We’ve been racing to finish and photograph every room in the duplex so we can list it on Airbnb for weeklong summer stays. There’s still work to do — two kitchens, two living rooms, two laundry rooms and a couple more bedrooms and bathrooms — but it feels huge to be completely done with the four rooms featured in this post. Imagine all the celebratory emojis.
Here’s a tour of the two bedrooms and two bathrooms that are officially finished and ready.
This is the main bedroom on the right side of the duplex. Each side had its own quirks and measurements, and this bed wall was a touch narrower than its counterpart. We installed accordion wall sconces to make the most of the space and allow bedside lighting to be flipped on and off without reaching across the bed. Careful outlet planning placed a convenient plug by each nightstand so guests can charge phones easily.
We focused on functionality but also embraced character: the exposed original brick chimney and a new window behind the bed brighten and warm the room. Securing approval from the historic review board for that window took effort, but it was worth it. The shot below shows the window during framing — a good reminder of how much this room changed in the renovation.
We love a bed in front of a window when the bed has an open, airy frame. Choosing a metal bed helps let light layer through instead of feeling blocked off. It keeps the room feeling integrated and light.
We also added a small full bathroom off of this room to create a true main suite. That addition required historic review board approval as well, and it dramatically improved the layout and utility of the house. It’s one of the best value-adding moves we made.
The bathroom feels airy and bright thanks to tonal tile paired with greeny-gray doors (Sherwin Williams “Oyster Bay”) and crisp white walls (Sherwin Williams “Spare White”), a combination we used across this side of the duplex. Because the room is compact, a short video tour might capture it best, but the photos show how the materials work together.
Bathrooms are often the most labor-intensive rooms for us because we tiled every floor ourselves. The heavy work stretches the timeline, but once plumbing and tile work are done, accessorizing happens quickly and the room comes together in a day — which is always a satisfying moment.
For this bathroom we added a mirror, towel hooks, a long white shower curtain, our preferred toilet paper holder, leather pulls on the vanity, and a few framed prints. Because there’s a window over the sink, we chose a hinged chrome mirror that’s practical and lets light pass from behind. The window glass is frosted for privacy.
On this side we saved a pair of quirky original doors and repurposed them as closet doors flanking a large window. Their original character is priceless and balances the newer finishes. Because the original doors are shorter than modern ones, we added cubbies above for balanced proportions and extra storage. Inside each closet there’s hanging space, shelves for suitcases, wood hangers and a luggage rack, so guests have practical storage solutions.
Across from the bed we placed a dresser topped with a large mirror for extra storage and a place to get ready. The rug brings a soft, beachy vibe without overwhelming the room; it feels peaceful and affordable, which made it a great choice.
Walking into this finished room still feels surreal. When we bought the duplex, walls were covered in painted plastic paneling hiding mold, ceilings had been dropped to conceal rot, and the carpet and heating system were in poor condition. We stripped things back, updated HVAC, electrical and plumbing, and rebuilt where needed. The transformation has been significant.
The window shown above marks where the door to the new bathroom addition now sits; we also added a new window closer to the chimney to balance the wall and bring in more light.
Now let’s look at the front bedroom on the left side of the duplex. Initially it was covered with drop ceilings and faux plastic paneling; a small closet had no natural light because a window had been covered with drywall. We exposed that original diamond-grilled window and it immediately brightened the closet and room.
This front bedroom features a cozy bed, soft green-gray nightstands with gold hardware and accordion wall lights. We only had two sets of those particular lights, so the two finished bedrooms both ended up with them — the other bedrooms will have different lamps. The nightstands are affordable, offer three drawers each for storage, and subtly echo the greeny-gray doors on the opposite side of the duplex.
There’s also a small closet in this bedroom with a dresser for folded clothes. The refurbished diamond-grilled window is a charming touch that we haven’t fully photographed yet, but it’s coming soon.
Next, the hall bathroom on the right side showcases tile work we love (though it was a challenge to lay). We finished it with natural accents like leather vanity pulls and a floating wood shelf, plus classic elements: an extra-long white shower curtain, a round gold mirror, a simple white vanity and beach-inspired art. The result is clean, practical and coastal-friendly.
Each side originally had one full bathroom; now the upstairs of each side has two full baths plus an additional powder room downstairs. The “before” images show how much repair was necessary to eliminate water damage and unsafe coverings, but tearing things down let us rebuild properly and safely.
The fourth finished room is the hall bathroom on the left side. It uses different floor tile but shares the same vanity and accents for a cohesive feel across the duplex while still allowing each bathroom to have its own personality.
Comparing the two hall bathrooms is fun: one has a bold blue floor and the other a softer pink-and-green hex pattern. John prefers the blue; I lean toward the pink — maybe when the duplex is fully finished we’ll run a readers’ poll and let you pick favorites room by room.
People often ask if I have a favorite side of the duplex. I really can’t choose — both sides have elements I love. The kitchens and bedrooms differ in tone and style, and I find myself bouncing back and forth depending on the day. That variety is one of the things that makes this project so rewarding.
Note: This post once included product references; the focus here is on the finished rooms and renovation choices.