River cottage renovation makes the most of old and new

Published 5:52 pm Thursday, February 27, 2020

BLOUNTS CREEK — Some say the best fishing to be had can be found on Blounts Creek. Others say the kayaking is fantastic on these protected waters adjoining the Pamlico River. Still others marvel at the wildlife: eagles and osprey, deer and bobcats, rabbits and squirrels.

LONG POINT: On a point jutting out into Blounts Creek, this recently renovated river cottage is ideally situated to take advantage of all the area has to offer: nature, water views and water access.

On the south side of the Pamlico, a little less than halfway between Chocowinity and Aurora, all of the above can be had in a circa-1975 old-school river cottage that’s been updated and renovated for modern river life.

ORIGINAL: Tongue-and-groove wood ceilings were refinished during the renovation of the circa-1975 cottage and the kitchen updated with plenty of counter space, bar seating, modern glass tile backsplash and more.

“It’s a cute little cottage — it has that pretty wood feeling,” said Maria Wilson, REALTOR and col-owner of Coldwell Banker Coastal Rivers Realty. “The front part of the house is the old cottage, and they’ve left the charm that was there. There’s a wood-burning fireplace in the dining area, a restored tongue-and-groove wood ceiling, but then they opened it up and did a nice kitchen renovation.”

The renovation wasn’t confined to the kitchen: the owners added a large living room with plenty of creek-facing windows, a large master bedroom with its own water views, a large master bathroom featuring a soaking tub and a deck on which to watch Blounts Creek sunrises and sunsets. Now, the two-bedroom bungalow captures the charm of the river houses of the past and combines it with the comfort of a year-round home.

THE VIEW: Added onto the original cottage, along with a master bedroom suite, the living room offers views of the water and access to the deck that wraps around the back and side of the house.

At nearly 1,500 square feet, the single story cottage is not big, but it gives every appearance of space by virtue of a vaulted ceiling and an open layout.

“It looks small on the outside, but it feels so much larger on the inside,” Wilson said. “There’s no wasted space. I’ve shown it to people and they always say, ‘Wow, this house feels so much bigger than it looks from the outside.’”

A ROOM WITH A VIEW: The bed in the master bedroom faces double glass doors that open onto a deck. Beyond the deck is a view of the water.

Located in Long Point Landing, this Dickinson Road home is one of two that predate the neighborhood, so its potential owners aren’t required to pay HOA dues, though surrounded by the elegant waterfront homes of the subdivision. The lot itself is a quarter acre of land with a nice rise, according to Wilson, that slopes down to the water, a private pier with two boat slips, a boat lift and a 3,000-pound jet ski lift.

EASY ACCESS: A private pier boasts two boat slips, a boat lift, a 3,000-pound jet ski lift and easy access to the creek and the Pamlico River beyond.

“You’re on the protected waters of Blounts Creek, but then you can get on a boat and go straight out to the river,” she said.

Here’s a place where coastal charm and modern living merge with panoramic view and the things that make Blounts Creek a special place to live: nature, access to the water and the fishing — especially the fishing.

For more information about this listing, call Maria Wilson at 252-945-3367 or email maria.wilson@coastalrivers.com.