Five weeks ago, Judith began to make over her entrance at her cottage on the Kingston Peninsula. The goal was to turn the entrance into an intimate space, that welcomes you into the cottage and in Judith’s own words, “feels like a nice warm hug”. 

On Canada Day, the beginning of her summer vacation, Judith started to make a plan. The main changes were replacing the terracotta floor tiles, paint the walls, trim, and ceiling all Benjamin Moore Twilight Zone, and replace the ceiling light for something more relaxed.  

Watch the videos below to learn about Judith’s process, see the before, and be amazed by the dramatic after reveal! 

And of course, continue to read after watching the videos to learn about the specific items featured, some from Tuck and some from various local artists and shops found throughout the Greater Saint John area! 

BEFORE

AFTER

Above, from Tuck: EQ3 Sticks Pendant – Oval ($139.99), Round Jute Rug (contact us for alternative options), Ceragres Ardoise du Bresil 24″ x 24″ Slate Tiles ($7.99/sq.ft). Tile installed by Lavcrew Constrcution & Maintenance (Ron Lavernge). Also shown: Macrame Window Valence by Naomi Peters.

As planned, the terracotta floor tiles were replaced with Ceragres Ardoise du Bresil 24″ x 24″ slate tiles from Tuck. Because the tiles are a natural stone, they lend to the character of the cottage and feel more authentic than the previous terracotta tiles. 

In addition to the new floor tiles, Judith painted the entrance completely in Benjamin Moore Twilight Zone in a matte finish. Like many of our clients, Judith panicked half way through painting thinking it was the wrong choice. Instead of stopping and changing her entire vision, she trusted the process and kept going. The finished result couldn’t have been better and she’s thankful now that she didn’t change course half way through! 

Above, from Tuck: Ceragres Ardoise du Bresil 24″ x 24″ Slate Tiles ($7.99/sq.ft). Tile installed by Lavcrew Constrcution & Maintenance (Ron Lavernge). 

Above: Phillip Savage Wooden Birds, Darren Emenau Ceramics, plants and greenery from Galbraith Florist and Cedarcrest Gardens. Artwork shown in the dining room is by Robert Moore. 

With a dark space like this one, it’s tempting to accent with bright and bold pops of colour which of course would look fantastic. However, for this space Judith wanted to stay true to that feeling of a warm hug when you enter the cottage so she chose instead to accent with natural materials such as a round jute rug, a rattan pendant light, brass and gold frames, and plenty of plants. 

Above: Macrame Hanging Baskets by Naomi Peters, artwork by Paul Healey, slippers from The Urban Shoe Myth.

One of Judith and Robert’s favorite pastimes when at the cottage is bird watching which makes the painting below of a goldfinch by Paul Healey  perfect. 

“Goldfinch” painting by Paul Healey. Framing by Mario’s Picture Framing 

Judith found the small wall cabinet in the shed on her property. Instead of throwing it away, she chose to paint it the same Benjamin Moore Twilight Zone as the rest of the entrance and replace the knobs. As an added touch, Robert painted a pheasant, named Phil, on the front. This is now a delightful moment and serves as a functional place to store keys.  

Before

After

Assorted hardware knobs ($12) from Tuck

This piece from Cedarcrest Gardens was in the entrance before but now with it against the black wall, it has so much more impact in the room. 

The tiniest details can often make a big impact. For example, Judith switched out the door handle on the closet for this brass monkey handle she found while traveling in Amsterdam! 

Dried flowers in a vase are an excellent way to add subtle colour to a room. Judith used these dried roses from Galbraith Florist to decorate her entrance table. 

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about this entrance transformation! For additional information on anything you’ve seen please contact us or stop by Tuck on Prince William Street in Saint John! We look forward to hearing from you!