5 Things I Love About Our Old House

In the last post, I told you about the things I did not like about our cottage when we first looked at it. It certainly was not love at first sight. In today’s entry, I’m to chat about what I do like, in fact, love. These things are some of the many reasons I gravitate toward an old house every time.

Our Old House has Timber Floors

There’s nothing I love more in a home than a solid timber floor. Whether the floor is painted or stained it oozes charm and character for me. We were so lucky our floorboards were in almost pristine condition under the layers. It took a lot of sanding and filling of gaps to bring them back to their original condition but they add warmth to the home.

High Ceilings and Muntin Windows

I don’t know about you but houses with low ceilings make me feel a little claustrophobic. Give me a high ceiling any day. When we first viewed the house the ceilings were very dirty (as was the entire house). It gave the illusion of them being low and I wasn’t sure I could deal with it. But once they were cleaned and painted the ceilings were transformed. I love the board and batten. I love the way the battens have been individually routed to create details in the front rooms. And the height is perfect. Not as high as the farmhouse but not low.

I also adore muntin windows! All those little panes of glass are so sweet and cottage-like. Yes, they’re annoying to clean and paint but its worth it for the look they give to a home. I’m so glad our house had the original windows and I was able to save them.

The Verandah

People freaked out when we removed the verandah. I joked that we were not putting it back. But in all honestly I adore a verandah. Its the perfect spot to sit in any type of weather. It adds charm to a home. We had to take ours down because it was rotten and not to code. The new verandah will look exactly the same as the old one right down to the scallop details.

The Location

When we first moved back to Tasmania we lived in a cottage in North Hobart. We loved being able to walk everywhere. There were so many cafes and bars. Our new home gives us that vibe but without the traffic. The community are very friendly and often stop to chat to us as we work. We are still in the country but have the city amenities we love and need. PLus, we can visit our cows who are five minutes up the road.

Being back on a busy street is a bit of a downside but we have water views and the traffic is not constant. My view it that once we have furniture and drapery to soak up the noise it won’t be as bad.

The Layout

The layout above shows our house as it currently is. Personally, I like a house where doors can be closed off but the option is still there to have an open plan. I like how the house flows down the central hall. The new building will be a more functional living space with room for dining. and lots of storage. There will be a small out door area the faces the water too.

So there you have it. My favourite things about our house. What do you love about your home?