Why We Fell in Love With Our 1920 Beach Cottage

There’s something special about falling in love with an old home, especially a 1920 beach cottage filled with charm, history, and a few quirks along the way.

We didn’t set out looking for a historic home, but the moment we saw this little beach cottage overlooking Puget Sound, we knew it had the potential to be our forever home. Between the water views, the original character, and the endless possibilities for creating a cozy cottage garden, it felt like the kind of place you don’t just buy… you fall completely in love with it.

Over the last 14 years, we’ve poured our hearts into turning this 100-year-old beach house into a home that feels layered, lived in, and perfectly us.

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The Day We First Saw Our 100-Year-Old Forever Home

It was a beautiful day in May, almost 14 years ago.

My husband, our two dogs, Charlie and Lucy, and I were driving down a quiet road near the water when we turned the corner, and suddenly Puget Sound came into view.

The water was the most beautiful shade of blue, and I remember thinking, I could live here before we had even pulled into the driveway.

And then we saw the house.

This sweet little 1920 beach cottage sat quietly waiting for someone to love it again. It wasn’t flashy or perfect, but it had charm, character, and something you can’t always explain when house hunting… it just felt right.

Even before we walked inside, I could feel the potential. I could picture the garden, the deck, and the kind of life we could build here.

Sometimes you just know.

Before we ever signed the papers, this house already felt like home.

And then we saw the house.

Potential Inside and Out

The cottage had good bones and so much charm, but it definitely needed love, and quite a bit of it.

The front yard was overgrown, with plants blocking the windows and even hiding some of those beautiful water views.

But instead of feeling overwhelmed, I could imagine all the little changes that would help this house feel like home.

One of our very first projects was building the front deck so we could fully enjoy those incredible Puget Sound views. It quickly became one of the best decisions we made. That space gave us an extra “room” to live in and completely changed how we experienced the house.

Looking at it now, it almost feels like the deck, greenhouse, and cottage garden were always meant to be there.

Why the Greenhouse and Garden Ended Up in the Front Yard

We get asked this question all the time… Why put the greenhouse and garden in the front yard instead of the back?

The answer was actually pretty simple. The backyard just didn’t have what we needed.

We needed:

Full Sun

Most of the backyard was too shaded for growing flowers and vegetables successfully.

Level Ground

The backyard had a slope that made gardening much more challenging, especially for raised beds and a greenhouse.

Healthy Soil and Space to Grow

The front yard gave us better growing conditions and more room to create the kind of garden we had envisioned.

That Incredible Water View

Let’s be honest, if you’re going to spend hours gardening, having a Puget Sound view doesn’t hurt.

The front yard checked every box, and now I can’t imagine it any other way. The greenhouse, raised beds, and cottage garden feel like such a natural part of the home that it’s hard to remember what it looked like before.

Inside the 1920 Beach Cottage

The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by that unmistakable musty smell that only an old house can have, mixed with the lingering scent of a very well-used wood stove.

Oddly enough, it didn’t scare us away.

If anything, it made the house feel even more real. It had clearly been lived in, loved, and well used over the years. Beneath all of that, we could see the charm waiting to come back to life.

We started by pulling out the carpet, adding shiplap, painting the ceilings, and removing the old wood stove. Those simple changes made a huge difference right away.

From there, we added new hardwood floors, crown molding, faux-wood ceiling beams, and fresh paint throughout the main living spaces. Every update helped the cottage feel brighter, lighter, and more like us.

One of the biggest transformations was opening up the wall between the kitchen and the living room. That single change completely changed how we lived in the house.

The open-concept layout made the space feel larger, brought in more light, and made entertaining so much easier.

In a smaller home like ours, thoughtful changes matter so much more than square footage, and this was one of the best decisions we made.

A Little Piece of History

One of my favorite features in our home is an antique cabinet built when the house was constructed in 1920. Somehow, each owner had chosen to leave it behind for the next family, and I love that little piece of history.

During our bathroom renovation, we were adding a tub, and on the other side of the wall was our very small bedroom. Storage was limited, and we were trying to make every inch count.

That’s when it hit us… what if this cabinet became a built-in?

It fit like it was meant to be there all along.

What had once been a standalone piece of furniture became one of the most functional and meaningful features in our bedroom. It gave us the extra storage we desperately needed while keeping the original character intact.

I’ve always loved pieces like that; the ones that carry a story forward instead of being replaced. It feels like this cabinet was always supposed to stay with the house, and now we get to be part of that story too.

Location, Location, Location

I have to admit, we were first smitten by the location.

We had always dreamed of living near the water, and while this home was smaller and needed more work than some of the other houses we looked at, we couldn’t beat the view or the price.

As empty nesters, we didn’t need a big house anymore. What we really wanted was a place that felt peaceful, full of character, and connected to the kind of lifestyle we loved most.

This little 1920 beach house gave us all of that.

We may not be directly on the water, but we do own the beach rights across the road, and that makes all the difference. Having access to the bay feels like an extension of our home, and it’s one of the reasons we fell in love with this place so quickly.

Sometimes it’s not about square footage or perfection, it’s about how a place makes you feel. This house felt like home long before we officially moved in.

Life on the Bay

Living here means we get to kayak, boat, and swim right outside of our door… well, technically across the road, but it still feels like our own backyard.

One of the things people are always surprised by is how warm the water in the bay can get during the summer, especially when the tide is coming in. On those extra hot days, you’ll usually find us cooling off with a swim.

Some of my favorite summer memories are the simple ones: taking the dogs for a kayak ride, sitting by the water in the evening, or watching the boats drift by with the sun setting over Puget Sound.

It’s those everyday moments that make living here feel so special. The view may have first caught our attention, but the lifestyle that came with it is what truly made us stay.

A Deck With a View

That front deck we added all those years ago has easily become our favorite “room” in the house.

From May through October, we use it constantly… for morning lattes, casual dinners, entertaining friends, or simply sitting outside and watching the boats go by. It’s one of those spaces that changed the way we live here.

I still walk out there some mornings and have those little “I can’t believe we get to hear live here” moments.

It’s funny how one project can completely shape the feeling of a home, but this deck truly did. It gave us more than just extra square footage; it gave us a place to slow down and enjoy it all.

A Hallmark Movie Kind of Community

One of the best surprises of all has been the sense of community here.

Before we moved in, several neighbors told us it felt like living in a Hallmark movie, and honestly, they weren’t wrong.

This little town has a way of making everyone feel connected. There’s always something happening, and so many of the traditions happen right outside our front door.

Some of our favorites include:

4th of July Parade

The parade literally comes right down the road in front of our house, and yes, we host brunch on the deck every year.

Opening Day at the Longbranch Marina

A local tradition that always feels like the unofficial start of boating season.

Neighborhood Apple Cider Press

One of those simple traditions that somehow feels extra special in a small community.

Trunk or Treat for the Elementary School Students

A favorite fall event that brings everyone together and makes the neighborhood feel even more close-knit.

Wreath-Making Party

One of my favorite holiday traditions… cozy, festive, and exactly the kind of thing that makes you love where you live.

Community Lighted Boat Parade and Chili Cook-Off

The lights are so beautiful, and it’s always such a fun night.

Lighted Car Parade and Christmas Caroling

The holidays here truly feel magical.

It’s the kind of place where people still wave when they drive by, where neighbors check in on each other, and where community still feels personal.

From the 4th of July parade to friendly faces we see every day, it’s the kind of neighborhood that makes you never want to leave.

Final Thoughts

It’s taken more than 14 years of projects, patience, and a whole lot of love to turn our 1920 beach cottage into the home of our dreams.

It hasn’t always been easy. Old homes come with plenty of surprises, unexpected repairs, and moments where you question your own decisions, but they also come with character, history, and a feeling that newer homes just can’t always replicate.

This house isn’t perfect, but it’s perfectly us.

From the creaky floors and vintage details to the greenhouse, cottage garden, and evening spent on the deck watching the sun set over Puget Sound, every corner tells part of our story.

Which started as a house with good bones and a lot of potential, became the place we truly call home… our forever home.

And I wouldn’t change a thing.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning an old home, or you’re already living in one, I’d love to hear your story in the comments. There’s just something special about homes that have lived a little life before us.

Until next time,