Welcome to nolacottage.com, the blog following the renovation of an old shotgun cottage and other adventures of life in New Orleans.
What will you find on nolacottage.com? You will find progress on the cottage, renovation talk, cottage lifestyle and philosophy, and musings on adventures in New Orleans living, with a little general Louisiana information thrown in for lagniappe, as well as resources and history on all these topics.
Renovation is a labor of love. Renovation of an early 20th century shotgun cottage is a labor of love mixed with a special brand of insanity. It is a leap wrapped in hope and faith and vision.
My shotgun cottage The majority of shotguns in New Orleans were built in the 19th century, although they came to the area as early as the late 1700s. The one I am renovating is less common. (Read more about history of shotguns at https://nolacottage.com/about.)
As far as we can tell, this particular shotgun was built in the early 20th century, sometime between 1910s-1930s, even perhaps as late as the early 1940s, although this seems unlikely. The shotgun resides in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, so it is possible that it is older then early 20th century, and possibly a servant’s shotgun to a larger home that was in the area. My research continues.
This shotgun cottage is actually closer to the original shotgun house built before the pretty Victorian details were added by Europeans. It does not have the gingerbread details, but is rather utilitarian and has a more country cottage, simplistic feel. This shotgun is also wider then the traditional shotgun, which is only 12-13 feet wide. this one is 15 feet wide by approx. 63 feet long, although the original building comes in at approximately 55 before the last room was added.
The house has lath and plaster walls, old growth heart of pine flooring, a center brick fireplace, and brick and mortar piers.
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