14/08/2024
We’re all for games at the cottage. What are you playing?
Burlwood Cottage on Lake Superior
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- Burlwood Cottage on Lake Superior
Dog-friendly cottage on Lake Superior with 7+ acres and the best views!
13/04/2024
Getting soooo excited for all the spring bulbs to start blooming! Do you have a favorite?
The season’s cool mornings and evenings, coupled with comfortable mid-day temps and sunshine, are heavenly.. also perfect weather for a [mosquito-free 🦟] bonfire in the backyard while marveling at Lake Superior (really, this is fantastic any time of year!).
Picture of the dining area, as this light fixture garnered a lot of attention and inquiries in a recent story! She’s a beaut.💡
03/02/2024
Since I was a kid I‘ve always loved fun, ‘fancy’ glasses no matter the occasion or liquid. Here’s a peek into one of the cupboards at the cottage to see some of the options available. The green ones (my favorite color, btw) being the latest addition from a local thrift store. Please share, do you pay attention to, or also enjoy, a fun, fancy glass?!
🥛🍺🍷🥃🥂🍸
Note: the ring-holding swan to the right of the sink was an original feature that we just love and kept (cabinets are original, too). It, unfortunately, suffered an injury while being removed to install the new window, but nothing a little glue couldn’t fix! 🦢💍
08/11/2023
Where do you go, or what do you do, when life gets busy and you need to hit the brakes to slow it back down?
Personally, we’ve been living in the fast lane for several months now and we’re finally ready/able to reign it back in, prioritizing what’s most important, which means enjoying some time at the cottage. We used to get up monthly and it simply hasn’t been possible. I cannot wait to sit and stare at the water, walk the shoreline while the dogs explore and play, sit fireside, meander through the woods with the dogs darting about, and just to BE [there]. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to have some friends join for a night or two of cards and fun. Words cannot begin to express just how much I’m looking forward to this, it’ll recharge the batteries.🔋(Did you spot Norman?)
Anything we/I can share, or that you want to see, while we’re there?
04/11/2023
When you travel, are you more:
- hunker down & hang-out where you are
- come prepared with a full plan & itinerary
- or possibly a mix of the two?
For cottage guests, we have a full ‘welcome guide’ that we’ve put together and share. It’s full of recommendations not only from us, but from previous guests and includes: restaurants, sight-seeing/hiking spots, a multitude of additional activity options nearby, apps (northern lights, ships, etc.), and more. We love hearing about guests who had every intention to get out and explore the area, but after they arrived they loved it so much that they just stayed right there.❣️
For us, we usually have a list of to-do tasks to chip away at around the cottage and the dogs are immediately running around to find and take in all the new smells outside. And, honestly, every time we turn down the driveway we’re so elated to be there that we tend to leave only when necessary!
03/11/2023
It’s Friday!! I’m looking forward to watching the latest episode of ‘The Great British Baking Show’ while drinking a big cup of coffee in my pj’s tomorrow morning. A bonfire also sounds amazing with the fall temps returning. What are your weekend plans?
25/10/2023
Here’s your reminder (and mine) to schedule those vacation days and spend the time with those you love in a place that you adore. Be like Norman, find a spot so comfy you take a lil’ snooze.
19/10/2023
Another before and after to share, this time of the back of the cottage! That deck is the best thing ever, let me tell ya. (Thanks 😘!!)
We recently had a chance to head up and escape with friends, just for a night, who asked if we’ve had any guests who’ve stayed before and have been back since the renovation. We’re lucky enough to say yes and the feedback has been exceptional! We so appreciate all of our guests loving the cottage like it’s their own.
The process to make it shine like it was always meant to has been a long one, expensive, but ohhhhh so worth all the sweat, some blood, & definitely tears along the way!
Not sure what phase we’re on now, but more yet to come as we’re able to. For now, loving all of this!! ✨
18/10/2023
It’s ’cuddle-up & get cozy’ weather! recently wrote an article about whether or not you should let your pet(s) sleep in bed with you. Being a pet-friendly place, and massive dog lovers ourselves, we certainly encourage it. Where do you fall? Do you sleep better with or without?
(Norman & Vivi hammed it up for the camera and are always invited up for snuggles.)
13/10/2023
There’s just something about the fall weather that inspires a trip north, lakeside a ➕! This is bonfire and fav sweatshirt weather. Am I the only one who wants to jump right into this picture and grab one of those chairs!?
What are your weekend plans? Do they include sitting outside by a fire? Jealous if they’ve already started!
09/10/2023
What’s In A Name // Having looked at properties every weekend for months on end, we saw quite a few that had been named, many times, quite cleverly so. (Viewpoint in Lutsen stands-out if any of you are familiar.) When we started to think of our own, we wanted a quaint, catchy ‘name’ for the cottage, so we looked to the property for inspiration. I can’t remember anymore what other options we threw around, but something significant is the abundance of burls on the trees! You’ll see them right as you turn down the driveway and on nearly every tree thereafter, hence the name Burlwood Cottage! Also fitting for us, as T is a carpenter, a true tradesman, and has a particular appreciation for burls and their beauty. 🤎🌲🌳
The tree pictured also serves as a resting place for what we use mainly as fire pit pokers, collected from the shoreline! Also great as a walking stick, or to help safely navigate accessing the private beach.
Are there any unique property names that you still remember?
08/10/2023
Fall 2020 to Fall 2023
WILD to see what it was and what it is today. ❤️ We’ve poured so much of ourselves into it, I wouldn’t even know where to begin to explain it all, so hopefully the pictures have the words for me. It’s absolutely our favorite place in the world to be. We’re thrilled we get to continue to share it with so many, including all of the pups! 🐾
11/06/2023
Ya know, sometimes this whole Instagram/social media thing can get to me. I see a lot of beautiful places and destinations and followers and constant activity and I compare. This little 1955 cottage, it’s all T (my nickname for Tony) and me. What you see is what you get. We strive to provide you with an exceptional experience and destination, which is exactly why we’ve blocked May, June, and up until our first July booking to try to ensure that is exactly what happens. We’re real people. We have jobs beyond the cottage, but we feel so strongly about how amazing this place is and our love for dogs (fostered 160+ - stopped counting) that we want to share it with others and we really do hope you love it, along with all that we’re doing to improve it, treating it right. Thanks to those who have followed along and been so active - and positive 🙌🏻🙌🏻 - in the transformation process, we appreciate you beyond!! Look forward to hosting you and, we hope, your pup(s), too. ❤️🐾
02/01/2023
Happiest New Year! To ring in 2023 we actually chose to be guests ourselves at another vacation rental - not on the North Shore - with friends. It gave us an opportunity to experience the other side, which is always helpful and important to do, plus a ton of fun!
Games were a big part of our holiday break. I became a huge fan of card games, Tony thankfully indulged me, and we even learned a couple new ones:
- six card golf
- garbage
We also were introduced to a new board game, Wits & Wagers, and LOVE it! (Thanks !!) Highly recommend them all. Any new favorites you’ve discovered?
Hope you had a phenomenal time watching the ball drop (if you made it that late) and many cheers to an absolutely wonderful new year ahead!
Always,
Tony & Jeni (Norm & Vivi, too 🐾)
28/12/2022
We’ve been a bit quiet over here. Hoping your holiday season is one of enjoyment and peace (and thawing-out from last week!).
In case you missed it, our 2023 calendar isn’t open just yet, but we’re working to get that changed. Stay tuned - I’ll post another story when there’s an update! Feel free to reach-out with any questions in the meantime.
Until then, enjoy the last days of ‘22 and look forward to hosting you in the New Year! 🍾
09/10/2022
It’s a beautiful fall day! After a long walk, the dogs went for a swim followed by some adventuring around the property to peep more fall colors (and for them to dry-off)! Tried to get both dogs to look at the camera by making puppy sounds. Why? We have an incoming foster pup (!) after taking several months off. Check out our story for the two possibilities and give us your best guess on who’s arriving. These two better dust-off their teaching skills!
20/08/2022
“Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true”
We still need to pinch ourselves that we get to enjoy this special place! Whenever we go, we never want to leave. Our hope is that guests feel the exact same way.
As much as I cringe about the exterior as-is, I also want to embrace what it because sometime (next spring?) it won’t be this anymore and these images will help us remember what was.
Current color plan for the exterior:
- deep, dark navy blue body
- olive green trim
- and our brick red windows.
Like?
Photos: from guest
02/06/2022
It is our 10-year anniversary today!
Unlike last year, we did remember ahead of the actual day; however, we have yet to figure out what to do to celebrate. Any suggestions!?
01/06/2022
Is it safe to say summer’s here? Either way, thrilled for the sunshine and the calendar’s filling-up fast. (Fall has availability!)
Wanted to share a few questions we’ve been asked about the cottage:
Q. Is the tap water safe to drink?
A. Heck yes it is and, if you’re like us, you’ll fill-up your own bottles with it when you leave because it’s that good!
Q. Can you see the water from the backyard?
A. As guests have attested, you can see Lake Superior from nearly every room inside the cottage and for sure can see it outside in the back! In fact, that’s where we spend the majority of our time in warmer months, though usually on the beach with the dogs swimming.
Q. Can you hear Lake Superior’s waves from the back patio?
A. Yes, absolutely! Even inside at night with the windows closed you’re likely to hear the waves, pending the weather. Usually we fall asleep and rise to the lull of Lake Superior. It’s glorious!
What else have you been wondering about?
27/04/2022
A few trends in hospitality design and how we stack-up! Do they align with what you’re seeking-out as a guest?
➖’Partnering with local artisans’
We love local, sourcing our guest arrival gifts, plus decor around the cottage, from the artisans in the area! .gettencreative, , and two_harbors_baker to name a few!
➖’Creating a homey atmosphere’
We did our best to achieve this in the design and, based on the number of times ‘cozy’ is mentioned in the reviews from our lovely guests, I think we were successful!
➖’Combining textures and patterns, having fun in the space’
Mixing textures and patterns, in my opinion, makes a space feel more lived-in and visually inviting, so we definitely tried to do that as much as possible, which isn’t always easy with store-bought furnishings, as they tend to be mostly available in only solid colors (image here as an example). We also used the cottage to experiment! For example, the deep color on the walls in the great room and the mixing of textured/materials in the bathroom tile (glass, marble, porcelain).
➖’Wellness, or healing, vacations are a new trend’
We have to thank Lake Superior for providing this, plus the natural landscape and wildlife that surround the property. Our most recent guest shared how the cottage, “… was a perfect healing space.” Speaking for ourselves, when arriving at the cottage, you can shut-off everything else, all the other ‘noise,’ and just be.
➖’Working remote and flexible workspaces, as guests adopt a ‘work from anywhere’ mentality’ [Also bleisure travel - mixing business with leisure!]
The cottage has great WiFi, so kick your feet up anywhere, or at the upper level desk, to host a webinar, get some emails sent off, and then extend your trip to enjoy some personal vacation time!
➖’Accommodating pets’
We could not be MORE excited about this one!! We absolutely love when the guest list includes doggos. Give us all the dogs! 🐾
What do you think about these?
Photo:
22/04/2022
Happy Earth Day today and everyday!
What we’ve done, or are doing, to be more green:
- updating, or have updated, to energy-efficient appliances, including bath fixtures
- eco-friendly dog poo bags ()
- swapped-out single-use toiletries for refillable
- smart thermostat
- real plants (they help clean indoor air + increase humidity)
- shopping for/supporting locally-made goods
- utilize high-quality, second-hand furnishings (estate sales are my faaaavorite!)
Would love to hear what you’re doing to contribute to a more sustainable planet and add to our plans! 🌎
Photo:
20/04/2022
We always look forward to our guests’ reviews, here’s the latest one:
“This is a delightful cottage set in a beautiful spot with a spacious yard backing up to Lake Superior. It was close to town, yet entirely private and quiet. We were able to spend time on the beach with pups and enjoy a fire in the backyard. The kitchen had everything we needed and we arrived to welcome treats for us and the pups. Very cozy, great layout, lots of special touches throughout and very clean. Beds were very comfy. WiFi was great. The natural surroundings are amazing, we loved listening to the waves and watching the full moon over the lake which is visible from almost each room. Deer roamed in the yard in the evenings. We saw ships passing by daily and watched them dock in Two Harbors. They have information about local attractions and the cottage is close to several state parks and hiking trails. Duluth is short drive away. Jeni and Tony were fantastic hosts. Absolutely wonderful, would love to come back!”
Additionally, “Thank you, Jeni, for allowing the extra dog for our stay over Easter. It was a perfect healing space for us. It was delightful to have everything we needed to cook, really luxurious towels and toiletries, and all the special touches from decor to welcome treats. Good memories were made!!”
We appreciate our guests sooooo much and we’re beyond thankful to and for helping us consistently give the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ experience!
13/03/2022
Thinking spring today with this warm-up that feels absolutely amazing! Are you making every excuse to be outside all day, too?
On that note, perhaps you saw our recent stories with the abundance of Adirondack chairs and bench I was eyeing-up in an online auction. They went for hundreds of dollars more than my bids. I definitely know they’re worth it, but it’s tough to offer quite a bit more without being able to check the items out in-person first (I’ve made that mistake before).
A few in the auction had these beautiful curved supports on the back that I keep thinking about. I’m trying to convince T () to build a couple for the cottage. He built some before that are really beautiful (I can share a pic in the stories for your thoughts.) What are your preferences on style - traditional vs. modern? Bench vs. individual seating?
20/02/2022
We recently lost someone who meant a great deal to us and so many others. I wanted to share something they’d often say:
“I’m sure some days are harder than others, but try and find the sunshine in each and every day. It’s always there, but some days one really needs to look a lot harder to see it.”
Here’s to always finding the sunshine, no matter how difficult it may be. ☀️
02/02/2022
Is your dog a fan of the winter weather?
Friends who were up with us recently have a new addition to their family, which is sweet Ruby! She was a gem throughout the weekend and a true lake dog if I’ve ever seen one. She couldn’t get enough of the snow, didn’t mind the cold, and navigated the ice-covered shoreline with ease! Isn’t she the most adorable?!
(They also took some amazing pictures, including this one - love them all!)
30/01/2022
One of my favorites from last weekend. I just want to jump into this photo and go back, you?
21/01/2022
Honestly cannot wait for the weekend when we’re back at this heavenly place with some awesome people [who will be sleeping here, as it’s our spot for guests - best view]!
One request was for a bonfire outside. Wondering if the weather will allow it; I do love a fire outside in the winter. You?
How about your weekend - anything you’re looking forward to, or have in-store?
[Note ‘whale’s head’ on the wall. The end of the foyer bench that T cut-off and we just had to display it because it was way too cute! T also made that corbel bedside table.]
18/01/2022
When I’m having a tough day I pull-up photos like this to make me happy and calm. Can’t wait to get back there in-person. What do you do?
Guest photo from February ‘21 (thank you!)
05/01/2022
We’re so thankful for the amazing guests that we’re lucky enough to host at the cottage. Feedback received from stays is priceless to us and helps shape our future decisions, as well as changes. We’re always appreciative when guests are willing to share pictures from their stay with us, too.
We hope that everyone who comes to the cottage feels like it’s truly their own personal haven, including the pups. When guests return, now that’s the highest compliment you could ever give us!
Here’s our latest review from the absolutely most lovely guests, including their beyond adorable rescue pup, who fill all aforementioned categories:
“This cottage. It's the cutest, sweetest place we've stayed on the north shore, and was the BEST place to ring in 2022. It's completely equipped with everything you need. This was our 2nd time staying here, and I'm sure we'll book again. We pretty much just hung out inside this time as it was too cold to take advantage of the outdoor fire pit, (but it has front row seating to the waves and the stars, so maybe next time). Jeni and Tony have thought of everything- especially if you are bringing along your pup. We can't wait to return.”
THANK YOU!!! 🥂
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Hello heatwave! Words cannot express how nice it was to get up to the cottage and spend some time next to Lake Superior!! Feeling totally recharged and rejuvenated. While it was scorching hot and near 100° in the Twin Cities, we had 80° temps next to the lake. The weather can change in seconds. We were standing outside chatting with friends and baking in the sun, next thing we know the wind changed and the temp dropped about 20-degrees to 64° with a breeze! Definitely felt amazing (and could certainly go for that right now!). Also learned that the white caps on the water are referred to as sheep! Our fantastic neighbor shared that with us, as he spotted the 🐑 making their way across the lake. He said next will come the fog, and it sure did! How are you beating the heat?
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