The Current Owners- Pat and Wayne Schulte

Updated 9/2007
     My husband and I purchased the cottage in July 2003. The house was in much need of repair but we thought we could handle it because of its small size. We would do most of the rehabilitation  ourselves with the help of my daughter Amanda and her husband Jason. It seems the little house came to life.    

                     

     On the front porch, we added the truncated columns with copper inserts giving it a craftsman feel. The back screened porch was totally rebuilt, this is the best place to have a morning coffee. We added walls and moved walls, made the kitchen into a galley so as to enlarge the luxury bath. The kitchen has a cafe table and chairs for two. However, the table on the Screened porch can open to seat four either on the porch or in the living room.  In the bath we added a Jacuzzi. The bath sink was placed in a antique piece of furniture I found at an Antique Store down on Broadway in Alton, which I repainted and marbleized the top.

             

 

 The living room has a vaulted ceiling which makes the cottage seem much larger. In that room you will find  stenciling, and some historic memorabilia, like the square nails we pulled out of the plastered walls of the house.  I used a relaxing shade of light green on the walls, trying to bring the outside feeling inside. Most of the floors in the home are original wood except for the foyer and the bath they are tiled. In this room you will find an old map of the city of Alton. We also offer a small DVD and VHS library, board games and expanded basic cable.

    Recently I purchased a glass mason jar,  that was made at the Illinois Glass Company where I know the Doyle's worked for a time. I hope to add to the collection and display it in the cottage.

     We  spent most of our weekends renovating the Doyle Cottage, and enjoyed most of it. Every-time we would tear into a wall we never knew what to expect,  working on an old home has been challenging and rewarding.

     In the spring the cottage gardens are full of blooms, and the scent of honeysuckle makes that cup of coffee more enjoyable. A guest remarked how she loved sitting with her coffee and watching the butterflies and hummingbirds at the honeysuckle.

  
     When I was growing up I lived in a small town on the Niagara River in New York. I loved the river town feeling, the sights and sounds of the river traffic, and the church bells. The breeze coming off the river, being able to walk to most things, the friendly people. Well, it seems I have found most of that again in Alton.

     My husband  grew up with construction, he learned a lot from his Dad. Wayne now owns a successful appraisal business and understands the real estate market. He thought the cottage would be good investment in time and money.

     In Ten Months the little house was finished inside and out. Decorated with an Old World European theme, but with all the modern conveniences. Wayne and I have stayed in many places and we know what we like and don't like. We hope you will find everything pleasing and that the cottage meets your every need.

      Wayne loves to work with Bonsai and Photography.   I am an Artist specializing in Watercolor, Photography, Computer Graphics and Trompe L'oile. We hope you will come and spend some time at our Doyle Cottage.  Make our cottage your Home Away from Home.

"Let no One Ever Come to You Without Leaving Better and Happier."     Mother Teresa