Note: This post started as an updated Before & After page that readers had trouble finding, so we turned it into a single chronological post to make it easier to reference. We’ll continue updating our Before & After page over time, while this post remains a snapshot of the house at a particular moment.
We downsized to this 1,400 square foot house in Northwest Florida in May 2020 after a fast, intense three-month renovation. If you want more background on why we craved a pared-down lifestyle, read the posts linked throughout. For now, here are the before and after photos and the work we did room by room.
NOTE: We created a Shop Our House page to help you find furniture, accessories, and paint colors used throughout the house.
The Exterior
We retained the cedar siding, black metal windows, exterior doors, and metal roofing, but updated the decking, railings, and front steps, and gave everything a fresh coat of white paint.
After layering in tropical landscaping the yard evolved significantly. We’ll add updated photos and a dedicated post for the landscaping soon.
Here’s the side of the house as it looked when we bought it in February 2020:
After painting and installing new horizontal railings on the second-floor deck, removing the steep central steps and guard rails that cut through the wide steps, the house felt safer and cleaner. We also later added fences, ferns, and a firepit to this area.
The Kitchen
The kitchen required both structural updates and smaller, budget-friendly improvements. We started by repairing the pine floors, removing a soffit, adding lighting, and replacing drywall to remove a popcorn ceiling. Those changes opened and brightened the room.
Over time we updated lighting and DIY shelves, painted the cabinets, and reorganized the layout to improve flow. Moving the refrigerator to the opposite wall revealed a previously blocked window and created space for a pantry. We later built an Ikea pantry around the relocated fridge to maximize storage.
To create a cozy sitting area, we closed a wide doorway that wasn’t necessary (the bedroom door nearby provides access). That small partition makes the kitchen feel multifunctional: an eat-in area, a casual hangout spot, and a place where someone can work or read without TV noise from upstairs.
The Stairs
The stairs up to the family room had vertical planking and good natural light, but the treads needed refinishing. We painted the treads and installed a durable textured sisal-style runner to add traction for our dog and solve finish inconsistencies.
The Family Room
The upstairs family room is the house’s largest space and serves as a TV room, office, and kids’ craft and learning area. After refinishing the floors and painting, the large windows and existing paneling became standout features. Furnishing the room helped reveal scale and made it feel welcoming and functional.
The Upper Deck
The large upstairs deck functions as an outdoor room. Replacing rotting decking, railings, and a failing pergola and removing a leaking chimney transformed it into a comfortable dining and lounging area with string lights and durable decking.
Our Bedroom
When we bought the house it was effectively a one-bedroom layout, so we converted a light-filled room into our bedroom by closing a large extra doorway to the kitchen. We refinished floors, painted, added curtains and furniture, and installed storage and a closet to make it a restful retreat.
We closed off two of the exterior doors on the bed wall, added storage solutions, and created a closet, which significantly improved functionality. We plan to add an attached bathroom in an underused corner eventually, but sharing a bathroom so far has been manageable.
We updated the fireplace surround to make the bedroom cozier. One frequently asked question is whether we considered making the large upstairs family room our bedroom. We did consider it, but decided against it for reasons including family preferring to sleep on the same floor, wanting to keep the large room communal, and plumbing and privacy challenges for an ensuite upstairs.
- Two separate common areas that don’t share sound are invaluable in a smaller home—one person can work downstairs while another watches TV upstairs, or kids can play upstairs while adults entertain downstairs.
The Bathroom
The single bathroom was nonfunctional when we bought the house—no vanity, leaks in walls and tile, and no sewer line. We rebuilt nearly everything before moving in so the space would work. The result combines practical fixes with a cheerful floor tile and new fixtures.
The Laundry Closet
We converted a double-sided closet near the front door into a laundry closet with new appliances, deep plywood shelves, and plenty of hooks to keep it organized and hardworking.
Our Daughter’s Bedroom
One of our favorite transformations was vaulting the ceilings in both kids’ rooms, which instantly made them feel larger and brighter. In our daughter’s room we removed a dropped ceiling and followed the roof slope with a planked ceiling, then added a hand-painted mural to embrace the room’s colorful past.
Our Son’s Room
We vaulted the ceiling in our son’s room as well, added planking and beams for character, and built a wraparound headboard and bookshelf to create a cozy built-in daybed area. Every inch matters in smaller rooms, so built-ins and creative wall treatments help the space work harder.
The Outdoor Shower
The outdoor shower area was grimy when we bought the house, but after pressure washing, resealing the cedar, adding lights, new fixtures, and lots of plants, it became a family favorite. The nearby covered side porch also improved dramatically after removing mildew, replacing the rotten floor, rebuilding railing with a horizontal design, and adding a hanging daybed and ceiling fan to deter mosquitoes.
We added a fence to create a private courtyard and turned a previously unused area into a cozy firepit zone. The fence and paint transformed the space into a spot we use regularly for s’mores and evening drinks.
One of our largest projects was adding a pool to a previously weedy part of the yard. We painted the fences to match, installed a retaining wall with fountains, added a pool deck, and planted landscaping to create a soothing backyard retreat.
That’s our progress about a year and a few months into living here. We’ll keep sharing updated photos as the house continues to evolve. For paint colors and sourcing information, check the Shop Our House page. For more on downsizing, holiday decorations, and before & afters from our other projects, explore the posts in the related category.
P.S. To follow the full chronological makeover of this house, check the category dedicated to our Florida house for all related posts and project updates.