Sage Hearth Cottage: The Hard Work Behind a Fresh Exterior

In the last month or two, we’ve been working on one of the biggest — and most noticeable — tasks at Sage Hearth Cottage: preparing the exterior for a fresh lease on life.

Ben and I spent long hours after work and on weekends carefully waterblasting, scraping, sanding, and patching. The summer heat pressed down on us, exhaustion was constant, and the work was tough. We knew from the start that everything could not — and would not — be perfect. Still, we did our best with what we had, setting the stage for the transformation the cottage so clearly deserved.

There’s an old saying about things having to look worse before they can get better — and it’s true. Seeing Sage Hearth Cottage stripped, patchy, and raw after the waterblasting was genuinely shocking. The familiar walls suddenly looked tired, uneven, and far from the cozy image we carry in our minds.

But beneath that stripped-back exterior was potential. Every scrape, every sanded edge, every careful repair laid the groundwork for the renewed, welcoming home we were aiming for. The work was exhausting, honest, and hands-on — leaving our hands sore, our clothes paint-speckled, and our minds quietly satisfied.

Looking back now, the transformation is done, and the exterior has a new lease on life. The patchiness, the fatigue, and the moments of doubt are already fading in memory, leaving only the satisfaction of work well done. Preparing the cottage properly wasn’t just about the surface; it was about stewardship, about showing up for the place we now call home, and about giving it the care it deserved.

Exterior before prep
Exterior waterblasted
Waterblasted exterior
Waterblasted
Waterblasted patchy wall
Waterblasted patchy wall
Waterblasted wall close-up
Waterblasted wall
Sanding begins
Sanding begins
Casey sanding
Casey in her sanding kit
Location: Taupō, New Zealand

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