Somewhere between the 2006 release of the Christmas classic The Holiday and the present-day rise of cottagecore, I decided that owning a cottage in the English countryside was my ultimate dream.
As an American living in London for the past eight years, it’s not quite as crazy as it sounds––and finally, in October 2021, it became an official reality. My husband and I closed on our very first home and became the proud new owners of a historic cottage, nestled in England’s Cotswolds region.
It’s been a long and involved process, but now, as we officially ease into renovations, I'm taking a look at all we’ve learned so far.
Historic Homes Are Complicated
In the UK, homes of historical significance are categorized as “Listed Buildings,” and ours is no exception. Because it was built in the 1600s, our cottage is heavily protected when it comes to making any major changes. This means that even once you own a home, you can’t just walk in and start renovating. It's been a long process to secure our approvals, but ten months after closing, it's official! Our renovation plans are a go.
Red tape aside, we're also learning that historic homes come with complications modern homes are unlikely to have. Soundproofing and indoor plumbing didn't exactly exist in the 1600s, and neither did HVAC systems. Modernizing a home like this without compromising the integrity of the house itself means every decision has to be made carefully — and under the guidance of people who know far more than we ever will.
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