider, I suggest no mural ~ too busy and your property already has an amazing mural that is unique.
I like the idea another commenter had of repurposing the slider to be a backdrop for photos somewhere tucked away ~ imagine how fun for all your guests at events to have their photos taken in front of it, if you can find a good spot for this. Then the slider remains on the property but isn’t distracting from the cottage’s other elements.
For the inside color of french doors, a dark green feels suitable with the overall vibe.
Lastly, re: awkward window, the text says “Most of you voted to keep the location . . .” but the vote shows otherwise, maybe that sentence didn’t come out right?
I had the same q about the vote sentence
the quilt is so cute on the slider and really adds a unique feel to the exterior…BUT it takes away from the doors and feels kinda cluttered/busy at that scale. if you really wanted to be in money-saving mode, you could nix the additional flanking window and instead use some of the slider’s wood to create a barn quilt of similar proportions to the window…perhaps a win/win? visual interest, balance with the window (instead of overwhelming the doors), doors are still the main inviting thing, and if you ever want to change out the barn quilt design, it’s as easy as taking down & re-hanging something new. could change with the seasons like a wreath…tho now i’m getting a little ahead of myself 🙂 i also agree that if you leave the door off and have a dutch-blue planter in the space, it could also be a lovely balance.
If you decide not to keep the sliding door, could you still do a barn quilt on it and hang it somewhere else? Barn quilts have such a cool history, I love the idea!
Skip the slider. The french doors are lovely as is!
Ok – I voted Leave it Off, but wanted to acknowledge the temptation to do just a bit more. Rather than paint a mural on the sliding door (which truly seems like a huge hassle white elephant combo to me) – what about hanging some pseudo long shutters on either side of the French doors – painted a solid color or with a mural style design painted on them?
Sorry – should have read thru the other comments as my thought was suggested previously. Team Shutters!!
Having been raised in Midwest farm town and seen many barns, I vote no barn door!
two reasons:
The rustic nature of the barn door is incongruent with the “fanciness” of French doors, so no matter how decorated, or not decorated the barn door is, it gives a whole different feel to the structure that would clash in style.
Secondly, aa someone previously said, a glance at the barn door says “horses or pigs inside” and I don’t want to go into an animal enclosure. Barn doors were made so large for a good reason and in your case would not help the function of your eventual use for the structure. You have already chosen some attractive French Doors, so no need to add another door.
I agree with Amy, who said you don’t have to make it functional. Just hang it to the right. Quilt paintings on barns remind me of Pennsylvania Dutch farms. I love it. And I favor the idea of keeping buildings looking like their original function as an homage to their past. The outside with the sliding barn door is also more in keeping with the rustic / funky / cool interior. Please don’t get rid of the barn door.
Great comments everyone! and loved the idea of the flanking panels for the french doors that Clare had. My question is this, and it has overall to do with what Emily’s vision is for how much the vibe of the guest house is going to be unique, versus blending in with the other structures on the property. The main house, and now the prop garage, and gym, are all airy and elegant and symmetric. Beautiful windows, etc, beautiful copper trim. I thought that the “governing vibe” of the guest cottage was to keep the quirkiness, spirit (and history) of the original old farmhouse, and to have permission to get a little weird and unique on the inside with the decor (hence the fun bathroom, etc.). So, if that is the spirit of it, my two cents would be to keep the slider and do the mural, and keep the window assymetric up above, and generally emphasize the historical evolution of the building so that the original elements aren’t lost. That way the quirky outside, goes with, and hints at, the fun inside elements. A different experience than the other buildings. But, if, as the project goes along, it seems better… Read more »
I don’t love the door in front of another door. It seems not very functional, and so, for me, rather than being cute, it just makes me question why it’s there.
I don’t love the door in front of another door. I like the idea of adding quilt murals in other places!
I’m IN LOVE with the sliding blue quilt door! Otherwise it’s just a meh French door. Nothing special there.
Are you kidding? The quilt mural, hands down, no contest!!!! As far as the other window, I would center it. You will still have enough quirk. Might be just me though.
Definitely a huge YES to the mural! The french doors alone are lovely, but kind of predictable and honestly kind of indistinguishable from other equally lovely and charming cottages you can see online. A mural wold make it artsy, unique, and memorable.
Ugh, I’m such a dork and sent a message on insta before I saw to weigh in here…lol. Love the look of just the French doors and think the sliding door looks a bit clunky. I know it will look great whatever you decide!
I vote for the mural. It just looks like any old boring building with no slider!
The slider with a barn quilt mural is awesome & the nod to your property’s history us too good to pass up! Barn quilts have a long history – maybe even used as indication of participation in Underground Railroad – and you could do something really special & meaningful here.
Not only a painted mural on the sliding door but one by Racheal Jackson so it can be a cute wink to he art barn mural ☺️
Oh I am so for keeping the slider – when I saw the barn quilt mock up I gasped. I loved it. Maybe it’s an East Coast thing, but barn quilts are a Whole Thing, and I love that it brings craft and function together. Even if it’s non-functional. It feels like it’s a bit of the buildings story that can be shown off and a new story created with the quilt pattern selected, too. But I admit my own bias. I live abroad now, and I built a barn-inspired cabin in my garden to capture that emotional memory – and your darn tootin’ I’m making a barn quilt for it!
The barn door painted is so cool but could it be moved elsewhere? Maybe inside? Is that weird? I think it needs to be landscaped in that empty spot with a vine and beautiful shrubs/tree or something (maybe a redbud) and the barn door could come inside to keep it preserved from all that rain! No?
i learned recently from pinterest that barn quilts are a real thing, so i love the mural idea!
With all the personality you are working so hard to build in and bring back, I think a mural would be awesome – and being able to change it periodically, a big bonus!
I like the mural, it reminds me of barns in Yamhill County that have a quilt design mural over the top window.
Lose sliding door. Cover space with climbing vines