Advancing semi-confidently

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams..........."

I have used this quote from Thoreau as my motto for years, and now I have taken another step toward transforming ITLLDO into my dream cottage.

August 17, 2010

After sifting through magazine clippings, design books, and my own doodlings, I pulled the most important ones together and met with an architect last evening.  His first on-site consult was free.  I felt that he understood my ideas and, therefore, gave him a retainer after our meeting.  I will have concept drawings next week!!!

The cottage looks like this now.......

and this.........

a few ideas for him to work with....

This picture started it all......

Do you see the possibility?

tracing paper overlay.....

More of my doodlings..... ( an architect, I am NOT)

He seemed to get the gist of what I was looking for, and had some great ideas of his own.  I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

August 18, 2010

Wouldn't ya know....  another idea popped up in an email from This Old House.  Had to send this off to him.

A bit too grand for me, but I can just see this part of the transformation on the south side of the cottage....

Can you?

And then, I found this picture I had taken a couple of weeks ago on Lake Okoboji in Iowa. I watched this addition being built last summer when we visited.

Anything is possible.....right?

September 3, 2010

Well, more than two weeks has passed with no word from the architect, so I decided to give him a call.

He was available to meet this afternoon, so with great anticipation, I quickly pulled out my notebooks and awaited his arrival.

I must say, I was disappointed when he came with this one drawing. .......Hmmmm... guess we weren't on the same page afterall. 

I tried to keep an open mind, and eventually I realized what was most troubling to me about his concept....the pitch of the roof. It had lost the Cape Cod feel. This looks like a house, not a cottage.


Back to the drawing board!

Tune in next week for another episode of transforming ITLLDO.

Let me know what you think and I am open to suggestion, believe me!

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.  Be sure to stop by and see some great transformations.