Karen and Mina fashioned a simple white 1200-square-foot house — long neglected and with some serious repair issues — into this enchantingly quaint cottage with a fresh, beachy feel. 

When our fearless duo took on renovation of the “little white house on Sanders Street” in the historic Bates-Hendricks neighborhood, everything at first seemed like rainbows and unicorns. "It's going to be cute; it's going to be cozy," said Karen. "It's going to be our adorable little magic fairy cottage." Closer inspection, however, revealed some cold, hard realities. Sometimes sheer diligence is required to make fairytale endings come true.

The main living space, newly reconfigured with an open-concept design, features high cathedral ceilings, bright white walls, hardwood floors and casual, contemporary furnishings.

Karen and Mina staged the spaces using a mix of vintage-modern and contemporary furnishings, eye-catching wall art and a bright palette with electric hues. "To make this floor plan feel warm and livable," said Karen, "we're going to have to really think hard about how we furnish it."