Jack and Cindy Magoon expanded their cottage living space on the lake in Connecticut with a lofty idea.
Using every square inch of their forever cottage, Jack and Cindy Magoon have utilized their creativity, resourcefulness and good old elbow grease to craft a home that is uber charming as well as comfortable and cozy.
They had a bit of unused space in a loft above the living room and they pondered various uses for it before a plan began to take shape. Cindy tells us the story:
Inspiration began with a garage clean out last fall, and for more times than can be counted, we came across the set of gorgeous twin maple antique bed frames that have been in my family for more than 100 years.
Beautifully carved and inherited from my great grandma, they haven’t been in play in almost 40 years, but I could never bring myself to get rid of them, as they were so charming and had so much family history. Let’s face it, twin beds with huge headboards aren’t always the easiest fit in a small cottage. But this time, as I was polishing them, I wondered if just using the two shorter footboards could create a daybed…and would that then fit in an unused loft above the living room? Could we create something special from a very old bed and unused open space?
That’s exactly what we did!
Happily, the two shorter footboards and rails fit perfectly to create a charming daybed. A new mattress was added, and it already felt like a special place! I began searching Facebook Market Place for a vintage cabinet that would fit inside the dormer. Soon an armchair followed, another FBMP find, and got new life with some customer upholstery with an added ruffle. Who doesn’t love a ruffle??
Curtains, vintage prints, lamps and an antique revolving bookcase came together as if it was always meant to be.
The icing on the cake was a songbird and woodland themed Laura Ashley wallpaper, with darling birdies creating the feeling of being in a treehouse. A picket
heart cutout railing was added for safety, and a removable library ladder is used for access.
What was once a forgotten space has been transformed into a cozy and comfortable nook for snoozing, reading, daydreaming or a sweet spot for guests to rest their heads. It’s become a favorite hideaway, and best of all, grandma’s bed is loved again!
To see more of the Magoon’s magical cottage visit Windowbox Cottage on Instagram and look for a full feature on their entire home in our Aug/Sept 2024 issue of Cottages & Bungalows Magazine.
