Slowly but surely we’re making steady progress on the beach house. Over the next few weeks we expect major milestones: all new electrical, updated plumbing, and a fully functioning HVAC system—just in time for the hot beach days ahead. No more sketchy knob-and-tube wiring, no more furnace “accessorized” with cardboard and bedsheets, and finally running water again after the old sewer line was damaged by tree roots and had to be replaced. It’s been a long time coming, but these are huge wins.
Since our last detailed update, a lot of exterior work has been completed: a new roof (which means no more leaks) and pink HardiePlank siding that we absolutely love. The siding color and material have transformed the look of the house, and we’re having way too much fun with the pink. The one remaining exterior detail is that creamy yellow trim. Weather and scheduling have slowed it down, but we’re optimistic that the trim will be finished soon and that those porch columns will stop getting our side-eye.
We also saved all five original stained glass windows, which is something we’re very excited about. There’s one on the front, one on the right side, and three on the left. Some needed new panes, many needed new sills, and all will require reglazing, but they’re coming back to life. A number of other windows were too rotten or had been replaced with low-quality vinyl, so installing consistent, high-quality, energy-rated windows throughout the house was an important upgrade.
There’s still exterior work to do: brick repairs around the foundation, a new metal porch roof since the old one couldn’t be saved, and adding stairs at all three entrances. The front concrete-block steps were damaged, the side door never had steps, and the back concrete-block steps had to be removed to allow siding to be installed behind them. We’ll be installing brick steps out front, which will be a nicer, more permanent upgrade than the old concrete blocks.
I know some of you are wondering how I, with my short legs, am getting in and out of the house. Don’t worry—I can make the leap, and I’ve even done it while chewing gum. Small victories.
Up front, the porch ceiling required a decision. We originally planned to paint it white so the pink siding would stand out, but the existing blue-ish color grew on us. It complements the neighboring blue houses and gives the porch a classic, welcoming look, so we tested paint chips and selected a lighter, less saturated shade called Breaktime by Sherwin Williams. For clarity, the peeling paint we sampled was exterior paint from the last 15 years; any potential lead, asbestos, or mold was handled by professionals.
Seeing the new siding makes us grin every time we arrive. It’s a small, repeated thrill, but it keeps morale high on a long renovation.
Inside, all new framing and reinforcement framing are complete, so the floor plan is finally taking shape in three dimensions. Bedrooms are becoming distinct rooms, closets appear where there were none, and the flow of the house is becoming clearer. Our favorite new feature is an upstairs hallway we added to keep people from having to walk through a bedroom to reach another room.
We solved a structural problem with a creative detail: a portion of the upstairs landing was sagging near the stairs, and simply adding a visible post would have been ugly. Our contractor worked with a local blacksmith to fashion a custom iron support bracket that ties into the stair structure in two places. It stopped the bounce, looks like a thoughtful original detail, and cost much less than adding a large post.
We also finalized the locations for electrical fixtures, outlets, switches, and plumbing fixtures. That meant walking every inch of the house to mark where outlets should be, how doors will swing, and where ceiling fixtures should be centered—over islands, tables, or beds. Planning showers, vanities, and toilet sizes followed, accounting for pipe placement and freeze risk. It was a long, detail-heavy process, but locking in those decisions felt like a big step forward.
Next came ordering the finishes: light fixtures, faucets, vanities, tile, and cabinets. There’s a lot to purchase, and it can be both exhilarating and overwhelming, but with selections mostly finalized we’ll soon share our kitchen, bathroom, and laundry plans. For now, we’re enjoying the progress and checking items off the list—one careful decision at a time.
P.S. If you want to catch up on the beach house story from the beginning, there are earlier posts detailing how we bought the house, our initial floor plan ideas and video tour, style inspiration and color choices, and previous progress updates. They walk through our decisions and the phases that led to where we are now.