cottage charm

Southern Living, Apr 2004 by Martin, Robert

Smart choices and creative solutions unlocked the potential of this home.

From the cradle onward, many of us were caught up in the romantic vision of the cottage and what it symbolizes. Childhood fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel and Snow White are filled with imagery of a diminutive dwelling nestled deep in the woods. Likewise, scores of American popular songs praise the end-all of a cottage built for two. Such endearing tunes, along with a picket fence and a family pet, soundly established our ideals of living happily ever after.

Living the Dream

Turning this notion into reality, though, is not as farfetched as you might think. That's what George and Marguerita Riggall undertook when they signed the contract as new owners of their own cottage. But what they found-a 1926 brick abode with an eclectic mix of English Country and Tudor details-was not located down some shady country road. Instead, the house sat in a well-established neighborhood within close proximity to downtown Nashville. And unlike some children's tale or a Gershwin melody where upkeep and maintenance are rarely part of the story, this place needed some work. "The house was not particularly attractive when we bought it," George remembers, "but we felt it had good bones and a European feel we liked-a sentiment now confirmed by our contentment with the finished product."

Exterior Spruce-Up

From the get-go, George and Marguerita knew that they couldn't make the necessary improvements by themselves. So, they rounded up a great team consisting of architect Nancy Hayden, builder Jim Lowe, and craftsman Dave DesFosses. "Dave and Jim are skilled trim carpenters. They did much of the detail work throughout the house," Marguerita says.

Because the exteriors, particularly the front facade, already possessed some well-designed features, the Riggalls and their architect were keen on respecting the integrity of the house. First, and most effectively, they decided to paint the existing brick a yellow umber with olive green shutters. Not only did this move brighten the overall appearance of the place, but it would also blend well with the new rear addition. Next, Nancy extended the front porch roof around the corner of the cottage to protect the kitchen side door. She then added a colonnade of seven Tuscan columns to support the overhang.

From Porch to Sunroom

One area that deserved special attention was a cozy side porch with beautiful Gothic arches, which, unfortunately, were boarded up with plywood. "We removed everything that was not original to the porch," Nancy explains. "Then, the builder, Jim, and his crew installed custom Gothic windows to fit in the front and back stone openings." The windows create an architectural focal point in the space.

Further enhancements included raising the floor to eliminate a level change, which was also a potential tripping hazard, from the living room. The Riggalls also chose to fully enclose the remaining openings with handsome French doors. "Just beyond the French doors, we added some antique iron screens from France to serve as railings on the new stone balcony and create a European feel." With these and other upgrades, such as new limestone flooring with inlays hand-cast by a Russian artist and a new coat of paint on the existing beaded-board ceiling, this former porch functions as an ideal sunroom, perfect for reading or enjoying a morning cup of coffee.

Reworking a Kitchen

Although the previous owners remodeled the cooking space, it was still a tight fit of awkwardly placed cabinetry and an oversize island. "We entertain, and George enjoys cooking," says Marguerita. "The challenge here was to make the most of the existing space while giving the kitchen a gourmet look with stainless steel features."

So, with Nancy's help, the couple rearranged most of the space by switching around key appliance locations. They also reused many of the same cabinets and added new ones to match wherever necessary. "After reconfiguring the area, as well as opening it up to the dining room and addition," Nancy explains, "we had a kitchen that better accommodates cooking and traffic flow, making the space ideal for entertaining."

Best of all, the Riggalls' updated kitchen boasts a new island-one that's better suited for the space. Topped with a granite countertop that features a limestone decorative edge, the island is also home to a hammered copper vegetable sink and wine cooler. One side has a gentle curve that provides bar space and room for someone to comfortably pass by.

Addition Out Back

The cottage underwent other modifications as well. "We increased the square footage in the second-floor guestroom, as well as on the third floor to create an additional guestroom and bath. Ample closet space was added at the same time," explains Marguerita. "This was a major undertaking because the rear rooflines had to be altered radically but remain proportional to the existing house."

Even with all of these improvements, George and Marguerita needed a space that would connect all the major first-floor rooms. In response, Nancy designed a breakfast room as an extension of the kitchen, along with a comfortable but elegant family room, that ties together the breakfast and dining areas. To access the backyard, 9-foot-tall French doors lead from the family room out to a new bluestone terrace.