You guys, I am so excited about this post. John’s computer froze and crashed twice this morning while we were working on this, and my enthusiasm STILL ENDURES — which is a good sign of how into this project I am.
I’ll let the photos do most of the talking because I want to get this up and into the world. Below are images from when we first offered on the house in February (it was rainy and overcast those days, as is our peculiar home-buying tradition) compared with how it looks now. It didn’t matter then — we fell in love anyway.
And here’s the house as of yesterday morning, shot on my phone. Isn’t she lovely?
A quick progress overview: we reframed the side porch to simplify the look, added a modern horizontal railing to the top deck and side porch so it fits the house’s style better, widened the front steps, and removed an awkward old arch on the front. We also replaced the decking with Trex in a warm hue called “Havana Gold” for durability and low maintenance — we used Trex at the duplex and loved it.
Any cedar siding that failed inspection got replaced, and we painted the entire house in Sherwin Williams Moderne White. The fresh paint transformed the curb appeal — neighbors have been so sweet, stopping to tell us how much they’ve enjoyed watching the updates.
Ta da! Still very excited.
Many people asked about the black windows and large glass doors: they are original. The dark frames stood out more after we painted the house white. We did reglaze or replace a few foggy panes, but the windows themselves have been holding up for decades and look like new. I never expected to love those thin black metal frames so much, but they suit the house perfectly.
This house is the most light-filled home we’ve ever lived in. There are big glass doors everywhere — twelve exterior glass doors throughout the house — and generously sized windows. When we toured the house in February it was overcast and we worried it would be dark, but on a sunny day the natural light pours in. We’re thrilled.
Burger, our porch-loving pup, has been in his element. He patrols the porch, sniffs the world, and often accepts being held like a tiny human — a privilege he bestows on me only.
Some of the secondhand chairs I found years ago happened to be a perfect match for the black-framed windows. Little discoveries like that make the house feel even more like ours.
We chose brass hardware for the doors and deadbolts throughout the house, and added planters and a brass porch light on the front. Brass pairs beautifully with the white siding and black-framed windows, giving the exterior a cohesive, warm look.
From the front porch you see lots of lots with pine straw mulch, trees, and almost no grass — it feels like living in the forest and we don’t have to mow the yard. More beach time for us.
The original side porch felt choppy with multiple rail slats and even screens with moss. We cleared that up, replaced the decking, and created a cleaner, more open porch area.
Now the porch reads more cohesive and inviting. Eventually we’ll tweak the front columns and paint the underside of the roof a soft blue, but even now it’s a significant improvement.
About bugs and mosquitoes: yes, we know Florida has them. In previous homes we’ve solved porch bugs by adding overhead fans to create moving air, and by planting citronella and peppermint in pots. We prefer trying fans and plants first before adding screens. After a week outside here, we haven’t had any bites yet, and we’re planning to add fans and plants as an extra layer of protection.
The difference from before to now is striking:
And the refreshed version today:
Burger is the happiest dog — this sleepy smile says it all.
This side of the house faces the cross street since we’re on a corner lot. We removed a steep exterior staircase that led to the second-floor deck because it felt unnecessary and raised security concerns. Now guests access the front porch from ground level and the upstairs deck is accessed from inside the house — a safer, cleaner arrangement.
We also discovered a handy lean-to shed tucked at the side of the house for yard tools and beach chairs — great for storage without cluttering the yard.
The first-floor room on this side is our bedroom. Eventually we plan to create a private patio for just the two of us, with string lights and a cozy spot for wine after the kids are asleep. That’s another reason removing the exterior steps made sense — we want privacy outside our bedroom window and a better layout for the future bathroom and closet there.
We simplified the railings on the bedroom steps to open up the view while still meeting all code requirements. From inside the bedroom (yes, our mattress is temporarily on the floor), the tree-filled view makes me tear up with happiness every morning. Blackout curtains are on the to-do list; for now we’ve improvised with packing blankets.
We removed a tall, leaky chimney that had been affecting the upstairs bedroom, replaced that section of deck, and patched the roof properly. Removing the chimney opened up the second-floor deck and improved curb appeal. We also concealed the stilts the house sits on with planking and added an access door for extra storage space underneath.
Between the time we made our offer and moved in, the empty lot next door was purchased and cleared for construction. It’s been entertaining for the kids (and for us) to watch the work from the window.
From the top deck we took some fun shots and got a progress photo from the contractor showing how the space came together. We considered safety concerns about horizontal rails, and we made a conscious decision based on our family’s needs: our kids are older and understand the rules, and any deck intended for unsupervised littles should always be closely monitored regardless of rail type.
We still need more outdoor furniture, which is an exciting next step. Since moving in we’ve used the decks as extra living rooms — eating meals on beach towels, enjoying time in the trees, and dreaming about a proper outdoor dining set. Our old outdoor table rotted in the move, so a new dining table is on the list.
We downsized the lot considerably compared to our previous property, but the house sits to one side of the lot leaving room for a future pool and guest house. We’re still planning the layout, but it’s exciting to imagine how that will come together.
John has been sketching out ideas while keeping an eye on Burger, who continues to chase lizards with zero success but endless enthusiasm. It’s all part of the joyful chaos of settling into a new home.
There you have it: lots of photos and a roundup of the changes so far. We’re still very excited and always happy to share progress. If you missed the earlier posts, there’s a dark and rainy before tour, a style-planning post with our inspiration, and a renovation progress update that fill in the backstory. Stay tuned as we continue to update this light-filled, tree-surrounded beach-adjacent house.
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