Our February Remodel of the Month features a cozy cottage nestled on a wooded lot. The homeowners wanted to transform their much-loved vacation home into their permanent home, making it more suitable for living their full time.

To achieve this goal, additions were constructed on both sides of the house, expanding the footprint from 736 sq. ft. to 1,929 sq. ft., with an additional 180-sq.-ft. screened porch.

As told by the homeowner: "PortSide Builders helped transform a small ’80s-era house we bought nearly 20 years ago as a vacation cottage into a full-time home. We’ve enjoyed the cottage despite some shortcomings and decided, as we move forward in life, it was worth investing in improvements. I was a licensed commercial architect before retiring and would sketch up ideas to address those shortcomings, along with new ideas to make it a better year-round home. My wife, Jane, was my 'client' and would critique what I showed her, offering suggestions for adjustments along with additional ideas."

Thoughts From the Homeowner About the Process:

"We stopped by the PortSide booth at the Home Building & Remodeling Show in Milwaukee. The staff was attentive and informative, impressing us with examples of their work. We were especially pleased to find out they did many remodels and additions.

The Remodel Design Consultant contacted us within days of the show, and soon met to show him the house and our ideas for improving it. From our first contact at the home show through our subsequent meetings, we were impressed with how approachable and knowledgeable the PortSide team was. This gave us the level of comfort we needed to hire them and built a foundation of trust that lasted throughout the planning and construction process.

During planning, our Design Consultant worked with us to develop my sketches into a more efficient floor plan. He provided insight into ways to take advantage of the existing building while seamlessly incorporating the new additions and alterations. We collaborated on reimagining the lower-level layout to create an open plan with a clear flow between old and new spaces and abundant views of the outdoors. PortSide’s Design Center helped Jane visualize options for materials and finishes, making our final selections decisive and comfortable."

Details of Addition and Renovation

Demolition Phase

• Exterior: Complete removal of the existing roof, walls, siding, and all exterior doors and windows to prep for the expansion
• Interior: Stripped the kitchen and both bathrooms (first and second floor), removing all cabinetry, countertops, tiling, flooring, and base trim

New Construction & Floor Plan Highlights

• Expansion: A significant footprint increase of 1,193 sq.ft. features:

  • New entryway (with custom bench, hooks, and large storage closet),

  • Dedicated office

  • Dedicated laundry room with Mustee drop in utility sink, and maple upper cabinets

  • Expanded kitchen with a dining area and breakfast nook

  • Four-season sunroom, and a 180-sq.-ft. screened porch

  • Private master bedroom featuring a spacious walk-in closet and a full bathroom

Interior Finishes & Custom Details

• Kitchen features custom-built maple cabinetry, island with extended snack counter and stainless steel undermount sink, tall pantry cabinet with roll-out shelves, ceramic tile backsplash and granite countertops on all
• Master Bath has custom-built vanity in maple with granite countertop and dual sink, and custom-tiled walk-in shower
• Flooring of Red Oak hardwood flooring throughout the office, dining room, kitchen, breakfast nook, sunroom, and entryways; carpeting in the master bedroom

Exterior & Building Materials

• Windows: High-performance Pella Lifestyle Series windows installed throughout

• Siding & Accents: A stylish mix of LP SmartSide Board & Batten siding in Timberland Suede, staggered-edge shakes in Prairie Clay, and Cultured Stone accents, Steel Quality Building Products metal roof in Ash Gray

Ready To Get Started On Your Remodeling Journey?