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Live Like a Princess? The Snow White Fairy-Tale Cottage Is Totally Dreamy

If you’ve ever caught yourself whistling “Heigh-ho” as you head off to work in the morning, and wondering why you can’t return to a charming cottage of your own, your fairy-tale fantasy may have come true. The “Snow White cottage” in Olalla, WA, is up for sale.

The four-bedroom, 4.5-bath home has an asking price of only $775,000, a number that includes 7.5 acres of fairy-tale whimsy.

However, it was a long and winding road to completion for the adorable cottage. The project was set in motion the late 1970s by Richey and Karen Morgan—a couple of DIY builders with a distinctively fanciful vision. They spent decades of labor (and cash) on the home, but weren’t able to see it to completion.

After finishing a few sections of the home, the Morgans sold the property to local buyer Evonne Bess in 2005. Bess saw the potential and managed to finish off the tale of the incomplete cottage within a couple of years.

The time spent on the home was well worth it. “From the very beginning, every detail was thought of,” says listing agent Rick Ellis. When you’re building a home, he points out, “usually, you do something as fast as you can possibly do it—and there’s none of that in this house. Everything, every beam, every little detail, just took hours to do, and that’s what’s astonishing when you sit back and look at it.”

Every door in the house is unique, so each doorway was individually planned. The builders didn’t cut corners—because there are no corners to be found. Plaster covers the curved walls for a cozy, cavelike feeling, accented by sanded, natural wood beams. And there aren’t any straight lines on the roof either: Every shingle had to be placed by hand.

“It almost appears that they just went out in the forest and found these things and put them in,” says Ellis.

Potential buyers don’t have to give up modern life entirely: The kitchen still includes modern appliances. But you have a charming walk-through tree trunk just outside the kitchen, which helps offset the sight of a stainless steel oven. There are five working fireplaces and built-in bunk beds in the bedrooms, along with hand-done cabinets and either leaded or stained-glass windows throughout the house.

Outside, the original owners and designers brought in special plants to ensure that the atmosphere was just right. They included one especially significant verdant addition: an actual tree trunk that they hollowed out and turned into its own freestanding treehouse room, complete with fireplace. Stone paths meander through the property, with even a small bridge over a stream, perfect for dreamy sighing or spontaneous bursting into song.

Bess is now ready to move on from this storybook cottage, but she’s hopeful a buyer is willing to write the next chapter in this home’s history. There are some minor hurdles to clear before you arrive at happily-ever-after, as most banks won’t lend on the house, due to its unique nature, and there is currently an offer in on the property.

“As beautiful as it is, it doesn’t fit into the conventional mold, so there are some obstacles to consider,” says Ellis. Seven roommates and friendly woodland creatures are not included.

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