A 1918 Cottage Went from Bland, Builder-Grade Gray to Bursting with Incredible Color

“The project is a complete gut renovation of a modest worker’s cottage located in a neighborhood of Omaha known for its historic horse race track. It was built in 1918 by a truck driver, WPA worker, and labor-union member (Teamsters) named Earnest Howland, along with his wife, Lucinda. Their imprint (“E. Howland Erected”) from the year it was completed is still visible in the cement steps leading up to the cottage’s front porch,” Brandi begins.

“By the time we discovered it in late 2023, the cottage’s original details had been completely stripped away, and was poorly flipped in the manner I refer to as ‘The Home Depot Special’— with a palette of gray and white builder-grade finishes, and no particular vision or care taken to restore the home’s original features or pay respect to its history,” Brandi continues.

“Over the course of the following year, I remotely managed our three-person contractor team [Casitas Construction] to peel back those layers and reinject charm and character. Not a surface went untouched: walls and ceilings skim-coated, painted, papered, paneled; original hardwood floors uncovered and refinished; bathroom gutted, tiled, rearranged; back porch reconstructed; original doors refurbished; additional doors and windows added; hardware updated; cabinets re-fronted and painted; new electrical wired; exterior painted; plus interior furnishings and decor. All with a budget of less than $50,000.”

• Living Room Beadboard — Backdrop “Tanlines”
• Living Room Walls + Front Door — Backdrop “Supermoon” “Bada Bing”
• Dining Room Wallpaper — Mind the Gap “Fasnacht” in Absenth
• Dining Room Beadboard — Sherwin Williams “Reseda Green”
• Dining Room Walls — Backdrop “Supermoon” 
• Kitchen Beadboard — Backdrop “Mood Lighting”
• Kitchen Cabinetry + Shelving — Backdrop “Miami Parasol” 
• Kitchen Wallpaper — Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn “Eldblomman” in Red
• Cottage Exterior — Sherwin Williams “Supreme Green” “Pure White” “Wondrous Blue”, Backdrop “Bada Bing” 

• Furniture — Crosley and IKEA
• House Numbers/Sign — Etsy
• Alabax Sconce — Schoolhouse

• Cafe Curtain — Josef Frank for Svenskt Tenn (handmade by me and my mom)
• Vintage Couch — Reupholstered for us by Home & Closet Vintage
• Couch Fabric — Knoll Textiles “Diva”
• Rug — Schoolhouse
• “Gere” Chair — Floyd
• Ruffled Floral Cushion — Maison Lisette
• Artwork — The Poster Club

• “TON” Caned Bentwood Chairs — Schoolhouse
• Dining Tables — IKEA
• Arcs “Mirror” Pendant Lights — HAY/Design Within Reach

• DIY Quarterline cabinet fronts — Semi-handmade
• Open Shelving — IKEA
• Vintage Swedish IFÖ Sconce — Etsy
• Coffee Station Cart — IKEA
• Coffeemaker — Mokamaster
• Købenstyle Cookware — Dansk
• Cutting Boards — Hawkins NY
• Range — Summit
• Hood Vent — Hauslane
• Matte White Compact Microwave — HADEN Dorchester
• Chrome Toaster — Waring
• Refrigerator — Forte

• Bucket Sink — Alape
• Arcs Mirror — Muller Van Severen for HAY
• Concrete Tile — Zia
• Vintage Swedish IFÖ Sconces — Etsy
• Side Table — UNFNSHED

• Wallpaper — Cascade Meadow Wallpaper from Hygge & West
• Dresser — IKEA TARVA
• Red and white artwork — “Misty” by HANNA KL, The Poster Club

Thanks, Brandi!

This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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