I’m genuinely thrilled to share this update. Despite a couple of computer crashes while I was working on it, my excitement hasn’t faded—because this transformation is exactly the kind of project that makes me giddy.
I’ll let the photos tell most of the story, but here’s a clear overview of what’s changed since we first offered on the house back in February. We saw it on a rainy, overcast weekend (our luck with house hunting continues), but we loved the location and the bones of the place. Below is the “before” porch shot from that visit:
And here’s the same view as of yesterday morning, taken on my phone. What a change!
Major updates include reframing the side porch to create a cleaner look, installing a modern horizontal railing on the top deck and side porch to better suit the house’s style, widening the front steps, and removing the awkward old arch. We also replaced the old decking boards with Trex in the warm “Havana Gold” color—we used a different Trex shade at the duplex and loved its durability and low maintenance.
We repaired any damaged cedar siding discovered in the inspection and painted the entire exterior in Sherwin-Williams Moderne White. That fresh coat of paint made a huge difference in curb appeal and brightened the whole property—neighbors have even stopped by to say how much they enjoy walking past and watching the progress.
People have asked about the black-framed windows and large glass doors from sneak-peek photos. They’re original to the house—just more striking now against the white paint. We did reglaze or replace a few foggy panes, but otherwise the metal frames have held up for decades and look refreshed.
This house is also the brightest we’ve ever lived in. We only saw it twice in overcast weather before buying, so we expected it might feel dark. Instead, the generous windows and twelve exterior glass doors bring in abundant natural light—making the home feel open and airy, and giving us unexpected joy every sunny morning.
Burger, our porch-loving dog, has already claimed his favorite spots. He spends hours sniffing and watching the neighborhood—sometimes I even hold him like a little baby and he tolerates it because he’s adored. The secondhand driftwood chairs I rescued years ago fit beautifully with the thin black window frames and add to the relaxed coastal vibe.
Several readers asked about the porch planters, the brass porch light, and our door hardware—those are all in place and we’re happy with the warmth brass adds against the white siding and black windows. We intentionally chose finishes that feel cohesive and timeless for this beach house.
The front yard is mostly natural pine straw mulch and mature trees, so it feels like living in a forest without ever having to mow a lawn. That’s a huge perk when you’d rather spend your time at the beach.
The original side porch felt cluttered and dated; we replaced the worn screening and simplified the design. Eventually we’ll refine the front columns and paint the soffit a soft blue, but even now the improvement is dramatic.
A lot of people asked about mosquitoes and bugs in Florida. We’re familiar with them from living in humid areas before. Our approach is practical: use overhead fans (bugs avoid moving air) and plant citronella and peppermint in pots to deter them. Screens are an option, but we prefer trying the natural, low-impact measures first. In our first week here we’ve spent many hours outside without a single bite.
On the side of the house we removed the steep exterior stairs to the second-floor deck for safety and privacy reasons. It now feels cleaner and more secure—the upstairs deck is still accessible from inside, and the lower-level bedroom will have a private patio without public stairs intruding on the view. We also simplified the stair railings to open the sightlines while staying within code.
We removed a leaky, oversized chimney that had been causing water problems in the bedroom and replaced it with a plan for a gas fireplace insert later. Removing the chimney opened up the top deck and improved curb appeal. We also enclosed and planked the visible stilts the house sits on and added an access door for storage—practical and tidy.
A neighboring lot was cleared and construction began between our offer and move-in day, which has been oddly fun for the kids (and us) to watch. We’ve been enjoying the decks every evening since moving in—eating on beach towels, dreaming about outdoor furniture, and imagining how the space will evolve once we add a proper dining table.
We downsized our lot dramatically compared to our previous home, but the house is positioned to one side, leaving room for a pool and a small guest house in the future. Planning for those features is underway, and it’s fun to visualize how the backyard will come together.
So that’s the update: big exterior improvements, cleaner porches and decks, refreshed siding and paint, and small but meaningful changes that make the house feel like ours. We’re living in it now and loving the light, the outdoor spaces, and the relaxed beach-house rhythm. If you missed the rainy “before” tour or our inspiration and renovation progress posts, those give a fuller picture of how this project began and where we’re headed.
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