Many moons ago John shared the beach house downstairs before & after photos, and it took us a while to get the upstairs comparisons together — eight months somehow flew by. The top floor was in rough shape at the start, so we’re excited to show the full second-floor transformation. Let’s pop upstairs and take a look at how things came together.
UPSTAIRS HALL & OFFICE
Here’s the upstairs hall facing the front room that we turned into a compact storage room and office. When we bought the house there was widespread water damage, mold, and termite damage across the entire top floor.
The same view now shows smooth walls and an intact, non-cracking ceiling — a relatively small repair that made a big visual difference.
A few steps toward that doorway reveals the condition of the room when we bought the place:
Now it’s an office with simple wall-mounted shelving and a basic hung desktop. Going vertical added a lot of function to the small footprint and made the space feel purposeful.
FRONT BEDROOM
The front bedroom arrived as a blank slate, but the original floor showed clear potential. We refinished the floors and used light furnishings to emphasize the bright natural light this room receives.
Now it’s a welcoming guest room. The light makes it feel airy and comfortable — sometimes I wish it were our bedroom, but with no attached bath it makes the perfect spot for visitors.
My favorite feature in this space is the original chimney that we exposed — it had been hidden behind drywall. We paired it with a dresser, sconce, and mirror to create a charming focal point. The inlay dresser was a fantastic secondhand find.
To solve extensive water damage and verify structural soundness, we stripped the walls back to the studs in many areas, patched the brick, and rebuilt — the photo below shows the room at that stage.
MIDDLE BEDROOM
Originally the middle bedroom was a pass-through to the back bedroom, offering zero privacy. We added a central hallway so the middle room became a private bedroom and traffic shifted away from passing through the sleeping space. Before renovation it included a rotting foosball table, ceiling collapse in spots, and even a giant hornet’s nest.
The added central hall transformed the upstairs layout. We kept the palette light so the new walls and doorways wouldn’t feel closed in. Small, affordable industrial ceiling lights in a neutral putty finish worked perfectly for the space.
We furnished the middle bedroom with soft upholstery, warm wood tones, and a mix of brass and oil-rubbed bronze accents for a cozy, layered feel.
BUNK ROOM
The bunk room was one of the worst spaces when we bought the house. Rot and structural failure left daylight visible through the walls, and parts of the floor were unsafe. There was debris and evidence animals had been living inside.
We removed the damaged portions and rebuilt that side of the house from scratch. Where salvage wasn’t safe, we replaced it — the result is a clean, cozy bunk room that’s free of the previous mess and animal issues.
We designed and built the built-in bunk beds and reinstalled the original heart pine floors when that portion was rebuilt. Keeping and integrating the old floors brought warmth and continuity to the restored space.
HALL BATHROOM
That same area showed a large open ceiling gap where animals had been entering. During the rebuild we realized the long skinny footprint for the bunks could be adjusted, so we carved out space to add a full bathroom with a shower adjacent to the bunks. It was a highly functional change that improved daily life upstairs.
You access this bathroom from the same hallway that reaches the bunk room and middle bedroom. The blue patterned tile on the wall introduces personality and brightens the footprint.
All the upstairs wood doors are original to the house; we stripped and waxed them to refresh their look while preserving original latches and knobs. Those vintage details add a lot of character.
BACK BEDROOM
The back bedroom originally opened directly onto the stairs, which felt awkward and offered no privacy. We retained much of the original wall but repaired finishes and refinished the floors to dramatically improve the space.
To preserve light while creating privacy, we installed pocket doors that can be open during the day to share window light or closed at night for separation from the rest of the house. They feel original to the home and are a favorite solution for that layout.
We also added quiet, attractive ceiling fans to every bedroom. They provide a gentle breeze that many guests prefer and have been reliable performers over two years of use.
EN-SUITE BATHROOM
The attached en-suite was one of the worst rooms we inherited: brittle floors, a tub at risk of falling through, and a collapsing ceiling. It had to be removed and rebuilt since the framing and studs were unsound.
The rebuilt bathroom now features a reconfigured tub centered under a large window and a freestanding shower. We tiled the small hex floor by hand, creating delicate blue flower motifs tile by tile — a time-consuming detail that feels original and beachy, and one of our favorite touches in the house.
THE BACKYARD
The backyard arrived overgrown, small, and full of poison ivy. It was uninspiring at first, but the transformation might be one of our favorite projects to date.
After clearing brush and weeds, and a few setbacks (including one memorable poison ivy episode), we slowly developed a backyard we love. We added a paver patio, a hot tub, strategic plantings, string lights, and a shed painted a cheerful color. It’s now our favorite place to be whenever we’re in Cape Charles.
The finished backyard functions beautifully. We built the shed with double doors that swing out without disrupting the dining area and added a front planter box. Across from the hot tub is an outdoor shower kit that gets lots of use during beach seasons.
The side yard got a new fence that matches neighbors’ yards, providing privacy and a secure area for our dog. The double-swing gate allows for future access if we park a golf cart or large equipment in the back.
We hope you enjoyed this upstairs before & after tour. The renovations involved a lot of careful decisions: when to salvage original elements like doors and floors, when to remove and rebuild for safety, and when to introduce fresh design details to make the house feel both lived-in and updated. The result is a second floor that’s comfortable, functional, and full of character.
*This post originally included product references and sourcing for items used in the house.*