Welcome to a stunning transformation! We are thrilled to finally share the complete reveal of our cottage bedroom, showcasing the remarkable before-and-after journey of converting a once dark and confined space into a sanctuary of light and comfort. This post delves into how strategic design choices, particularly the integration of natural light, revitalized our primary bedroom in our charming Heights cottage.
It’s always exciting to unveil a new room, especially after a renovation that truly reshapes the living experience. It has been a little while since we’ve provided an update on our beloved little cottage tucked away in the vibrant Heights neighborhood. We officially closed on this charming property in September of 2021, and since then, a significant amount of life has unfolded, bringing with it unexpected design challenges and exhilarating solutions.
Our initial vision for the cottage was to move in gradually, allowing ourselves time to truly inhabit the space. This approach would enable us to understand its unique flow and determine how best to adapt it to our lifestyle before embarking on any major renovations. The idea was to tackle improvements little by little, evolving the home organically. However, as is often the case with older homes and ambitious creative projects, our plans swiftly escalated beyond a leisurely pace. What started as a gradual evolution quickly became a focused, energetic transformation, proving that some spaces simply demand an immediate and impactful change.
The acceleration of our renovation journey led us to pack up our essentials and temporarily relocate to stay with family. This enabled us to fully immerse ourselves in a three-week construction whirlwind, a period dedicated to significant structural and aesthetic upgrades. The primary goals during this intensive phase were to vault some of the ceilings, dramatically increasing the sense of space and grandeur, and to install state-of-the-art VELUX Skylights. These installations were pivotal in addressing the existing challenges of the primary bedroom, setting the stage for the bright and inviting space you see today.
Just like many older homes, the primary bedroom in our cottage originally suffered from a common issue: it was generally quite dark and felt significantly constrained by its low ceilings. This lack of natural illumination and architectural interest created an unwelcoming atmosphere, far from the bright, airy sanctuary we envisioned. Given my enduring passion for abundant natural light, we immediately recognized that this room required a profound transformation.
Fortunately for us, the attic space directly above this bedroom was an unused, accessible area. This critical factor meant that our renovation plans, which included vaulting the ceilings and installing skylights, would not necessitate extensive structural reinforcements such as relocating pipes, installing complex headers, or adding new beams. This streamlined process significantly simplified what could have been a far more complicated and costly undertaking, allowing us to proceed with confidence and efficiency.
Our previous experience with the VELUX No Leak Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights in our last house had left an indelible impression. We absolutely adored their performance, aesthetic contribution, and the enhanced living experience they provided. Consequently, we were unwavering in our decision to incorporate them into our new Heights cottage. Their proven track record of bringing both light and fresh air into a home made them an indispensable element in our renovation strategy, ensuring that our new bedroom would achieve the same, if not greater, level of comfort and brightness.
Choosing Our Skylights
Making informed decisions about home improvements can be daunting, but VELUX simplifies the process with their incredibly helpful virtual design consultations. This service allowed us to explore various skylight options and address all our questions with a dedicated daylight designer, all from the comfort of our own home. The convenience of simply scheduling an online audio or video chat to discuss our project was invaluable.
During the consultation, the expert provided personalized guidance, helping us understand which rooms in our cottage were ideal candidates for skylights based on their orientation and existing structure. They also offered comprehensive answers to our product-specific questions, ensuring we chose the best VELUX models for our needs. Furthermore, they went above and beyond by recommending trusted installers in our local area, a crucial step in ensuring a professional and seamless installation process.
Considering the east and west orientation of our house, we strategically decided to install two skylights directly above each window in the primary bedroom. This placement was meticulously chosen to achieve a perfectly symmetrical aesthetic, which not only enhanced the room’s visual balance but also optimally maximized the influx of natural light throughout the day. The result is a uniformly bright and inviting space, completely transformed by thoughtful design and expert guidance.
Benefits of Having Natural Light in Your Home
Beyond mere aesthetics, the integration of natural light, particularly from above, is a transformative design element that elevates every aspect of a room’s decor. It brings out the truest colors of your furnishings and wall treatments, eliminating the dullness that artificial light can impart. Dark, forgotten corners are instantly illuminated, making the entire space feel larger, more open, and endlessly inviting. Natural light possesses a unique power to bring a space to life in a way that no other design element truly can, and I am absolutely captivated by how it has invigorated this formerly dim bedroom.
Furthermore, the fresh air ventilation offered by our chosen skylights provides a significant and often overlooked wellness benefit. Being able to effortlessly open both the skylights and windows creates an optimal airflow throughout the house. This continuous circulation allows stale indoor air, which can often contain pollutants and allergens, to escape efficiently. Simultaneously, it ushers in fresh, outdoor air, leading to a much healthier and more invigorating indoor environment. This feature is particularly advantageous in an older home like ours, offering a rare and incredible improvement to indoor air quality that many historical properties lack.
The abundance of natural light doesn’t just impact the visual appeal; it deeply affects our well-being. Exposure to natural light helps regulate our circadian rhythm, improving sleep quality and boosting overall mood and energy levels throughout the day. It reduces the need for artificial lighting, leading to energy savings and a more sustainable living environment. This holistic approach to design, focusing on light, air, and comfort, has truly redefined our experience of living in this beautiful cottage.
The combination of the soft, pervasive natural light and the dramatic newly vaulted ceilings has made an unparalleled difference in modernizing this older home. Where once there was a sense of confinement, there is now an expansive, airy feel that completely redefines the space. This transformation allowed us to preserve the inherent, original charm of having an older cottage – its unique character and history – while simultaneously infusing it with our personal style and contemporary comforts. The result is a perfect blend of old and new, a space that feels distinctly “us” yet reveres its heritage.
More Makeover Reveals
If you’re as captivated as we are by the incredible impact natural lighting can have on a home, we invite you to explore more of our favorite renovation projects. Discover how strategic lighting solutions and thoughtful design choices have completely transformed other spaces within our homes, turning them into bright, inviting havens. Below are a few of our most inspiring makeovers:
- Toddler Girls Bedroom Reveal
- Before and After of Installing Skylights In Our Lakeside Home
- Lakeside Master Bedroom
- New Master Bathroom
This post is proudly sponsored by VELUX. We extend our sincere gratitude for supporting the brands we genuinely love and believe in!