Sara McDaniel

These apartments used to have a bad reputation. The slums, drug infested, trouble…. People said I was crazy for buying them. Well, there’s one thing about me if you haven’t figured it out. I’m not a conventional type of girl. I go against norms. I break rules. I mostly don’t follow trends. I live my life on my own terms. And while this is a risky way of living, it also has the greatest reward. I left my safe comfortable W2 job when I was 41, and 6 years later I can tell you it was absolute the best decision. I wake up scared most days bc I know how quickly everything can fall apart. But I purposefully choose this unconventional life because it offers the most freedom, flexibility, and financial reward. This affordable housing complex is getting close to being finished. We are starting the last one bedroom apartment which is already rented starting June 1 and I can’t wait to add another amazing neighbor on the cozy street I’m slowly turning into a destination. Join me here for all the fun and allow me to also inspire you to reclaim and restore your life and your home. 💕 #renovation #renovationproject #affordablehousing #affordablehome #mindenla #louisiana #homerenovation #homeproject

Where does this grand staircase lead? Here’s part 2 of the Fuller White house that I renovated for an episode of In With The Old on @magnolianetwork We have newspaper clippings that detail this floor being a boarding house for unmarried school teachers. 😲 Take a short watch and learn more about this mysterious home then let me know if you’d like a part 3 to see the most mysterious part of this historic home. ❤️ #historichouse #historichome #historicpreservation #magnolianetwork #mindenla #homerenovation #homeproject

Old houses hold secrets. And this 1905 Victorian style, historic home in Minden, Louisiana is no exception. Here’s part 3 in my current series. Let’s tour this mysterious third floor. Perhaps we may never know the real truth, and I can only share the legends and lores I’ve been told my local community members. I’ve heard: ⚪️ One local tells me her grandmother told her there were fabulous parties and dances in this space. (If you watched part two, this home served as a boarding house so this would make sense.) ⚪️Another local said secret meetings happened up here and he couldn’t speak of them. The original owner SJ Harrell was once the oldest living member of the Knights of Pythias (a secret society founded in DC) so this is possible. ⚪️Another local said this once was a speakeasy. If this is true, this lore would likely date back to SJ Harrell as Thomas & Alma Fuller were upstanding members of the community. ⚪️In later years, Thomas Fuller’s heirs used this space for storage (we have pictures of this). Nonetheless, this home holds secrets we may never uncover. And likely will earn more over the course of history. I chose to renovate this space and give it a throw back to days gone by, with a combo of MCM and 1920s loungy, bar vibes. What do you think? Does your home hold secrets? If we are just meeting, be sure to follow @simplysoutherncottage because there’s tons more old stories headed your way. ❤️ Video assist from @parishdesignco #historichome #historicproperties #historicpreservation #historichouse #homerenovation #1920s #mindenla #louisianalove #explorelouisiana #travellouisiana #louisianatravel #mylouisiana #onlylouisiana @Sara McDaniel

Foundation plantings DO NOT need to make you fret. I installed the following because they are easy to care for, tolerate heat, and really make a statement in front of my little cottage. Save this reel and take it with you to your local nursery to plan your next #landscapedesign project! From L to R: 🌸Pink crepe myrtles flank both ends of my house and are surround by society garlic (the purple blooms) 🌸Burford Hollies completely line the front porch. I tell my landscaper to leave them sort of wild and unkempt bc I don’t like a boxy look. They get out of control fast so keep a watch on them. 🌸Across the front are vincas 🌸Flanking the door are red sansanquas. They bloom in Dec but are gorgeous and green the rest of the year. 🌸Behind the right myrtle is yellow ligustrum. Also gets out of control quickly so keep a close watch. 🌸Next up is variegated liriope, followed by dwarf gardenias in the back. 🌸And the last purple is lantana. I highly recommend all of this as with regular watering they can withstand the summer heat and also freezing temps in the winter. Tell me some of your favorite foundations plantings. Then let me know if you’d like to see what’s on the sides and back of my cottage. 🌸🌿🌸🌿 Happy planting! #landscaping #greenthumb #plantlady #yardwork #landscapelovers #gardening101 #gardeningtips #gardentipsandtricks

Something I never thought I would say on social media: “My pine straw made the Internet mad last week.” 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ Two times a year my amazing landscaper Robert switches out the annuals in my flowerbeds. We made this switch yesterday and I can’t wait to show you what I am putting in for summer. It’s a tried and true favorite. I haven’t used in many years but I’m going back to it based on my previous results. Here’s a short video showing the full refresh. Be sure to save it for future reference and tag a friend who loves gardening content. Let me know if you have any questions about refreshing my flowerbeds twice a year #gardening #gardendesign #gardeninspiration #planttips #planttipsandtricks #greenthumb #plantlady #landscapedesign #landscaping #flowerbeds @Sara McDaniel

Let’s tour the first floor of this 1905 Victorian home that’s on the National Register of Historic Places! I still have to pinch myself most days that I even get to own this legendary home. It holds so many secrets and has been a conversation staple in our small town of Minden, Louisiana for years! Let me know in the comments if you want a full tour of floors 2 and 3 also! Enjoy! #historichouse #historichome #oldhouse #oldhouselove #oldhouses #oldhouselife #oldhouselovers @Sara McDaniel

What would this apartment rent for where you live? Almost 2 years ago about these run down apartments on a run down street in Minden, Louisiana. They had BAD reputation. But I’m determined to rewrite the history of these apartments and this street. I’ve slowly been renovating them into #affordablehousing and we have gained some amazing neighbors! This 2/1 apartment rents for $750. The previous tenants just moved out and after a refresh is ready for a new family. We still have a ways to go (we need new windows and REALLY need a new parking lot) but are trudging along as finances allow. Make sure to follow @simplysoutherncottage as I work to renovate almost an entire city block of Minden, Louisiana, the friendliest city in the south. 💗 #renovation #renovationproject #homeproject #apartmentrenovation #homerenovation #renovations #mindenla #louisianalove

The internet taught me a new word last week. I have the incredible privilege of owning a 1905 Victorian style home. And we have newspaper articles advertising for teachers to live there and also society pages that back up teachers living in this historic home. Apparently, this makes my home be known as a TEACHERAGE. In my years that is a word I have never heard. Have you?I love learning new things. What’s even more interesting is my personal connection with the story, as I am formerly a third and fourth grade teacher and now I am a teacher of teachers (in addition to many other things). I can’t remember who shared this but thank you for enlightening me and the rest of us on this term. ❤️ Want to learn more? Make sure you’re following @simplysoutherncottage and share this post with a friend who would appreciate it. Next up will be talking about a widow’s walk. Stay tuned for more. 🙏🏻 #historichome #wordoftheday #historyrevealed #mindenla #historicpreservation #historicpreservationmatters #homerenovation #homeproject