Cute Cottage Details That are Easy to Incorporate in Any Design
Have you ever wanted to stay in a “famous house”? This week I got to stay in ‘The Morrow House’ which is a super cute cottage in Waco, Texas. It was featured on the show ‘Fixer Upper’ in Season 5, Episode 1. So I thought I’d share some cute cottage details that are easy to incorporate in any design.
The Morrow House in Waco, Texas
The Morrow House is an adorable Victorian era cottage built around 1887. It was one of the first cottages built in its neighborhood. However, in 1980s, after one of the last owners passed away, it fell into disrepair.
It was flagged for demolition, until in 2016 Joey and Amy Normand saved it from the wrecking ball. They were out looking for a house to renovate, and drove past it. Their real estate agent said, “No! We are not stopping” but she stopped for it anyway. They could tell it had potential and were willing to save it. You can read more about their journey on their website.
The house ended up in an episode with Chip and Joanna Gaines as they were out showing clients homes for sale. Their show “Fixer Upper” had the format where they showed people three homes to choose from, one was picked, and then the Gaines’s renovated it, bringing it back to life.
Although it has many elements of a Joanna design, like shiplap walls, restored wood floors, subway tile, with added charm and vintage touches, the Morrow House was NOT one of the homes that was picked. It was a total gut with no electricity or plumbing, and was bare bones.
Good thing the Normands saved it, and added such charm. When the renovation was complete, the house was sold to Kimberlee Rodriguez, who now rents it out, for many to enjoy its charm and history as an Airbnb.
The house sits on a corner lot, with a big porch. It has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and is filled with a few design details that would have existed originally. The home is less than 2,000 square feet. It has 33 nine foot tall windows that have been completely restored.
A big porch with curb appeal
First impressions are always important, and the Morrow House gives a good one. You can tell that much of the trim on the outside dates back to its origins in the 1880s.
The porch welcomes you to stay awhile and enjoy the fresh air of the great outdoors. Since we visited and stayed at the property in October, everything was decorated for fall.
Creating a stunning entry
When you enter the home, you are welcomed by light streaming through the entire space. The front and back doors are both glass. The back door opens out onto a private patio that can be enjoyed.
The ceiling height is about 12 feet, which brings an air of drama. The long narrow room is styled as a dining room. It’s a good lesson to remember that you can use your space anyway you see fit.
The walls are lined in shiplap, the high ceilings boast interesting pendants that cast light over the table. I love the large poster of an early mug shot of Frank Sinatra.
Tip: Add interesting art to a dining room that might spark conversation. In this room, the mugshot poster might cause people to ask: who is this? why was he arrested? And an interesting discussion might get started.
There’s an interesting story behind that. You can even purchase a framed version of the poster if you are a Sinatra fan.
Comfy living spaces with personality
The ceilings are 12 feet high and add drama to the living area. Can you even believe this chandelier?
This furniture layout allowed great conversation while we were staying in the house. Many nights we were all working on our laptops, and discussing fun things we learned through the week at our conference.
Remember, living rooms should always have an area to set a drink down. Small side tables work great and allow little areas for home decor accessories.
Adding decor in the kitchen
The kitchen added drama with the full wall of cabinets, interesting lighting over the island, and a space above the stove for seasonal decor.
With such high ceilings, it created a great place to add fun home decor for each season. I love the bread boards and fall decor that was displayed while we were visiting.
Statement bedrooms with comfort
The Morrow House has three bedrooms. One has two full size beds. Another has a queen bed, and the last has a king. It is such a great house to rent for a girls weekend, like we had. Each one had their own personality and were filled with vintage details.
This is the room that I stayed in. This queen bed definitely makes a statement. The peely chippy doors add lots of vintage charm. The other rooms were just as cozy.
Adding charm to a bathroom
In a cottage, having a large bathroom with a tub is a complete luxury. In the adjoining bathroom from my bedroom, this bath was packed full of vintage details and modern luxuries.
Tip: If you have limited storage in a bathroom, add shelves or a rolling cart to hold all the items you need. Built in cubbies are awesome ways to gain extra storage.
Special details really add the charm. Check out all the cuteness.
Vintage details that pull it all together
My favorite part of any home decor is always the vintage. Old things add such character to a space, and this home had several items that I would have loved to have in my own home.
One of the items was this adorable, peely and chippy table in one of the bedrooms.
This casual look may not be for everyone, but even in a more sophisticated space, storied pieces add provenance to a room. The patina of aged wood, crackled pottery, aged art, it all makes for an amazing and comfy space.
I hope you enjoyed this tour of the Morrow house and can find some inspiration within its beautiful walls. We had a blast staying there, and it is a trip I will remember for a long time.
If you’d like to get inspired about more stuff for your home, let’s hang out more. Follow along on these platforms. Check back for more Christmas prep and design tips, along with lifestyle hacks.
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Wasn’t it soooo charming? Loved our time spent there.
I love this! It was such a great time and a beautiful place!